We are in the heat of markdown season, but fortunately (or unfortunately), we have more responsibilities than just buying whatever we went for ourselves. Truthfully, is there anything sweeter than a finely dressed mini-me?
World Wide Kidz is hosting a sample sale of gorgeous European childrenswear that’s all discounted between 60% and 90% off. Brands include Moncler, Dolce & Gabbana kids, Trussardi, Simonetta, Bébé Sweeney, Mimisol, Fay, Hilly’s, Bikkembergs and more. Sizes run from newborn to 16-years-old and include a variety that will finely suit your children for camp or a fancy occasion.
For the tiniest of baby boys and girls, we found an assortment of gorgeous stetchies from Bébé Sweeny that are all priced at $25. Retail prices usually extend to more than double. A Trussardi one-piece with a matching bib is $33 and girl’s baby Moncler coat is $190. For bigger kids, we found a boy’s Dirk Bikkembergs blazer for $79, a Simonetta dress comes to just $63, boy’s Moncler shorts and swimsuits are about $50 and a variety of gorgeous Mimisol Summer skirts are $79. You can click through this way to see pictures from inside the children’s European Clothing sample sale.
The sale is scheduled to run until the end of the month. We are told that there will be replenishments throughout the course of the sale. We suggest asking if you don’t find exactly what you want. You never know what can be hiding in an errant rack of kiddie clothing.
World Wide Kidz
Tuesday, May 22 to Friday, June 1
10am-7pm daily
605 Fifth Ave, 3rd Floor (one block from Saks)
Net-a-Porter’s started its first markdown this morning. The sale scales up to 50% off and this first markdown has a wide selection of designer brands. We even found some items discounted more highly than many department stores.
Generally speaking, most popular bags styles are discounted 30% but there are some discount surprises. Here is a Valentino Rockstud Spike discounted 40% or $1677 from $2800 and we haven’t even seen this embellished style anywhere in stores. The same bags are only discounted 30% at Saks and Bergdorfs. Some other interesting sale items include this Fendi Zucca print Kan I that’s $2500 from $3600, a Prada ribbon bag is $1700 from $2860 or this YSL Monogram crossbody is $1400 from nearly $2000.
If you’re looking for even more savings on a bag splurge you can grab this Off-White tote that’s reduced 50% to $640 from $1275 or this “Virgil” pouch is $300 from $600. This Danse Lente crossbody is only $$212 from $425. Balenciaga market bags are also discounted 40% off, which beats out many other stores.
Take note, some of the bags (shoes and accessories) included in this first wave of markdowns are from prior seasons. Expect to see more popular styles and brands added in during the second markdown, which will happen in the next two weeks.
For the first time, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman will begin their first markdown on the same day. The official start of sale season for both retailers is Tuesday, but we’ve found that markdowns at Bergdorfs have already been put live online. That means that right now, you can start planning your wardrobe for the first weekend of unofficial Summer.
The discount, at both stores, is up to 40% off. Most clothing is discounted 40% and shoes and bags are reduced 30%. The sale doesn’t officially start until Tuesday but Bergedorfs has some of their sale items live already.
We highly suggest that online shoppers start their shopping and editing right now. Many items are already discounted online and more will be trickling in over the course of the next day or two. Once news gets out, the best items will be gone very, very, very quickly.
We have a confession: It’s been two years since we’ve set foot in Saks Fifth Avenue. It’s a little hard to admit since luxury shopping is our job. In our defense, we didn’t think there was anything that we were missing but we were wrong.
After a two-year hiatus, we were shocked by what we found. First, you have to see the new fifth floor. They call it “Advanced Designers” which could easily be mistaken for Anne Klien or Ellie Tahari but the more accurate description would be the “Avant-Garde Designers.” Shoppers can find a full selection of street wear labels, like Alchemist, Unraveled, and Off-White, along with more experimental designers like Rosie Assoulin, Delpozo, and Comme Des Garsons.
The best part is that it’s presale time and most clothing items are now 40% off. Handbags are reduced between 30% and 40% off and most shoes are reduced 30% to 40%. The sale officially begins Tuesday, May 22nd, which means the discounts will then be available online too. This season, presale favors Sake Fifth Avenue credit card holders. If you don’t have a Saks card, the full amount will be charged now and the price difference will be credited once the sale officially begins and items ship.
Upstairs, on the eighth floor the sale selection is already set up on racks. We wish Saks would stop treating the sale shoe section as if it were an outlet. Shoes were already strewn all over the floor and it’s hard to feel good about $1000 shoes when the store isn’t treating them much better than dropped french fries. On the bright side, the assortment of sale shoes rival Barneys. The discount is between 30% and 40% depending on the style.
Remember, the sale goes live online on Tuesday. We always suggest stocking your cart in advance. It’s faster to pull the trigger if you have already done your final edit. If you’re still questioning whether you should actually go the store, you can always see pictures of practically everything we saw over in the jump.
The Anya Hindmarch sale ends Thursday evening but there is still time to grab one last item from the playful Brittish designer. Prices have all been slashed to 80% off. Remaining items include just a few oversized totes that now come to just $500 from $2500 and a small wallet is $80 from nearly $400. Click here to see pictures we took at the start of the Anya Hiundermach sample sale.
Anya Hindmarch Friends & Family Sale
Through Thursday, May 17
9am-6pm daily
49 West 38th Street
Farfetch is known for bringing the world’s most popular fashion boutiques, and local and emerging designers and brands to a single website. Usually, sales start a bit later on Farfetch because many of the origin boutiques are European. Excitingly enough, this week Farfetch launched its sale.
The sale includes items for men, women, and children with discounts ranging up to 50% off. Take note, some of the more highly reduced merchandise is older and can be found for less at other retailers. Among the more current items, we found a Jacquemus skirt that is reduced 50% to $280 from $560, a pleated Stussy skirt is just $90 from $136, and this Benedetta Bruzziches princess bag is $590 from nearly $1000.
When shopping Farfetch’s first markdown, our advice is to stick to the brands that aren’t easily found in the US or are already sold out. Be aware, most of the discounts aren’t as high as what you will find during the first markdown at most local stores.
Barneys shoppers can officially begin to presale for the first markdown. The discount is 40% across the board– clothing, shoes, and bags for men, women, and children. Besides the outstanding selection, 40% discounts make Barneys the best department store to shop for Summer deals.
Presales used to be treated as a big secret but, these days, stores promote their presales and use it to create a buzz among shoppers. All purchases are held by credit card until the sale officially begins on May 24th. Some brands use a different markdown schedule, for example, Chanel and Louboutin will not be marked down at any department store or boutique until the beginning of June.
Moving upstairs to the shoe department, the only designers excluded from this round of markdowns are Celine, Dries Van Noten, Celine and Christian Louboutin. All other sale shoes are 40% off. It’s no surprise there are no Balenciaga Speed Trainers or Triple S’s included in the markdown but we did spot logo pumps and those crazy spiked shoes ($990 from $1650). Our favorite sale shoes are from the lesser known designer Giannico. Pictures of all the Barneys presale shoes are over in the jump.
We suggest you grab what you can during presale or have your trigger finger ready for online shopping when the sale goes live on May 24. There will be another wave of markdown merchandise in mid-June but that’s when Barneys loses its competitive edge.
