One of the best parts about living in New York City is access to designer sample sales. If you aren’t familiar, a sample sale is where designers (mostly in the fashion industry) will get rid of excess merchandise – most commonly in the form of samples that were once used for PR or to market. For us consumers, it’s a chance to get our hands on designer pieces at a fraction of the price. Sales can drop down to as much as 90% off!
Soon I will dedicate an entire post on tips for shopping at sample sales and how to make the most out of them, but for now, let’s just talk about where to find them!
There are three main establishments that I use to find sample sales:
ONE // 260 Sample Sale
It’s safe to say that 260 Sample Sale is the #1 spot for the best brands. There are multiple locations across NYC and LA – so make sure you’re visiting the right one (I made this mistake once and ended up in the wrong part of town and lost precious time). They are the home to the notorious Reformation Sample Sale in May/June, where the line is four blocks long — so you know it’s good. Some of my other favorites they’ve hosted are Outdoor Voices, Onia, Staud, Ulla Johnson, Alice & Olivia, Cinq à Sept, For Love & Lemons… the list goes on! Follow them on Instagram or sign up on their website for notifications so you never miss a good sale!
TWO // Chicmi
The site Chicmi curates all of the best sample sales across all retailers into one place. If you’re looking for a specific brand or designer, I’d start here. They are currently promoting Theory, Helmut Lang, APL, Belle Fare and Estée Lauder to name a few! Sometimes the sample sales are held directly at the location of the brand so you never know what hidden gems you might find!
THREE // Soiffer Haskin
Think designer sales but a little more under the radar. Soiffer Haskin has brands like Elie Tahari, ESCADA, Ippolita. Soiffer Haskin doesn’t have a sale running every day, but if they do have a brand you’re interested in, it’s worth checking out. The lines are not as long and it’s a little more, shall we say, “civilized” than 260. However, the downfall is that the brands are not typically as good.
Other good ones:
clothingline, inside the Chelsea Market
So there you have it. My top 3 sources for sample sales in New York! Do you visit sample sales? If so would you add any other sources to this list? Let me know in the comments! <3