Confessions From a Sample Sale A-holic ~ How To Score The Best Finds

When the term sample sale comes up, people usually picture a disorganized chaos of clothes strewn everywhere and women getting into cat fights over who picked up that DVF wrap dress first. While that might not be too far off the mark for a few sales, that’s usually not what one encounters during a sample sale experience. Sample sales are crack for bargain hunters because they are hugely discounted sales of clothing and accessories, home goods, and beauty products, anywhere from 60-95% off. Designers have these sales because they have extra stock that didn’t sell or samples that they want to get rid of at the end of the fashion season. So twice a year, usually at the end of the spring and fall seasons (May-June and October-November), designers will rent space or use their own headquarters to sell all their excess stuff.

By Lakshmi Reddy MD

Jimmy Choo Sample Sale

Some sample sales have become a bit of a living legend such as when Diane Von Furstenberg showed up in person to her sample sale or when items were being given away for free at the Alexander Wang sample sale! Traditionally, these sales used to only sell samples, hence the name sample sale. Samples are usually prototypes of pieces made into production, pieces worn by models in shoots or runways or one of a kind prototypes that never made it into production. The samples that are sold are usually cheaper than stock and usually range anywhere from a size 2-6 in clothing, 7-8 for production sample shoes or 9 or higher for shoes worn by models. In the US, the majority of sample sales are in New York, although with some designers moving their headquarters to California, there are some sample sales now in the LA and San Francisco area. People can get on the email list serve for different designers or spaces where sample sales usually
occur (like 260 sample sale or clothing line in NY) to find out when and where the sales will be.

There are also many websites devoted to sample sales such as sample sally, lazar, racked, and my personal favorite, chicmi.com. Chicmi will send out emails about updates or changes in different sales that you are interested in and signed up for on their site, which is a nice feature. Most designers do participate in sample sales, from the high end brands such as Marc Jacobs, Dolce & Gabanna and Jimmy Choo to lesser known brands such as Alice & Trixie (all these brands had sample sales recently in NY). The sample sales can last anywhere from one day to a few weeks. Most of the sample sales are open to the public, though there are a few such as Christian Louboutin and Alexander McQueen that are invite only and for most of the sales open to the public, the first few days will be for friends and family only. If you have connections with anybody that works with the
designers or brands, use them to get in during these days!

So what is it like at one of these sample sales? Depending on the popularity of the brand, the amount of space for the sale, and how many people they are letting in at one time, the amount of people in the line can vary a lot. The Hermes sample sale is infamous for their long line and the last time I went during peak hours I was told there was a 5 hour wait. Some die hard fans of the brand will even camp out the night before, akin to waiting to get those Hamilton in line tickets or the new Iphone. However, at the Jimmy Choo sale this week there was only a 5 min wait when I went in around 10 am.

Most of the sales have fitting rooms, though some don’t but have mirrors out in the open where people can change publicly. The sales can range from well-organized to extremely chaotic. Sometimes the sales are restocked through the week and sometimes they are not. This is a picture of the shoe mania at the last Jimmy Choo sale in NY.

People can get possessive of their items at these sales and there can be pushing and shoving, a la “Confessions of a Shopaholic.” All’s fair in war, love and sample sales! The deals can be so good that it can be a dopamine and adrenaline rush to be at these sales. The downside of buying items at these sales is that they can be damaged and it is final sale and you cannot return it. Is it worth going to these sales? Absolutely! More and more people are buying online and there are great deals online at sites like gilt or ruelala, which sometimes host online sample sales at 50-60% off. However the deals that you get at the in person sample sales are better than any online or store deal.

So what are the best ways to navigate these sales? Here are my golden rules of sample sale shopping:

1. Timing Matters

– If it’s a brand that you really love and they have samples that are not going to be restocked go the first day and as early as you can to the sale.

– If you don’t want to have to stand in a long line, go in around 2-4 pm if you can because that will be after the die hard fans have gone and after the lunch crowd but before the after work crowd.

– If you want to get the best deal you can, regardless of there being less selection, go on the last day of the sale because usually at that time items are extra discounted and sometimes in the last wee hours of a sale there’s a flash sale and items are even more discounted (this happened at the Marchesa sample sale where items were an extra 20% off their already 80% discount!)

2. Samples are the best deal. If you happen to be lucky enough to fit into the sample size go to the sample rack before checking out the stock rack.

3. Dress the part. Check ahead of time to see if there are fitting rooms.

-If you’re not sure or there are no fitting rooms, wear black leggings and a tight top and easily removable shoes so you can try things on over your clothes if needed.

4.Do your homework. Check to see if the sale accepts credit card or is cash only.

-For instance, the Manolo Blahnik sample sale usually is cash only and at the sale last year women were making mad dashes to the ATM machine while pleaing with their friends to watch over their shoe stash while they were gone. Also, while at the sale, check the item against the online discounters and the designers own website to make sure you’re getting a really good deal.

5. Don’t have any regrets.

-Closely inspect every item for damage and make sure you really want it
because it is final sale.

It is currently sample sale season and upcoming favorite sample sales of mine in NY in May and June are Bobbi Brown, Desigual, Theory, Montblanc, Helmut Lang, and Mara Hoffman.

I have been to hundreds of sample sales over the past several years of living in NY and now I buy all my clothing and accessories at sample sales. These past few months I’ve thought about how to make sample sales accessible to everybody, including people who live in cities where there are no sample sales or people who live in cities with sample sales but because of work constraints or other reasons are not able to go to the sales. I have decided to develop a sample sale business where I take pictures at sales and shop for people for a very small commission (even with my commission it’s still much cheaper than buying online or in stores!).

-LR

About Lakshmi: If you are interested in finding out about upcoming sample sales in New York, and to learn more about Lakshmi’s sample sale business, you can email her at lakka0828@gmail.com to be added onto her list. You can also follow her on all her fashion adventures on Instagram @afashionmd.