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    NOVEMBER SAMPLE SALES ????????????Veronica Beard, Prada, Barbour

    The calendar has turned to November, which means sample sale shopping will hit a frenetic peak. It’s a good thing because Thanksgiving and holiday parties are right around the corner. There is no better time to start collecting holiday gifts and adding some exciting pieces to your home and wardrobe.

    Below is a list of what we believe to be the best bargain bonanzas of the month. You can see a listing of all the sample sales occurring in NYC on ShopDrop. Continue to check back here and we will add more sales and commentary. Feel free to ask questions, feedback, and comments below. You can also follow along on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook to get quick and immediate updates.

    Chilewich Sample Sale
    If you’re looking for tabletop accessories you’re not going to pass up on the Chilewich sample sale. Expect to find an assortment of durable and stylish placemats, runners, napkins, and accessories for up to 90% off. This sale is a true sample sale and it only happens once a year. The timing couldn’t be better.
    Tuesday, November 5 through Thursday, November 7th
    10am-6pm daily
    261 West 36th Street

    RtA Sample Sale
    Did you know that RtA stands for “Road to Awe”? Neither did we! Something else: The LA-based company will be hosting a sample sale with discounts up to 80% off. We love this brand because it feels a little rock and roll glam with even a European twist. Keep an eye out for luxe leather, denim, and upgraded sweaters.
    Tuesday, November 5 through Sunday, November 10
    Tues 1am-8pm, Wed to Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 10am-5pm
    260 Sample Sale: 151 Wooster Street

    Carolina Herrara Sample Sale
    If you missed the ODLR sample sale you have a chance to shop discounted gowns and elegant day-wear at the Carolina Herrara sample sale. This is the first time that they are having a sale hosted outside of their own offices. It’s hard to speculate about the pricing but we hope that it will be along the lines of ODLR.
    Wednesday, November 6 through Sunday, November 10
    Wed 10am-8pm, Thurs to Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 10am-5pm
    260 Sample Sale: 150 Greene Street

    Aeffe Sample Sale
    If you’re looking for a civilized environment to shop deals, this would be the place. Expect to find a lot of in-stores now merchandise from Alberta Ferretti, Moschino, FUZZI, Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini, and Cédric Charlier. There will also be a limited selection of merchandise for men. Most items are usually discounted about 65% off retail.
    Saturday, November 9 through Monday, November 11
    Saturday 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm, Mon 10am-7pm
    30 West 56th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenue, 1st floor

    Annabelle Fur, Coats and Jackets Sample Sale
    Annabelle, which is known for its gorgeous furs, wool coats, down jackets and accessories, is opening its showroom to shoppers. Expect to find pom-pom hats starting at $25. Down jackets starting at $60 and fur-lined vests starting $300. Don’t miss the gorgeous wool coats accented with fur or shearling jackets starting at $300. This is an amazing opportunity to buy top European quality outerwear for less than Zara prices.
    Wednesday, November 13 through Friday, November 15
    10am-6pm daily
    247 West 30th St, 2nd Floor

    Mont Blanc Sample Sale
    The Mont Blanc sample sale is always a readers’ favorite. Most pens, watches, accessories, and jewelry are discounted 50% to 60% off but discounts on less popular items go up to 80% off. The most popular and giftable items tend to go very quickly. Those attending the sale should expect a long line on opening day and shorter lines throughout the term of the sale. For some reason, there is always a wait for Mont Blanc.
    Wednesday, November 13 through Saturday, November 16
    Wed to Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 9am-4pm
    260 Sample Sale: 260 Fifth Avenue

    Veronica Beard
    Look out for an assortment of jackets, sweaters, and dresses from size 00-24. There are tons of the designer’s trademark blazers along with tees, sweaters, and jeans. There are some true samples. Most production items will be reduced by 70% off retail. If there isn’t something specific that you desire, we suggest waiting for price cuts, which should come after the second day of the sale.
    Monday, November 18 through Saturday, November 23
    260 Fifth Avenue
    Mon 10am-8pm, Tue 9am-8pm, Wed & Thu 10am-7pm, Fri 10am-8pm, Sat 10am-5pm

