Fresh Picks For Friday

Some stuff dreams are made of.

We're still recovering from last night's party with Talib Kweli (congrats to those lucky folks who won tickets!) but that doesn't mean we're completely out of commission today. We've pulled together some juicy style bites just in time for the weekly two-day vacay.

First, for those of you loved the Minnie Mouse tank I was wearing last night as much as I do, I scored it at H&M (Fairlane) just last week. I did feel pretty young in it (it was a Disney/H&M collab after all) but it was good young.

Okay, moving on ...

Keep an eye out for the upcoming Russell Bazaar set to open Labor Day Weekend. The 160,000 square foot shopping area to become a home for vendors of all sorts is located in the Russell Industrial Center. As of today there are about seventy vendors signed up to sell. Interested in opening up shop? Click here for the vendor application.

Detroit's Pewabic Pottery is holding its annual sale this weekend, August 15-17. This means you can snag vesselware, dinnerware, embossed tiles, trims and borders, holiday ornaments and garden planters for up to half off. The sale is open to Pewabic Society Members on August 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Memberships may be purchased at the door or by calling (313) 822-0954. The sale is open to the public August 16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and August 17 from noon to 4 p.m. Oh, and remember to bring your own packing stuff.

Bumper to bumper, the avenue's packed ... In honor of the giant Woodward Dream Cruise, Citizen in Ferndale is hosting a Saturday sale with specials outside and everything 25% off inside. Citizen is located at 23315 Woodward Ave., Ferndale.

Women's Wear Daily announced that Thakoon Panichgul will be the next Target Go International Designer. The collection is to launch in late September.

Lux lingerie mecca Agent Provacatuer is having an online sale- click here to check it.

Super-styled hip hopper and 1/2 of Outkast, André Benjamin, aka André 3000 will debut his clothing line 'Benjamin Bixby' next month. The seventy-some collection designed by him is described as 30's football inspired with vintage athletic accents and collegiate detail. It will be available at Barneys New York on September 4. We're excited for this as André's been a man of great style since we can remember.

Speaking of extremely dapper rappers, SA-RA member and producer (also MCM and Pastelle designer) Taz Arnold has collaborated with Japanese designer Big-O for a clothing line, TI$A Phenomenon, so definitely keep a look out for that one. Taz has been on our minds since he performed with SA-RA at some Hennessy party in Detroit a while back. I still remember his purple YSL tee, fat dookie ropes and, of course, his gold 'Hood Love' Ring set. We're not suprised he fascinates Cathy Horyn, as we've been inspired for a few years now.

Has your shopper eye gravitated toward the cheap(er) goods lately? Well apparently you're not alone. WWD reports that "off-price" stores, like T.J. Maxx, Neiman's Last Call, Off 5th Saks Fifth Avenue, etc. have experienced a big boost in revenues. T.J. Maxx, the nation's largest discount off-price retailer reported that second-quarter profits tripled from a year ago. Apparently, even Baccarat is set to open an outlet store in the near future.

Looking to get in on some of that discount action locally? The Neiman's Last Call at Great Lakes Crossing is full-o-steals from Marc Jacobs, Chloe, Christian Louboutin and more. While there, drop by the Off Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet to scour even more sales. May I also suggest Nordstrom Rack in Troy, any of the three Loehmann's locations (Troy, Farmington and Northville) and of course T.J. Maxx - click here for metro Detroit locations. There's also Marshall's, too, but for me, the finds are typically not as exciting as the others I listed before, but you never know.