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    Sample Sale Update: Devi Kroell, Dolce & Gabbana, Bonpoint & J. Mendel

    It’s hard to believe it’s mid-October when temperatures are still topping 80-degrees. We wouldn’t complain a moment about wearing shorts for Halloween, but we all know that this warm streak won’t last. Yes, Winter is coming.

    We started a list of the best sample sales of the month but felt remiss not calling out some new biggies. Below are the details of some new favorites. The master list is still over here. Happy sale-ing.

    Devi Kroell
    It’s been ages since the designer’s namesake has been at the helm of the company. Nonetheless, we’ve always been fans of the architecturally inspired designs. We are hoping to find lots of exotic leather bags for 80% to 90% off (like we found in 2013) but we can’t exactly bet on it.
    Monday October 9th Through Friday, October 13
    Mon-Thurs 10am-7pm, Fri 10am-6pm
    55 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1701
    Payment by credit cards only

    Dolce & Gabbana 
    Who doesn’t love a powerful floral print at 70% off? The problem with this sample sale is always the line. Last season, shoppers reported waiting more than four hours to get in. If you wait until the end of the sale you will find less lines and deeper discounts. Play your cards right and you can score some great Dolce without your blood raising to the highest of a hot blooded Italian.
    Thursday, October 12 through Sunday, October 15
    Thurs 10am-7pm, Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-6pm
    Soiffer Haskin, 317 W. 33rd St. (bet. 8th & 9th Ave.)

    Bonpoint
    Uptowners are notorious for wardrobing their tots for this French luxury sample sales. Expect the sale to be fully stocked with a large assortment of winter merchandise, including boots, coats, sweaters and winter accessories. As always, the discount will be a straight 60% off retail. (Shoes are sometimes discounted more.) The last day of the sale sometimes sports extra markdowns — but not always.
    Tuesday October 17 through Thursday October 19
    Tues 1pm-8pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Thurs 9am-3pm
    Metropolitan Pavilion: 123 West 18st Street (betwn 6th &7th Ave.), 5th floor
    Only credit cards are accepted

    J. Mendel
    Expect to find furs, gowns and shoes at 75% off. During a past sale we found a fox coat for about $2400, a chinchilla for $8000 and shearling for $2000. Gowns ran from size 0 to 12 and ranged from $5000 for a couture black and gold tulle gown to $135 for a satin blouse. This VIP sale is by appointment only. RSVP to the email address below.
    Wednesday, October 25 through Thursday, October 26
    Wed 11am-7pm, Thurs 9am-6pm
    RSVP: jenxsamplesale@gmail.com

    Saks Friends & Family Sale

    The Saks Fifth Avenue Friends & Family sale started online and in stores. Despite the attractive 25% off discount clothing, shoes and accessories, there aren’t many designer options included in the promotion.

    Far gone are the days of a friendly Prada discount but there are still some designer-y items from which to choose. The friends and family sale is bundled in one link but Saks was extra tricky and added sale merchandise that’s not eligible for the additional discount. Look closely before clicking.

    Among the designers included in the sale section, shoppers can apply the discount to Acne, Edie Parker and Adam Lippes. There aren’t many bags included in the sale. There’s only one Anya Hindmarch bag available in the promotional section and over here, we found Edie Parker clutch is $900 from $1200.

    The shoe selection is pretty bleak if you’re looking for premium designer discounts. The section is filled with designer sale merchandise but almost none are eligible for the friends and family discount. Remember, only certain items are qualified.

    Some of our favorite items included in the markdown include, this Clu polka stripped open-sleeve top that’s $112 from $150,  a Milly dot print blouse is $266 from $355, DVF boots $366 from $450 and Alice & Olivia heels are $318 from $425.

    We aren’t too surprised by this sly Saks friends & family sale but think it would be more fitting to change the name to the Saks Trick or Treat sale. For what it’s worth, the promotion runs through Sunday online and in stores but we wouldn’t be surprised if there was an extension. Tick or treat…

    Yoox Hosts Major Clearance Sale — 90% Off

    Yoox may be the most frustrating website in the world to shop. Every search seems to yield 1400 or more pages of search results. We all know that there is good stuff hidden among those 1485-pages (to be exact) but who has the time?

    Well. Today, the Italian-based luxury website started a major clearance sale where past season’s merchandise is reduced up to 90% off of the original price. The sale runs through October 9 and new categories will continuously be added. Take note, all sales are final. That means no credits, refunds or exchanges. (Not that we ever make it to the post office to mail anything back.)