    Prada Sample Sale
    Prada just announced that it will be holding a sample sale later this week, hosted by 260 Sample Sale. This is the first time the Italian brand has hosted a sample sale in nearly 10 years. his year’s sale will be comprised of an assortment of bags, shoes, and clothing. We think there will be a huge amount of shoes and bags but we don’t believe that discounts will be drastic. Prices are likely to be in-line with the boutique’s normal markdown of 50% off and then shift into higher reductions later in the week. Click over this way to read more about what we expect.
    Wednesday, November 20 through Saturday, November 23
    10am-8pm daily
    150 Greene Street

    Barbour Sample Sale
    Get the real sample sale experience at the Barbour sale. This one day sale will carry an assortment of true samples, which is approximately a size 6 woman. Prices will be at wholesale cost, which is normally about 70% off of retail. 
    Wednesday, November 20
    11am-6pm
    130 West 57th Street, 3C

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    Lake Como’s Tessabit 40% Off Designer

    Tessabit is a multi-brand luxury boutique based in Lake Como, Italy. It was the first store to carry Georgio Armani’s collection in the 70s and has remained on the cutting edge of trend and fashion ever since. More recently, Tessabit has their goals set on capturing the eyes of a New York shopper.



    The best part of the promotion is that the merchandise is coming from Italy and already at a discount when compared to our retail prices. You can use this link and the code MOON40S at checkout to a gage the savings.

    The extra promotion brings the final cost to more than 50% off on many items. The Vring Valentino bag is $2145 at our retail stores but comes to $1128 after the discount. A Balmain velvet blazer retails here at $2300 but comes to just $1100 and a tee comes to $190 from $395 at US stores. Balenciaga square toe BB boots are $690 from $1590 state-side.

    While in the sale section, keep your eyes focused on European designers. That’s where you will find the best values. We noticed that the Fendi prices weren’t less than here but the 40% discount is way more than you will ever find on brand new items like the Karligraphy bag and anything from Brunello Cucinelli.

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    Chanel: Official Price Increase

    The Halloween -scaries are mostly all putaway today but our biggest fright has become official. Chanel’s new pricing is now live and the price hikes are confirmed.

    The price change in the US is not nearly as extreme as we were initially told. Classic and Reissue bag styles are $200 more and Boy Bags are an extra $100. You can see the official new pricing in the below chart. (Click in the image to view the numbers more clearly.)

    Unfortunately, the European market isn’t as lucky. According to SpottedFashion, Chanel prices in the Eurozone have increased by 7%. In France, a Wallet on a Chain has increased by €150 to €2150 and a medium classic is €300 more for a total of €5150.

    Shoppers have questioned the virtue of a Chanel bag purchase as prices begin to move closer to those at Hermes. Many long-time Chanel fans have stated dismay in the deteriorating quality of newly manufactured purses. Other customers have aired issues with Chanel’s customer service.

    Hermes, on the other hand, has maintained its hand-made manufacturing heritage and will service a bag to the best of their ability regardless of its age. Hermes bags also have been proven to hold their value on the resale market better than Chanel.

    What are your thoughts on the new prices? Are Chanel bags worth the expense? Will you buy a preowned bag or a new one?

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    Barneys Destined to Close: Now What?

    This afternoon the gavel fell and the fate of Barneys was determined. Authentic Brands Group and B. Riley will be the new owners of Barneys and of all its assets and intellectual property for the price of $271 million.

    ABG has been forthright that their purchase plan includes the closing of all Barneys’ locations — including its 275,000-square-foot flagship property owned by Ashkenazy Acquisition at 660 Madison Avenue.

    “It’s a sad day,” said Judge Cecilia Morris as she determined the fate of Barneys, which includes the loss of 1,500 jobs and the end of an era for New Yorkers.

    Jeff Trexler, attorney and associate director of Fashion Law Institute, based at Fordham School of Law, observed the proceedings and in an interview with Mad-Spy said, “There was a palpable sense of loss. The sense of losing more than a store. Barneys has been important to so many for much of its history.”

