Danielle Guercio

This may just have been one of the most affordable and worthwhile sales we have been to yet this season! Natori held their sale this spring at 102 Madison avenue on the 3rd floor, near Madison Square Park. If I were you, I would run down there immediately after work if you can make it!  Bras, underwear and shapewear were all at huge discounts, with deals across the board.

Bras were the big show here, with Josie Bralettes nearly flying thru the air and into shopping bags.  Colors, styles, and sizes were plentiful, and this sale was not as hectic as we expected.  Bras were 3 for $30. That’s right, 3 bras for 30 dollars. Natori also hosts the Sofia Vergara collaboration, and there was a definite rush for all of the neatly arranged bras on hangers. But the real gold, if you ask us, was in the bins lining the center table, grouped by size.

Orange, red, purple, nude, half cup, full cup, demi style, soft style, push up style, literally every kind of bra you could imagine could be found in these boxes.  it was remarkably well stocked, but probably won’t be for long.

Underwear were grouped by size and style and were 4 for $10, cheaper than even Target!  Thongs, boyshorts, full underwear and bikinis were all piled high along the back wall.  There was a separate room for loungewear and that was where many shoppers did the most damage.  Silk pajamas in prints and solids were leaving the hangers very quickly.  We couldn’t even find any tank nighties, they had nearly all been scooped up by eager shoppers.  Robes were a great find here and many as low as 20 dollars.  Silk robes, polyester robes, cotton jersey robes, terry robes, and all manner of lengths were really popular at this sale.

Pajamas were a great deal with $10 pants or $20 sets, prints included oriental, tie dye, and a few graphics as well as solid colors.  The palette was very summery with a lot of lime green, bright magenta, and orange.  Maxi dresses could also be had in multiple fabrics, colors, sizes, and styles.  Those are great for sleeping in or getting away with day wear if you dare.

Checkout was a breeze accepting cash and cards, and you could come up with a huge pile and still be nowhere near 100 dollars. This sale was killer and we highly recommend it.  You could probably shop this sale while someone waits on line for you at Shake Shack, come back online and get your food.  That would be a very smart use of time.  Though not in a 100% convenient location, since it is really only closest to the 6 train, this sale should be worth accessing, should you want to wait for the super slow elevator.  We took the stairs!

WHEN: 6/4 – 6/5; W-Th (10-4)

WHERE: 102 Madison Avenue
between 29th & 30th Streets
3rd Floor (Offices of Dana-Co)
New York, NY

By Danielle Guercio

Lingerie is one of the most important parts of a gal’s wardrobe, and having a few well made designer pieces in your repertoire is essential.  Kiki de Montparnasse is one of the most iconic luxury lingerie lines, with global influence, and hosting their sample sale this week on Greene St between Spring st and Broome st on the second floor of their retail space.

Whether looking for loungewear, fantasy wear, or just functional high end pieces, make a stop at Kiki this week. We saw gorgeous rich color palettes in satin, silk, and lace, and with prices over 80% off the normal $200+ price tags.  This line is a winner with brides, and we can see why with all the demure wear that we would be proud to rock on our wedding day.

If weddings are in your past or just not in your immediate future, you can still keep things interesting with an array of fun, sexy and most importantly affordable lines.  The space was very neat and laid back, no coat check or lines here, and it appeared very very easy to find your size or desired style.  A large table in the middle held most of the matching separates in bold satin and black with magenta, teal, and other colors.

To us, the real winners were the soft bras, coming in at $50, in the standard nude, black, and white, but the lacework on most of the designs is not one you will find in every other store.  Those small details, literally tiny flowers, are what separates luxury from standard ready to wear, and we loved every single second of touring all of the sheer lace looks. There were bras, bralettes, and bodysuits all in complimentary colors.  Navy blue was another rare beauty, not often a color you see in lingerie lines, which tend to lean towards pinks and bright colors.

Something not always offered at lingerie sales was a small rack of select Kiki clothing designs.  Sexy but office appropriate skirts mingled next to daring nude lace button down shirts.  There were comfy but still suggestive cotton shorts with matching crop tops, though not cheap, not easy to replicate with plain ol hanes, so we would grab those if you are looking for the cropped sporty look but with finished edges.

Last, in the back, are the legging collection.  Not super affordable but beyond well made, chap style lace leggings were not overlooked by any customer in the place, and we saw more than one savvy spender scoop them up.

Kiki de Montparnasse was a great sale to hit for your next investment piece.  There is something special about wearing luxury lingerie that really cannot be described until you pay the 70 dollar toll and try for yourself.  When spending big on such things, sample sales can multiply your spoils with the same amount of cash.  So get there today!

WHEN: 6/4 – 6/9; W (noon-8), Th-Mon (11-8)

WHERE: 79 Greene Street
between Spring and Broome Streets
New York, NY
212-965-8070

By Danielle Guercio

The Lower East Side may not be host to as many sample sales as other neighborhoods, but it is in close enough proximity to SoHo’s regular retail and bargain retail establishments to warrant a brief jaunt eastward.  Located at the busy corner of Bowery and Kenmare Street, The Bowery Pop Up Outlet is at the crossroads of two of New York’s coolest neighborhoods.

