BARGAIN GUIDES

There’s nothing quite as satisfying as the smug feeling of a true bargain – the inherent knowledge that you’ve paid pennies on the dollar for a fabulous designer frock – while passerby gape with open mouths, wondering if you’ve got Rachel Zoe on speed dial or are just naturally blessed with the ability to accessorize well.

Bargain shopping has a deeper, more organic layer to it than a quick trip to H&M or Forever 21.  Sure, you can find steals amidst the $12 leggings and $3.99 plastic earrings, but a classic Burberry trench, gently worn Jimmy Choo strappy sandals and vintage pearls are immune to homogenized mall musings.  Consignment shops, once considered glorified secondhand stores, are making a strong comeback amid the economic turbulence that’s wracked the world.  Not only do they offer one-of-a-kind and rare finds, they also afford the opportunity to trade in – and sometimes, trade up – your existing wardrobe for one that’s new (to you).

As a seasoned consignor, I offer The Vogue City readers step-by-step instructions on how to – and how to not – consignment shop. 

1.  Time is of the essence.

Unlike that aforementioned trip to H&M, where, if you really want a basic white tank, you can be in and out within 5 minutes flat; you need to block off a chunk of time to appropriately dig through the literal buried treasure a consignment shop has to offer.  I recommend at least an hour; two hours, if you can spare it.

2.  Get over yourself.

Yes, you read that correctly.  Check your “size 28 in Sevens only, please” attitude at the door, ladies.  Be open to different brands and labels; be willing to go up (and sometimes down) a size or two; and ignore hemlines, zippers and buttons – almost anything can be remedied by the hand of a skilled tailor, a consignor’s secret weapon. 

3.  Reduce, reuse, recycle.

One cardinal rule I abide by is that if something comes, something else goes.  In essence, it’s the game of checks and balances played out with cardigans and billowy tunics.  It doesn’t matter if you’ve spent $50 or $500 on a dress:  if it’s never seen the light of day, what good is it sitting in the back of your closet?  Ship it off to your preferred consignment shop.  If and when it sells, the funds (typically a 50/50 or 60/40 split) will be added to your house account.  You can then draw on this account for in-store purchases, or will receive a check for reflecting your share of the sales at the end of the quarter.  Who said math wasn’t my strong suit?

4.  She shoots, she scores!

Congratulations!  You’ve successfully landed a bargain.  Resist the urge to yell from the mountaintops of tourists in Times Square or obnoxiously wear the price tag in public.  As Jay-Z eloquently put it, “You can go to school, but you can’t buy class.”  Real style is, after all, priceless.

-Karyn Polewaczyk

new york bargains

Abaeté by Laura Poretzky: Invest in basic pieces like blazers and pants in colors that are classic and timeless, then layer these items with more affordable pieces such as tops and soft dresses in the color of the moment.

Adam Lippes: Black — when one is on a budget, it is good to stay true to the color that looks great any day of the week, any time of the season and on any body type.

Alvin Valley: Choose a timeless color like Moonlight. This way, you will always be building your wardrobe with perpetual elegance.

Baby Phat by Kimora Lee Simmons: It’s important to keep colors classic and timeless. Black, gray and red are colors that will never lead you astray. They can be fun, sophisticated and easy to wear. You’ll reach for them again and again.

Brian Reyes: Purchase pieces in classic colors that complement your existing wardrobe. Our Jadeite is a great option because it adds interest to any outfit.

Carmen Marc Valvo: Choosing timeless colors, such as gray, is always chic and elegant.

Catherine Malandrino: Use an accent of Shocking Pink around the neck.

Charlotte Ronson: Black — it’s safe for all seasons.

Christian Cota: Pair basic colors with ones that pop. Garnet can be easily mixed with bursts of Gold.

Christian Siriano: Just wearing color helps you stay fashionable. Color is always a trend and is a great way to express yourself. Color should never be substituted.

Cynthia Steffe by Shaun Kearney: Black, because a little black dress can be styled in many different ways and is always chic.

David Rodriguez: I wanted to stay as far away from black as I could. Now is the time to excite the customer with gorgeous colors that will inspire the desire to add to her wardrobe.

Douglas Hannant: Throw in an accent of a bright, optimistic color like Raspberry. It’s uplifting!

