A Louis Vuitton Damier print bag, currently being auctioned for Housing Works. Current bid: $241

The influx of new merchandise is endless and the selection, divine. If you have the time to sort through everything it’s almost impossible to leave empty-handed.

The majority of the clothing is $10 or less and we’ve seen some great pieces from H&M, the Gap and Lord & Taylor – not to mention the higher end brands like Marc Jacobs and Yves Saint Laurent that often make their way to the shop. You can sometimes luck up on eBay or at your run of the mill thrift store, but where else are you going to find a $28 Burberry sport coat in mint condition? No, we didn’t miss any zeros there.

Chatting with one of the chain’s coordinators who runs the shop on 90th street and 2nd avenue, we learned that items donated are sometimes rare and invaluable (think antique, genuine ivory elephant tusks), and the window displays are where the bid-only items are displayed. Window shopping and see something you like? Log on to shophousingworks.com to bid on your item of choice for a steal of a price.

If you haven’t had a chance to peruse the shelves yet, now is the time. The annual Fall Preview Sale is kicking off September 8th at the Chelsea store, and rolls on to each of the store’s New York locations through the 30th. {The Cut} ShopHousingWorks.com gets its own day on September 15th, so those outside of New York can still get in on the action.

Thrift shopping can be an adventure of its own and knowing it helps benefit a worthy cause makes the experience that much richer. Take a look for yourself and see just how awesome Housing Works is. Happy Hunting!

Remember these magnificent alien/mermaid McQueen shoes?

Of course you do, and if you’re like us you’re still fantasizing about how to get your mitts on these incredible lobster-claw/satyr-hoof/sea-monster concoctions so you can stop traffic every week in the cereal aisle.  (Imagine never needing help reaching the top shelf ever again!)

To the surprise of … well, everyone, Alexander McQueen has actually been getting countless calls from women (besides Lady Gaga) absolutely coveting these works of art and wanting to know how they can get them into their closets.  No official word yet on how McQueen will be distributing runway samples to the few lucky ladies, but tentative plans point to auction-style distribution.

Read the full story {Grazia}

Believe it or not, the humble mushroom has been making quite a splash on the home decor front – in pillows, patterns, you name it. While this trend can be downright adorable and, if done right, even classy, it can also be unbearably kitschy. But, never fear! We’ve scouted out the best ways for you to get a fab (and subtle) ‘shroomy’ look for your home at any price point - without the nasty fungal connotations…

Mushrooms for your kitchen (not your kitchen table):

Mushroom Soup Towel, $19 from Ferm Living (left). Cargo Mushroom Boxes, $40-48, from Jayson Home & Garden (center). Vintage Teak and Glass Mushroom Canisters, $65, from JollyPollyPickins on Etsy (right).

Mod Mushroom Lamps:

Nesso Table Lamp, $360, from Artemide on AllModern.com (left). ‘Glow’ Glass Table Lamp, $504, by Holmegaard on UnicaHome.com (center). Laurel Mushroom Lamp, $299, from beggarsandchoosers on Etsy (right).

Fantastical Fungi (for the Kids):

Fungal Specimen Box No. 2, $80, from specimen7 on Etsy (left). Thomas Wold Mushroom Forest Coffee Table, $985, from Fawn&Forest (center). Round Pillow, $59, from stopyourcircus on Etsy (right).

Mushroom Art for your walls:

“Collecting Mushrooms,” $12, from knitalatte on Etsy (left). Nature Art Inserts, $19, from West Elm (center). “Alone,” $60, from CCsArt on Etsy (right).

Mike Farrell's Colorful White House, Made of Crayons

Although the explosion of colors, patterns, and textures that designers exhibited this year is certainly buzz-worthy (especially the somber colors and rich patterns of Julian Chichester), it’s The Wizard of Oz-inspired art exhibit that everyone’s talking about. “A Trip to Ahhs,” an exhibit by Mike Farrell that re-imagines Dorothy’s journey as an allegory of today’s post-Bush world, shook up the industry-only trade show with a palpable creative energy. With its use of unusual and recycled media – old shoes, post-it notes, crayons, and even toast – “A Trip to Ahhs” is an extraordinary display of color and whimsy we only wish we had been invited to see!

Read More {Please Sir}

Read More {News & Record}

Artwork by Andreas Kocks
Read the full story {Wallpaper*}

Entering the "New York Minute" Exhibit - Giorgio Benni

In a slaughterhouse turned modern art museum, the “New York Minute” exhibit, which opened last week, has brought the vibrancy and rapidity of New York to the slow-moving, sultry streets of Rome, Italy. Over 60 New Yorkers paired up with local art students to transform the historic building – still replete with iron cages, meat hooks, cobblestones, and stables – into a space of dizzying color thatâ€s open until midnight – attracting a somewhat unorthodox audience of young clubbers. It strikes us as a deliciously contemporary and thought-provoking exhibit not to be missed.

Read more {Globespotters}

Read more {MACRO}