Sample Sales Review

A shocking number of jewelry fans braved one of the longest waits in the history of sample sales, waiting in two sets of lines that moved at a snail’s pace before they were able to gain entry to the Mikimoto Sample Sale, also known as the “Employee Sale.” The average wait to enter the sale was two and a half to three hours, and I endured just that. Lucky for all of us the line resided indoors, but it was incredibly frustrating to discover that they were only allowing two people in every ten minutes. Security expects the long wait to remain through Friday, given the small showroom that only holds a dozen shoppers at a time.

Perhaps I was naïve to assume the crowd would be manageable at this historic designer’s sale. Mikimito is not only known for his high quality luxury pearls, but he also essentially launched the entire pearl industry in the 1890’s. He is the Walt Disney of pearls. Regardless if that analogy makes sense or not, Mikimoto invented the cultured pearl, which is a pearl created under controlled circumstances. This is the technique that nearly all jewelers use today. For those science nerds out there, a cultured pearl is raised mimicking the natural birth of a pearl through raising the oyster and implanting the nucleus.

OK fashionistas, I hear you. Enough of me being a nerd and get to the good stuff. After a very long albeit warm two and a half hour wait, I was finally allowed in to the already picked from showroom on the 4^th floor of 680 5^th Avenue. Please note, all bags and coats must be checked in an unmonitored area, so be sure not to bring any valuables. Cell phones are not allowed in the sale. If you are caught, it will be assumed you are taking photos and your phone will be confiscated. Which brings me to my next revelations that sadly, absolutely no photos were allowed. Sorry shoppers.

The sale reductions are indicated by colored dots. The following are the price deductions:

Red Dot: 50% off
Blue Dot: 60% off
Green Dot: 65% off
Yellow Dot: 70% off
Light Blue Dot: 75% off

To begin, I started with browsing two cases in the right rear of the display cases, which feature Mikimoto’s Blue Lagoon line. For those seeking a good deal, perhaps it is best to end as the Blue Lagoon line offers wallet friendly prices. Reading these price tags followed by the others may induce stress. A pair of classic pearl studs will run you only $68 (orig. $170), while a single pearl pendant hanging beautifully on a sterling silver chain will only cost $104 (orig. $260). Another ideal option from the Blue Lagoon line is their classic multiple strand pearl necklace ($1,040, orig. $2,600).

Now for the big leagues. The main attraction of the sale was certainly the collection of traditional strands and I must say, I died over Mikimito’s signature gold bow clasp. This eye catching clasp seriously makes the already gorgeous necklace that much more appealing. Lusted after strands included the Black South Sea Strand ($5,200, orig. $13,000), the Classic Strand ($917, orig. $2,620), Golden South Sea Strand ($12,250, orig. $35,000) and the stunning Freyja White South Sea Strand choker ($57,750, orig. $165,000).

I fell in love with the single pearl pendants, many of which were accented with diamond chips. The rule of thumb here seemed to be the simpler, the better as the crazier the design, the less appealing they became. An absolutely beautiful Black South Sea Pendant was $323 (orig. $850).

There was a large selection of jewelry with heart accents, as well as a great deal of modern pieces. Considering pearls are a classic affair, I wasn’t too thrilled with these collections as some came off as tacky, rather than being an eye-catching piece.

The ring and earring section was being ignored as I was browsing. The rings, which are tucked into the left corner, featured a nice variety of black south sea pearls and classic pearls with diamonds. A number of hanging pearl earrings were on hand, but be sure to focus on the classic studs, which are available for as low as $122.59 (orig. $350), as well as the studs with a single diamond accent ($343, orig. $980). Also being tried on was the pearl and diamond embellished hoops, which were 70% off ($1,200, orig. $4,000).

If you are a lover of pearls, a mother of pearl, or a girl with a pearl earring (anything else?) and in the market for some new additions to your jewelry box, then this is the sale for you. Hopefully the wait will decrease as the days go on, but if you are not a fan of hanging out in line nor have two hours to spare in your day, you may have a serious anxiety attack as you twiddle your thumbs in anticipation of being let in to the Mikimoto Sample Sale. Word to the wise: Bring a good book.

WHEN: 1/16 – 1/18; W (11-7), Th-F (10-7)

WHERE: 680 Fifth Avenue
between 53rd & 54th Streets
4th Floor

By Caitlin Colford

The semi annual Oak NYC 30/40/50 Sale is currently underway in the East Village, with darkly colored avant garde and edgy clothing  being sold at a whopping 40% off original retail prices. The best part? Every single item within the store — excluding fragrances — is on sale. You’ll be hard pressed to find soft colors and neons within this downtown boutique, as this is a two-floor sale stop for Alexander Wang lovers and fans of radically cut pieces alike, all featured in blacks, olives, maroons, and dark blues.