    We just couldn’t resist from digging-in. It wasn’t easy. We wanted to give up several times, but we maintained the stamina of a marathon runner and the focus of a neurosurgeon. A Lanvan dress (probably from the Elbaz era) is $245 from $2050, an Emilio Pucci lightening bolt dress is $322 from $2300, a jumpsuit from The Row is $314 from $1340 and Balmain ankle booties are just $93 from $850.

    We suggest that you take advantage of the filters when shopping. First, only look at your size and the designers you like. Some designers like Lanvin and Pucci are much more discounted than others. If you’re not seeing interesting discounts, move on to another designer.

    Good luck!

    The IT-It: Dotty for Polka Dots

    Fashion month is officially over and the most remarkable trend that we have noticed is the lack of changing trends. For many years fashion has moved at such a high validity that it was hard to keep up. This season’s runways seemed to showcase lots of carryovers and not a lot of variations from what we’ve seen and shopped for the past year.

    If slower paced fashion is a new trend, we are ready to happily oblige. On of the most noticeable 2.0 trends (maybe even 3.0) is polka dots. Dolce & Gabbana first showcased the print in Spring 2015 and the print is not about to let up now. During fashion week we saw more spots on and off the runway than just about anything else. (You can see our very own polka dot street style pictures right here.)

    The pattern was shown and warn mainly in black and white and spanned a range of jumpsuits, jackets and flowing skirts. Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Dolce & Gabbana and Balmain continued to show  the print on the runway for Spring 2018. If you have a lot of dots right now, you can sit pretty. If you haven’t jumped on this trend we suggest you to play along.

    Nordstrom has a great assortment of polka dot frocks and accessories that span a wide range of budgets. Here is a Marc Jacobs silk polka dot blouse ($395), a wrap dress ($70) but our favorite is the Simone Rocha sweater with dot cut-outs ($505). Layer the sweater over a white top and you have 3D polka dots! There are also lots of great accessories. Here is a polka dot Balenciaga bazaar bag ($2250), spotted pumps from Kate Spade ($298) and dotted drop earrings ($395).

    As always, online shoppers should take advantage of Nordstrom’s great customer service, which features free shipping and free returns. If only all stores were as easy to shop as Nordstrom.

    Sponsored Post




    Hermes Sale Details Unveiled

    Orange is the most iconic color of October. There are orange leaves, orange pumpkins and, yes, the orange boxes that dominate the Hermes sample sale. It’s that time of year again but New Yorkers might be in for a bit if disappointment.

    As far as we can tell, there is no Hermes sale scheduled for this month in the Big Apple. Perhaps it’s the line debacles or how we’ve become increasingly critical of the dwindling inventory. Whatever the reason, it appears as if the Hermes sale is not in the October calendar. That is, it won’t be taking place in New York.

    Our spies tell us that the annual October sample sale will be taking place in Chicago. The sale will begin on Wednesday, October 18 for VIPs and open to the public Thursday, October 19. If the sale in the Windy City turns out to be anything like NYC, shoppers can expect long lines and no leather products.

    At past season’s sales, when the chaos was minimal, shoppers found a nice assortment of silk scarves ($270) and ties ($75), twillies ($158) and enamel bracelets ($172-$320). There are always lots of shoes and boots. We always suggest going for a classic riding boot or Oran slides.

    Those attending the VIP sale are usually invited with a guest but both attendees are required to RSVP. Names and IDs are checked at the door.

    If you can’t make it to Chicago, we hear there is a sale planned for Paris, on January 10, 2018. Alternatively, you can shop for Hermes online and find prices just as good– if not better. Scroll above to see the Hermes deals we found.

    Hermes Sample Sale Chicago
    VIP: Wednesday, October 18
    Public: Thursday, October 19 to Sunday, October 22
    Thrus-Sat 11am-8pm, Sun 10am-6pm
    1034 West Randolph Street

    OCTOBER SAMPLE SALES ???????????? Just added: Manolo

    The mums on Park Avenue are the most visible sign that Fall has officially arrived. The changing leaves and cooler weather means that sample sale season isn’t too far away. Like post-season baseball, shopping gets serious in October. It’s the perfect time of year to be on the lookout for holiday gifts, outerwear and, of course, boots!

