Caitlin Colford

Two weeks off from sample sale shopping allowed us to pack up our holiday decorations, work off those extra pounds, and replenish our rainy day fund, AKA our shopping allowance. Now that we are well into January, stores and brands are trying to force their winter wear on us, in order to make room for their bright and cheery spring lines. Ah, spring clothing and warm weather, doesn’t that sound heavenly? So this week, let’s assist stores and brands such as Journelle, Mikimoto, Calvin Klein, Theory & Helmut Lang, and Zutto Yellow, in cleaning house. It will provide us with a silver lining and help us to see clearly into our warm weather future.

SAMPLE SALE ALERT: YELLOW

Calvin Klein Clothing & Accessories Sample Sale

Start your shopping week early on Sunday with Calvin Klein. Beginning at 9AM Soiffer Haskin will host the Calvin Klein Sample Sale, which will offer up to 75% off retail prices. The sale, which has in the past been occupied mainly by men’s suiting, will also offer women’s clothing, accessories and handbags.

Theory & Helmut Lang Sample Sale

I’m sorry, but isn’t there a Helmut Lang Sample Sale going on as we speak? Why, yes, yes there is. Until Sunday, Helmut Lang is holding their bi-annual Sample Sale within their usual sale home, 93 Mercer Street. If you plan on visiting the sale this weekend, be sure to “retweet” Helmut Lang’s tweet found here to receive an additional 10% off. For fans of the brand who can’t make the tail end of the sale this weekend, Clothingline will be hosting a Theory & Helmut Lang Sample Sale beginning Monday. Although the sale may simply feature left overs and scraps from sales in the past, there is hope that prices will be more reasonable than what we found at the Theory & Helmut Lang Sample Sale this past summer.

Journelle Designer Lingerie Warehouse Sale

Va-va-voom!  Tuesday brings us Journelle’s Designer Lingerie Warehouse Sale within the spacious 260 5^th Avenue showroom. Featured designers such as Stella McCartney, Lascivious, La Perla, and Elle Macpherson will bring us 50-70% off high-fashion lingerie we won’t mind showing off. Hopefully 260 will allow dressing rooms at this sale otherwise it may be advised to bring an eye shield along.

Zutto Yellow Showroom Jewelry & Accessories Sample Sale

Zutto Yellow’s funky and bohemian collection of jewelry, accessories, and home goodies will be on sale in their West Village showroom. The Zutto Yellow Sample Sale boasts sale items from indie designers such as Necks Tuesday and Prariefunk, assuring from their names alone that this will be the hottest place to pick up some original pieces for you and your home in one shot. Like them on Facebook and receive an additional 5% off.

Mikimoto Jewelry Sample Sale

Close out the week with 50-70% off Mikimoto jewelry at their Sample Sale on 680 Fifth Avenue, between 53^rd and 54^th Streets. Mikimoto offers fine quality cultured pearl jewelry, from classic strands to pearls in motion. Various pearls are featured within Mikimoto’s pieces, such as conch, baroque and akoya.

A calm week in sample sale shopping will help you to get your sea legs, after having been out of the game for what feels like forever. Picking up a piece or two during this week’s roster sample sales will provide you with your shopping dosage, and keep your pockets full and purses heavy in preparation for the continued inundation of stock up sales ahead.

By Caitlin Colford

The semi annual Oak NYC 30/40/50 Sale is currently underway in the East Village, with darkly colored avant garde and edgy clothing  being sold at a whopping 40% off original retail prices. The best part? Every single item within the store — excluding fragrances — is on sale. You’ll be hard pressed to find soft colors and neons within this downtown boutique, as this is a two-floor sale stop for Alexander Wang lovers and fans of radically cut pieces alike, all featured in blacks, olives, maroons, and dark blues.

