The legendary Manolo Blahnik sample sale kicked off today at the Warwick Hotel. The sale is only one day and this review might not be much help now but we thought it would be the perfect reference guide for next year’s shoppers. You can also share your personal critique and experiences in the comment section below.
The first reports this morning were from sample sale shoppers to arrived before 7am. They say there were lots of people already waiting. Doors officially opened to VIPs at 8am. VIPs with invitations were organized by lettered tickets and other shoppers were grouped by 20 and given numbered tickets.
At 10am the crowds of VIPs had thinned and the shopping environment was very civilized. Sizes 37.5 to size 39 were already running thin. The best selection was for sizes 40.5 and up or 36 and below. When the doors opened to the public at 11am sharp, the room filled with many more shoppers. We also spotted several resellers and hoarders loading shoes in huge blue plastic bags. That’s never a happy sight.
Prices were the same as they have been for the past few seasons. Basic pumps are $125 (or $136 with tax.) Shoes with any embellishment were $150, shoe boots were $100 and ankle boots were $250. You can click here to see the complete price list.
Many of the styles looked like they were several years old. We spotted a few pairs of these shearling boots, lace-up ankle boots and glittery BBs. We didn’t see any Hangisi styles or Mary Janes but there were a lot of low-heel basics. There were several styles from the Picasso inspired fall 2016 collection.
The assortment at this sale seems to be much thinner than it has been during previous sales. That generally means that business is very good for the Manolo Blahnik brand. It’s always a double-edge sward.
