It's sample sale season here in New York City and this girl has been checking out the deals. Last week you could have shopped the Tibi, Helmut Lang and Rebecca Minkoff sales just to name a few! Planning a visit to the city soon? Check out Racked NY for a current list of all the sales!
When it comes to sample sales you have a few options. Option 1. Get there early and wait in line. Not the most fun thing to do when it's cold and windy out! Option 2. Visit the sale later in the week. The insane crowds will have died down and there are usually markdowns, but you might miss an item you've been looking for. Option 3. Get VIP access. Always check GILT City for these deals!
For this sale I was able to choose option 3 with help from GILT City! For $25, I got VIP access to the sale (no waiting in line for this girl) and a $50 merchandise credit. I showed up at 11:55am and got in the GILT line, about 20 people long. When the doors opened a few minutes later we all streamed into the store, past at least 200 people lined up down 5th avenue. (One woman at the front of the other line worried there would be nothing left by the time they got in! She had been waiting since before 11:00.)
I took my time looking around. I already own two RM purses, a mini MAC and 5-zip, so I wasn't jumping on the pile of colorful purses right at the front of the door. I do suggest if you see something you like, but you aren't sure, pick it up anyways. I grabbed a bright blue 5-zip because it caught my eye and later put it down. These sample sales get messy very quickly! Piles everywhere!
After about thirty minutes of browsing I settled on two different black bags - the Affair Diamond Quilted bag and the Hudson Moto bag. I got in line to pay and proceeded to wait for another 45 minutes. All this time the checkout line got longer and longer and wrapped around the entire inside of the store!
Leaving the store, I walked past hoards fashionable ladies waiting in line along 5th and the Veterans day parade! Talk about dichotomy! The line was still all the way down the block. I might suggest that unless there is something you can't live without, don't wait in these lines!
I happened to be in that part of the city a few days later and stopped by the sale again. There was some modest restocking of items throughout the week, though all the popular colors of mini bags had been scooped up. I was there to check out if there were any price reductions. And there were! All clothes and shoes had dropped in price (apparently the price of the bags stayed constant through the week). Always check out the last day of a sample sale, you may get a bargain! I picked up these sequined pants for a song!
I'm thinking of wearing them for New Years... or tomorrow. I can totally pull off wearing these on a normal Thursday, right?
Linking up with...
What I Wore Wednesday
Working Girl with Style Linkup
All Things Thursday
Three-fer Thursday
Wow this sounds like madness. But also so much fun! ^^ Love the bags you got yourself!
ReplyDeletex
Sample sales trend toward the crazy side, but so fun!!!
DeleteHi Vicki,
ReplyDeleteI am a bag FANATIC!! No joke! So im definitely going to check out Racked NY! Thanks for the helpful tips! Lisa,Xx
Hi Lisa, Racked is so helpful but also so dangerous!!! :)
DeleteLooks like fun!! Thanks for stopping by :)
ReplyDeleteThese pants are AMAZING - I love how you styled them with the structured coat. -Amanda
ReplyDeleteThanks Amanda! I love them, they just need to be hemmed :)
DeleteI love both of the gorgeous bags you scored! I shopped a bunch of sample sales when I lived in the city :)
ReplyDelete-Sharon
The Tiny Heart
Uncommon Goods Giveaway!
Thanks Sharon! Aren't sample sales fun? :)
DeleteLove sample sales.... I would go nuts with all those bags!
ReplyDeletex
Yes! Sample sales are so dangerous :)
DeleteThe Affair Diamond Quilted bag looks so good! It's classic and matches to simple outfits as well! :)
ReplyDeletehttp://polaris-lightning.blogspot.ch/
I love the quilted one too, but also the moto. Decisions decisions!
DeleteSample sale! I so wish I lived closer to these. You picked two cute bags. Such fun pants today too :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Ginny! Sample sales are fun, but so dangerous to my wallet :)
DeleteOMG that would be heaven being in a sample sale like this....& you're looking sooooo chic in those pants!!!
ReplyDeleteRebecca
www.redtagchiclosangeles.com
so fun! sample sales are so dangerous :)
ReplyDeletelove from San Francisco,
Britt+Whit
nyc sample sales can get out of control! i've never tried gilt city for VIP access, but that is SUCH a good idea. love both bags you picked up & those pants are fab!
ReplyDeletexo,
gabby
Thanks Gabby! This sale was total mayhem, but fun :)
DeleteRebecca Minkoff's Mini Mac has been on my Splurge list for ages - I just need to decide if I want it in a basic color or a more fun, colorful option. But NYC sample sales are a huge reason why I want to experience living in the city for just a little bit - is that bad to admit? ;)
ReplyDeleteI say go with a fun color and watch the website for sales, I got mine for $70! Sample sales are a total bonus of living in the city, one of many :)
Deletelove both of the bags you got. I have been eyeing up the mini mac bags for the longest time. and those pants are so fun!
ReplyDelete-- jackie @ jade and oak
Thanks Jackie! The mini mac is my go to weekend bag, just the right size!
DeleteThose are some pretty special pants! You look great in them!
ReplyDeleteThanks Rachel! My BF thinks they're crazy :)
DeleteI love the pants! Of course you can pull it off! Looks really cool. :) Followed you on G+, gorgeous! <3
ReplyDelete-kweng
heyitskweng.blogspot.com
Thanks Kristine! I'm going to wear them to the city this weekend for a test run :)
DeleteI am beyond jealous!!!!!! I wish I lived closer to NYC! This looks like an amazing time! Love those pants!
ReplyDeletexo,
Jacqueline
stylininstlouis.com
Thanks Jacqueline! You'll just have to plan a visit to NYC during sample sale season! And bring an empty suitcase :)
DeleteThose pants are to die for! If I owned them I would wear them as often as possible.
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a fabulous week!
Thanks for visiting! The pants are quite comfy too :)
DeleteThose pants are so cool! So much sparkle--perfect for New Year's & average Thursdays :)
ReplyDeletewww.floralandfudge.blogspot.com
Thanks Rachel! I'm thinking of wearing them to girls brunch this weekend :)
DeleteI'm in love with the bags you bought!!!
ReplyDeleteYeah, when buying Rebecca Minkoff Purses from online stores then you must be alert and careful to check the quality, material and fabric of the purse.
ReplyDelete