Caitlin Colford

Thankfully, this week’s weather forecast brings us more tolerable conditions, allowing us to comfortably stroll the streets as we saunter from sale to sale. However, unfortunately this week’s sale forecast is less than thrilling. As we reported last week, January has brought us only half the amount of sales that we were offered to us last year at this time. Bring back the sample sales! Regardless of the bleak sale forecast, don’t miss out on Lululemon’s massive Warehouse Sale, Shoebox’s Warehouse Sale, Edition 01 Sample Sale, and discounts on fur at the Branco Pelle, Sharnelle, and Dennis Basso Sample Sales.

Sample Sale Alert: Light Yellow

Furry Discounts

This past Saturday we brought you the scoop on the deep discounts going on over at the Dennis Basso Sample Sale. With three days left of incredible markdowns on shearling, mink, fox fur, and slink, if you’re a fan of fur, don’t let Wednesday pass you by without making a trip to 33^rd Street. If nothing tickles your fancy at the Dennis Basso Sale, head five blocks downtown to 28^th Street to the Sharnelle Furs Outwear & Accessories Sample Sale where they promise mink coats for under $2,000 and fur vests for as low as $195. Still nothing? Then mosey back uptown to 39^th Street to the Branco Pelle High-End Shearling Outwear Sample Sale for up to 70% off Pelle’s beautiful shearling coats.

Edition01 Sample Sale

The online e-commerce site Edition01 is hosting a Sample Sale in their New York Office beginning on Wednesday. Edition01 frequently collaborates with top designers to curate limited edition collections. Currently they are collaborating with Fenton to bring shoppers punk inspired statement jewelry and Tracy Anderson to bring style and comfort in the form of bold leggings. On Wednesday, starting at 4pm, the Edition01 Sample Sale will offer said limited edition merchandise from brands such as Rag & Bone, Narcisco Rodriguez, and Thakoon.

The Shoe Box Warehouse Sale

Since last year, The Shoe Box has been frequently hosting warehouse sales where the Upper East Side store offers amazing discounts on high-end brands. During a warehouse sale last year, The Shoe Box offered Vince Camuto Wedges for $35, Ugg Annisa Boots for $99 and Magrit Crystal Pumps for $129, marked down from $650. Beginning Tuesday, The Shoe Box’s Warehouse Sale will bring discounted shoes from Frye, Kate Spade, KORS, Cynthia Vincent, and more.

Lululemon Yogabowl Warehouse Sale

Who needs the Super Bowl when you have a… Yogabowl? The rarely discounted brand Lululemon is hosing an exciting Warehouse Sale starting Friday and lasting through the weekend at Nassau Coliseum. The arena-sized sale is sure to be worth a trip if you can find your way out to Long Island. Last week, Lululemon hosted a similar gigantic sale in Vancouver, which drew in large crowds who sorted through boxes of Lululemon’s extremely comfortable and durable work out wear for as low as $4! Spotted at the sale was Lululemon’s Groove Crop Pants for $45, regularly $86.

Enjoy the final week of January and ring in February while lounging in your new Lululemon gear as you nosh on nachos and Buffalo wings and hang with the guys during Football’s biggest game while you await Beyonce’s half time performance. No lip-synching this time, B.

By Caitlin Colford

The The Dennis Basso Sample Sale could not have come at a better time! With bone-chilling wind gusts that register below zero and temperatures that barely reach twenty degrees, there is seriously no better day for discounts on the warmest jacket around: Fur coats!

Although a glamorous, celebrity obsessed and world-renowned designer line, Basso began his business grassroots style. The humble designer’s very first store was, well, a town car. Basso got his start back in the early 80’s by hawking furs out of the trunk of his car to passerby’s and those who flocked to him via word of mouth. On days like today, I hope he was wearing one of his own jackets for hypothermia’s sake.

Now, Basso is beloved for not only his stunning designer fur coats and ready to wear pieces, but also for his recently launched bridal line, fragrances, and uber affordable faux fur line over at QVC.

Today, a considerably small jumble of chilly and glamorous shoppers flocked to midtown to check out his sample sale at Soiffer Haskin. Although a morning that people wouldn’t dare leave the warmth of their own home, diehard fur fans didn’t pass up a sale like this with record low prices on high-quality furs.

I was incredibly surprised by the Dennis Basso dress collection. A wide variety of dresses were on hand in various styles, with a few avant garde pieces and well made skirts tossed in. Do note that these dresses were obviously used in photo shoots or on the runway, if not tucked away in storage for some time, as some merchandise that was lighter in color, appeared a bit drab. Be on the lookout for snags and stains at this sale.

