Sample Sales

Sample Sales
By Erica


Hello all! I’m Erica, and I’ll be guest blogging for a few different topics here on Marjie’s Shopping Diet. I’m 23, and love shopping in a range of places, reading fashion blogs, and putting together unique outfits every day! My favorite fashion season is fall, and I eagerly anticipate putting together new outfits for the forthcoming season. My very best friend, Marjie, shares my passion for all things fashion-related, and I thank her for letting me put in my two cents here! Hope you enjoy my thoughts!

Rue la sample?

I’m told this is a relatively new subject, and one very much uknown, at that. I’m going to dive into the online phenom that is the sample sale. In the real world, one is hard-pressed to get to a sample sale, unless you’re lucky enough to live in Chicago, Los Angeles, or New York City. So what’s a girl (or guy) to do who lives outside of these meccas? Three words. Online. Sample. Sale.

I’ve been a member of these sites for a few years, but there have been few times when I’ve lusted after some of the items. Point in case? Rue La La’s sale of Madison Avenue’s Chanel boutique. Chanel is out of reach of many people, but this sale puts a cobalt blue 2.55 into your hands for 50-60% off, with validity guaranteed. Not so much into Chanel? What about J Brand Jeans, or Sam Edelman shoes? J Brand Jeans’s most popular style, Love Story, would normally put a $200 hole into one’s checking account, but on Gilt’s website, they’ll become an investment for $49. Sam Edelman’s gorgeous Nellie boots with incredible studded accents on the back normally are $299…Gilt brings them to you for $99.

In addition to selling fashion at a deep discount, many of these online sample sale websites includes major discounts on hotel stays--- What’s currently on Gilt’s website? Reduced rates (and these are much lower than anything Expedia has) on The Greenbrier in West Virginia, Namale Resort in Fiji, and The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida. The blackout dates are few and far between, and there are varying styles of rooms and/or capacities.

Most of these websites just require that you sign up with an email and encourage you to invite others as well, but there are a few that require an invitation, such as Rue La La. Scour your online friends list and you’ll be able to find someone that’s connected. When you first sign up, there may not be anything that catches your fancy right away, but let the sales come to you. My most recent purchase, along with Marjie? Red Tartan plaid Sperry Top-Sider boat shoes, originally $89, purchased for $29, from Gilt.

So good luck, and happy bargain shopping!

Sources:

http://www.gilt.com

http://www.hautelook.com

http://www.ruelala.com


Sam Edelman Nellie boots for $99. (Originally $299)