This is the most competitive markdown season we’ve ever experienced. It feels as if retailers are racing each other to the bottom. At most of our local shopping destinations, spring and summer clothing are discounted at least 40% off but the prices of shoes and handbags vary a little bit.

Some boutiques are offering even lower discounts than department stores. For instance, Lanvin and Prada are both offering customers a 50% savings. Below is a comparison chart of Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman, and Saks Fifth Avenue.  For the first time, we are adding Neiman Marcus to our local department store list as it’s now open at Hudson Yards.

Bergdorfs  currently has the best discounts– when accounting for their extra 25% off through the weekend– and the greatest selection. Next week will be a very big week for the next wave of markdowns usually comes pretty quickly. Stick around and we will be sure to keep you posted.

Temperatures are rising and so are the discounts on Madison Avenue. We’ve collected markdown intelligence from some key Madison Avenue boutiques. Most stores have already reduced their collections and discounts span from 30% to 50% off retail.

Before making an impulse purchase, we suggest you do a quick review of what sales are online. Sometimes you can find even steeper discounts if you look beyond a brand’s boutiques. Other times the brands offer the most attractive deals.

Below is a sample of what we found at our local stores. Be sure to look at the pictures in the jump to get a sense of what’s on sale at each Madison Avenue boutique.

Balenciaga
Demna’s Balenciaga is the perfect case study for a brand reborn on Instagram. From the number of likes, you would think that sales were through the roof but beyond several seasons of Triple S success, the brand doesn’t seem to have much legs. Most everywhere, including the boutique, the collection is discounted 30% to 50% off.  Most seasonal style shoes are reduced by 50% (no sneakers). A majority of bags are also reduced by half. The graffiti BB bag is about $725 from $1450 and the mini Ville logo is $925 from $1850. Click here to see pictures.
Elisa 212-328-1671

Bottega Veneta 
Sales at Bottega used to take place in August but the brand has taken to holding merchandise for a full season before started markdowns. Right now, clothing and shoes are 50% off and bags are reduced by 30%. You can see pictures here. There aren’t many woven style bags included in the sale but we found a few, including some Alumna crossbody bags that are $1579 from $2200 and the Luna that’s $1949 from $2780. There are lots of these adorable Piazza bags for $2419 from $2450. We suggest you check out the shoes, the quality is great and a 50% reduction makes them very affordable.
Shimui 646-897-7140

Dolce & Gabbana 
After seasons of boycott, Dolce & Gabbana seems to be having a rebirth. Maybe a break is what every brand needs to regain some freshness. It was about the only store on Madison that was hosting several customers. Right now, you can find savings of 40% off seasonal clothing, shoes, and bags. There are lots of fresh bloom and floral prints from which to choose. Our favorite items are this poplin anemoni print dress that comes to about $900 and this floral skirt with embellished buttons that’s $1400.  We have an assortment of colorful pictures of the Dolce & Gabbana sale merchandise over this way.
Rita: 212-249-4100

Givenchy
The Givenchy boutique has a small selection of sale merchandise. Clothing is discounted 40% off and shoes are reduced by 30%. There are no bags on sale at the boutique, despite the fact that they can be found on sale at numerous retailers like 50% off at Bergdorf. The sale selection for clothing is also a lot bigger over at Net-A-Porter. Pictures of what you will find at the Givenchy store are in the jump. James 212-650-0180

Prada
Prada boutiques only do one markdown each season and it doesn’t last very long. As a matter of fact, all of the sale merchandise will be removed on June 4th. Shoes and clothing are 50% off. There are no handbags on sale at the boutique but there are plenty at Bergdorf. It seems as if all the same items are discounted everywhere. You can see the entire sale selection of shoes and some clothing at Prada here.
Betty 212-327-4200

Roger Vivier
It’s hard to resist a new pair of Roger Vivier shoes, especially when they are 40% off. The entire front room, on the second floor, is stocked with lots of beautiful discounted options. There are even a few of the jewel styles but the discount doesn’t really help when the pump is $1600.  We have pictures of the sale Roger Vivier shoes and bags that we found at the store and here is were we found some discounts online.
Magdalena 212-861-5371

