STYLE/BEAUTY

I have a confession to make: I prefer the French ‘chignon’ to the American ‘bun’. I love these quick and easy hairstyle trends, seen often on the runway. I chose ‘bun’ as a subject, since it is a particularly appropriate style for us bargain lovers. It is versatile, and easy enough to do it yourself. Well, let’s just say, I will not pay a Manhattan stylist $200; to come up with something called a “shower bun”. But maybe, that’s just me…

If I were a size 8, I would run to this sample sale at Faryl Robin’s Union Square showroom/office for winter boots, fall pumps, even a few sandals in the summer.  If you are an 8, or need to buy a present for an 8, then you will find something. Faryl Robin offers comfortable shoes that are stylish and unique.  The prices of this sample sale ($50 for shoes/sandals $100 for boots) is an equivalent of shopping at Aerosoles or at the mall. Yet, here footwear is much better quality, more comfortable, and a more unique design. That means, that, yes, the Dancer Platforms, they are at the sale, and rather than pay this season’s $200, you can get them for $50! Plus, no one was there when I went at about 3pm.  I was able to take my time and sit all over trying on pairs of shoes!

If you are not a size 8, well, they have about 30 pairs or so of sandals, shoes, and boots in a variety of other sizes from 5-10 stacked in boxes by the wall. About one-third of these were boots, the rest shoes and sandals. They had only 3 or 4 pairs in a 9 and 10.  The most they had in a size was a 7.5, about 8 or so pairs of those. 
Seeing as to how I am a 9, this sale was a waste of time, unless I wanted, and here is the golden ticket, if you want these, the women’s Larkin in this season’s fashionable color, camel! They retail right now for $280, but here, at the sample sale, they have one in a size 9, and they are $100.  There is only one of these, so hurry up if you want them. I did not find anything, and I walked out empty handed. 
They said they were not restocking, or offering any additional discounts.  Summary: Go for sure if you are a size 8, or know someone you want to buy shoes for that is a size 8.  If not, unless you have a lot of spare time, don’t go.  $50 is not that worth it.  It is not like they are $20 (see the Rena Lange review!)
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If you are a fan of the Rena Lange, then definitely go to this sale at their meatpacking district studio.  If you have not heard of this German based label, then look it up, you may be a fan! There are some beautiful pieces that are all very wearable, yet elegant, and look “designer”, or as Michael Kors loves to say on Project Runway, “expensive.” They are selling this season’s clothing at wholesale prices.  Spring and Summer at 50% off wholesale.  2009 are 70% off.  2008 are 80% off.   Be warned that 2008’s are mostly sizes 8 and above.
There are about three full racks of clothing from this season, and then about one rack for earlier seasons.  There are a few gems in there.  Yet, this is an expensive label.  With retail prices at about $2000 for pieces, even wholesale is not that inexpensive.  If you are looking for a crazy bargain, you will not be able to find very much unless you want to spend at least $100.  I did not see any samples in the clothing, although I must admit I did not ask, but it did not look like there were any.  There were some beautiful cardigans and suit coats in the offerings, and so, if you want a quality cardigan, and want to spend the money, here, you will get a deal.  There were also a few gowns, but most of them in sizes 8 and up. I did find one casual dress I really liked, but I did not want to pay $200 for it.
The accessories were limited (about 10 belts and 20 pairs of shoes), but here is where the super bargains were.  Lovely belts for $40, boots for $50, and pumps for $20.  Unfortunately, as is often the case, these are the runway pairs, so they have been worn during the shows. Of course, they run from 8.5-10. Ankle booties that retail for $599, are a steal here! Even on ebay they are $199!  I bought one pair of shoes and one boot.  
The sale was very well organized and the staff very helpful.  There were only a handful of people there when I went at about 4pm.  It is a nice shopping experience if that is important to you. Summary: Go if you want to spend a few hundred dollars on some classic pieces you will keep for a while, or if you want a pair of runway shoes for a steal, before they sell out!

By Bargain Jeny

Fans of Furla’s signature too-much-is-never-enough aesthetic will find a lot to like at the brand’s current sample sale. Though there’s a good selection of bags under $200, the real bargains here are, somewhat paradoxically, the most expensive. To wit: a medium sized slouchy hobo is $349, which isn’t exactly chump change…but it’s not so bad when you compare it to the original price of $995. A larger structured tote combines suede and (yes, more) fur to dazzling effect, and the bargain is even better: $299 from $1195. If you must go for subtle, a cream leather bag is very ladies who lunch at $259, as is a grey suede structured bag ($259 from $725).

The under $200 items are mostly relegated to cardboard boxes, but there are some good deals here as well. A soft burgundy beach bag isn’t the chicest purse of all time, but when else are you going to pay $9 for Furla? More aesthetically promising: a $79 real leather pouch and a punchy red patent leather doctor bag for $139. At these prices, you can buy too much (but will it ever be enough?).

By Leila Cohan Miccio