While we were at Lucky Shops, they played the Pulp song "Common People" twice. Surrounded as we were by $120 tank tops and $300 boots, we wondered if the DJ was trying to make some sort of subversive statement. In any case, if you're looking for deeper discounts, you'll do better at the Brooklyn Industries sample sale currently taking place in the basement of their pop-up store on Broadway between 11th and 12th Streets. Everything we saw there was under $50, and much of it cost less than $19. At those prices, it's perhaps not surprising that some of it was hideous, but we found a cute sweater for $9, and there were plenty of basic, solid sweater-dresses. (Not so much men's stuff, though.)
A word about the setting: The sale is literally in an unfinished basement, with big archways leading off into mysterious side-caverns. Some people will find this thrilling; others will feel like they're trespassing in the kingdom of the mole people. Either way, plan to try stuff on upstairs, because the only mirrors they have available down there are still wrapped in plastic for some reason.
· Above The Fray: Lucky Shops a Tad Overwhelming [Racked]
· Brooklyn Industries [Dealfeed]
Label:Brooklyn Industries Deal: Menswear, womenswear, and bags are up to 75% off—meaning the average price is about $25. When/Where:Friday, November 7 through Sunday, November 9. Fri 11am—9pm, Sat—Sun 11am—8:30pm. 801 Broadway between 11th and 12th Sts (718-599-7757.)
The Brooklyn Industries at Fifth Avenue and Union Street in that hotbed of Barackism called Park Slope has just put Barack Obama masks on all its mannequins. We're not talking about likeness that is about to win awards, but it does manage to convey the message. The fact that the female mannequins are also wearing Barack masks conveys some sort of message too, but we're unclear on how much to read into it.
· In the Window: Buckler Soho Barack's the House [Racked]
Bring a gently-used coat to any Brooklyn Industries store on Thursday, October 23, and they'll give you $10 off the purchase of a new one. $10 isn't much compensation for lugging a bulky coat around the city, but they'll also donate all the outerwear they collect to charity, so you're really getting $10 and a warm do-gooder's glow. [Racked Inbox]
As we reported yesterday, local chain Brooklyn Industries is opening a temporary boutique at 801 Broadway and 11th Street. And today, we've got some more info on the store, dubbed simply "The Pop Up," from the Brooklyn Industries PR team. The shop will open this Thursday with a party (open to the public) from 6 to 9pm, and will remain open through the holidays. It will close in January, to reopen in February or March as the brand's flagship. When finished, the bi-level, 5,000-square-foot space will be filled with current merchandise as well as one-of-a-kind and limited-edition items. Brooklyn Industries staff also plans to use the location for events and sample sales—the first of which will be held on October 16th.
· Pop Ups: Brooklyn Industries Arrives on Broadway [Racked]
Brooklyn Industries is bringing its sturdy, affordable basics to Broadway. According to a staffer at the Soho outpost, the chain is planning a permanent store for Broadway and 11th Street, but due to the usual construction woes it won't open 'til the spring. So this weekend, the brand's opening a holiday pop-up in the space. We're still waiting on word from the company's PR team as to what merchandise will be available in the pop-up, but we assume shoppers will get an abbreviated selection of what's available at the chainlet's other locations.
· Brooklyn Industries [Official Site]
Brooklyn Industries thinks you should bike to work. The brand has a rocky history with NYC's bicycle enthusiasts: In 2006, when they showed custom-built tall bikes in their windows, intensely anti-commercial DIY bikers accused them of co-opting their culture. Either BI has gotten over the cold reception or didn't care much in the first place, though, because they're now selling "More Bike Lane" shirts. "A designer who is a diehard about biking to the brand's offices in the Brooklyn Navy Yard — rain or shine — came up with the idea. Ten percent of sales of the $32 T-shirts will benefit Recycle a Bike, a group that refurbishes old bicycles and donates them to children." [WWD, password req]
Because walking down any street right now yields surprise sales galore, we checked in on the 40% off goods at one of the city's many Brooklyn Industries. Inside their Chelsea location at 161 Eighth Avenue, we found their entire back room full of a healthy selection of wintery clothing, summer-ready bags and for once, a better selection for men than women.
Everything seemed to be between $38-$58, a good $30 off most regular prices for cute dresses with vintage prints and laptop messengers in several sizes to snuggle up to your laptop. Our picks: the CMYK cassette-striped zipper hoodie popped among the muted tones of everything else, but the men's button-down with a quaint bird print could be disguised as a summer item and worn straight through to fall (with periodic washings, of course).
· Brooklyn Industries [Official Site]
ONLINE—Gap's updated their website with new spring styles from their European collection. For those unfamiliar with the Euro version of the khaki-happy retailer, this is noteworthy because like McDonald's, the Gaps across the pond differ a bit from the stores stateside. The clothes are a touch more stylish (and a bit more expensive) and are currently only available in the US online. [Gap]
PARK SLOPE—If you don't have a date for Valentine's Day, how does getting sloshed at the Brooklyn Industries store on Fifth Avenue in Park Slope sound? Painful? Well, they're holding a free wine tasting from 7 to 9pm, so at least it's free. [Racked Inbox]
The Brooklyn Paper has coined a term for increasingly similar retail stretches Smith Street in BoCoCa and Fifth Avenue in Park Slope. It is, painfully, Smifth. "Smith Street and Fifth Avenue are becoming mirror images of one another—thanks to at least half a dozen entrepreneurs opening shops on both streets. Call it 'Smifth Avenue.' Lucia, Something Else, Soula and Flirt, plus chains like Brooklyn Industries and Area Kids, have staked a claim on both streets...In almost all cases, shop owners opened their first outlet on Smith Street before expanding to Fifth Avenue." [The Brooklyn Paper]
Today's Street Scenes subject is Kaoru, shot on 33rd Street and Ditmars Boulevard in Astoria. Feel free to vote on whether you like or dislike her outfit below—your choices are 'Perfection!,' I feel strangely ambivalent about it,' or 'Who Did This To You.'
NEW YORK CITY—When the holiday season rolls around people think about giving: buying gifts for their friends and family and donating money, time, food or clothing to charities. Shoe website Piperlime is having a little fun with its charity effort this year. For the next week, the company is rolling gigantic silver high heels throughout the city. They're drop boxes where people can deposit gently-used shoes, which will then be given to Soles4Souls. Go online to find out where the footwear will be stationed. [RackedWire]
SOHO—This reader-submitted tip sounds slightly shilly, but perhaps we're just overly suspicious: "so i went into my local edition of brooklyn industries, in soho, yesterday just on a whim, and it looked like a sale extravaganza in there! it was spectacular spectacular! buy one something get the second something for half off! it looked like the entire store! is this possible? i couldn't believe my eyes." [RackedWire Inbox]
SOHO—Gen Art's awesome Shop NYC sale is taking place tomorrow at the Puck Building from 6 to 10pm. You have to buy tickets to get in (they're available online), but it sounds worth it. Expect 70% off clothing and accessories for men and women from brands like Barking Irons, H Fredriksson, Lewis Cho and Madison Harding. [RackedWire]
BOCOCA—Hip luggage boutique Flight 001's celebrating their one-year anniversary on Smith Street tonight. Drop by and enjoy free sweets courtesy of Cobble Hill bakery One Girl Cookies; bring the card (above) for 10% off travel goods. [RackedWire]
NEW YORK CITY—Starting tomorrow, you can bring some cans of food into your local Brooklyn Industries and receive $5 off your purchase. May not be much, but the retailer is collecting cans for the Food Bank of NY, so your efforts will support a good cause. [RackedWire]
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