Sample Sales Review

The Nicole Miller Sample Sale is well stocked with beautiful designs at incredibly low prices. Beginning on Tuesday at 10AM, the Nicole Miller Sample Sale will open its doors to the public at 260 Fifth Avenue. The Stylish City was lucky enough to score an invite to a preview of the sale on Monday, and needless to say, we were very impressed with what we saw.

Nicole Miller, who is known for her fabric manipulations, and bright prints and patterns, not only offers show stopping dresses, but also stunning casual wear and a gorgeous collection of bridal wear. Her recently launched casual line, Artelier, was available in the truckload throughout the racks, and – if you’re not in the market for a bridal gown – this selection is the sure hit of the sale.

On Monday, RueLaLa launched their very own Nicole Miller sale, offering Miller’s popular dresses, blouses and skirts at a discount. However, these prices pale in comparison to the tags at the Nicole Miller Sample Sale, exhibiting that the physical sale trumps the digital this week.

If you are a bride to be, and missed last week’s round of bridal sample sale shopping, then seriously, make sure you’re at the top of the line at the opening of the Nicole Miller Sample Sale. These designer gowns are $350. Did you hear that? $350 for a designer gown! Dresses are available in sizes 0-16, with the majority of the dresses in size 4. Many of the styles are well stocked and reappear throughout each size section. If you prefer lavish, princess style bridal wear then this sale may not be your fit. But if you’re into the simple yet elegant look, then this is your jam. Nearly all the dresses are 94% silk, 6% spandex (some 96%/4%), and feature an empire, flare, or simple A-line style. Did I mention they’re $350?

As stated earlier, if you are not in the market for bridal-wear than this sale is still worth a visit for the Nicole Miller Artelier pieces on sale. This casual line is a hybrid of uptown and downtown fashion — perfectly edgy while maintaining sophistication. Some of the standouts include Faux Stretch Leather Leggings in a variety of styles ($60), Floral Patterned Black Skinny Jeans ($60), a Black and Gold Military Wool Blazer ($85), Silk Tuxedo Shirt Dress with an Embellished Collar ($80) and an olive green Cupro Jacket ($85).

A wide variety of classic Nicole Miller dresses were lusted after at the sale, including a Blue Rayon Dress ($80), which was skin tight and a sure flattering fit, a silk Mustard Shirt Dress with Embellished Shoulders ($80), as well as a nice variety of printed and solid color skirts, with the majority being short and a few knee-length exceptions ($40).

There were only about five pairs of shoes to be seen ($50 each), including the Peep Toe Ankle Boot and the Pony Vintage Knee Boot. Also, only a small collection of jewelry was on hand, including statement bib necklaces, simple charms, and bright snap bracelets ($40 a piece).

The far back of the room features a large collection of true, one-of-a-kind samples. None of the pieces here caught my eye, but they’re worth a browse to see if you have any luck! Prices run between $30 for tops and $100 for bridal.

As a last note, there is no leather category at this sale therefor any leather pieces you find are categorized within their respective style’s price point (i.e. a leather jacket is only $85).

All in all, the Nicole Miller Sample Sale is a do not miss. So what are you waiting for? Get on over there! Happy Shopping!

WHEN: 3/26 – 3/30; Tue (10-7), W-Th (10-8), F (10-7), Sat (10-5)

WHERE: 260 Fifth Avenue
between 28th and 29th Streets
New York, NY

By Caitlin Colford

A large crowd came out for the first day of the Club Monaco Sample Sale. By 10:30AM about 50 people were already lined up to explore the sale, waiting for the doors to open at 11AM.  By kick off time, the line swelled down the block and slowly moved as only five people were let in at a time due to the required bag check. Shoppers were instructed a numerous amount of times that no try-ons were permitted, making it laughable when people disobeyed and were consequently barked at by Clothingline employees

Polo Ralph Lauren has quietly owned the steadily successful brand, Club Monaco, since their flagship store became popular in Canada in 1999. Perhaps this is why their clothing is consistently well made. However, at today’s sale, the ten or so racks of true samples that shoppers were racing to sort through, were tragically wrinkled as well as damaged. But don’t despair, the very well organized and displayed racks of gorgeous ready to wear made up for it.

I was surprised that many shoppers were ignoring the gorgeous clothing at the start of the sale and jumping right to the sample section. As they skipped over this area, they were missing great finds such as the Lanna Black and Gold Dress ($40), a pretty Beige Crochet Dress ($40, orig. $179.50), Elsa Burnt Orange Pants ($30, orig. $149.50), and a wide selection of Sonica pants in corduroy and denim ($30).

The skirts certainly stole the thunder of the sale and were available for only $25 each! Do yourself a favor and stock up on skirts starting with the Gold Gwen Skirt ($25), Daria patterned skirt ($25), Annie Long Flowing skirt ($25), Dark Brown Charlie Skirt ($25), the ultra comfortable Alma Long Knit Skirt in Heather Grey ($25), and the Emilie Brown Asymetrical Skirt ($25).