Back to the dresses (I will be brief fur fans!), there were an equal amount of merchandise distributed in every size section (2-14) with stand outs including the tutu-esque Hand Embroidered Satin Organza Dress in Peach ($2,150, orig. $8,500), the very interesting Satin and Chiffon with Embroidery and Feathers Cocktail Dress in Navy ($1,450, orig. $5,800), a Champagne Daisy and Tulle Cocktail Dress ($5,800, orig. $14,500) and a Silk Chiffon Organza with Satin and Embroidery Floor Length Gown ($800, orig. $8,000).

Okay, it’s fur time, here we go! As expected all of the intention was focused on the coat section. Many coats were twists on your classics in sizes 2-16, with only one single full length fur coat on hand (a Natural Dark Sable Ankle Length $65,000, orig. $150,000). There are multiple sizes in most styles and while browsing, refer to the chart to figure out which size will work best for you as they are broken down as follows: 2=A, 4=B, etc. The coats are mainly arranged by color. Some of the lusted after pieces included a Dyed Charcoal Grey Shearling with Toscana Trim ($1,920, orig. $4,800), a Brown Knee Length Shearling ($1,950, orig. $6,500), a Red Brown Shearling with Fox Trim Poncho ($1,575, orig. $4,500), a Dyed Brown and Blue Sheared Mink that falls just above the knee ($7,350, orig. $21,000), and a sharp and edgy Slink with Raccoon Trim Cropped Waist Jacket, which was my personal favorite ($1,920, orig. $4,200).

There were quite a few vests available as well. About a dozen of the Dyed Desert Shearling with Beaver Trim Vest ($395, orig. $2,500) were lined up for a very affordable price. As was the Natural Brown Sculpted Sable Vest ($2,975, orig. $7,500). Two racks of fur trimmed raincoats were being ignored, perhaps because there were no great deals of the bunch (prices ranged from $1,295 – $4,375, plus, who wears fur in the rain?).

The accessories table wasn’t all that impressive. About four pairs of leg warmers were jumbled in a messy pile ($450) and a half dozen scarves were on display, from a Knitted Sable Scarf ($3,125, orig. $16,500) to a Knitted Mink Multi Camel Color Scarf ($300, orig. $1,500).

Before heading home, take a peak at the very interesting Bleached Pearl Sparkled Mink Coat ($5,775, orig. $16,500), the soft cardigan-like Blue Grey Sable and Cashmere Coat ($6,300) and the Dyed Antique Beige Shearling Coat ($1,440, orig. $4,806).

All in all, if you are in the market for a high quality fur coat, then look no further than the Dennis Basso Sample Sale. Do be aware that most items here are not traditional, these are fashionable furs, so if you’re into the classics, especially full length furs, then this very well may be a waste of your time.

WHEN: 1/26 – 1/30; Sat-W (9-6:30)

WHERE: Soiffer Haskin
317 West 33rd Street
(Just west of 8th Avenue)
New York
(718) 747-1656, M-F (9-6)

By Caitlin Colford

Where oh where did the sample sales go? Last January brought shoppers more than twice the amount of sample sales that are offered this year, a surprising fact given the continued allure of price slashing sales. Considering the outpouring of daily sale sites such as Gilt, designers may be shying away from offering beloved annual sample sales, but then again, they have to get rid of their true sample pieces somehow, right?  Notable January sales missing this year are from the Italian luxury brand Max Mara and the edgy and beloved All Saints. Where are we supposed to get our designer leather jackets on the cheap now?

But I digress. From here on out, let’s stay focused on the now and this week, don’t miss sample sales from Prive, Life:Curated, and Dennis Basso.

Sample Sale Alert: Light Yellow

Prive Sample Sale

Given Monday’s holiday, Tuesday kicks off the sale week with the Prive Sample Sale inside Chelsea Market. The sale, which has been well reviewed in the past and reported as tame compared to other sales, will offer up to 70% off retail prices from popular brands. Last year, the Prive Sample Sale brought an assortment of merchandise from such labels as Theory, Elie Tahari, Free People, and Alice + Olivia. An alternative Apparel dress was even scored for $18!

Life:Curated Warehouse Sale

It’s multi-brand mayhem this week! Thursday, the Life:Curated Warehouse Sale will offer 50-70% off fall merchandise from such brands as Ace & Jog and Dolce Vita. Last year, Life:Curated hosted their annual sale in Williamsburg, and offering tees for as low $10, shoes for $75, and $30 button downs in addition to Rebecca Minkoff bags for $175.

Dennis Basso Sample Sale

Expect this sale to be jam packed with Upper East Siders and socialites. Beginning on Saturday, the Dennis Basso Sample Sale has a late start in the week at Soiffer Haskin as it boasts discounts on fur vests, cashmere coats, clothing and a selection of fur throws.  Furrier Basso has been the go to designer for well over a decade, having kept celebrities such as Brooke Shields and Sharon Stone warm with his famous fur coats. Expect to also see gowns from Basso’s year old bridal collection.

