But should you choose to make a Caresse d' Orchidées purchase during this special viewing, know that 20% of your purchase will be donated to the American Heart Association.And that 20% is not just peanuts. The glasses range from about $7,000 for the plainest of the lot (an 18kt. white-gold rimless frames) to $44,500 for the priciest (18kt. solid pink-gold frames with pavéed diamonds and pink sapphires). Caveat emptor: the price does not include the cost of your prescription lenses. Nonetheless, they are pretty stunning. Just don't lose them. 

We love sparkly things, and we love bangle bracelets, so when we stumbled across both those things at the fairly new Helianthus boutique in the Village, we had to share them. This cute little shop has a mix of American and European clothing and accessories, but what kept grabbing our eye were the stacks and stacks of bangles, which range in price from $22 to $42 -- hot pink, black, clear, silvery, white, and all twinkling with rhinestones and crystals.  The shop is located at 522 LaGuardia Place, between Bleecker & West 3 Sts., near Washington Square Park.  (212-677-6888; www.helianthusny.com)

If you are having a lazy Martin Luther King Day here is quickie errand you can run, while hopefully, not running up too large a bill on your charge card:  Yes, it's another Soiffer Haskin sale.  Today, tomorrow (Tuesday), and Wednesday (the last day).  Stuart Weitzman (one of our favorite shoe manufacturers (because, yes, we wear a size 10.5 and nobody makes that size, but we can always find something at Weitzman that fits just right and is stylish, too).  And Krizia, too.  And we don't need to embellish about Krizia, do we? 

Another super sale of Italian goods Frette, this time.  Super fine and super-superior white goods as well as table linens and assorted home accessories are all for sale, at up to 70% off retail...which is good, because Frette doesn't come cheap under normal circumstances.  Here is a chance, though, to snap up some of those lovely, over-the-top, high-count sheet sets and fluffy, plush towels, not to mention a box of $100 soaps or some of those silky, clingy dressing gowns that look like they should be in a Merchant/Ivory costume drama.  The sale is at Soiffer Haskin, 317 West 33rd Street, just west of Eighth Avenue (which you probably know by heart now).  Credit cards only, and as usual, no strollers, no children under 12.  Starts tomorrow, Saturday, and continues through Wednesday, the 12^th.    Hours:  9 a.m. to 6:30 daily, except Wednesday, when they will close up shop at 5 p.m.

Lambertson Truex makes high-quality, sometimes over-the-top leathergoods -- beautiful bags, belts, gloves, accessories. If you need anything in that funny-named category, "small leathergoods," then here is your chance. Think Christmas, think Hanukkah, which is VERY early this year, providing a handy excuse for shopping, as if you really needed one. Merchandise is up to 80% off retail, and there is sure to be a little trinket here with your name on it.

This is another Soiffer-Haskin sale, but at a new location, at least just for this sale: Metropolitan Pavilion, 123 W. 18th St. (between Sixth & Seventh Aves.); from Wednesday, December 5th through Friday the 7th, from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily. This time, NO cash (unlike the TSE sale last week); plastic only, no checks; no strollers, no children under 12.

We're pretty crazy about The Loom Company and all the different lines this manufacturer's rep handles. We always see them at the Gift Show and always find things that we want to write up in our sundry magazines. And when there's a sample sale at The Loom Company, you can bet that it's the real deal -- a real sample sale. That is to say, they are truly selling samples, and overruns, and extra stock, and seconds, and you-name-it. We always hustle on down to the sale, and this is the perfect time for you to play Santa yourself and stock up on great goodies for your friends at VERY good prices. (CASH ONLY, Kids!)

Expect to find goods from John Derian (ah, that master découpager), Hable Construction (can anyone do MORE with felt than these guys?), and tons of other names you might or might not know but who all make very tasteful goods. So go to the take-out bank (that's the cash machine for those of you who were born yesterday) and get some green stuff and get down there! The early bird catches a lot of worms here.

We're not sure just what this sale is promising today, but we're going to check it out later and we'll report from the front.  It's allegedly supposed to have Gucci and Pucci…and Chanel and Hermès.  We shall see just how much of each of these houses it actually has for sale…and for how much off.  The material sent to us by our friends at Lazar Media says that there will be clothing and accessories at 75% off.  Stay tuned for tonight's report.  But in the meantime, here is what you need to know:  It's today and tomorrow, at the Shoreham Hotel, 33 West 55th Street (between Fifth and Sixth Avenues), Ground Floor; from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.....credit cards accepted.

Tourneau is having a BIG sample sale, up to 70% off (so forget your cousin in the biz who could get you a "good" watch for 30% off).  It started on Saturday, but you have until Thursday, the 20th to stock up on all those Jaeger LeCoultres and Vacherons that you've lusted after for so long.  There will also be some estate pieces and some pre-owned timepieces.  Hey, it's worth a look-see, for sure, even if your pockets aren't bulging with moolah, or watches, for that matter. Daily, from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., at the usual Soiffer Haskin joint:  317 W. 33rd St., just west of Eighth Ave.  Again, as usual, no children, no strollers, no cash (credit cards only), and come with time on your hands, so you can buy some more.   

Another Metropolitan Pavilion sale is on the calendar this week, with clothing and accessories by Valentino, Missoni (oh, how we love those sweaters), See by Chloe, Moschino Jeans, and assorted other goods. (What could be bad with labels like those?)Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; 123 West 18 Street, fourth floor gallery. (Thanks to our pals at Lazar Media for alerting us in time to post this!) So, if you missed out buying something at Hermès a few days ago, make up for it now!

