sale picks

it's that time of year again...memorial day has marked the unofficial start of summer, and department stores and boutiques are ready to clear out spring merchandise to get ready for fall (and give you a deal in the meantime!). beginning tomorrow, poole shop spring merchandise will be 40% off, but as we were straightening the racks today before the ensuing madness, we came across a couple of items that left us wondering how did this make it to sale?

the karen walker stripe dress (above) has been a favorite of ours all season long. we're just waiting for it to find its proper home.

maybe we're just into stripes this season, but this stunning number from A.L.C. needs to find a good home as well. it's the perfect "patio dress" for summer cocktails or a wedding on the beach...

not that karen walker

karen walker, meet karen walker:

you may know karen walker as the snarky assistant on tv's hit series will & grace, but we know karen walker as the sassy new zealand designer who's spring collection has taken poole shop by storm. inspired by all things nautical, a tomboy-ish blazer, flirty striped dress and crisp linen pant seamlessly project this designer's vision--a look that is both masculine and feminine, tailored and street-savvy. walker launched her first collection state-side in 2006 and already boasts celebutante followers such as alexa chung, natalie portman, ashley olsen, claire danes, drew barrymore, freida pinto and sienna miller: not a bad rap sheet for someone who started her line with just $80. we're looking forward to an even more exciting fall collection as karen walker becomes one of our featured designers, so stay tuned for more.

natalie portman wearing a karen walker blazer (available now at poole shop!) during an appearance on the today show. photo from the associated press.