Fur Coats

To be a successful vintage shopper in New York City, one must be patient, savvy and monetarily wise. It can be easy to spend a week’s paycheck in a single trip alone to a downtown vintage boutique, given their lustful and conveniently available selection of second-hand designer goods and edgy tattered clothing offered within their rustic motif. If your familiar with downtown, you are aware that you simply can’t walk a block in the East Village or Lower East Side without passing a vintage store. It’s their bread and butter, so much so that it would be too tedious for me to sit here and list each and every store individually, as it would take up the next three pages and then some!

If you are anything like me, you live for vintage goodies. The mere site of a perfectly worn in vintage tee shirt paired with a long antique necklace gives you goosebumps. The vintage look isn’t for everyone, some balk at wearing second-hand clothing and cringe and toting around a used purse. To each their own, I suppose, but at least that leaves more for us vintage-philes to sift through!

Downtown vintage stores are generally split right down the middle. There are vintage and antique boutiques that are museum like in their décor, making it nearly impossible to not want to splurge on their carefully handpicked vintage. Within these boutiques, such as the East Village’s Stock Vintage — which features a magazine worthy Americana motif — a Harley Davidson tee shirt can cost you up to $225 and a pair Laredo boots, around $300. And then there are the larger second-hand shops, which resembles a well arranged Salvation Army, that contain racks of used blouses, tees, button ups, jeans, etc., for superbly low prices. These stores, such as No Relation Vintage on 1^st Avenue between 12^th St and 13^th St, are more time consuming than boutiques. These shops require you to sort through racks and bins in order to discover the diamond in the rough. However, if you are a dedicated and patient vintage shopper, this is by far the way to go, and will save you hundreds of dollars in the long run.

Funny enough, What Goes Around Comes Around, one of the city’s priciest vintage boutiques, situated in SoHo, is celebrating the final days of a long and successful run of their pop-up outlet on Lafayette at Astor Place today. Since last year, this outlet has featured bundles of merchandise, leftovers, samples, and unwanted vintage from their New Jersey warehouse for incredibly low prices, compared to their over-priced SoHo boutique anyway. Until tomorrow evening, when the pop-up closes for good, every item storewide is 70% off tag prices and already discounted items. The majority of goods will only cost you between $5-$30, apart from jackets and specialty items.

When I visited the What Goes Around Comes Around’s Ultimate Vintage Sale this morning, there was plenty of merchandise still available, although the gems of the store have already been cleared out. However, don’t let this deter you! Utilizing the required vintage-shopping-patience can lead to a successful outcome, just as it did for the two trendy women in front of me on line who dropped $250 each at the register and toted away three very large bags jammed full of clothing.

As you enter the Ultimate Vintage Sale, there is a large table that features a variety of Inhabit cashmere sweaters, which are among the only non-second-hand items the sale offers. These typically expensive luxurious sweaters, now only run for around $40 a piece. After checking these out, start your quest for vintage by starting with what’s left of What Goes Around’s famous collection of hand picked vintage concert shirts, where you’ll find an Elton John tour shirt for $60 (orig. $200) and an Asia concert tee for $45 (orig. $150). Don’t exit the section without taking a gander at the small selection of designer jackets, such as the vintage Yves Saint Laurent Blazer for just $105 (orig. $350).

The remaining sections are fit for perusing, with plenty of round racks featuring fun vintage tee shirts for around $5, plaid button downs for as low as $3 and no more than $38, for those that are embellished. Bohemian skirts, peasant blouses, and denim dresses are all available for $30 and below, as are sweaters and cardigans. The fur coats are definitely worth your time, such as the gorgeous White Mongolian Fur Coat ($225, orig. $750) and the simple black and white long wool coat for just $23.

After you exhaust the racks of sweaters, blouses, button up, and denim shorts for under $10, start fishing through the giant bins of random finds for between $3-$5. Patience is a virtue! There are still plenty of diamonds in this rough!

If you are an inexperienced vintage shopper, get your start today or tomorrow by taking a slow stroll through the What Goes Around Comes Around Ultimate Vintage Sale. After you’ve gained your sea legs, work your way through the streets of downtown and pop in and out of the best, and most vast, collection of second-hand shops and boutiques this city has to offer!

By Caitlin Colford

WHAT: Giuliana Teso Luxury Fur Sample & Stock Sale

WHY: Up to 80% off current collection at the Giuliana Teso Luxury Fur Sample & Stock Sale.

Credit cards accepted. All sales final. No children or strollers allowed.

WHEN: 2/13 – 2/14; W-Th (10-6)

WHERE: 224 West 30th Street
Suite 808
between 7th & 8th Avenues
New York
212-920-1211

SUBMITTED BY: TheStylishCity.com

For the complete list of today’s sales and sample sales check HERE

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