    The question of how ABG will liquidate inventory remains a question. Texler told Mad-Spy that the jewelry vendors are among the only merchants that have prior authorization to retrieve its merchandise. That means that everything from Chanel shoes to YSL bags are up for grabs.

    Some experts believe that ABG will keep stores open for a limited time and slowly reduce merchandise until most of it’s sold. Other experts believe that the most valuable inventory — from Louboutin to Gucci– will be sold behind the scenes.

    The perception that Barneys is dead has to be factored into any decision, ” Trexler said.  A fire sale will only diminish the value of the label, which will primarily be used for licensing.
    Another expert with whom we spoke agreed that customers shouldn’t be too optimistic about paying pennies for Prada. “If ABG decides to liquidate its inventory, you can bet that the best merchandise will be removed. Off-price stores from TJ Maxx to Gilt are already placing offers,” he said.  “At stores, you will most likely see the Coop brand reduced to liquidation values along with fixtures and odd accessories.”

    The individual brands have worries about seeing major disicounts too.  A comment noted that big companies, like LVMH, are attempting to buy back their merchandise in order to maintain control.

    Inside sources say that all NYC employees have been called to a meeting on Friday morning. We anticipate that it will be a somber day.

    On a personal note: The Madison Avenue Spy team is very thankful to all of our friends at Barneys. You have made our lives more colorful, stylish and fun. Our stories of shopping at Barneys and eating lunch at Fred’s will be told as a legend and be repeated to future generations. We wish everyone lots of luck and success and look forward to sharing new beginnings.

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    Inside a Trip to Nordstrom NYC Flagship

    New York City is buzzing about retail. Local headlines are dominated by stories about Barney’s likely closure and Nordstrom opening its first NYC store. This is within a year of Saks Fifth Avenue closing it’s downtown location and Neiman Marcus opening at Hudson Yards.


    It’s hard to gauge if NYC retail is dying a slow and painful death or experiencing a rebirth. A trip to the newly opened Nordstrom woman’s store would lead anyone to believe that a Renaissance is underway. Today, I took my first trip to the new 57th Street department store and spent several hours exploring and trying to understand what makes Nordstrom any different from the 15-alternative sources you can procure Prada boots.

    In a landscape of specialty, Nordstrom offers a little bit of retail magic for everyone, It’s a little Macy’s, a dash of Bloomindales, a twist of Saks, a sprinkle of Bergdorfs and a hint of Dover Street Market. It’s hard to believe but it’s true.

    The first floor contains a bright and cheery array of Fjallraven backpacks, which would make any school girl squeal with excitement. The lower levels are focused on luxury brands, which include shoes and handbags from Valentino, Fendi, Dior, and fashion from Saint Laurent, Balmain, and Erdem. There is even a section of Comme Des Garcons. (That’s where the Dover Street Market flavor comes into play.) The upper floors contain contemporary lines from a variety of brands including Nili Lotan, Alice & Olivia, Ted Baker, and Halogen. I have lots of pics in the jump.

    What makes this Nordstrom a little bit different than other stores is that there is also encourages exploration. I was surprised to see Perrin in the designer handbag section and discovered D’estree–a brand I didn’t know! Their bags have the visual intrigue and a price point close to Danse Lente but offers far superior quality. I got to get up close and personal with a great assortment from Nanushka and have a newfound appreciation for the quality and affordable price. (Slide through to see pictures from inside the store.)

    Unfortunately, my food experience was not on par with what draws me to Barneys several times a week or even the sustenance provided at Forty Carrots. Bar Verde, on the fifth floor,  offered reasonable menu options but all of our food was served cold. The quality of the individual ingredients surpassed the final product. The french fries, which is the barometer of any bistro, were even barely “fine”. On the bright side, my Lavender Chai, from the basement level children’s section, was delicious even if I was upsold whole milk. The final price for my small Chai was $7 and I would prefer to overpay at Sant Ambroeuse.

