How to Shop a Sample Sale

A sample sale is when a designer, store, or major retailer sells their "sample" merchandise. The merchandise is either the samples left over from fashion shows or magazine spreads or overstocks items from their stores.

Sample sales were limited to sizes 0, 2, 4 and sometimes 6 and size 7/8 in shoes. However, many designers and stores are starting to expand their sales to be more like a warehouse sale, clearing out all their overstock merchandise or past season's items.

Discounts at sample sales can range from 20% to 90% off retail price and the quality and quantity of merchandise varies as well.

Here are some tips on how to shop a sample sale:

Know the dates:
The best sample sale seasons are November and May in New York City. The best website to track sample sales is www.topbutton.com. Make sure to arrive early.

Looking good is optional:
Don't bring a lot of stuff with you to a sample sale and wear appropriate clothing. There are usually no dressing rooms at sample sales so if you are going to try something on, you are going to drop drawer in front of a lot of people. One might want to wear their granny panties instead of that cute little thong.

Successful shopping requires lots of energy and time on your feet. Your feet will thank you for wearing comfortable shoes.

People suck:
Sample sales are pushy, people are rude. The best way to get through it is go early and be quick and try not to snap out when some fashionista grabs a shirt out of your hot little hands.

Strategize:
Life is easier if you shop designers you know - the you know how those clothes look on you and know how the designer sizes his clothes. Know your size. Know how to separate the junk find from the treasure find. And, most of all, know your budget because all sales are usually final. Finding a specific item can be tough at a sample sale -- you're more likely to find great deals if you go in with no expectations of what is going to be available.

Don't get label googly eye:
Sometimes, there's a good reason that an item didn't sell during the regular season - ugly is still ugly even if it's Prada.