Sample Sale Goodies and a Few Tips for a Successful Shopping Experience

So I made it. I went to the Jcrew sample sale this morning and I wasn't even late for my daughter's dismissal at school (my biggest fear was that I would loose any notion of time while shopping there and I would "forget" to pick up my daughter. That didn't happen, good mom).

The sale was pretty good in my opinion, especially if you are looking for shoes. This is what I brought home:



From left to right: black cashmere turtleneck from the current season ($75), Michelle cardi ($40, pricey but I regretted not buying more of these in FS and now are really gone), 3 pairs of Marjorie ballet flats (I know, I know 2 would have been enough but for $45 a pair), Vintage Roaster booties (major score at $99) and Script coat in antique stone (another score at $149 but it's a size 2).

The shoes were definitively the best part of the sale, even if the prices could have been better (the flats were $65 with the exception of the Marjorie, heels $99, booties $99 and tall boots $149, wellies $25. They also had Hunter boots for $75). They were mostly from spring/summer 09 but they also had some current Fall style (these with little defects but nothing serious). I got there early so the selection was good, I don't know if later in the day or in the sale it's going to be the same.
The coat selection was good too, I don't know the Jcrew coat styles by heart but the the yellow Winnie, the Ladyday (in white) and the Camino (in sea salt and dusty blossom) were definitively there. And the script coat of course. They were all $149. Suiting blazers were $99 (by the way, there are no bottoms in this sale) and I almost bought the Butterscotch wool flannel schoolboy blazer (same price) but I'm happy that I didn't because it wasn't such a good deal and I definitively don't need it.

The sweaters were a hit or miss. Not as many marked with a big SAMPLE word marked on the back like in the previous one but a lot of oldies. They had a good selection of jackies (summer colors) but they were $40 (and I paid $31 in the summer for mine). If you go there I would stick to those that have a tag and are current overstock, because the other ones can have holes or some sort of defect (not to mention that often the size is not and you cannot try them on).

If you decide to go there I have a few tips that I hope can make your shopping experience better:

1) Arrive at least 15 minutes before the opening in the morning. Ten minutes make a big difference, people tend to arrive around the exact opening time and you can't imagine how fast the line build up.

2) If you can, leave your coat at home and have only a small purse with you. No coat means no coat check-in and less time in the line.

3) Go with a pre-fixed budget (I left my credit card at home and took only cash with me) and take a pocket calculator with you, so you can make up your mind BEFORE you are at the register (the mistake that I made this morning, I decided when I was at the register). $40 here and $75 there easy sum up to a thousand dollars.

4) Know your prices and your sizes before you go. It's good to have a good knowledge of the current and past stock so you know what is more worthy it.

5) Check every item for holes and defects BEFORE going to the register. I had 5 cashmere sweaters that I was considering and each of them had a small hole that I hadn't seen at first. The shoes come in plastic bags and generally there is a handwritten note that describes the flaw (ex. sole worn, this is something that I learned when I came home, I didn't notice while I was there).

So am I happy with what I bought? Yes, but I regret leaving behind the black Metropolitan suede ankle boots for $99. I should have got those instead of the third pair of flats (and I could take home both for lack of funds!) That's what I mean when I said know your prices when you go there. I didn't know that these were still $250 FP on the website and I clearly made the wrong decision.

And because I don't know when I will be back blogging, I will leave you with a surprise. A new tee from the new Holiday collection (retails for $39.50):


This is the love child of the rosette tee from last spring (the pink roses are textured like in the rosette tee) and the current "bouquet" tee. Even if I have the rosette tee and I don't wear it that much I couldn't resist the color combination of this one (btw, it's slub cotton and not ringspun). In case you are interested, the style is 20455 and I bought a XS.

I apologize in advance if I won't be able to reply to your questions before tomorrow morning (as you know hubby is coming back from his trip today and OMG! I have to hide all this sfuff before he arrives!)