    We’ve exclusively listed only the sample sales that we think are worthy of your time and effort. The post will continue to be updated throughout the month and remain just a click away in the right sidebar. You can also follow along on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook to get quick and immediate updates. Feel free to leave feedback in the comments section, so that everyone can benefit from the ‘Spy’ network.

    Pratesi Sample Sale
    If you’re looking to freshen your whites you might want to take a spin by the Pratesi sample sale. The discount is usually up to 75% off. At the last sale we attended (which was a very long time ago) comforters were priced at $600 and sheet sets started at $500 (originally $1600). Cashmere blankets were $1400, while wool blankets were priced at about $600.
    Sunday, October 1 through Wednesday, October 4

    Sun-Tues 9am- 6:30pm, Wed 9am-5pm
    Soiffer Haskin, 317 West 33rd Street
    Credit cards only

    Devi Kroell
    It’s been ages since the designer’s namesake has been at the helm of the company. We are frankly surprised the Madison Avenue store is still open. Nonetheless, we’ve always been fans of the architecturally inspired designed exotic leather goods. We are hoping to find lots of exotic leather bags for 80% to 90% off (like we found in 2013) but we can’t exactly bet on it.
    Monday October 9th Through Friday, October 13
    Mon-Thurs 10am-7pm, Fri 10am-6pm
    55 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1701
    Payment by credit cards only

    Dolce & Gabbana 
    Who doesn’t love a powerful floral print at 70% off? The problem with this sample sale is always the line. Last season, shoppers reported waiting more than four hours to get in. If you wait until the end of the sale you will find less lines and deeper discounts. Play your cards right and you can score some great Dolce without your blood raising to the highest of a hot blooded Italian.
    Thursday, October 12 through Sunday, October 15
    Thurs 10am-7pm, Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-6pm
    Soiffer Haskin, 317 W. 33rd St. (bet. 8th & 9th Ave.)

    David Yurman Sample Sale
    At David Yurman’s last sale, we scoped out a line that almost spanned the full avenue. Many people waited many hours before gaining entrance. Inside, shoppers said to have found cable bracelets reduced 30% off and other styles were discounted 50%. Rings and necklaces were 50% off and watches and pendants were reduced by 60%.
    Thursday, October 12th through Sunday, October 15th

    Thurs 3pm–8, Fri & Sat 10am–7pm, Sun 11am–5pm
    The Altman Building, 135 West 18th Street

    Lanvin Private Sample Sale
    The (loosely) invite-only sale started on Monday and offers a great assortment of clothing, shoes, jewelry, bags and accessories for men, women and a tiny rack of kid’s. All dresses– long and short– are discounted 90%. All other men’s and woman’s merchandise is 80% off retail. Most of the clothing is from 2016 and 2015. Full details are on the blog here.
    Through Friday, October 20
    9am-7pm daily
    37 West 57th Street, 9th floor

    Wolford Sample Sale
    Last season, the sample sale space was buzzing with excitement as women of all ages and sizes sifted through neatly arranged bins of leg wear. Prices start at $18 for tights and stockings with retail values under $100. More expensive tights are $45. Beyond the leg wear, the sale includes a variety of undergarments, bras, panties, shapewear and lingerie. There is also many racks of ready-to-wear clothing and accessories. The shapewear skirts and tops are $55, bodies are $75 and dresses are $95. Ready-to-wear is a straight 75% off retail. You can click over this way to see pictures from last season’s sale.
    Monday, October 16 though Saturday, October 21
    Mon 10am-8pm, Tues-Sat 10am-7pm
    260 Sample Sale, 260 5th Avenue

    Bonpoint
    Uptowners are notorious for wardrobing their tots from this French luxury sample sale. Expect the sale to be fully stocked with a large assortment of winter merchandise, including boots, coats, sweaters and winter accessories. As always, the discount will be a straight 60% off retail. (Shoes are sometimes discounted more.) The last day of the sale sometimes sports extra markdowns — but not always. Details are now on the blog right here.
    Tuesday October 17 through Thursday October 19
    Tues 1pm-8pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Thurs 9am-3pm
    Metropolitan Pavilion: 123 West 18st Street (betwn 6th &7th Ave.), 5th floor
    Only credit cards are accepted

    SoulCycle Sample Sale
    You can’t just spin, you have to spin the lifestyle. That means stocking up on lots of Soul-worthy workout clothing. We are told the discounts will start at 40% off retail, which doesn’t seem too thrilling. You can always use last season’s Bandier sample sale for guidance. We must admit that we are really impressed with Gap’s athletic collection this season. The prints are really spot on and the quality is as good as most any other brand.
    Tuesday, October 17 through Sunday, October 22
    Tues-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 10am-5pm
    260 Sample Sale, 150 Greene Street