Considering Oak held their 30% off run of the sale last week (next week will be 50% off remaining merchandise), I was surprised to find a great deal of steals in all sizes. Unfortunately, the majority of the Alexander Wang merchandise has cleared out, leaving behind mainly pieces from Cheap Monday, Mother Jeans, Harmon, A. OK, and Won Hundred Jeans as well as numerous selections from Oak’s personal line, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

To begin, the four Alexander Wang survivors was his Duffle Bag Shirt Dress w/ Open Back  that is available in olive and maroon ($237, orig. $396, pictured), Ruby Monk Strap Flat Leopard Shoes ($402.50, orig. $575, pictured), Ruby Monk Flat Back in Leather ($297.50, orig. $425, pictured) and his Emile Hornback Bag ($555, orig. $925). Now here is where the age old retail sale vs. sample sale argument comes into play. Considering we just braved the Alexander Wang Sample Sale in the Fall, some may feel they have had their fill. However, during the sample sale we were shopping past season’s pieces with a few current goodies tossed in for good measure. If you are a diehard fan of this designer brand, than consider shopping at sales like Oak’s and paying a few bucks more for current season merchandise in order to be ahead of the crowd. To give you an idea of the small margin in price points, the Duffle Bag Shirt will cost you around $175 (vs. $237) come next year’s sample sale (based on this past year’s price list), the shoes will run you $300 a pop (vs. $297 & $402) and the large leather bag will ring up at $400 (vs. $555 or $462 next week). And remember, if these pieces survive the 40% off sale, they’ll be available for 50% off next week. The long wait in the cold for the Alexander Wang Sample Sale doesn’t look so worthwhile now, does it?

Moving right along, be sure to spend time plucking through Oak’s house brand. It occupies the majority of the two-floor set up and rightfully so. Those items worth a peek are the Oak Cinch Maxi Dress in Midnight ($87.50, orig. $120), Kerchief Tee in Shale ($42), Cowl Back Jersey Dress Tank ($75), as well as their Asymmetrical Tees ($36) and Shawl Collar Zip Pull Overs ($63).

If you’re in the market for a new pair of designer jeans, then a trip down to Oak on Bond or in Brooklyn is certainly in order. Cheap Mondays, an Oak favorite, are (as the title states) cheap anyway, therefor an additional 40% off makes them a steal. However, they are not for every body type as they are extremely tight and the sizing is usually off considering they run extremely small. But for the price you can’t complain. On hand was their Mega High Waist Loose Fitting Denim ($45, orig. $75, pictured) and their Second Skin Super Stretch Skinny Jeans ($45, orig. $75). Towards Oak’s front door are two denim options from Won Hundred Jeans in their Brigette cut ($136, orig. $228, pictured) as well as Ksubi’s Hi and Wasted Jeans.

Downstairs, don’t pass by the shoe table without taking a gander at the eye catching Vintage Spike Heels ($66, orig. $110, pictured), as well as the Esley Leather Pilot Jacket located in the rear.

Ultimately the Oak 30/40/50 Sale is a do-not-miss if you tend to be on top of the trends and sport a downtown cool attire. Oak’s bold cuts, avant garde flare and interesting choices are a must if you frequently “wow” a room with your edgy wardrobe choices. Considering the amazing deals the 40% and 50% portion of the sale exhibit, this comfortable shopping experience may be a better bet than any of the featured designer’s sample sale counterparts.

WHEN: Ongoing; M-Sat (11-8), Sun (11-7)

WHERE: 28 Bond Street
near Lafayette Street
(212-677-1293)

By Caitlin Colford

The Bitta Design Group Sample Sale began this morning at the luxurious Cassa New York Hotel. Please note the sale is located on the 10^th Floor and down the hallway on your left hand side, once through the elevator.

Imaginative designs, dazzling jewels, and vibrant diamonds occupied the display cases offering 75% off retail prices. If you’ve yet to find the perfect holiday gift, or still don’t know what to write on your wish list that your procrastinating significant other has been begging you for, then your solution lies within the Bitta Design Group Sample Sale.

It isn’t often that a jewelry sample sale impresses us, but between the outrageously good discounts and stunning pieces, this sale certainly gets our two thumbs up. When you first walk into the 10^th floor sale, there is a display case of sapphire and ruby pieces. If you’ve yet to find your young adult daughter the perfect gift to WOW her, check out the Ruby and Diamond Long Skull Necklace set in 14K White Gold ($1,620, orig. $6,482) as well as a Large Sapphire Ring with Diamonds set in White Gold ($1,765, orig. $7,063)

Next up, is an extraordinary array of emeralds, blue topaz, black spinel, and black diamonds, featured in styles such as drop earrings, rings, and statement bracelets. The eye-catchers of the bunch included a pair of 18K White Gold Diamond and Emerald Drop Earrings ($3,613, orig. $14,455, pictured), a pair of Black Spinel Double Circle Diamond Drop Earrings ($2,863, orig. $11,455, pictured) and a beautiful White Gold and Aquamarine Ring with Diamonds.

