Sample Sales Review

A gathering of a few premium brands can be in your favor.

I hate to say it, but sometimes knowing what a sale holds can make or break whether or not you attend.  Vente-Privee had a few big name brands on site for a new sale this week, but there was more room to walk around than things on the racks.  This means if you can get there asap, by all means stop in and help yourself to pieces by DVF, Catherine Malandrino, and Elizabeth and James among a few others.

Not much of a line for the opening allowed a nice easy start to this sale, located on 36th street between 7th and 8th avenues.  The checkout queue was also not yet bustling, but we have seen it get miserably long very fast.

Brands we saw included many big names, but oddly enough, there was a rummage sale type feel to the rest of the sale.  Now don’t get me wrong, there isn’t a single thing wrong with thrift shopping, vintage shopping, bag sales, yard sales, and estate sales.  Those are some of my all time favorite ways to shop especially on the cheap.  We have all scored countless times for all of the digging, even huge designer names and rare goodies never seen anywhere else, but this is a sale with prices that enter the triple digits.  So seeing bins of miscellaneous t shirts and junky vinyl handbags next to pricey dresses was a bit of a mismatched scenario.

To be honest it seemed like they needed some ‘filler’ to this sale.  But lo and behold the real reasons for coming were not a disappointment by any means.  Gowns lined the better portion of the front of the space, and they were joined by a plethora of cocktail dresses and other one off big name pieces.  We saw Catherine Malandrino, Halston Heritage, Diane von Furstenberg, Elizabeth and James, and Erin Featherston, and Oscar De La Renta.

Most of the big name tags could only be found on the dresses, but there was no lack of selection.  Rich blues and poppy pinks were all on hand to make a special event just right, and the cocktail dresses were even more varied.  There were drape-y styles and plenty of fitted styles to suit many body types.

A few other things we saw were denim, in dark blue and white, but no one too notable on the tag.  Shoes were a decent variation, with plenty of pairs from DVF going for $80.  There was a small amount of mens shoes to choose from too.  A large rack of designer pajamas and nighties was in the middle, bathing suits lined one wall and lingerie another.

This sale would make an OK lunch break stop if you need an occasion dress and have money to spend.  If you don’t, we suggest skipping this one.

WHEN: 6/24 – 6/26; Tue-Th (11-7)

WHERE: Clothingline Sample Sales
261 West 36th Street
2nd Floor
between 7th and 8th Avenues
New York, NY 10018

By Danielle Guercio

Some brands have sales that are very much off season and late on many trends. It doesn’t make them worthless, but they can be not worth your time. This was not the case with the 260 Fifth sale space’s guest this week: J.Crew. Hosting a huge array of both previous seasons and actual samples, making it a true sample sale. Variety was on point at this sale in many ways as was the staff and the discounts. We love the 260 Fifth space because no matter who they are hosting they are consistent. An ungodly line began to hug the block as opening time drew near.

When you first walk into the well stocked rows, you are greeted with a long rack of beads, textures, and styles. This is where you find the holy grail of J.Crew’s deal pieces, the Collection line. This is where you can find the higher end and more adventurous selection. This was also one of the most exciting racks I have seen yet at 260. Ranging in price from $40 to $300, the price pretty much depended on what you were holding. This could be anything from printed leather A-line skirts to fully sequined shift dresses, the variety was insane! Original pricing can be in the $700 to $1500 range!

Cashmere was another hefty selection, right next to wool skirts. The cashmere was in the $90 range and there was a good color palette, though nothing too far off from the basic colors. Skirts also had incredible range, from embroidered cotton twill fluted skirts, to soft, pleated crepe. There were prints, solids, ikat, brocade, suiting, leather, silks, and every cut and color you could ever want. Really skirts are one of the most well stocked things we saw at this sale.

Honorable mention goes to the accessories section which had wool hats, phone cases, headphones, ipad cases, and belts like crazy. Purses were a great bonus, and we saw some really beautiful leather handbags in a few sizes. Basic totes, stylish hard construction clutches, and soft foldable clutches in hair on calf and snake print. Prices on these pieces were pretty good at $40-$120 for a typical piece.

Shoes were another star of the show, with a very large selection of colors, sizes, and styles. You could take any girl in the world back to these shoes and they would find something they liked. On trend neon styles, lots of prints and patents, and a few dainty menswear styles could all be found. Mostly flats, we saw a few heels but at $80 or so we think those will be the first to go. Shoes we don’t really see lasting more than this first day, given the amount of people waiting to gain entry.

