RackedWire: Get Ready for the Steven Alan Sale; Housing Works Hosts a Good-Cause Auction

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TRIBECA—Clear your calendars, folks: The bi-annual Steven Alan sample sale returns this week. Located as always at the showroom at 87 Franklin Street, the sale stars a wide selection of Alan's own designs as well as a basement full of clothes by cool young designers. Officially, dates are Thursday through Sunday, but as Choosy Beggar reports, there is a Wednesday evening press preview. (Also, as Choosy Beggar hastily amended, security at the preview will not be lax, so "steer clear or prepare to have your heads bashed in Sopranos-style by a clipboard-wielding waif.") You better believe we'll be posting full reports on the stock, as well as play-by-plays on the line wait Thursday morning. [Choosy Beggar]

CHELSEA—At some point in the next two months, there is a fairly good chance that you'll find yourself looking at a pile of unwanted gift through the haze of a consumerist hangover. Starting Thursday, Housing Works is going to help us all prevent that nasty feeling with Fashion for Action, an auction that harnesses shopping for a good cause. Bid on merchandise from labels like Balenciaga, DVF, Lanvin, and 150 others going for 50% to 70% off retail, much of it donated from Gilt Groupe, or pick up a makeover, two seats at Bye, Bye Birdie, or tickets to the Essence Music Festival 2010. The particularly philanthropic among us can buy $100 tickets to the opening night benefit this Thursday, November 19, at 7pm; everyone else can shop Friday through Sunday at the Chelsea Housing Works (143 West 17th Street). [Racked Inbox]