We are told that this season’s Manolo Blahnik sample sale will take place on Thursday, May 12. Vogue editor, André Leon Talley will again preside as Prince Charming and help women choose the right shoe.

Shoppers usually begin to arrive at the sale at 5am but the browsing and buying is limited only to press until about 11am. Shoes range in price from $100 in leather, suede or satin to $300 for lizard boots. Hey, there’s a reason why people wait hours. We suggest you go early if you want have a popular shoe size or just wait for the boutique end-of-season sale, which we prefer.

Keep your eyes posted to the site for details about the Christian Louboutin sale. These shoe masters usually schedule their sales within days of each other.

Manolo Blahnik Sample Sale
Thursday, May 12
9am to 3pm
Warwick Hotel 65 W. 54th St @ 6th Ave
Cash only

While all your fashion friends are fighting there way into the Thakoon sample sale, we are going to suggest you take a detour to the Devi Kroell sale. This was one of our favorite sales of 2010 and we expect it to deliver similar results.

Last year, we found $3000 metallic python hobos marked down to $800 and shoes that normally cost from $500 to $1200 ranged in price for just $50 to $200. Most of the shoe and boot selection fell in the $150 category. The best deals were in the ready-to-wear section where most items were discounted 90%. Whatever you do, don’t miss the production rack where sample were all priced at just $50.

There are not a lot of sales we get excited for but this is one. See ya at 8:30am!

Devi Kroell Sample Sale
Wednesday, May 4th and Friday, May 6th
Wed & Thurs, 8:30am to 7:30pm, Fri. 8:30am to 5pm
55 Fifth Avenue @ 13th Street, 17th Floor
Cash and Credit Cards Accepted

Thakoon Sample Sale
Wednesday, May 4 to Friday, May 6
8:30am to 6:30pm
270 Lafayette Street, suite 1005
Cash & Checks Only

By: TJ Kennedy

The Nancy Gonzalez sample sale is always popular with the uptown crowed. After all, it’s the perfect supplement to a birthday lunch at Atlantic Grill.

For the uninitiated, Nancy Gonzalez is best known for her exotic skin handbags and accessories. The current sample sale features a plethora sizes, styles and hues. There is only one bag of each particular style or one of each color but sheer quantity of bags won’t be disappointing.

Prices are still relatively high for a sample sale, but it’s only the first day. Clutches that currently retail from $850 to $1450 at Saks and Bergdorf Goodman are marked at $750. Small bags are $1000, while mediums are $1250 and large are $1450. Whether the bag of your dreams is actually considered a small or a medium size is up to the sample sale organizer’s discretion.

The exact large crocodile hobo that is on the Saks website for $3650 is at the sale in a tan color for $1700. A hobo is considered “extra large” and therefore priced higher, but hey, that’s still more than half the price of Saks.

The mixed material bags, those not completely crocodile, are marked down to $800. These styles, however, are not commonly featured in the high-end department stores. All of the imported luxury bags are lined with a durable suede-like material and most have magnetic clasps.

If you’ve yet to add an exotic skin handbag to your collection, now is your chance to score one from the queen of exotic’s herself for a fraction of the price. Next up, a birthday lunch at Atlantic Grill.

Nancy Gonzalez Sale
Monday, May 2 and Tuesday, May 3
Mon 10am to 7pm and Tues 10am to 3pm
Flatotel: 135 West 52nd Street (5th Floor)

By: TJ Kennedy

The now famous Jil Sander sample sale ends this Saturday and we knew that if we held out long enough we would be able to benefit from even better discounts than before. The early bird may catch the worm but the late shopper usually gets better prices.

Shoppers can now find long sleeves and tees that usually start at $195 for 90% off, up from 80% last week. Similarly, travel-ready cardigans (that even come in a little Jil Sander zip pouch) retail from $995 to $1275 are also now 90% off. Possibly the perfect Mother’s Day gift?

Other basics include cream-colored blazers and jackets that retail for $1,275 and are still 80% off along with a plentiful assortment of jeans and black trousers that have been further reduced to 90% off $895.

All of the dresses left are dark colors, some wool plaid, some deep velvet, and all retailing for upwards of $2,000. There are lots of knee length skirts that retail for $895. The markdown on these items have stayed steady at 80%. (It’s never too late — or early– to shop for fall.)

The shoe selection is still pretty decent, although most of the styles left are bold, to say the least. Classic pumps and ballet flats are the most picked over. There are a few pairs of purple pony hair ankle boots along with some navy sequin peep toes with all sizes but 38 & 39 left. Some of the less popular styles of pumps and wedges have more sizes to offer and at 80% off, it’s worth a look.

The bag inventory is a bit disappointing. While there are plenty of them left, they are all the same style of cut out leather in navy and cream. The same holds true with the bathing suit selection. Unfortunately there are only a handful of bathing suits left, in orange and blue, and mostly in size large.

As far as menswear goes, there are a few pairs of loafers and man-dals, along with an assortment of jackets. The pants are lacking and there is only one blue and with pinstripe style dress shirt left, although in every size.

It’s worth stopping by for great deals on luxury basics, but don’t expect to be blown away. You have to admit though, any selection of Jil Sander at 90% off is many times better than Uniqlo.

Jil Sander Sample Sale
Through Saturday, April 30
10am to 6pm
8 Crosby St (btwn Howard and Grand Sts), 4th fl