Despite the slim sale pickings January has offered us thus far, let’s hold our heads up high and hope for a brighter sale future for the upcoming eleven months 2013 has in store for us.

By Caitlin Colford

A shocking number of jewelry fans braved one of the longest waits in the history of sample sales, waiting in two sets of lines that moved at a snail’s pace before they were able to gain entry to the Mikimoto Sample Sale, also known as the “Employee Sale.” The average wait to enter the sale was two and a half to three hours, and I endured just that. Lucky for all of us the line resided indoors, but it was incredibly frustrating to discover that they were only allowing two people in every ten minutes. Security expects the long wait to remain through Friday, given the small showroom that only holds a dozen shoppers at a time.

Perhaps I was naïve to assume the crowd would be manageable at this historic designer’s sale. Mikimito is not only known for his high quality luxury pearls, but he also essentially launched the entire pearl industry in the 1890’s. He is the Walt Disney of pearls. Regardless if that analogy makes sense or not, Mikimoto invented the cultured pearl, which is a pearl created under controlled circumstances. This is the technique that nearly all jewelers use today. For those science nerds out there, a cultured pearl is raised mimicking the natural birth of a pearl through raising the oyster and implanting the nucleus.

OK fashionistas, I hear you. Enough of me being a nerd and get to the good stuff. After a very long albeit warm two and a half hour wait, I was finally allowed in to the already picked from showroom on the 4^th floor of 680 5^th Avenue. Please note, all bags and coats must be checked in an unmonitored area, so be sure not to bring any valuables. Cell phones are not allowed in the sale. If you are caught, it will be assumed you are taking photos and your phone will be confiscated. Which brings me to my next revelations that sadly, absolutely no photos were allowed. Sorry shoppers.

The sale reductions are indicated by colored dots. The following are the price deductions:

Red Dot: 50% off
Blue Dot: 60% off
Green Dot: 65% off
Yellow Dot: 70% off
Light Blue Dot: 75% off

To begin, I started with browsing two cases in the right rear of the display cases, which feature Mikimoto’s Blue Lagoon line. For those seeking a good deal, perhaps it is best to end as the Blue Lagoon line offers wallet friendly prices. Reading these price tags followed by the others may induce stress. A pair of classic pearl studs will run you only $68 (orig. $170), while a single pearl pendant hanging beautifully on a sterling silver chain will only cost $104 (orig. $260). Another ideal option from the Blue Lagoon line is their classic multiple strand pearl necklace ($1,040, orig. $2,600).

Now for the big leagues. The main attraction of the sale was certainly the collection of traditional strands and I must say, I died over Mikimito’s signature gold bow clasp. This eye catching clasp seriously makes the already gorgeous necklace that much more appealing. Lusted after strands included the Black South Sea Strand ($5,200, orig. $13,000), the Classic Strand ($917, orig. $2,620), Golden South Sea Strand ($12,250, orig. $35,000) and the stunning Freyja White South Sea Strand choker ($57,750, orig. $165,000).

I fell in love with the single pearl pendants, many of which were accented with diamond chips. The rule of thumb here seemed to be the simpler, the better as the crazier the design, the less appealing they became. An absolutely beautiful Black South Sea Pendant was $323 (orig. $850).

There was a large selection of jewelry with heart accents, as well as a great deal of modern pieces. Considering pearls are a classic affair, I wasn’t too thrilled with these collections as some came off as tacky, rather than being an eye-catching piece.

The ring and earring section was being ignored as I was browsing. The rings, which are tucked into the left corner, featured a nice variety of black south sea pearls and classic pearls with diamonds. A number of hanging pearl earrings were on hand, but be sure to focus on the classic studs, which are available for as low as $122.59 (orig. $350), as well as the studs with a single diamond accent ($343, orig. $980). Also being tried on was the pearl and diamond embellished hoops, which were 70% off ($1,200, orig. $4,000).

If you are a lover of pearls, a mother of pearl, or a girl with a pearl earring (anything else?) and in the market for some new additions to your jewelry box, then this is the sale for you. Hopefully the wait will decrease as the days go on, but if you are not a fan of hanging out in line nor have two hours to spare in your day, you may have a serious anxiety attack as you twiddle your thumbs in anticipation of being let in to the Mikimoto Sample Sale. Word to the wise: Bring a good book.

WHEN: 1/16 – 1/18; W (11-7), Th-F (10-7)

WHERE: 680 Fifth Avenue
between 53rd & 54th Streets
4th Floor

By Caitlin Colford