A few pairs of Bitta’s most popular earrings were on hand — a simple drop earring encircled by diamonds and set in white gold or yellow gold, available in a variety of colors such as Smokey Quartz and Aquamarine with Black Diamonds ($1,184, orig. $4,739, Smoke Quartz).

Before you start narrowing it down to your favorite piece, don’t overlook the Rose Gold pieces with Kunzite, the 48” chain of Rose Gold and Spinel ($1,680, orig, $6734), the bracelets with German Cut Stones in 14K Gold, or the blinding case of simple diamond bands, diamond tennis bracelets, and classic diamond studs for as low as $740. 

A diamond really is a girl’s best friend, and with Bitta’s reimagined classic pieces combined with wonderful semi-precious stones, there is no going wrong with opting to shop for last minute gifts for your loved ones at the Bitta Design Group Sample Sale.

WHEN: 12/19 – 12/20; Wed-Th (10-6)

WHERE: Cassa NY Hotel
70 West 45th Street
New York, New York 10036

By Caitlin Colford

Today’s press preview of the Alice + Olivia Sample Sale was easily accessible to those pedestrians passing the 260 Fifth Avenue storefront decorated with an eye catching floor to ceiling yellow Alice + Oliva signage. Typically on preview days at this establishment they require identification to match up to the name on the VIP list, but today they were welcoming all. Unfortunately, after taking only a few photographs I was asked to put my camera away and was instructed that the designer specifically requested no photography at the sale.

The sample sale, lasting through Saturday, is a great stop for those seeking a trendy and gorgeous New Year’s Eve dress. Many styles on hand are from Alice + Olivia’s Winter 2012 line that is still available in stores for full retail prices, making this sale a must visit if you’ve had your eye on a specific A + O dress in Bloomingdale’s.

Alice + Olivia’s heavy focus on two-tone pieces are the main attraction at this week’s sale. Most items are blazers and dresses, with a dismal variety of blouses, skirts, and a limited selection of pants available as well, all within the range of sizes 0-12/S-XL, with majority of the merchandise being a 4 or a 6.

Beginning with jackets and blazers, the black and green velvet Betty Jacket is a must see ($149, orig. $495, S, pictured), as well as the Celeste Collarless Trim Jacket in yellow and blue ($149, orig. $495, S, pictured), and the Glenna Double Pocket Long Vest ($149, orig. $368, size M, pictured).

The only blouse that caught my eye was the Evelina Sequin Long Sleeve Top ($79, orig. $396, pictured), keeping with the heavy sequin theme of the dress section. The display of dresses is a disco ball haven, with embellishments galore. These stylish pieces are a young Hollywood favorite and are adored by many. Although the selection was by no means overwhelming, there were certainly plenty of options to satisfy your craving. Beginning with the non-embellished dresses, favorites include the Madeline Leather Boxy Fitted Skirt Dress ($129, orig. $495, size 6, pictured), the black and nude Amena Fitted Dress ($129, orig. $275, pictured) and the gold tweed Elise A-Line Skirt Dress ($129, orig. $396, pictured).

I wasn’t able to locate the style names of many of the embellished dresses, which are all marked at $199, but I assure you these are all worth a browse if you are looking for dazzling evening wear. They did have the Randee Striped A-line Dress on sale ($199, orig. $597, pictured), as well as a beautiful black and white dress with a black sequin skirt and belt feature ($199, orig. $495, size 6), as well as other embellished black and white dress options in sleeveless and long sleeve varieties and gold, black, and silver combinations.

Three fantastic racks full of samples were being furiously plucked from. One rack of $29 samples featured soft and casual basic tops and bottoms, while the remaining $49 and $99 racks were full of dresses embellished with sequins and other one of a kind dress options. This area was definitely the hit of the sale.

A small L-shaped display of shoes, which were mainly all animal print, was seated in the rear of 260 Fifth Avenue, with less than exciting selections apart from the Dakota Flats. Two lines of bins were set up with Belts ($29), Beaded Handbags ($69), Clutches ($229), Swimwear ($49), Scarves ($69) and a mediocre collection of jewelry and sweaters.

As you can determine for my lack of enthusiasm for sections other than that of the dresses, this is only a sale to visit if you are in the market for a party dress, or something dazzling to keep stashed away. The blazer and jackets are a bonus option making a trip to the sale also worth your while if those too tickle your fancy, but sadly this isn’t a stop for last minute gift options.

WHEN: 12/17 – 12/22; Tue (9-7), W-Th (10-8), F (10-7), Sat (10-4)

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

By Caitlin Colford