Handbags & Accessories

The 36th Street showroom hosting a sample sale with Vivienne Westwood as their headliner was calm and nearly empty on its 6th day of discounted deals. Lasting until Sunday, May 13th, the Vivienne Westwood Sample Sale has a classic selection of heels, edgy handbags and funky apparel at a fair price with a few other brands interspersed for your shopping enjoyment.

A table full of Vivienne Westwood accessories is covered with leather gloves for $155 and vibrant wallets such as the Piccolla Delletteria Squiggle Leather Wallet for $97.50.

The neighboring table holds sky-high heels, such as the Blue Leopard Heels ($348), Embossed Metallic Leather Heels ($325), Five Inch Nude Heels ($325), and Classic Black Heels ($325).

Be sure to not skip over the collection of Vivienne Westwood handbags. Catching my eye was the Spitifield Bag in Red ($410, pictured), Medium Nero Clutch Crossbody Bag ($290), Squiggle Leather Bag in Rose ($358), Bam Bam Bag in Graphite ($335) and Vienna Show Bag ($468, pictured).

The back of the showroom features selections from Vivienne Westwood Red Label and Vivienne Westwood Anglomania. Plenty of fashions to choose from are still hung about, with daily replenishment. Designs are pricey but the 60% discount deducted at check out will please your pockets (don’t worry, I did the math for you). While sorting through the readywear I discovered the cute schoolgirl looking Jabot Cross Jacket ($270, pictured), Leather Appetize Jacket in a dusted grey ($350), Orgy Polo Minidress ($130, pictured), Feather Weight Tartan ($322, pictured) and the Is Loxo Dress ($160, pictured). For a cute spring toss on there were plenty of the Smedley Stripes Knit Cardigan for only $35!

Before hitting the check out you must take a peak at the GF Ferre Satchel Bags ($295, pictured in yellow), a non Vivienne Westwood find. The endless selection of colors, patterns and amazing leather makes this an “it” bag for all.

The Vivienne Westwood Sample Sale provides the perfect opportunity for you to spice up your wardrobe. With a mix of both cold and warm weather wear, there’s plenty to choose from and an array fun finds still available even on the sale’s 6th day.

WHEN: 5/2 – 5/13; M-Sun (10-6)

WHERE: 20 West 36th Street
6th Floor
between 5th & 6th Ave
New York, NY 10018
(646) 257-2666

By Caitlin Colford

The near empty showroom of the Be & D Sample Sale allowed shoppers to aimlessly browse edgy bags and comfortably try on funky flats. The showroom also provides a birds eye view of employees manufacturing new merchandise and/or prototypes, a sneak peek at up and coming designs.

Being unfamiliar with the brand prior to today, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of shoes and their cool embellishments. The Camouflage Joe Flats ($100, orig. $350) had studded detail in the back – a signature of Be & D’s – the perfect signature weapon for a fashionista superhero. Variations of this studded nickel embellishment appeared also on the Black Hadleigh Heel ($70, orig. $385) as well as on the Christie Ballet Shoe ($100, $298), which comes in a wide variety of colors including black, cream, camouflage and cobalt blue, and my favorite of the sale, the Savile Black Buckle Shoes ($50, pictured). Cute Greenpoint Sandals ($50, orig. $365, pictured) are available in black and ivory, and their counterpart, the Greenpoint Sneaker, is only $25.

Stacks of Sample Shoes can be found in the back of the room. There were not many worth a second glance, but given their price ($25) perhaps you can make do with a pair or two.

An attached room holds the bright and studded leather purses, pleasantly arranged with a full-length mirror allowing you to model your hot new bag. The Amanda Bag ($300, orig. $998) caught my eye, as did the Brady Bag in Sand ($375, orig. $998), the Dallas Green Ostrich Bag ($625, orig. $1698), the Pippa Python Shoulder Bag in Dark Mint ($175, orig. $338) and lastly the Nigarbo S Porio Bag in Aqua ($250, orig. $975, pictured).

I was pleasantly surprised by the bag samples that were on sale. They all were unique and in great condition, namely a funky orange and black leather sample with snakeskin like detail ($200, pictured), and a rust color leather bag in two different sizes ($200).

Overall the Be & D Sample Sale is nothing to get yourself in a tizzy over, but the fair prices and quality deals on shoes and bags that will spice up your outfit is definitely worth a look see if you happen to work or live in the midtown area.

WHEN: 5/2 – 5/4; W-Th (9-7), F (9-6:30)

WHERE: 260 West 36th Street, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10018

By Caitlin Colford 

The new company X’Tige by Poemme Inc represents a handful of emerging European designers, each collection individually unique and intriguing, and all worth a moment or two of your attention during their 1st Annual Sample Sale. With such an exceptional selection, it will be interesting to see what new and noteworthy labels future events by X’Tige will bring to our attention. Although not a vast array of merchandise, the small collection of bags, jewelry, and clothing holds a little something for everyone.

