We love Fall in New York– the changing leaves, the Park Avenue mums, and yes, the Manolo Blahnik sample sale. Our sources tell us that this year’s Fall sample sale will open to the public on Wednesday, October 25th. As is tradition, the second floor salon of the Warwick Hotel will be the site of the event.
This sample sale is a bi-annual highlight for shoe lovers. As you can imagine, the wait time can be worse than a passport agency. We usually prefer the boutique sales even if prices are a bit more expensive. You can read the full report from last season over here. (Those who can’t make it to the sale can shop an assortment of brand new Manolos starting at just $75 from the scroll above.)
Shoppers who are up for the Manolo sample sale challenge, should expect to take a number and wait, and wait, and wait. The really nice thing about this sale is that you can leave and come back once you get your lucky numbered ticket. Take note, that the sale opens at 11am and will close when inventory begins to run low. In past years, that was at about 3pm to 4pm, which does’t leave a big window for shopping.
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.
Over the past few seasons the assortment has been dwindling. Manolo Blahnik & Co. recently added a fundraising component to their overstock strategy. A sale to benefit Arethusa Farm Scholarship Fund for University of Connecticut Agricultural Studies. A good amount of stock that would show up at the bi-annual sample sale has gone to the, so called, farm.
At the last sale, by 10am the crowds of VIPs had thinned and the shopping environment was very civilized. Sizes 37.5 to size 39 were already running very thin. The best selection was for sizes 40.5 and up or 36 and below. Doors opened to the public at 11am sharp and the room filled with many more shoppers– many seemed like resellers.
Remember, the sale is open to the public for only one day. That’s a good indication that there will not be much merchandise. If you attend the sale, please keep us all posted in the comment section below.
Manolo Sale Sample Sale
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!