White wood molding exteriors are punctuated with neon lettering, announcing the current invocation of this shop, which can be found online permanently at www.thepopupoutlet.com.  Emerging and established designer brands can be had for 60-80% off typical retail prices, and we saw lines from Walter, Erin Featherston, Wren, Obesity and Speed, Courtshop, WESC, Cooper and Ella, Eighteenth, Morning Warriors, Suno, Dolce Vita, Shades of Grey and Timo Wieland.  We liked the spacious dressing room, relaxed atmosphere, and sharp handmade signs, giving it an indie, LES flare we don’t see enough at sales.

Definitely bring a male with you to this shop, with some really killer boardshorts going for $49, they will find their summer personality here.  Men’s had plaids, camo, chambray, jersey knit hoodies, and cargo pants in many styles and colors. We think many of the Shades of Grey looks would work on a female too.  The men’s selection makes this a great contender for your post-brunch shopping list, with it’s short distance to many of the best brunch spots below 14th street.

Women could choose between silk shirts and dresses in perfect summer weights to worn in print tees with skeletons and motorcycles.  There was great variation in style, perfect for young, old, fashionista or finance major.  Bold prints with negative space on dress pants were one of our favorite items, necessary with a pair of bold pumps and a bustier and blazer combo.  Courtshop midrise jeans were on sale for 25 dollars.  I repeat, 25 dollars!  Both skinny and newly minted on-trend bell bottoms cling to you in all the right places.  There were still many sizes available.

Erin Featherston’s section was as to be expected a favorite.  We saw pink and black cocktail dresses for the less fearless event guest, and bold golden crepe dresses tucked in nonchalantly among the less glorious but still beautiful selection. White sequins, navy blue spandex, and periwinkle silk were also all available dress materials, making this selection very tasteful and feminine without being overly girly.

Right in front of the sunny window is a few rows of shoes that were unique and dainty, pointing you toward checkout.  Sculptural art deco platforms in nude pink and beige were really distracting, and we think they won’t be around for too long.  For some slightly more rare duds that what you will find further west, definitely hit this corner shop crossroads, where the discounts are steep and the pressure is most certainly off. Open until June 2nd or longer!

WHEN: 5/24 – 6/2; daily (noon-8)

WHERE: The Old Bowery Station
168 Bowery at Kenmare Street
New York, NY

By Danielle Guercio

Some of the best shopping techniques are definitely a little unorthodox.  Deal hunting on your lunch break, standing on lines just to consider buying things, perhaps even diving into large boxes head first while wearing office casual, all ways of expressing your fervent inner deal huntress.  Shopping off season?  Another common pro-tip.  This type of deal will bring you directly to the Christopher Fischer sample sale on 7th Avenue, between 37th street and 38th street.  The doorman asks that we please pardon the sewer-esque smell in the lobby, as the building (500 7th ave) is experiencing pipe issues.  We pardoned it, only to be ferried up in the wrong elevator to the creepily empty 16th floor.

With no signage and watery eyes from a very strong smell, you have to heroically charge to the back elevators, where the proper site is revealed.

The sale was only about 600 square feet or so, and nearly wall to wall cashmere.  Like we said, this is most definitely an off season sale.  Prepare yourself for a slightly empty but heavily staffed atmosphere, where you might be watched, and probably are, so to avoid feelings of guilt try refolding that sweater you looked at 4 seconds ago.  The middle is filled with $50-$70 price range light sweaters with many designs.  We saw solid basic colors, greys, beiges and blues.  The graphics varied from maroon filigree leaves to greyscale leopard.  A lot of these looks seem a few years old, so we would stick to the basics.

Men had a single rack with prices ranging from $35-$70 for cashmere sweaters and thin office sweaters.  Next to these racks on the left were small children’s and pet sweaters for about $30.  I probably wouldn’t be buying a $30 dog sweater, considering she tends to rip them pretty quickly, and kids outgrow clothing too quickly to justify cashmere.  However the styles were cute with camo and bright colors to choose from.

The accessories selection was simply scarves and belts, with scarves at around $120 and belts for $20.  On the right side by the window we saw quite a bit of fur trimmed looks, clocking in at about $300 or so, meaning not too discounted. This was right about when we were asked to put away the camera, so our shopping adventure was cut short.  This doesn’t mean the Christopher Fischer sale is not worth going to, it means this sale is for a very specific customer.

If you know your fall and winter gear, go spend a Benjamin on a sweater for you and your pup, it will cost a third of normal prices, and though you can do better or buy cheaper at other sales, the sheer amount to choose from was much greater here, making it not a complete bust.

WHEN: 5/27 – 5/30; Tue-F (8:30-6)
6/9 – 6/12; M-Th (8:30-6)

WHERE: 500 Seventh Avenue
between 37th and 38th Streets
16th floor
New York, NY
212-965-9009

By Danielle Guercio