Mods and Rockers, a line of handbags made in Italy and created by former Judith Leiber designers, are available for up to 60% off their retail price (ranging around $400). On sale are amazing evening bags with such features as Shrunken Leather and Swarovski Crystal Detail that are created for chic young women who wish to easily transition their clutches from day to night. Regular priced items such as the Suede Kiss Bag with Heat Infused Studs ($995) will also be on hand for purchase. Jen Mascali boho chic bags are displayed in a neighboring section, another funky purse option for the spring. Her leather Journey Bag will be marked down to $328 (orig. $820).

German designer Reina and Roses produces Mediterranean-esque floor length dresses, bikinis, and awesome cover-ups. Samples and older stock is up for grabs for up to 50% off, ringing between $150-$300 and proving to be among the most reasonably priced merchandise within the showroom.

Incredibly gorgeous Philippe Audibert Silver Jewelry embellished with Swarovski is also available and noteworthy. His regular collection that ranges from $100-$900, as well as a great sale on his beautiful cuffs for up to 70% off retail prices, are sure to make you the talk of the town this spring. The cuffs are anywhere from your average, thinner bracelet all the way up to a wonderfully long cuff that will decorate nearly half of your forearm.

Don’t forget to check out the eccentric Mua Mua Dolls ($120), an item X’Tige founder Margarita Martinez is sure will fly off the shelves when they hit stores this summer. These hand stitched dolls are made to replicate such fashionable celebrities as Anna Wintour (pictured), Karl Lagerfeld, Beyonce Knowles and Lady Gaga, amongst others, and are seriously amazing.

Who doesn’t love to shop “what’s next” before everyone else in town has the chance to get their hands on it? The X’Tige Sample Sale will introduce you not only to a sure to be trendy collection of merchandise, but also to a promising new showroom that is sure your to bring you what’s fashionable tomorrow, today.

WHEN: 5/2 – 5/5; W-F (10-7), Sat (11-6)

WHERE: X’Tige by PoeMme Inc.
37 West 57th Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10019
646.753.1775
www.x-tige.com

By Caitlin Colford

The line crept slowly along 5^th Avenue toward the Botkier Sample Sale this drizzly morning. Hosted by the always organized 260 Sample Sale, security ushered only a few folks in at the time. As I approached the window my heart began to pound and butterflies ensued. Right there, before my very eyes, a sample of Botkier’s Mint Green Cowhide Valentina! I stayed fixated on my dream bag of the season like glue up until the moment my heart was crushed, and world was seemingly over – a shopper excitedly grabbed it for herself. However, all hope was not lost as I saw colors of mint green peaking out from the tables as I hurriedly raced toward it upon being let in.

A glorious assortment of Botkier bags were neatly propped up on tables around the room with posters depicting photos and prices of each and every bag on sale, were displayed on the walls above. I spotted correctly; the Valentina Mint Green Cowhide Hobo Bag ($225, orig. $395) was stocked and plentiful (albeit no satchel to be seen), as was its sister color cinnamon. Another hot buy on hand from this season is the Leon Small Satchel in Green and Brown ($225, orig. $425). Satchels, satchels, satchels were definitely the hot commodity among shoppers at the Botkier Sample Sale – if they weren’t toting around the Leon bag, I spotted them modeling the Phoenix Satchel ($295, orig. $575) or the Nicola Satchel ($250, orig. $545).

Crowds swarmed the back of the room where a large selection of one-of-a-kind samples were being sold from $50-$200. A Botkier employee suggested to inspect each sample – dependent, you may not know what you’re going to get, some had small stains and were not in tip top shape, but those in pristine condition made up for this. I was excited to find a Distressed Peach Valentina Hobo ($175) (I know, I’m obsessed), but unfortunately there were two noticeable water stains on its surface. The Carlyle Satchel from Botkier’s 2011 Resort line was in great shape and only $100.

There were two hectic stands of Botkier shoes, mainly samples, but they all seemed fairly beat up. In fair condition were the Turquoise Audrey Sandals ($50) and Lulu Flats ($50).

Botkier’s great clutches are featured toward the registers. I spotted the Stella Clutch ($150, orig. $295) and the Phoenix Clutch ($175, orig. $345) as well as the gorgeous and practical Misha iPad Case ($175).

The Botkier Sample Sale will continue to be restocked until its last day on Sunday, May 6^th. A variety of new samples are set to be unveiled at various points during the sale’s run, so a trip or two (or three) to 225 Fifth Avenue is certainly worth your time and subway fare!

WHEN: 5/1 – 5/6; Tue-F (11-8), Sat-Sun (10-4)

WHERE: 225 Fifth Avenue
between 26th & 27th street
New York NY 10001
212.725.5400

By Caitlin Colford