    Throughout the entire day, the Nordstrom store was buzzing with curious customers. I noticed diversity you don’t normally see at NY stores. There were people coming from surrounding offices, Upper West Siders, tourists, and various Nordstrom executives. I even spotted the fashion icon, Fern Mallis.

    I think that this type of diversity is what will set Nordstrom apart from other NYC retailers. As most venues have their own tribe, this is a destination that seems to accept everyone and a curated assortment of everything. Perhaps this is the true future of retail and the beginning of a Golden Age. You can click here to take a visual tour via pictures and commentary.

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    Neiman Marcus “New Sale” Added

    Neiman Marcus started a “First Call” sale on contemporary merchandise last week. It hasn’t been much time but the store has continued to add more sale options. The discount ranges from 30% to 40% off, which is less then some sample sales currently in session.


    At the Tibi sample sale, which officially starts on Tuesday, this leather-ette skirt is $250 but it’s priced in the Neiman Marcus sale section for $296 from $395. Other new standouts include this Parker green jumpsuit that’s $200 from $300.  It would pair perfectly with this season’s hot-trend combat boots. Here is an RtA sweater that’s $200 from $300 and a puff sleeve dress from Kobi Halpern that’s $300 from $400. These Stuart Weitzman sandals are really a very good value at $240 from $400.

    Through Monday, clearance is an extra 25% off. We spotted this Palm Angles sweatshirt, which is basically unisex, for $174 from $475, a red letter moto jacket is $185 from $500 and Fendi slides are only $230 from $690. This Yves Salmon puffer is $1000 from $2800 and a Herno puffer with a fur collar is $870 from $2325.

    These more extreem discounts are only valid through Monday. The next big extra discount on clearance will be in early November.

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    Bottega Veneta Raises Prices AGAIN

    It hasn’t even been a month since Bottega’s last price increase but they are at it again. First, on October 3, we reported a price increase of $100 on the popular leather pouch, which brought the total price to $2500. Today, we found out about another price hike that brings the cost of the it-bag to $2700. That’s an increase of $300– over 10%– in less than a month.


    It appears as if the metallic style pouches are the best deal at the legacy price of “only” $2400. The cost of the woven “Intreccio” got a bump earlier this month but seems to be holding steady at $3100.   The small Pouch 20 was $1100 only last month, was upped to $1200 at the start of October, but now has a new price of $1390. The woven Pouch 20 is now $1580.

    Retreating to the Mansur Gavriel version might seem like an even better alternative now. Think again. The clones also went up in price from $395 to $595. Happy holidays!

    As the economy seems to be slowing, brands are not shy about taking advantage of hot products. Earlier this week, Louis Vuitton raised prices 7% on many popular styles. Dior added $400 to $500 on popular Saddle Bags and Lady Dior styles, according to Spotted Fashion. On November 1, Chanel is slated to take a major price hike on many of it’s most popular style bags.

    The fashion cycle has become as fast-moving as Billboard’s Hot 100. Fashion brands are becoming increasingly savvy in taking advantage of any trend while it’s hot. There was a time when Dior book totes were under $2000. That should be a lesson to us all.

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    Sale Reminder: Global Fashions Sample Sale

    Monday Morning, Global Fashions will open it’s doors to the public for a sample sale. Discounts range from 55% to 80% off. Men’s and women’s clothing are all 80% off. Rockstud shoes are discounted 55% off. All other shoes, sneakers, boots, bags, and accessories are reduced to 70% off. We have pictures and detailed pricing here.

    Some of the sale highlights include an assortment of Rockstuds in nude, hot pink, black, and even some tri-colored pumps and flats. Lots of boot options at 70% off. Among the bags, is a gold chain shoulder bag from the Love collection that comes to $825 from $2745 and a butterfly embroidered backpack is $900 from $ 3045. Don’t miss the great boot options. Sizes are limited.

    Global Fashions Sample Sale
    Monday, October 28 through Wednesday, October 30
    9am-6pm daily
    49 West 38th Street

    Sponsored Mention
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