    Manolo Sale Sample Sale
    We expect that prices will run along the same lines as last season. Plain shoes, including leather, suede satin, and printed fabric start at $125 ($136 with tax) and go up to $150. Shoes with embellishments like glitter and studs were priced $175. Boots started at $200 for basic versions and went up to $400 for over-the-knee styles.
    Wednesday, October 25th
    Sale opens: 11am and closes when the inventory dwindles (usually 3pm – 4pm)
    The Warwick Hotel, 54th Street and 6th Avenue, 2nd Floor
    Cash only!

    J. Mendel
    This VIP sale is by appointment only. Expect to find furs, gowns and shoes at 75% off. During a past sale we found a fox coat for about $2400, a chinchilla for $8000 and shearling for $2000. Gowns ran from size 0 to 12 and ranged from $5000 for a couture black and gold tulle gown to $135 for a satin blouse.
    Wednesday, October 25 through Thursday, October 26
    Wed 11am-7pm, Thurs 9am-6pm
    RSVP: jenxsamplesale@gmail.com

    The Row
    The Row’s sale has been extended. One of the big highlights of this season’s sale include lots of chunky sweaters, which are usually hard to find. For the first time, the sale has a selection of shoes. The discount crackdown goes something like this; Ready to wear is 70% off, bags and shoes are discounted 60%, fur is 40% off and exotics are 50% off. Anticipate that additional discounts are coming. Stay tuned. We will post here and on Instagram as we receive more details.
    Saturday, October 28 through Tuesday, October 31
    Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 10am-6pm, Mon 9am-7pm, Tues 9am-3pm
    Metropolitan Pavilion: 123 West 18th Street,  5th Floor
    Only Credit Cards Accepted

    Bloomingdales Friends & Family Sale

    The Bloomingdales friends and family sale will officially begin Friday online. Shoppers can save 25% with the code FRIENDS, plus you can also receive a $25 reward card for every $100 you spend. Those looking for an in-store Bloomingdales experience can begin shopping using the discount on Tuesday.

    In the past, the exclusions haven’t been too extensive. Designer collections, beauty and fragrance are never included in the promotion. Although the discount can’t be applied to beauty purchases there is usually a gift with purchase incentive.

    Bloomingdales can be frustrating to shop. We’ve become a big fan of the “In-Store Pickup” service. Shop online and retrieve everything from the customer service department on the 3rd floor. Once you get there, you can try everything on and just take the items you like.

    We love this gingham shirt dress ($88),  this Aqua embroidered sweater ($128) and these Hudson jeans that lace all the way up the sides ($295). The discount can also be applied to sale items. These Gucci Mary Janes come to $280 from $700 and this Maje  leather jacket will about $350.

    The friends and family promotion runs through Monday, October 9. We suggest that you shop during this markdown. The next sale with similar discounts won’t be until Black Friday.

    Shopbop Spend & Save 25%

    For a long time department stores have been luring shoppers with extra gift cards as shopping incentives. We’d prefer a straight discount over a gift card that either expires or ends up luring you to spend more than the face value.

    Through Friday, Shopbop is offering a shopping discount incentive that increases to 25% off. (Take note, last year the promotion was 30% off.) Just use the code EOTS17 at checkout. The discount breakdowns are below. You will notice that these discounts are much higher than they have ever been.

    There are really very few restrictions, including Canada Goose, Sydney Evan, Veronica Beard and Jonathan Simkhai. We suggest you go straight for the items that are usually excluded from these types of promotions like this popular Kenzo puffer and this Anya Hindmarch heart bag. These Stewart Weitzman over the knee boots were a sell out last year and we expect them to go strong this Winter too. Ferragamo’s popular bow heels are also included in the promotion.

    How great is this Tibi Origami skirt with this N21 bag (sold out on Shopbop but still available here, if you must)? This DVF faux fur jacket is going to be one of the most iconic items of the season once the chilly weather comes.

    20% off orders under $500
    25% off orders over $500

    You can also use the discount on sale items. These Antonio Barardi dress will come to abut $325 from $1565 and these Lizzie Fortunate earrings are about $100 from $220.

    It’s times like this that we wish that Shopbop carried Gucci too!