Elie Tahari: By incorporating rich, timeless jewel tones into her wardrobe, a woman can revitalize it and transform an otherwise simple outfit. Jewel tones also look good on many different women so they tend to be easier to wear than brighter colors.

Ella Moss: A new top is always a quick fix. If I just need a quick pick-me-up, I’ll buy a color that isn’t basic. This season, I am dying for something in Deep Purple, or a new pair of Christian Louboutin shoes in a Grayed-off Teal could do the trick.
James Coviello: Adding a bold print to your fall wardrobe is an excellent way to match many different items you already have and create many new looks with just one piece.

Lela Rose: Pick a color that inspires you and use that color to accent your neutrals, blacks, denims, etc. Whether it’s just a pair of earrings, a belt or a T-shirt, your old styles will feel fresh again. I am loving blues and greens as they are easy for women to work into their current wardrobe.

Maria Pinto: For fall, color should flatter you and your coloring (hair-skin tone) it should be the key element that takes your neutrals to a new place. I recommend investing in colorful items that will make your old things look new again, whether it is a great wrap in Absinthe cut chiffon or a gorgeous Geranium tweed jacket.

Miss Sixty by Wichy Hassan: Color is a great way to stay fashionable on a budget. A pop of something like Fuchsia or Tangerine on a scarf, bag or gloves is a great way to freshen up a more basic garment.

Nanette Lepore: Be creative with what you have in your closet. Use Ebony as a base color and layer it with the colors of the season like Amber and Violet.

Ports 1961 by Tia Cibani: I think that when one is on a budget, it is best to stay with neutrals, as they are always in fashion. A hint of real color is the best way to go and is best done in small doses ‹ clutch bag and shoes, or lipstick and nails.

Rebecca Taylor: Gorgeous, colored, silk tops. Pink always makes me feel good.

Reem Acra: I always love Gold, because it can look rich and beautiful without embellishment.

Tadashi Shoji: Black. You can’t go wrong with this color — it’s timeless, slimming, easy to wear and looks great on everyone.

Temperley London: Don’t be afraid to wear brightly colored clothes and stand out from the crowd. Feel sexy and confident when you do this. Bubblegum best exemplifies this for me.

Thuy Diep: When every spending decision becomes a hard choice, dark colors (particularly black) allow women to buy timeless pieces that become a permanent part of their wardrobe.

Tracy Reese: Any color can look new and updated when paired with an unexpected shade. The always classic black is a great foundation for brightly colored, budget-friendly accessories.

Yigal Azrouël: I find colors that have the ability to represent my sensibility and transition from season to season, year after year. Azrouelian Gray always makes a perennial appearance in the collection, both as a neutral and as a statement, because of its timelessness.
SOURCE: PANTONE FASHION COLOR REPORT, FALL 2009

What are “Sample Sales”? The term could mean several things and is used frequently these days, often inaccurately. The original term meant just that, a designer getting rid of whatever samples they had in the showroom.  The sample sales were used to preview a line, they were used just for show and they didn’t come in all sizes.  However, our constant desire to score good bargains has created a market and the retail business has decided to use the term to also discard excess merchandise. 
 

What are “Warehouse Sales”? Warehouse Sales are organized by agencies of a brand or department stores to get rid of previous season(s) overstock or things they overproduced.  The term comes from the location of the sale, traditionally a warehouse.  One of the most popular warehouse sales is organized by Barney’s which draws long lines for bargain seeking stylish New Yorkers.
What is the difference between a sample sale and a warehouse sale? The difference between a sample sale and a warehouse sale is that at sample sales, the clothes might be worn already and unless you are a perfect size TWO they might not be your size.   Warehouse sales have a larger stock and although some clothes might have been tried on before at a warehouse sale as well, you will find some brand new ones as well. The chance to get a more recent model increases at a true sample sale as show rooms need to be emptied at the end of a season, while a warehouse sale will most likely have items from a season or more ago.
 

What are the new trends in the “Sample Sales” field?   Increasingly popular, especially in New York and LA, a “Sample Sale” has become a generic term for sales events for designer merchandise.  They are organized by designers, PR agencies for designers, agencies or just third party companies who are in the business of organizing “sample sales”. There are venues in New York dedicated to this kind of sale event and websites dedicated to informing people of them.  It is important to understand what kind of sale you intend to visit, who is organizing it and to check for reviews for previous events for that brand/designer/agency to find out before you make the trip if it’s worth it.