Celine, the French maker of fine quality small leather goods, as well as handbags, shoes, and tailored, tasteful accessories, is ending a sample sale today…and if only we'd had the two seconds to post it yesterday.  But, you have until 3 p.m. tomorrow, Thursday to make it there, to get yourself to the company's offices (at 19 East 57th St., 8th floor, 212-931-2120), to take advantage of the huge savings on the luxury goods.  Bring ID to get into the building and a credit card to pay for your bounty. 

A few years ago, Tokens and Coins hit upon a wonderful idea, particularly for nostalgic baby boomers: jewelry and gewgaws made from old typewriter keys. As you might guess, those “margin release” and “back space” keys struck a responsive note, and since then, Tokens and Coins has greatly expanded its line to include salvaged goodies from old Scrabble sets, watch movements, Monopoly trinkets, memorabilia from subways and from baseball parks, you-name-it. Among the best sellers are cufflinks made from old fountain-pen nibs (gold-plated sterling silver), Scrabble cufflinks, and assorted key rings. We think the coolest key rings are the ones that say "Floating Shift" -- and we’re sure that all these items are things that Dad will go for.  Prices range from under $50 to a few hundred dollars.

If you’re late for Dad’s special day, Hugo Boss has a sample sale starting today...

Kati Stern, a European-born-and-bred designer, is having her first-ever sample sale. Stern first showed here in the States at Seventh on Sixth in 2004 and has been a hit ever since, a choice of cutting-edge fashionistas.

Rev up those charge cards: Yesterday, a Valentino sample sale started. If you love the maestro’s clothing, shoes, and accessories, now is your chance to snag a great buy. (There will be some furnishings for men, by the way.)
 
We think that one of the finest -- absolute finest -- exhibits of haute couture we’ve ever seen was the Valentino show at the Park Avenue Armory. (We swear, you’d never have known it was an armory, the way it was “done up”; it was completely transformed.) The show was amazing -- all that luscious red -- and the catalogue Rizzoli published to accompany it is well worth hunting for on the Web. It’s called Valentino/Thirty Years of Magic, and if you find it, buy it. His work is masterly and the book imparts the tiniest flavor of that retrospective.
 
So, if you’d like to see something you own as a part of the next retrospective, buy something now -- this is just the place. The sale will run through Wednesday the 13th. Hours: Sunday through Tuesday, 9am to 6:30pm, and Wednesday, 9am to 5pm.  Place:  317 W. 33rd St., just west of Eighth Ave.  It’s another Soiffer Haskin’s sale, so you know that means credit cards only, all sales final, no kids, no strollers.  But plenty of wonderful merchandise.  DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!

Yesterday’s deluge reminded us that we had totally forgotten to complete our April umbrella cycle! That is to say, when the April showers started coming, we suggested picking up the mini-est of mini-umbrellas, Totes’ itsy-bitsy six-incher. But we had other umbrellas to share -- not tiny and not inexpensive, but VERY cool and very special. We snagged a picture or two of the ones we are eager to put over our head on a rainy day (or any day). But then again, our better judgment tells us that even when we become the proud owner of one of these rhinestone-encrusted brollies (just waiting to win the lottery, you see), to never take it out for a stroll, because we are sure to leave it in a cab, at the dentist's, or in somebody's office. And we'd just shoot ourselves. Because not only are these umbrellas, from an Italian company called Pasotti, singular and charming and stunning, but they’re also pretty $$$ up there. Some are $450. Yeah. Hang on to your rain hat.

But the ones with the ombréed scattering or deliberate pattern of rhinestones are breathtaking. And they’re all lined in different color fabric, too…so it's like having two umbrellas for the price of one. (Well, not really. That's just a rationalization, since you really can't turn them inside out!) But, on the plus side, the handles are special and jewel-like. As you can readily see, we are trying our damnedest to talk ourselves into running out right now and getting the hot pink one with all the rhinestones, sort of strewn over the surface. We’re not saying "Rain, rain, go away," but we are hoping it never rains again, so we won't feel "deprived" when next we open up our plain black brolly (probably this afternoon) and feel like a have-not. (Oh, are we sounding like Paris now? Do you think she had to leave one behind when she entered the Big House?)

You can see a huge chunk of the Pasotti line at BrellaBar (www.brellabar.com) and can even shop online. (We’ve even spotted some Pasotti umbrellas on eBay!) Otherwise, it’s a trip to 1043 Third Ave. btw. 61st & 62nd Sts., 212-813-9530. Bring a charge card, for sure, and be prepared for umbrella madness.

Maybe you lusted after the Chanel “Naked” bag, but just didn’t want to spend $895. Maybe you bought one of Target’s two-in-one bags, with the clear outer tote and the cotton, printed-floral inner tote, for a remarkable le $10.49. Regardless, you cannot have escaped the trend this season for clear, clear, clear plastic, vinyl, PVC, whatever. They are everywhere...and we really love them. Coach has a beauty, too…but the two we think are the best (the Chanel one is just too small, anyhow, so who needs it?), are from Furla and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (yeah, really).

It’s definitely the season of the belt and it’s also the season of glitz, so combine the two and pick up a very useful wardrobe-builder in the form of a skinny little gold metallic belt. Cinch it over T’s, tanks, and tops. Banana Republic has a very chic, narrow, glittery gold leather belt that won’t wear out after four outings (or get all cracked at the buckle point), but at $38 it won’t break the bank, either...and it’s also something you’ll have and use for years. BR also has some handsome horn bangles ($28), some coral-y, ombréd, beaded bracelets ($24) and lots of bags, scarves, and cute ballet flats, all of which can transform an outfit, taking it from no-nonsense office-y to lots-of-nonsense after-hours-y.