Valentino 
Expect to find Rockstuds galore at the Valentino boutique. The discount is 40% off shoes,handbags and clothing–which is about the sale as most retailers. That means that many of the most desirable styles are going very quickly. Take peek at the Valentino Madison Avenue sale via our pictures.
Paula: 212-772-6969

Periodically,  we wander the shoe department flipping over assorted shoes and shake our heads from the prices. A simple pump for $1600 is downright offensive. We’ve never been one to compromise and neither should you.

It was the quality of Qüero shoes that caught our eye while walking past their pop-up, at the Refinery Hotel, in the Garment District,  but it was the price that sealed the deal. From first sight, we knew that Qüero was offering something really exceptional at a price point we didn’t think was possible.

We soon came to learn that Qüero men’s and women’s shoes are handmade from the top factories in Spain, which matches or surpasses what you would find at most luxury stores but at a fraction of the price. Each style utilizes the highest qualities of leather from France, Italy and Spain and all the shoes are hand stitched and not glued. Could you imagine finding that type of quality that retails from $185 to $295?

Get this: Before going back to their headquarters, the Qüero team will be hosting a sample sale of all remaining shoes and offering amazing discounts. Every shoe at the sale will be priced at $99. Be sure to check out the gorgeous men’s loafers and oxfords. We also love women’s slides and lace-ups.

The best part is that Qüero shoes are incredibly comfortable. After all, should any man (or woman) would ever endure style over comfort? As a matter of fact, the brand offers a comfort quality refund guarantee. You can’t beat that.

The sale will run from Monday to Wednesday. If you don’t find what you desire at the sample sale you can use the code MadSpy and save 20% off your custom order. A vast majority of Qüero customers return to purchase more. We could see this becoming an addition but at this price point we would consider it a gift.

Qüero Shoe’s Sample Sale
Monday, June 3 through Wednesday, June 5
10am to 6pm
63 West 38th Street

We were just informed that starting Thursday, Bergdorf Goodman begin a promotion where designer discounts are an additional 25% off. The promotion translates to deeper reductions than a second markdown. For instance, clothing that is currently 50% will be 63% off and shoes and handbags that are reduced 40% will be discounted 55%.

Lucky thing we spent the afternoon scouting Bergdorfs in anticipation of the second markdown. You can click here to see pictures of what we found still available at the store. As this news became available we couldn’t help ourselves from shopping online.

We have our eye on this Givenchy leather and canvas GV3 is $1390 from $2650, a Valentino small Rockstud shoulder bag is $1000 from $2445, a Loewe straw bag is $635 from nearly $1200  and this Herue leather cutout tote bag is about $270 from $600. The bag selection is much better at the store. You can have a peek here.

Among the shoes, we were very surprised to spot these Manolo mules is $270 from $645. If you haven’t grabbed a pair of Hangisis, now would be the time. You don’t often find them for $460 from $1025. Get them now, while sizes remain.

Here are Fendi strappy sandals that are just $355 from $790,  Givenchy logo sandals are $390 from $875 and these Givenchy sandals are more practical than most of what we own and are $290 from $650. We have pictures from the store over here.

Other standouts are this Balmain blazer that should come to $1125 (That one sold out. Here is another.) a Les Reveries dress is $177 from $400 and a Dolce & Gabbana floral print dress is $695 from $1500. Be on the lookout for simple (and inexpensive) dresses that translate well from city streets to sandy beaches.

This promotion will only run through Tuesday, June 4. We suggest you load up your cart this evening and pull the trigger once the sale goes live. Then head over to Bergdorfs to see if you find anything better.

Bergdorf SA Contacts (Text only):
Shoes Driess 347-986-9488
YSL/ Givenchy/ Loewe/Prada Bags: KY 646-784-5193
Vanlentino Bags: 646-689-5601
4th Floor clothing (Dolce & Gabbana) Theresa 347-986-9688