Considering Oak held their 30% off run of the sale last week (next week will be 50% off remaining merchandise), I was surprised to find a great deal of steals in all sizes. Unfortunately, the majority of the Alexander Wang merchandise has cleared out, leaving behind mainly pieces from Cheap Monday, Mother Jeans, Harmon, A. OK, and Won Hundred Jeans as well as numerous selections from Oak’s personal line, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

To begin, the four Alexander Wang survivors was his Duffle Bag Shirt Dress w/ Open Back  that is available in olive and maroon ($237, orig. $396, pictured), Ruby Monk Strap Flat Leopard Shoes ($402.50, orig. $575, pictured), Ruby Monk Flat Back in Leather ($297.50, orig. $425, pictured) and his Emile Hornback Bag ($555, orig. $925). Now here is where the age old retail sale vs. sample sale argument comes into play. Considering we just braved the Alexander Wang Sample Sale in the Fall, some may feel they have had their fill. However, during the sample sale we were shopping past season’s pieces with a few current goodies tossed in for good measure. If you are a diehard fan of this designer brand, than consider shopping at sales like Oak’s and paying a few bucks more for current season merchandise in order to be ahead of the crowd. To give you an idea of the small margin in price points, the Duffle Bag Shirt will cost you around $175 (vs. $237) come next year’s sample sale (based on this past year’s price list), the shoes will run you $300 a pop (vs. $297 & $402) and the large leather bag will ring up at $400 (vs. $555 or $462 next week). And remember, if these pieces survive the 40% off sale, they’ll be available for 50% off next week. The long wait in the cold for the Alexander Wang Sample Sale doesn’t look so worthwhile now, does it?

Moving right along, be sure to spend time plucking through Oak’s house brand. It occupies the majority of the two-floor set up and rightfully so. Those items worth a peek are the Oak Cinch Maxi Dress in Midnight ($87.50, orig. $120), Kerchief Tee in Shale ($42), Cowl Back Jersey Dress Tank ($75), as well as their Asymmetrical Tees ($36) and Shawl Collar Zip Pull Overs ($63).

If you’re in the market for a new pair of designer jeans, then a trip down to Oak on Bond or in Brooklyn is certainly in order. Cheap Mondays, an Oak favorite, are (as the title states) cheap anyway, therefor an additional 40% off makes them a steal. However, they are not for every body type as they are extremely tight and the sizing is usually off considering they run extremely small. But for the price you can’t complain. On hand was their Mega High Waist Loose Fitting Denim ($45, orig. $75, pictured) and their Second Skin Super Stretch Skinny Jeans ($45, orig. $75). Towards Oak’s front door are two denim options from Won Hundred Jeans in their Brigette cut ($136, orig. $228, pictured) as well as Ksubi’s Hi and Wasted Jeans.

Downstairs, don’t pass by the shoe table without taking a gander at the eye catching Vintage Spike Heels ($66, orig. $110, pictured), as well as the Esley Leather Pilot Jacket located in the rear.

Ultimately the Oak 30/40/50 Sale is a do-not-miss if you tend to be on top of the trends and sport a downtown cool attire. Oak’s bold cuts, avant garde flare and interesting choices are a must if you frequently “wow” a room with your edgy wardrobe choices. Considering the amazing deals the 40% and 50% portion of the sale exhibit, this comfortable shopping experience may be a better bet than any of the featured designer’s sample sale counterparts.

WHEN: Ongoing; M-Sat (11-8), Sun (11-7)

WHERE: 28 Bond Street
near Lafayette Street
(212-677-1293)

By Caitlin Colford

We’re in the home stretch of Holiday madness. 2013 is knocking on our door and some will welcome the New Year with open arms, while others will shoo it away. Regardless of your feelings on the 13^th year of the millennium, be sure to start to new year fresh: Allow positive thoughts to wash over you like a salted ocean on a warm day and think up the ultimate resolution to achieve in 2013. It’s a new year, a new start, so do away with regrets and fears and make this one count.

Get What You Really Wanted

According to the National Retail Federation, an estimated $62.7 billion dollars worth of unwanted gifts will be returned this year. To avoid battling the crowds and waiting in that long, pesky return line, only to discover you failed to achieve the store’s return policy, be sure to do your research first.

Many stores will issue you a store credit so as long as your merchandise is unused and the tags are in tact, but some outlets are upping their policies this year due to a spike in return fraud, which will cost retailers $2.9 billion this season. The National Retail Federation reports that criminals will return stolen merchandise with fraudulent tags and receipts, making it difficult for employees to be generous with their understanding of receipt-less-returns.

Phoning your relatives and friends to request a receipt for their generous gift doesn’t sound fun or ideal, but at the end of the day they’d rather see you using something their money purchased for your rather than knowing that far-too-big sweater is sitting in the back of your closet. To smooth things over, after your exchange is complete, be sure to send your loved ones a picture message of the goodies their returned gift landed you.

