May

7

Sample Sales, Part 2 — Couch Potato Style!

Filed Under Shopping 

I am so excited!  I just received a package from a company called Editors’ Closet, containing one of the most beautiful bags I have ever owned — a beauty from Italian designer Francesco Biasia.  Here’s what it looks like: Biasia bag

Beautiful, huh? Way more beautiful than most of what I own, like the 2 Gucci knockoffs which I recently bought in Chinatown for $45 each which already are wearing out.  But here’s the real beauty:  A price tag of $228, and a receipt for a grand total of $94, including shipping.  Out go the knock-offs, in comes the good stuff.  And all without leaving my couch — oops, I mean my office.

And now, thanks to the miracle of the internet, you no longer have to live in or visit the fashion capitals of the world to take advantage of that garment center staple, the Sample Sale.  Now, the sample sales come to you.

I first became aware of this new internet niche a few months back, when I received an email invitation to join, I think it was RueLaLa.  It said you needed a special invite and code to join (how special!) and gave it to me, so of course, I signed up.  (Part of my job here is to seek out the best for my wonderful readers.)  Soon came more –

ideeli, HauteLook and my current favorite, (the one I got the bag through),  Editors’ Closet.  As a former fashion journalist, and current Ugly Betty and Sex and the City fan, I know the value of the stuff sent for editorial review, and not always returned. (I got a lot of “stuff” when I worked in NY publishing!)  So I signed up for their email sale alerts, and the one about Francesco and his bags enticed me to look, and hopefully buy.

To become a member of some of these sites, you need some kind of a referral.  I have embedded these invite codes in the links on this page, so all you need to do is click through.  Many of them also have bonuses when you join.  Here are a few of the sites I visit, and some recent sale info on each of them, so you have an idea of what to expect.

RueLaLa:    Lingerie from Hanky Panky, bags from Prada, fashion from BCBG and Carmen Marc Valvo, watches and appliances too

HauteLook:   Swimwear from Lisa Curran and Bjorn Borg, Men’s wear from Johnson Motors, jewelry by Viv & Ingrid

Editors’ Closet:  DKNY watches, Nicole Miller Sunglasses and bags, hype bags, designer lingerie

ideeli:  CK watches and Jewelry, Cynthia Rowley bags, Natori lingerie, Rory Becker apparel

Billion Dollar Babes: Melissa Odabash, Trina Turk, Spendid

Gomattagirls.com Danielle Stevens jewelry, Linea Pelle bags, Eco Skin Bamboo  apparel

RedTagCrazy  Casual clothing from Zooey, linQ and Rich&

The Savvy : Shoes from Via Spiga and Delman 

Shop It To Me :  Lots of items from lots of brands and lots of stores

Groupe  Apparel and accessories from Vera Wang, Oliver Peoples and Marc Jacobs

The Top Secret:  Swimwear from Gottex, accessories from Echo, bags from La Bagagerie

I will post more of these links as I come across them, and please send them to me if you have the “invites”.  For more about sample sale shopping, please click here.

Now I guess it’s time to get off of the couch and go out and show off my new bag!

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Comments

3 Responses to “Sample Sales, Part 2 — Couch Potato Style!”

  1. Sara Levinson on May 8th, 2009 10:16 am

    I am a huge Dunkin Donuts Coffee Fan, so thanks for the tip regarding the mailing of a DD free coffee sample.  I drink it every morning while reading your daily freebies.

  2. pajamadeen on May 10th, 2009 9:32 pm

    Nice bag!  You should give it to me!  ;-)

  3. Robin@ILoveAGoodBargain.com on May 11th, 2009 9:06 am

    Thanks, PJ — maybe we can work out a deal!

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