• Last month a team of anonymous shoppers found a spate of sales, many offering 40 percent off, at department stores like Saks, Bergdorf Goodman, Lord & Taylor, and Macy's. The stores are trying to keep the discounts quiet in the press, even as "most are working their customer e-mail lists like Barack Obama." [WWD]

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized more than 400 shipments of counterfeit merchandise in New York this past fiscal year, a 53 percent increase from the previous year. [WWD]

• Johnny Borrell turned down the opportunity to appear in the upcoming Dior Homme "Girl With A Pearl Earring" campaign to focus on his music career. [British Vogue]

• Saks commissioned jewelers ranging from Graff to Marco Bicego to create one-of-a-kind snowflake brooches for the holidays, starting at $12,500 apiece. [WWD]

• Gifts for thrifty shoppers abound this holiday season: A $750 jigsaw puzzle depicting Steven Meisel's famous Italian Vogue shoot with model Meghan Collison is available for preorder. [Style.com]