Cliché sample sale preview (and other last-minute holiday sales)

What, you say you haven’t started your holiday shopping yet? Here are a few sales going on today through Christmas that should help you finish off your list and save some dollas.

Cliché sample sale
From my write-up in this week's vita.mn: It’s a dream come true for local fashion buffs – the chance to shop the closets of its designers. Cliché’s talented collective of local designers are unloading their studios and slashing prices, and it’s a rare opportunity to snag a worn-on-the-runway dress or one-of-a-kind test garment. Participating designer lines include kjurek couture, Amanda Christine Designs, Emily Weich, Jenny Carle Designs, and Ivan Idland, plus accessories from Tea Tree Designs, Adrienne Grahn, and Niki English. Voltage 2009 designer Emily Weich will be selling a few party-ready sample dresses from her fall collection, while Amanda Christine will be bringing in some past seasons’ work and runway samples. Kimberly Jurek of kjurek couture will be featuring some show pieces from last Saturday’s Fembot Fatale show. Expect markdowns at around 50 percent off. (During store hours Fri. through Sat. Cliché, 2403 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls. 612-870-0420.) -J.P.

Kimberly Jurek of kjurek couture told me, "I will be featuring some of the show pieces from this Saturday('s Fembot Fatale show at Barfly) - lots of silver, gold and white to go along with our fembot theme-in mod shapes. Also I will be doing a 'closet cleaning' and will be selling old samples and one-of-a-kind pieces that I have been hanging onto."

Some looks from kjurek couture's Fall 2008 collection that will be available:

Images by Miles Schuster

Designer Amanda Christine told me, "I'll be bringing in some past seasons' work including Spring '08 and some one-of-a-kind garments from previous fashion shows. I also plan on bringing in some garments from Voltage '08 and possibly some as-is garments for a really low price." Most pieces will be marked down about 50%, so you could take home one of her sophisticated, flattering pieces for as little as $60.

Some looks from her Spring 2008 collection that will be available:

If you have yet to hear of designer Emily Weich, you will soon - she will make her Voltage debut at the 2009 runway show. She has been selling at Cliche since late spring this past year, and her dresses are girly yet threaded with a definite tone of goth. She will be shortening a couple of her floor-length dresses (see below) to make them more wearable on the dance floor.

Image by Steve Rice for Vita.mn / Styling by Eclecticoiffeur / Modeled by Lily

The organic-inspired, repurposed jewelry by Tea Tree Designs should be a treat. Designer Erika Backberg will be featuring the runway line she designed for kjurek couture's Fall/Winter 2008 show at Clubhouse Jager. Bolder than her usually-delicate style, the one-of-a-kind items are sure to make a statement on NYE. Bonuls: Every piece of Tea Tree Designs in the store will be on sale during the sale. Some of the pieces to look for this weekend:


Handbag designer Adrienne Grahn also told me she will be featuring "lots of clutches and a few totes especially for the sale in black, purple, white, tan and brown crocodile and alligator."

Other shopping events worth checking out this weekend:

Northern Cap & Glove Company sample sale
The Minneapolis-based wholesale company had been supplying headwear, gloves and scarves to Dockers, GoreTex and Karen Neuburger until it was bought this past spring by a New York private equity firm that is integrating it into its Totes and Isotoner brands. The sale, which promises everything marked down to the fire sale price of $1 for everything, seems to be a result of the brand's corporate office closing. Today through Friday, noon to 1 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. daily, 2633 Minnehaha Av., Mpls.

Nelle Handbags online sale
For one day only, local handbag line Nelle Handbags will be offering a 25 percent off discount on the line's website. Designer Laura Nelli's colorful fold-pleated clutches are perfect for a holiday party, or a unique gift. Regularly $194, these little terasures will be marked down to $145.50. Friday, nellehandbags.com.

SOOVAC Annual Arts and Crafts Fair
From this week's print edition of vita.mn: Still haven’t started your Christmas shopping? Get it all done in one fell swoop with the eclectic, unique mix of gifts at the Soo Visual Arts Center’s annual arts and crafts fair. The art center’s mini gift store, Soo Too, is one of the best gift shops in the city, so seeing it expand for a week should be a treat. For sale will be artwork by Soo VAC regulars Jennifer Davis, Amy Rice, and other local artists. If you can, check it out on Saturday for the special sales event, featuring quirky accessories and wild dioramas by SisBro, handmade garments by Swank Dollar with fanciful hair-prints by Collaboration Thursday, and more for one day only - plus 10 percent off everything. Every gift you buy will be so one-of-a-kind, it will trick people into thinking you actually put thought into it. (Special sales event 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat., Dec. 20. Show open through Wed., Dec. 24. Soo Visual Arts Center, 2640 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls., http://www.soovac.org/.) -J.P.