STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Sandy · Kate Spade

Tell me everything you know about sample sales

honey · Gucci

well first off the term "sample sale" is used to describe a wide variety of sales. by definition a sample sale is supposed to be a sale on designer's samples. these are usually the very first items produced from the line, come in limited sizes (like 2 or 4 whatever size most models are), and are sent out to buyers, magazines, etc.

for the most part a lot of "sample sales" don't follow that rule, and usually what you end up getting is leftover stuff that the designers/showroom didn't sell. that makes it sound a lot worse than what it is. but for the most part designers sell clothes to major stores/retailers at wholesale prices, and the stores then mark it up some more. what i've frequently encountered is a sample sale that's really just a "stock" sale of all the stuff that they didn't sell to retailers. most often designers do it directly at their showroom, or the showroom itself is in charge of the sale. sometimes they outsource to other places too. these usually take place at the end of nov./beginning of december, and end of june/beginning of july and usually coincides with the major markdowns in stores.

as far as your other questions this is tricky. imo the best deals are the ones that come directly from designers, which means you're dealing with a pretty limited geographical scope (nyc or la since most designers are located there). for the most part i don't ever recall seeing sample sales in other areas (though this could have changed).

additionally finding the best deals really depends on what you're looking. the best deals i've gotten in terms of dirt cheap prices have actually not been at designer sample sales, but at warehouse sales. this is where i find the steepest discounts (most recently scored some raven pants for $37.50 marked down from $220). i've definitely gotten good things at sample/stock sales, but it's more or less i'm getting something in season, that i wanted, for a reduced price, without having to deal have nutty bargain hunters. in general i think it's an economic thing b/c designers don't have as much incentive to reduce prices as mass retailers, esp. b/c they don't need to make room for new stock or anything like that. so you're more likely to see take 80% off at warehouse sales.

my general tips are to wear layers. usually a skirt or sweatpants and a tank work best b/c you can easily pull them on & off. also keep track of your clothes, when i was in barney's the other day some lady was yelling at everyone b.c she couldn't find the top she wore in.

bestwhensimple · Nine West

Wow, honey, you basically said it all!

I've been to a couple sample sales, and the best one I ever went to was a Planet Lulu sample sale in Los Angeles 3 years ago. Planet Lulu is one of those companies that get the stuff that the designers couldn't sell in their stores and they sell them to us at discounted prices. I haven't been to one of their sample sales in a long time, but I think that's still the way that they work. Well, at this sample sale 3 years ago, they were giving things away for free! We got there really early because of this, but there was a line even though we got there an hour early. I managed to snag a Trina Turk dress that looked like a Picasso painting for free! I also got a red satin skirt that I still wear to this day for free too. That was the best sample sale I've ever been to.

I've also been to the Fashion Co-op Sample Sale that happens twice a year in Los Angeles. This is where the designers themselves sell their products to you at heavily discounted prices. It's good for finding clothing, accessories, and jewelry from designers that are just starting out.

Oh, and another thing, both of these sample sales require that you RSVP to come to them.

I hope that helps!