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    Manolo Sample Sale Will Open to the Public

    Invited guests were able to begin shopping the Manolo sale at noon today. There were rumors that tomorrow’s public shopping day would be canceled but we are told that is not true. Everyone is welcome to shop the sale starting 9am on Thursday, however, stock is expected to be very limited. We are also told that if the crowd gets out of hand, as it did last season, the sale will be closed.

    That sounds like a warning to stay clear if shopping the sample sale is any inconvenience. As a matter of fact, early shoppers, today, say the inventory was more limited than usual and that the best selection was for those who wear a size 40.5.

    Personally, we prefer shopping the sales in the boutique. Trying on shoes while sitting on leather banquettes and taking our purchases home in boxes is worth the extra money.


    Manolo Blanhik Sample Sale

    Thursday, November 14
    Doors open at 9am
    Warwick Hotel, 65 W 54th St. & 6th Ave, 2nd fl.
    CASH ONLY

    Walter Steiger Sale: $175 Shoes

    The Walter Steiger sale that started last week continues on and prices are reduced almost ridiculously low. Today we stopped by the sale to find that some pairs of shoes were marked as low as two for $50. This is quite the deal considering that most of the collection had a retail price of about $900.

    The selection includes lots of samples in size 37s and 40s and 41s. It appears that many of the styles are part of the Spring 2014 collection with a few styles from the current offering in stores. Our favorite styles are this flame shape cut-outs, which are on preorder at Neiman Marcus for $800 are just $200, these studded d’Orsays were $1400 at Neiman Marcus and reduced to $400 but at the sample sale the price is just $250 and maroon patent leather peep toes are $175 from $800.

    The sale will only run through Wednesday. If you’re looking for major deals we assure you that this is a great place to go hunting. No rsvp required.

    Walter Steiger Sample Sale
    Last Day: Wednesday, November 12
    10am to 6pm daily
    325 5th Ave. @ 33 st. suite 38A

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    Bloomingdale’s Friends & Family Includes Luxury

    Bloomingdale’s is hosting another friends and family event where customers can save 20% off sale and regularly priced merchandise. This time around, the friends and family discount has a lot fewer exclusions and can be applied towards many luxury designers, including Giuseppe Zanotti and Valentino.

    The promotion started online today and will continue in stores and online through Sunday, November 17. Online shoppers can use the code FRIENDS at checkout. The big exclusions are generally leased spaces, Agent Provocateur, Akris Punto, Canada Goose, Chanel, Giorgio Armani, Marc Jacobs Collection, Moncler, Oscar De La Renta, Ralph Lauren Black Label, Ralph Lauren Collection.

    While browsing we found lots of already reduced DVF and Sonia Rykiel, which comes out to about 50% off with the additional discount. In the shoe department you can apply the promotion to Ferragamo, Giuseppe Zanotti and Brian Atwood. Exclusions include, Chanel, Christian Dior, Fendi, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Miu Miu, Prada,  and Ugg.

    You can also apply the discount to furniture and the Bloomingdale’s home departments. We suggest taking advantage of the promotion for Baccarat items and our personal favorite, Charisma bath towels.

    This markdown should at least get you through the start of Chanukah, which is unseasonably early and coincides with Black Friday.

    This Week’s Worthy Sample Sales

    There are so many sample sales scheduled even the professionals can’t attend them all. And really, who would want to? To help you sort through the madness, we put together a list of this week’s sales that we think are worthy of your battlefield effort. Let us know if you think we missed anything spectacular.

    Thakoon
    Tuesday, November 12 through Friday, November 15
    8:30am to 6:30pm daily
    225 Varick St between Houston and Clarkson Sts, suite 300
    Details: At the last sale prices were broken down to $50, $100, $150 and $200. Most samples are a straight size fours and are priced at $50 or $150 for more elaborate pieces. Most dresses were in the $150 and $200 categories.

    Helmut Lang
    Tuesday, November 12 through Friday, November 15
    Tues 11am to 8pm, Wed – Fri 11am to 7pm
    Clothingline, 261 W. 36th St btwn 7th & 8th
    Details: Short and long-sleeved tops were $45, sweaters and bottoms $50, dresses were $65 and blazers were priced at $80. During the last day of the sale prices were slashed an extra 60% off. This is when you can really pile up.

    Tibi
    Wednesday, November 13 through Friday, November 15
    Wed 12pm—8pm, Thurs 9am—8pm, Fri 9am—5pm
    131 Greene St between Prince and Houston St
    Details: Prices are marked 70% off of retail, which isn’t very difficult to find when shopping retail. The best bets were the $65 skirts and tops and pants for $75. Most dresses are priced between $150 and $175 but keep your eyes on their Facebook page for extra 20% to 50% off.

    Manolo Blanhik Sample Sale
    Wednesday, November 13- VIP Shoppers
    Thursday, November 14 – Public Shopping
    Doors open at 9am
    Warwick Hotel, 65 W 54th St. & 6th Ave, 2nd fl.
    CASH ONLY
    Details: The full rundown of what to expect is right here.

    Norma Kamali Annual Under $100
    Wednesday, November 13
    6pm to 8pm
    11 West 56th Street, between 5th & 6th Ave
    Details: This two hour shopping event brings the most electric shopping crowd. There you will find young girls and eccentric older women ally vying for cool urban chic on less than a Benjamin. You really never know what you will find.

    Manolo Blahnik Sale Starts Wednesday

    Manolo Blahnik fans will be able to shop an assortment of hugely discounted shoes starting Wednesday. The two day sale will start with invited guests and then open to the public. Last season was the first time they implemented this private-public shopping system and it wasn’t smooth sailing. The public shopping day of the sale was so overcrowded that they started turning customers away at 9am.

