Daily Front Row

(NEW YORK) The retail landscape is looking dire, but e-tailers offering online sample sales are miraculously thriving. Hautelook, a members-only site which offers goods from designers like Vivienne Westwood, Movado and BCBGMAXAZRIA and at up to 75% off, is indulging its charitable side by teaming up with New Yorkers for Children. Instead of simply asking for donated goods, HauteLook has enlisted designers and celebrities to donate customized items for a most unusual silent charity auction that will be held on the site on June 4, 2009. Katy Perry has donated customized signed headphones, while Dan Akroyd has given a signed harmonica from The Blues Brothers along with a signed photograph. Vivienne Tam will offer up one of her HP computers, while Calvin Klein Collection is rumored to be offering up several luxury accessories. Jordann Jewelry has created custom jeweled iPhone skins, while Shelly Litvak is donating a butter leather and python DJ bag. Beauty treatments from Exhale Spa, Kate Somerville, SPONGE skincare and more will round out the collection. All proceeds from the auction will directly benefit New Yorkers for Children. At the charity's annual Fool's Fete gala tonight at the Mandarin Oriental, HauteLook has sponsored a table that will be populated by the likes of Italo Zucchelli, Brian Reyes, Tara Subkoff, Poppy Delevigne, Bonnie Morrison and Chris Benz.
ASHLEY BAKER