Sample Sale. '7th on Sale" Disappointment. Second City Style Fashion Blog

I normally do not post after "Blog Therapy Friday's," but I was told I must alert the women of NYC about to trudge to "7th on Sale". My civic duty, so to speak. Unless you plan to arrive very early and stand in line for a good long time...don't bother. There won't be anything left.

You must buy a ticket for $20 online to attend your chosen 2-hour allotment. However, the line moves slowly as your ticket has to be scanned and you must check in everything, but your wallet and cell (yes, handbags, coats, etc.). Then you are handed a clear plastic bag for which to jam your findings.

We signed up for the 4-6pm time-slot Friday afternoon and arrived at 3:30pm to be greeted by a line that wrapped around the block. We froze and entered the 69th Regiment Armory at 5pm by the time we were finally able to check in. Heading straight for the wall of handbags, we found there were 5 ugly, sad bags left. The racks were pretty much bare and all that were left in abundance were Nine West shoes (yes, you read that correctly), $5,000+ gorgeous evening gowns and huge beaded necklaces that nobody seemed to want.

Frankly, we were stunned they were not replenishing. It was the perfect set up for hoarding. People grabbed whatever they could and then sat down to decide what they wanted to buy by 6pm when the event closed. So if you walked in the door at 5pm (like we did) you were out of luck. Even though there were signs that clearly read "one handbag per person" women were grabbing as many as they pleased and walking around until they made their final decision. You could see them clearly in the clear bags. Yet, you couldn't have one.

On the one hand, yes, the event is for charity (HIV/AIDS) and from what I could see through the clear plastic bags there were many great finds to be found if you were lucky enough to grab them. We stumbled upon Zac Posen, Donna Karan and like Anna Wintour (looking fab) which I don't think anybody else noticed as they were too busy hoarding. On the other hand, the organizers (CFDA) should have replenished the inventory. Especially the handbags which seemed to be the hot ticket. Either replenish or let less people in.

Standing in the long checkout line to buy my paltry $12 scarf there were many angry women making cell calls to friends not to bother coming and what a disappointment the sample sale was. Then you waited in another long line to retrieve your items out of coat check (which was horrendous...they were bringing out coats without bags in many instances, like mine). During this time there were some understandably irate people yelling nearby who couldn't get through the door until 5:55pm and were left with an unusable $20 ticket and no refund.

I left frustrated that I donated $20 to charity and a pathetic scarf. I had money to spend (donate) and nothing to buy. I could have kicked myself for not purchasing the sweater and scarf I saw at the Yigal Azrouel sample sale or the dress I fell in love with at Lela Rose's earlier in the day. I stupidly saved myself (and money) for huge disappointment.

In the end, the good old fashioned showroom sample sale is a lot more civilized and rewarding. I'll make my own cash donations to HIV/AIDS research and buy MAC's Viva Glam, thank you very much. I have already canceled my plans to go back with other friends today. Unless I hear word this event is planned and executed better in the future, I don't think I will be attending again.

There is always EBay, but you have to bid and let's face it...that may not be a deal. Or, if you are lucky enough to be famous you can attend the gala dinner and shop. Like they need good deals. Why don't they just donate and leave the deals for us mere mortals?

CFDA

Comments

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