Surviving the sample sale
May 31st, 2006
I really dislike shopping for clothes. So when I do, I prefer to buy a whole bunch of stuff in one fell swoop. That’s why I love the endurance test that is the sample sale, wherein hundreds of women, toting pounds and pounds of clothes, strip down to their skivvies in the middle of hot warehouses to try on choice items before anyone else can get to them. Kind of like a thrift store, but way more expensive.
Thankfully, Budget Fashionista today has a great primer on how to shop sample sales, which everyone should read before venturing into one. I highly recommend Billion Dollar Babes, a series of sample sales held in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and other major cities featuring cut-rate wares from hundreds of designers. And be sure to check out the semi-annual Barney’s warehouse sale if you ever happen to be in New York at the opportune time: It’s a great place to find truly unique items that are often selling for chain-store prices.
June 1st, 2006 at 2:25 pm
In the South, the true tests are Hudson’s Treasure Hunt stores. One might find a $1000 coat from Saks for $175 or a Calvin Klein dress for $50–or not. The hunt is part of the fun.
June 1st, 2006 at 4:24 pm
Yes, seeing as how I’ve never heard of sample sales in the south… I’ll give my input on Hudson’s as well: I bought a $600 wedding dress for $180 before I was even engaged. But, I did get married and wore it on my wedding day and it was beautiful.