Don’t stray from this area without taking a gander at the Marsha Boucle Cream and Black Jacket ($60, orig. $179.50), the Annabelle Sweater ($30), which may or may not resemble a jumble of pretty cotton balls, and the Sarina Tweed Jacket ($60).

The accessory section was a hot mess. A bundle of cardboard boxes held piles of sample scarves ($10), which were frantically being picked through by shoppers, in addition to their winter accessories ($10). Also here was a great deal of leather belts ($10) and a small variety of straw and leather purses ($50), which were all very damaged and/or dirty.

A few pairs of shoes were on hand, including Club Monaco’s Rachel Comey Boots in Rust ($109), 2568’s Brown Moccassins ($40), as well as Minnetonka’s famous Mocassins in burgundy, dark and light brown, and white ($20).

Last but not least were the racks of samples, broken up into sections full of blouses, pants, skirts, blazers and jackets. There were a few finds within, but overall I was nowhere near impressed. Many of these items were damaged and so wrinkled that I could hardly tell if it was worth its low price tag. Here, blouses were $30, basic tops were $10, sweaters were $30, while cashmere sweaters were $60, dresses and pants were $40 a pop, blazers were $60, and outerwear was $95. Not much was on hand in this department, but any fur, leather, or suede item was marked at $109.

If you are a fan of Club Monaco, then I would absolutely recommend visiting the sale strictly for the first half of the room. The skirts are perfect for the spring and summer seasons and there are plenty of items to stock your closet with, for both casual and professional occasions. As for the sample section, I can imagine that most of the diamonds in the rough will be toted away by this afternoon, so proceed at your own risk!

WHEN: 3/11 – 3/15; M-F (11-7)

WHERE: 261 West 36th Street
between 7th & 8th Ave.
2nd Floor
New York, NY

By Caitlin Colford

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

Tonight marks the ultimate evening of celebrity fashion: The Oscars! For fashion mavens, we’ll tune in beginning at 6:30PM to gawk at our favorite fabulous actresses as they strut their stuff down the red carpet and spill their carefully selected designers to Ryan Seacrest. Don’t forget to jot down your favorite looks of the night and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the designer’s respective sample sales in the coming months, perhaps you can find a similar steal! This week, the sample sale lineup continues to remain thin, but that allows us to focus our attention on what is offered.

And the nominees are…

Monday Mash-Up

This Monday, allot shopping time to re-visit some of this past month’s best sales to check in for additional discounts and stock. Be sure to first stop at the What Goes Around Comes Around Sample Sale on Astor Place. This sale is receiving rave reviews as this pop-up warehouse of sorts is coming to a close, therefor liquidating its stock. Within this massive shop you’ll find fabulous vintage for under $30, with prices as low as $5. Prices are expected to drop as their March 7^th finale creeps closer. A true bargain considering the hefty prices the What Goes Around Comes Around boutique in SoHo offers.

After indulging in vintage clothing downtown, head up a few blocks to 19^th Street to the Ralph Lauren Home Sample Sale. As we reported last week, this sale features an inundation of vintage knick-knacks and low-priced Ralph Lauren furniture. For a mere $100 you could be walking away with enough décor accents to re-decorate a small room.

Diptyque Beauty Sample Sale

The Parisian company Diptyque, noted for their creation of diverse and eclectic scents, will host a sample sale beginning Wednesday at 225 Fifth Avenue. Be sure to get your hands on a few of their famous candles (I swear by them!), in a variety of smells from spicy Oriental blends to clove pomander, bitter orange and floral blends. Also on sale will be a number of their luxurious fragrances, beauty products and gift items.

Baggu, Mociun, No. 6 Footwear & Accessories Sample Sale

Schedule a visit to Brooklyn Saturday to check out the Baggu, Mociun, No. 6 Footwear & Accessories Sample Sale. Jump off the L train and bask in discounts on No. 6’s fashionable clogs high heels and boots. Some of No. 6’s classics include the Hurache High Heel and Hurache Wedge, in addition to their comfortable and stylish leather clog buckle boots and wedges. If clogs are not your thing, then get your hands on the Baggu Leather Tote Bag or one of their sturdy canvas weekender bags.

Pratesi Sample Sale

Now that you revamped your bedroom with some vintage and antique pieces thanks to the Ralph Lauren Home Sale, scoop up some luxury linens from the Pratesi Sample Sale to add a pop of lavishness to even out the vibe with their hotel sheet sets and duvet covers.

After mapping out your shopping schedule tonight, sit back and relax, pop a bottle of wine and a bag of popcorn as you indulge yourself in luxurious fashion modeled by the biggest names in Hollywood at the 85^th Annual Academy Awards.

And the winner goes to…

By Caitlin Colford