Sample Sales Tips

The NY Times recently published a short guide to sample sales, and the rules you should follow to make sure its a good one! Everyone knows sample sales can be a bit crazy so read the article, and follow the rules (especially rules 1-3). Read more for commentary and advice on my personal experiences of sample sales!

We went to the Boutique Sale during our lunch break yesterday and fortunately for us, it was super quite. But I imagine the morning would have been way busier. It was evident a lot of stock had already been sold by the time we got there around 1.30pm, especially the shoes. If you don’t get there early be prepared to miss out on a pretty pair of shoes, available in every other size bar yours (goodbye lovely Opening Ceremony “Christina” heels, I guess it wasn’t meant to be). Sizes are also odd, so if you are a common size 5 (like me) then good luck getting a pair of pretty shoes for an even prettier prices. Sizes available are usually 7s or 3s, so you guys have to count yourself lucky! Abi managed to pick up a pair of super cute booties in her size from Opening Ceremony at a fraction of the price (70% off)! Some people have all the luck.

I honestly think sample sale shopping is all about luck, the amount of times I have seen women hold something I really want/like and think “I just searched that rail, why did I not SEE THAT”!

Potential stalking of people may occur if they are holding an item that you love and want. Stalking will occur in the changing rooms, on the floor, wherever there is chance this person will have a change of heart and drop the item ready for you to pick it up. Harmless stalking, a bit of well wishing, and the claws may come out for an item you adore. Yesterday, an Australian girl tried on this amazing Antipodium studded crop top which was down to £20 from £128. She had two, one size S and one M. I could have really got the claws out and told her it looked horrendous, it was too small, but I couldn’t do it! She looked good in this top, and she did tell me where she picked it up from. I took her advice and walked hopefully to the rail of Antipodium goods, but alas, none left. I did however find something nicer and even more of a bargain. THIS Antipodium dress, RRP £168 and I got it for £5! Happy faces all around! This leads onto my next point…

Broken zips and damaged items. Be sure to check everything! 7/10 times the item may have a little bit of wear or tear to them, especially if it is that cheap. My £5 Antipodium dress has a fully broken zip, but zips are fixable. Things which are not fixable is an arm-less dress or t-shirt. Yes, I have seen this! Many tees in the Urban Outfitters Sample Sale, which happened last month, were so dodgy. You didn’t even need to have a keen eye to spot the one-arm-top.  Even if it is £5, really, how are you going to work this armless look?

Another thing to remember is if you can try it on, do it! There was a pop-up changing room at the Boutique Sale yesterday which basically consisted of a room with a few rails, mirrors, and a bunch of half naked humans; this was the same at the Urban Outfitters sample sale too.  Sizing of clothes at sample sales are rarely accurate, my dress is a size large, yet it fits like a glove, I am normally a small/medium. Be sure to try it on, a small may be too small or too big! This way you won’t leave a sample sale filled with regret or unwearable items.

Mens Clothing, don’t avoid them if you are female! Most of the items will be in small sizes and will fit any lady perfectly. Men are less likely to attend sample sales (in comparison to the amount of women there) so there will be a lot of choice . I brought a great men’s tee at the Urban Outfitters sample sale and a leopard print jumper yesterday by Connected Generation, a fiver a piece!

Remember to be kept up to date with all the latest sample sales through our free app for your iPhone, Shoparazzi! There is nothing worse than finding out about a sample sale a day late. With Shoparazzi you will never miss a sale again, we regularly update the sales and sample sales to give you the best choice to shop from. We also occasionally attend these sample sales for err…work purposes…so we can take pictures to give you a little taster of what the sales are about! Check out our Boutique Sale purchases below: