Here are the weekend's sale listings laid out in handy map form. Let us know in the comments if anything's worth visiting. This time around, we're especially curious about what's going on at A.P.C. And is there anything good left at Alice + Olivia? If you need more, head over to Racked National for a list of 41 online sales also taking place this weekend.

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In case you missed them, here are the top stories from the week in Racked:

· Ten Gifts Your BFF Really Wants But Wouldn't Buy for Herself
· The Alice + Olivia Sale Is Still Stocked With Sequined Dresses
· Finish All Your Holiday Shopping at These Eight Stores
· What Were the Best Trends of 2012?
· Shoes, Coats, and Men's Are the Best Bets at the A.P.C. Sale
· The Ultimate Guide to Last Minute Holiday Shopping in NYC
· Life Advice From a Barber: Mike Sposito at Barber & Supply

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Image via Marmalade Vintage/Facebook

NOLITA—Shop a special collection of New Year's Eve-appropriate party dresses at Marmalade Vintage from 6pm to 9pm tonight, where treats from Heartbreaker Baker and holiday drinks will be served. If you can't make it this evening, be sure to swing by before the 31st, which is when the collection will vacate the store. [RackedWire]

WILLIAMSBURG—As one record store closes another one opens: A tipster wrote in to let us know that the London-based record store Rough Trade will open its first U.S location in Williamsburg this fall. According to the company's website, they'll be partnering with The Bowery Presents on a live performance area. Here's a bit of history for you if you're not a big UK music buff—our tipster points out that "the original London shop spawned the Rough Trade label, which released the first four Smiths records, among other notable releases." [RackedWire]

Update: The Williamsburg location won't be Rough Trade's first U.S. store, as there were previously locations in San Francisco.

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New York City has more stores than anyone could physically tackle, but somehow we always keep returning to the usual suspects. To break out of the rut, we've asked some local shopping and fashion gurus to provide their hidden retail gems—those unique stores around our fantastic city that we might not all know about. Cue the Beatles: We're about to get a little help from our friends.

Image via Google Maps

Designer Jennifer Behr introduced her namesake collection of luxury hair accessories in 2005, and since then, the collection has grown to include a range of accessories, like thick satin turbans and pieces adorned with Swarovski crystals or made of hand-braided nautical rope patterns. Here, the designer shows us the only place in Chelsea where they stock the carving tools she needs to create her headpieces.

I have a minor tool collection obsession (we still make all of our pieces by hand in Manhattan and Brooklyn), and Henry Westphal has the best selection of obscure leather making tools in the city. They were also the only people I could find who still stock this weird crescent shaped knife that we use to shave the back of feather spines and to curl feathers by hand. Don't be fooled by the non-descript front counter–it's a treasure trove for makers.

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As 2012 draws to a close, we're surveying our friends in the fashion industry about the year's biggest news stories and most exciting developments. So far, we've looked at the best and worst trends, and favorite personal purchases; now, let's discuss which neighborhoods or streets have improved the most, retail-wise. Readers, let us know what you think in the comments.

Image via WWD

Kay Lee, store owner of Otte: Uptown has greatly expanded its offerings, particularly around the 60s and 70s and on Madison Avenue. So many contemporary brands (Yigal, Rag & Bone, Alice and Olivia) opened next to the high-end designers. In addition, we opened our newest location on 71st and Third after seeing such potential in that neighborhood.

Eddy Chai and Paul Birardi, store owners of Odin: Williamsburg is hardly a newcomer for shopping, but it's still surprising how many new stores keep emerging.

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Welcome to Advice from a Hairdresser, a new Racked video series in which we'll be asking our favorite salon and barber shop employees life's toughest questions while simultaneously getting a haircut. Nothing's off limits, and topics will range from whether or not you should dump that questionable guy you're dating to whether or not you should get bangs. Need advice on something? Send us your requests to tips@racked.com.

For the first episode in our series, we sent our very own David Sherwin to Barber & Supply in Williamsburg. The shop is run by the people from F.S.C. Barber, which shares some DNA with Freemans Sporting Club. Naturally, we asked barber Mike Sposito all about facial hair. Above, he explains what you should do if your mom doesn't like your girlfriend, what type of haircut is best for today's apocalypse, and the one thing you should never tell your barber.
· F.S.C. Barber & Supply Opens in Williamsburg [Racked NY]

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Today's Street Scenes subject is Dana, shot on 18th Street and Fifth Avenue in Flatiron. Feel free to vote on whether you like or dislike her outfit below. Your choices are 'Perfection!,' 'I feel strangely ambivalent about it,' or 'Who did this to you?'

Photo by William Chan

Dana is wearing an ASOS cape, leggings from American Apparel, and Jeffrey Campbell shoes. Her favorite place to shop is 3.1 Phillip Lim.

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With only a few days left in the year, it's time to reminisce on 2012 with the annual (six years running!) Racked Recap. This time, we've added a new component: As you may have noticed, we've been consulting fashion industry experts on things like the best and worst trends of the year. Now, let's take a look back through our own archives as we list the Best New Shoe Store Openings.

Schutz on Madison Avenue

If 2012 was nothing else, it was definitely the Year of the Shoe. A surplus of new boutiques dedicated solely to stilettos, sandals, and ankle boots opened this year, in addition to the major shoe department revamps at Barneys, Saks, and Macy's. After the jump, we've pulled together a list of the top eight shoe store openings of the year, which include everyone from Nicholas Kirkwood to Matt Bernson to Christian Louboutin.

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This weekend, Fashion Delivers will host a pop-up shop on Staten Island for victims of Hurricane Sandy. WWD reports that it will be set up like a tradeshow, with a million dollars worth of donated merchandise for men, women, and children. (The article adds that both Ralph Lauren and Aéropostale are among the contributors.)

And to make sure that all of those in dire need get to take advantage of the event, attendees must have a FEMA number and are required to preregister. However, Fashion Direct is still eagerly looking for volunteers if you'd like to participate. The event begins tomorrow and runs through Christmas Eve; head to the website for more info.
· Fashion Delivers Hosts Hurricane Pop-Up Shop [WWD]
· Fashion Delivers [Official Site]

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Just in time for the first day of winter, it's our pleasure to introduce Curbed Ski, a new website chronicling the glory of Great North American ski towns, from Stowe to Steamboat, Taos to Tahoe. If you drool over chalets and dream of pistes, Curbed Ski may well be your jam. Each day, editor Ryan Dunfee is cooking up a snowy batch of real estate porn, high altitude restaurant and retail news, snowfall celebration, mountain gossip, and more. Already today, Curbed Ski offers up interiors of Brooke Shields' Sun Valley mansion; a heatmap of where to eat around Lake Tahoe; and a photogallery of all the snow that's blanketed the nation's slopes from east to west this week. Go on, try a few turns.
· Curbed Ski [ski.curbed.com]

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As 2012 draws to a close, we're surveying our friends in the fashion industry about the year's biggest news stories and most exciting developments. Yesterday, we looked at the best trends and favorite personal purchases; now, let's discuss the worst trends. Readers, let us know what you think in the comments.

Kirsten Fleming, fashion writer at the New York Post: Please get rid of severe mullet dresses and bubble necklaces. While we're at it, can we get rid of most personal style blogs. If someone was following you around everyday to take photos of you texting or wistfully looking into the distance, that used to be a reason for an order of protection.

Karin Bereson, store owner of No.6: Every celebrity wearing Louboutin-like pumps (very Kardashian).

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We scan the inbox so you don't have to. Today, three items of note:

Best Bets Daily: Rodin Olio Lusso Scented Candle (pictured)
Brooklyn Based: Food books for the holidays
DailyCandy: A website for booking beauty appointments online
I Heart Daily: A holiday giveaway
MUG: Not updated
Refinery29: Inside Stephanie Winston Wolkoff's apartment
The Skint: Not updated
Thrillist: Gatorade cocktails at this Murray Hill sports bar
WWWD: Guest editor Amanda Seyfried
The Zoe Report: Six New Year's Eve dresses

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Photo via DNAinfo

Fairway's grand opening in Kips Bay is slated for 10am this morning, and by the looks of the supermarket's Twitter account, things seem to be right on track. The company tweeted this morning: "Today is the day!! @FairwayMarket #KipsBay opens at 10AM. Spread the word!"

DNAinfo stopped by yesterday scope it out. So that you know exactly where to go when you enter, they explain that all of the food is located on the lower level, with the produce section being the first thing you'll find after you hop off the escalator. (The bakery is right after that.) The market will also include staples like the Olive Bar and the hot food and salad bars, along with plenty of sushi, seafood, and over 600 kinds of cheese.
· Fairway Puts Finishing Touches on New Kips Bay Store [DNAinfo]
· The Kips Bay Fairway Will Open This Week [Racked NY]
· It's Official: Fairway Is Coming to Kips Bay [Racked NY]

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Inside Nepenthes. Photo by Brian Harkin

Local
· Iconic doll company shuts its Harlem headquarters [DNAinfo]
· More sales on the Upper East Side [Madison Avenue Spy]

National
· 50 fashion editors to follow on instagram [Racked]
· Anna Wintour still in the ambassadorial running despite naysayers [THR]
· The Face contestants and their strong resumes were announced [Oxygen]

International
· Miss Universe trend takeaway: bodysuit wrapped in a sarong [The Cut]
· London's Eighties club scene gets a retrospective at the V&A [Vogue UK]
· Givenchy to take a haute couture breather for the S/S season [Telegraph]

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