    Those willing to brave the crowds are sure to highly awarded with shoes priced at just $96 and goes up to $500 for tall exotic skin boots. Shoes with ornamentation were $125 at the last sale and styles with large large rhinestones are $150. Y can even afford to go crazy with a alligator style, which will cost you just $300 from a retail price of $4300. (That’s less than the tax would cost.)

    We anticipate that a majority of this sale’s selection will be from summer 2013. Just don’t count on stocking up on BBs. At the last sale, we only found a few styles of the famous shoe but they were either in patterned in plaid or lace. There’s usually an overwhelming assortment of satin styles in addition to many statement pieces.

    Even though $96 Manolos are quite a rush, we prefer the boutique’s end of season sale. In January shoppers can score shoes at 75% off and not have to sift through plastic bags and search for missing mates. Did we mention that there is never a wait at the boutique!

    Manolo Blanhik Sample Sale
    Wednesday, November 13- VIP Shoppers
    Thursday, November 14 – Public Shopping
    Doors open at 9am
    Warwick Hotel, 65 W 54th St. & 6th Ave, 2nd fl.
    CASH ONLY

    Saks Private Night Sale Begins

    Saks Fifth Avenue’s “Private Night” is the unofficial start to sale season. Historically, the department store’s best customers were invited to shop designer discounts before the store officially goes on sale. Unlike friends and family and other prior promotions the sale would to include most every designer brand. (We’re talking almost the entire third floor.) Those were the good ‘ol days.

    This season, the the sale was rebranded “Sneak Peek” and many of the most desirable brands are still excluded. On the bright said, the discount is 40% and runs in stores and online through Friday, November 8.  Like friends and family, most all of the contemporary brands are included. Those who prefer the designer collections can also choose from Ralph Lauren, Roberto Cavalli, Derek Lam and Armani. For now, all other designer brands and designer shoes are excluded from the discount promotion.

    While browsing online we found a good selection of Etro included in sale. This paisley print dress, for example, is now $700 from $1165. The sale selection of Missoni has a large selection of knits, including this chunky scarf vest that’s $981 from $1635 and we love this cotton caplet shirt from Prabal Gurung that’s now $417 from about $700.

    The next big discount at Saks will be Black Friday. During the doorbuster most every designer will be marked down and the crowds will be quite thick. We suggest presaling as a way to avoid the crowds and lock in the best discounts.

    Inside the Louboutin Sample Sale Today

    Christian Louboutin employees have posted their famous sample sale decoy notice but upstairs there is a flurry of VIP sample sale shopping. The invite-only sample sale started yesterday by appointment. Most of the invitees include a close clique of fashion journalists and bloggers with a sprinkle of leggy models.

    Our spies infiltrated the sale today to find an abundance of discounted red soles from which to choose. This season, there are even more basic shoes as an alternative to the fantastical styles that usually dominate the sale. There is also a good assortment of boots and booties. For the first time, the sale also includes a large amount of men’s Louboutins. As a matter of fact, the men’s selection is so good that women are sizing down and purchasing the shoes for themselves.

    Sample sale prices are holding steady and run the same as they have the past prior years. Most styles range in price from $250 to $500. The men’s smoking slippers range in price from about $300 to $400 depending on the detail. There are some more expensive crystallized sparkle shoes but they are mixed in with the rest of the shoe population. The handbag selection is already running very low. We expect that there will be none left by mid-day Wednesday.

    As you can expect, shoppers are buying in bulk. Our insider noticed that almost every shopper ended up with at least ten pairs of shoes each. That is not good news for those planning on shopping the sale later this week. It might help that tomorrow shoppers will only be given a limited amount of time to shop. Today given as much time as they needed and the process was very, very slow. Perhaps, timing the shopping experience will speed up the notorious line and limit the hoarding.

    If you’re considering door-busting this sale, we suggest that you use your best technique starting Wednesday. The invite says that the three day sale is for press but it’s really friends and family. (All the press were scheduled to shop Monday and Tuesday.) Be forewarned there are also three layers of clip-boards: one in the lobby, another at the elevator and a third in the showroom. Also, take note the +1 has been eliminated. So, be sure to have a good story and prey for good weather. We have a feeling the line will be very, very long.

    Stay tuned we will be posting more intel and photos as the week progresses!

    Christian Louboutin Sample Sale
    Monday, November 4 through Friday, November 8
    306 W. 38th St. (bet. 8th & 9th Ave.)

    Dolce & Gabbana Sale– Expensive & Crowded

    The Dolce & Gabbana sample sale kicked off today and we weren’t surprised that the wait to get in was long but we didn’t expect the line to stretch for more than two hours. Those who were patient enough to brave the chilly fall temperatures were were unfortunately disappointed by the less than primo discount Gabbana.

    For the record, we were unable to find most anything at 80% or 90% off. Most of the merchandise was discounted 60% and there was a smaller selection at 70%. A dress with jewel detail was about $1200 from about $3000 and a classic coat was $1600 from about $3500. Jeans are under $100 and tees are $50. The bright spot is the great selection of clothing and accessories for men.

    There are lots of Sicily bags, belts and shoes in sizes 38 and 39. All the good bags, according to our resident Dolce expert, are still priced over $850 from about $2000. Our best advice is to hope for another markdown and avoid waiting on line. We wouldn’t be surprised if you can luck out on both accounts during the last two days of the sale– Thursday and Friday.

    Dolce & Gabbana Sample Sale
    Monday, November 4 through Thursday, November 7
    Mon 10am- 10pm, Tues & Wed 9am -6pm, Thurs 9am -7pm
    Metropolitan Pavilion 123 West 18th Street, 4th Floor (The Gallery)