The Plan of My Dreams
I’m very excited to announce I went to my first sample sale this weekend! As we’re aware, Style Files is known for advertising sample sales. For months, I’ve been posting about amazing sales that have been out of reach for me to actually go.
This past weekend that finally changed! We planned to see my grandmother who lives in Long Island, so I proposed we also make a stop in SoHo. Do you like how I phrased that as if Long Island and SoHo are near each other? They’re not.
It ended up being a big to-do since we last minute decided to get a hotel in Chelsea. Then go early to the sale, taking the car instead of a train. Nevertheless, it ended up being the best plan!
We got to the sale right when it opened, I shopped my lil heart out, then we spent the whole day traversing the city by foot and train. It was a perfect New York City experience!
The Sale of My Destiny
I’ve been to New York City a few times before. My grandma and aunt live in the state. But, this experience was different because I got to go to my first sample sale for Andrea Iyamah!
Firstly, I was just excited to go to a sample sale. I had no empirical understanding of one. The only glimpses I had into the sample sale world were through movies and shows – namely Confessions of a Shopaholic and Real Housewives of New York City.
I desperately wanted to experience my first sample sale. I wanted to see whether they really were that chaotic. Whether the discounted clothes were any good. What the rules were.
Secondly, I’m a HUGE fan of Andrea Iyamah. There are brands I like, and there are brands I love. Andrea Iyamah is one I LOVE. You know I’m for real since my job is to curate great brands for Style Files’ Brand Directory.
Thirdly, I’m on a personal style journey. I’m in the stage of simultaneously building a color palette and trying on a bunch of everything to find what’s best for me. AKA I’m not spending any money on clothes right now.
I haven’t bought any new clothes in months. I haven’t budgeted for it, and I haven’t been inspired by anything I have seen to buy it!
It seems serendipitous that while I’m in the process of finding my personal style, one of my favorite designers is hosting a sale. In a state I rarely go to, at a time when I happened to be in town.
This was more than the sale of my dreams. It was the sale of my destiny!
What to Know About Sample Sales
Now, this was my first sample sale hosted by 260 Sample Sale. I say this because I’m by no means an expert in sample sale decorum. And the sale’s host does, I imagine, determine a lot of the rules.
You could go to another sample sale hosted by another company – say, Eclipse – and their rules may differ. But, I spoke with a few other sale-goers and they confirmed many of 260 Sample Sale’s rules were standard.
Here’s what to know about sample sales:
- You can’t bring your own bag.
You can’t enter the sale with your own large bag or tote. I assume it’s a shoplifting concern. Initially when I saw a woman have to forfeit her bag at the front I thought, “Damn that seems unfair.” I’d rather stuff my finds in a tote than get an unnecessary shopping bag for my purchases.
However, the sample sale was so chaotic and fast-paced, I understand this rule. It would be really easy for someone to stuff their tote unbeknownst to employees. Come to the sale with only a small bag or just your wallet in hand. They offer you a bag upon purchase.
- There’s a limit on how many items each person can buy.
At this sale, the limit was 25 SKU’s per person – SKU meaning an individual item. I wasn’t aware of this rule prior to going in store, but it makes sense. They want to minimize fashion hoarding. It only seems fair to put a cap on items so everyone has more of a fair chance to get some deals.
- There aren’t fitting rooms.
This was a big one for my mama and I. Sample sales often don’t have fitting rooms. This one only had a large full-length mirror on one wall and that’s it. There wasn’t even a wall separating the racks of clothes from the mirrored area where people were getting naked!
I took it upon myself to create a haphazard partition with a rolling rack and a wall of hanging clothes. Even that provided little coverage. Luckily, no one really cared. Everyone was so focused on trying on things as fast as possible that being nearly naked in front of strangers wasn’t a concern.
It helped that there were no men trying clothes on at the same time, or standing nearby. I’m not saying men aren’t welcome at sample sales. I’m saying men aren’t welcome to watch women get naked without their consent.
Be prepared to try on clothes locker room style. The only difference between trying on clothes at a sample sale and dressing in a locker room is that at a sample sale, you’ll get a lot of helpful feedback on the outfit.
- Prices are determined solely by category, not individual pieces.
You know how when you shop at a department store every garment has its own price? So you could find 2 blouses by the same brand priced differently based on pattern, material, whatever. That’s not the case at sample sales.
Prices are based on category, and nothing else. For example, dresses are $100, skirts are $90, blouses are $80. Irrespective of fabric, craftsmanship, etc.
I preferred this method since it made for simple, fast calculations. That must be why it’s structured this way. It’s easier to add up even numbers ending in 0 than odd numbers ending in .99 and other integers that require calculators.
I’m sure designers and sample sale hosts have learned easier calculations make for easier purchasing decisions.
Inside the Sale
The sale opened at 11 am on Saturday, July 2. We got there 40 minutes early so we first decided to get a quick breakfast then head back a few minutes before doors opened.
Sure enough when we returned, there were a few people in line. The doors opened promptly at 11 am and we were free to shop!
The space was the size of a large boutique. Not the warehouse I was expecting. And they had loud music playing, giving the feeling of a club. The music added to the chaotic energy as more people showed up.
There was a wide variety of clothes on sale – swimwear, cover-ups, blouses, skirts, jumpsuits. I was initially concerned it would be mostly swimwear, but after some digging I found a lot of everything.
Because we got to the sale right when it opened, we had maybe 20 minutes of peaceful shopping. In that time, we considered the rolling racks of clothes, calmly grabbed our sizes and went to try them on.
While we tried things on in the aforementioned make-shift fitting room, more people started showing up. We entered the sale with maybe 10 people including my mama and I. Twenty minutes in, that number had tripled.
Upwards of 30 people doesn’t sound like a lot. But, when your ”fitting room” is the size of a small closet and there are only maybe 15 racks of clothes to consider buying, it’s a lot. We left after maybe 40 minutes, but even then I could tell this was a moderately sized sale.
There weren’t hoards of people like I imagined there would be. Maybe that’s the case for household names like Gucci, but not with smaller design houses like Andrea Iyamah. I was just happy I didn’t have to elbow my way through the deals à la Confessions of a Shopaholic.
I ended up spending $530 on 2 dresses, 1 jumpsuit, 1 blouse and 1 skirt. In the world of luxury fashion, that’s a fantastic freaking deal!!
Follow us on Instagram and Pinterest to see what I got!
See inside the sale below –
Final Word
I had a great time at my first sample sale. Andrea Iyamah was the perfect designer to initiate me. And it came at the most opportune time!
I got some pieces I know I’ll have for years and I learned the decorum for a sample sale. It was truly an incredible experience. I’m excited for more!
Make sure you’re subscribed to our email list so you can stay up to date on all upcoming sample sales in major cities!
References
More from Style Files
- You Suck at Shopping. Here’s How to Shop Better.
- How to Find Your Personal Style Courtesy of The Curated Closet
- The Environmental Impact of Jeans and What You Can Do About It