New Year’s Day Sales

Many of us are suffering from shopping exhaustion and over indulgence, but those of us who are still hanging on and ready for more, Tuesday is your time to shine. As the partied-out nurse their champagne hangover on New Year’s Day, be the first in line for up to 70% off sales from department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Barney’s, who boast notoriously good New Year’s Day deals.

For those discount-seeking shoppers who can’t quite bare the light of day on New Year’s, there are plenty of online sales set to take place. Check Macys.com for price slashing coupon codes, as well as the sale section on Bloomingdales.com and Nordstrom.com, for additional markdowns.

Sample Sale Code: Light Yellow

There are no important sample sales to report during this holiday week, but if you are looking to get your fashion fix then get your discount shoe shopping on come Tuesday.

Located at 537 3^rd Avenue, Shoebox will play host to a Designer Warehouse Sale through January 7^th with footwear from Frye, Kate Spade, KORS, and many more for up to 80% off, in addition to handbag collections from Rebecca Minkoff, Kooba, and Botkier, among others.

A similar sale of sorts is going on nearby in Gotham Hall at 1356 Broadway. Starting Wednesday at 9AM, the Shoe-Inn Footwear Warehouse Sale will unleash a price set sale, with boots from Ralph Lauren, Elizabeth and James, Sam Edelman, Frye, and more marked at either $50, $75, $100 and $150 and designer shoes from Diane von Furstenberg, Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch, marked at $25, $50 or $75.

With so many parties and far too much shopping taking place early on in the week, you’re going to have to make next Saturday and Sunday the ultimate recovery weekend. Did someone say spa day? Happy New Year shopping lovers!

By Caitlin Colford

The Bitta Design Group Sample Sale began this morning at the luxurious Cassa New York Hotel. Please note the sale is located on the 10^th Floor and down the hallway on your left hand side, once through the elevator.

Imaginative designs, dazzling jewels, and vibrant diamonds occupied the display cases offering 75% off retail prices. If you’ve yet to find the perfect holiday gift, or still don’t know what to write on your wish list that your procrastinating significant other has been begging you for, then your solution lies within the Bitta Design Group Sample Sale.

It isn’t often that a jewelry sample sale impresses us, but between the outrageously good discounts and stunning pieces, this sale certainly gets our two thumbs up. When you first walk into the 10^th floor sale, there is a display case of sapphire and ruby pieces. If you’ve yet to find your young adult daughter the perfect gift to WOW her, check out the Ruby and Diamond Long Skull Necklace set in 14K White Gold ($1,620, orig. $6,482) as well as a Large Sapphire Ring with Diamonds set in White Gold ($1,765, orig. $7,063)

Next up, is an extraordinary array of emeralds, blue topaz, black spinel, and black diamonds, featured in styles such as drop earrings, rings, and statement bracelets. The eye-catchers of the bunch included a pair of 18K White Gold Diamond and Emerald Drop Earrings ($3,613, orig. $14,455, pictured), a pair of Black Spinel Double Circle Diamond Drop Earrings ($2,863, orig. $11,455, pictured) and a beautiful White Gold and Aquamarine Ring with Diamonds.

A few pairs of Bitta’s most popular earrings were on hand — a simple drop earring encircled by diamonds and set in white gold or yellow gold, available in a variety of colors such as Smokey Quartz and Aquamarine with Black Diamonds ($1,184, orig. $4,739, Smoke Quartz).

Before you start narrowing it down to your favorite piece, don’t overlook the Rose Gold pieces with Kunzite, the 48” chain of Rose Gold and Spinel ($1,680, orig, $6734), the bracelets with German Cut Stones in 14K Gold, or the blinding case of simple diamond bands, diamond tennis bracelets, and classic diamond studs for as low as $740. 

A diamond really is a girl’s best friend, and with Bitta’s reimagined classic pieces combined with wonderful semi-precious stones, there is no going wrong with opting to shop for last minute gifts for your loved ones at the Bitta Design Group Sample Sale.

WHEN: 12/19 – 12/20; Wed-Th (10-6)

WHERE: Cassa NY Hotel
70 West 45th Street
New York, New York 10036

By Caitlin Colford