We should also mention that J.Crew sale also made available a select amount of merchandise from their sister brand, Madewell. There were dresses, pants, skirts, tees, and a few different styles of blazers and jackets. We have it on good authority from an experienced J.Crew devotee that this sale was very much worth the time, she says that online deals with this company are epic, but this sale gave her a chance to grab some stuff that was long gone from the website, as well as some newer items.

WHEN: 6/24 – 6/29; Tue-Sat (10-9), Sun (11-5)

WHERE: 260 Fifth Avenue
between 28 & 29th Streets
NYC NY 10001
N,R,6 Trains to 28th street
212.725.5400

By Danielle Guercio

Get ready, ladies, because the Alice + Olivia by Stacey Bendet sample sale is taking over 5^th Avenue, and judging by the size of the block-long line to get into the VIP sample sale event on December 9 before it even opened, it’s worth checking out.

Those ladies on line know what they’re doing. The sample sale contains fabulous pieces you can wear this holiday season and beyond, whether you’re looking for a little sparkle and shine or leather and lace, and all for up to 70% off retail prices. There’s a focus on dresses, especially peplum, and plenty of pants. You’ll also find coats, skirts, denim, pants, bags, scarves, hats, party dresses, and a variety of other items.

Whether you want to accentuate your curves in a body-hugging floor-length dress or show off your legs in a peplum piece, there’s something for everyone at the Alice + Olivia sample sale. Expect a good balance of solids and prints, and there’s no shortage of pieces that are going to turn heads when you walk in a room. Be forewarned that while the beaded and sequined gowns are stunning, they’re also heavy and could feel even more so after a couple of glasses of eggnog. Sizes for all the items are sectioned by 2/4, 6/8, and 10/12.

The ladies at the Alice + Olivia sample sale were carrying around huge armfuls of clothing, some of which were long gowns being dragged on the floor, so be prepared to bob and weave around like you’re doing an obstacle course. You will have to check your coat and bag when you enter, and there’s only 10 items allowed in the fitting room at a time.

WHEN: 12/10 – 12/15; Tue (9-8), W (9-7), Th (10-8), F (9-7), Sat (10-7), Sun (10-3)

WHERE: 260 Fifth Avenue
(Between 28th & 29th Streets)
New York, NY 10001
N / R/ 6 Trains to 28th Street

By Lauren Romano

In order to attend the Lafayette 148 warehouse sale, you’ll need patience, a lot of empty closet space waiting to be filled, and if possible, a full set of body armor.

With two floors filled with Lafayette 148 ready-to-wear, this sale is a shopper’s dream, but the nightmare of anyone who requires a lot of personal space. Immediately from when you stand on line, women are right on top of you just to be inches closer to getting in the door. You’re led into the building 10 at a time where you wait along the wall. You’re then led in 20 at a time into an elevator and brought either to the women’s section on the second floor, or to the petite’s and plus size section on the fifth floor. You can’t go from one floor to the other so you have to choose only one.

When you get to the floor, you’re handed a large shopping bag and check your coat, and then the  madness begins. Women are on a mission, and they have excellent reflexes when they’re reaching for a piece of clothing they believe someone else might also want. Be careful if you’re short like I am; tall women with huge shopping bags rushing through racks of clothing will require you to duck often.

With numerous round racks at the center and several flat racks lining the outer walls, it’s a madhouse and tight quarters. On the women’s floor, there’s small racks of accessories along the right wall, which is also shared by a long rack of pants. Round racks of jackets, bottoms, and tops are on round racks in the center of the floor, dresses and more shirts are along the back windows, and short-sleeve shirts and tanks are along the left wall.

Despite the large section, the clothing at the Lafayette 148 warehouse sale is surprisingly organized, and employees are on the floor making sure everything stays that way. Clothing is not only organized by style and type, but by color as well. There’s so much to choose from it’s hard to know which way to turn. The tops largely outnumber any other type of clothing, and you can find them in every color possible. There’s an excellent assortment of day-to-night wear, dressy tops, and casual wear. Between the shirts, pants, dresses, skirts, and tops, there’s a huge selection of solid color pieces with a good handful of prints mixed in. There’s not much leather, but what they do have is fabulous and worth adding to your collection.

With a huge selection of clothing at 75% off, Lafayette 148 has made it easy to for everyone to find just what they’re looking for. The wait to get in and battling the crowds is worth the experience of digging through the racks and coming out with an armful of clothing that otherwise would have cost  a fortune. So what are you waiting for?

WHEN: 11/14 – 11/15; Th (9-7), F (9-6)

WHERE: 148 Lafayette Street
(between Howard and Grand Streets)
New York, NY 10013
646.922.1799

By Lauren Romano