Mar 6, 2013

*SAMPLE SALE* Fur Real

Sinfully soft and indulgently warm furs turned up everywhere on the Fall '13 runways of luxe designer brands. So, what better place to prepare for this classic fashion style than at the J. Mendel sample sale. Glamorous red carpet & sumptuous fur extraordinaire, J. Mendel, kicked off their 3-day sample sale yesterday. I got the privilege of attending their VIP portion and it was nothing but incredible. But before I continue with my review, there is one thing I need to clear up. I know many of my fellow Mizhattanites are confused about whether the sale will be open to the public. I would like to put your mind at ease and confirm that the sale will indeed be open to the general public tomorrow starting at 9am. Ok! Moving on. Since this is my first sample sale review focusing on fur, if you are strongly against wearing fur, I suggest you do not continue reading this article. However, if you're pro-fur and thinking of attending tomorrow, here's a taste of J. Mendel heaven. Enjoy!

When I dropped by the invite-only portion of this sample sale today, the venue was filled with everything that Gilles Mendel is known for: uptown opulence. The walls were fully covered with racks of Mendel's coveted furs & evening pieces that were all primed and ready to be taken home by some lucky shoppers. To delve into details, everything was 75% off retail. The majority of the coats available were either minks, sables, or chinchillas. I spotted a knee length chinchilla coat for $13,750 (originally $55,000), a basic mink jacket for $7,000 (originally $28,000), a half-length Russian sable coat for $6,500 (originally $26,000 & 2nd photo below), and a black alligator jacket for $8,250 (originally $33,000 & 3rd photo below). As you can see, the merchandise was heavily discounted but nowhere near wallet-friendly. But there is good news for bargainistas. If you're budget doesn't allow for anything over $500, don't worry as there were plenty of affordable pieces to satisfy your indulgence. I was able to find plenty of scarves, shrugs, and shawls in fox fur for $290 (6th photo below) or $437.50 (7th photo below).

Furs weren't the only items that were available at this event. J. Mendel's red carpet worthy gowns & cocktail frocks were simply stunning. Discounted 75% off retail, I saw many Mendel fans furiously browsing the apparel section. Within the racks, I found a hand-pleated silk crepe sleeveless gown priced $962.50 (originally $3,850). It was beautiful! If you're looking for something more affordable, there were 2 sample racks that consisted of $300 floor-length gowns and another 2 sample racks of $50 daytime RTW. These sample racks were nothing to scoff at. I'd suggest you start your shopping here if you plan to attend tomorrow.

Now, let's move onto shoes and accessories. You'll be happy to know that there was a small selection of footwear which included $275 Manolo Blahnik ankle-strap pumps in black, white, or gold. I also spotted J. Mendel's strappy sandals for only $75 (14th photo below). The bag section was comprised of fur-lined totes and luggage bags. A tourterelle luggage was $960 (originally $3,200 & 18th photo below) and a mink lined alligator tote in black was $9,450 (originally $31,500 & 17th photo below). Adjacent to the handbags was a table full of J. Mendel jewelry. Necklaces, cuffs, and earrings were mostly priced under $50.

As I mentioned at the start of this article, the doors will be open to the general public tomorrow. If you're worried that you'll only be digging through leftovers on the last day of the sale, don't fret. I've been informed that a new shipment from Europe is expected later today and inventory will be replenished for tomorrow's public day. YAY! J. Mendel is the master of craftsmanship and his coats are well worth the investment. Even though this winter is quickly fading away, this J. Mendel sample sale is the perfect opportunity to get your hands on pricey furs at great bargain prices. It's the only way to get a jump start on next fall's fashion trend while saving big bucks.

17 comments:

  1. if the weather is AWFUL and the storm ruins tomorrow, do you think they will extend one day?

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  2. Oh I'm so jealous that you get to attend the VIP preview. Everything looks AMAZING! As always, thanks for the great review and pictures. Do they have any J Mendel Bridal collection there? On the 12th picture, there are a few white gowns, how much are they going for? What are the majority of sizes available for gowns? Thanks in advance.

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    1. Those white gowns you mentioned are from the $300 sample rack. I guess you could use them as bridal gowns. But I didn't specifically see a RTW section devoted to bridal wear.

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  3. Which is the basic mink jacket that you are referring to? (that you mentioned is $7,000)Could you tell me which photo it is in? TIA!

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  4. Is there any less expensive mink jacket than those you mentioned in 2nd paragraph?
    Thanks.

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    1. Yes, there were less expensive mink jackets.

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  5. Looks so good! Did they have fur vests? If so, do you remember the price range for them?

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    1. I don't remember seeing any fur vests but they had lots of shawls & shrugs.

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  6. Thx for update. Do you think terewill be a Roger Vivier sample sale any time soon?

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  7. Is there a wait to get in today? thank you!

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  8. What were the price ranges for the mink jacket?

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    1. The prices for minks varied greatly. I can only say that a basic mink jacket I spotted was priced $7,000.

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  9. do you think they will extend one more day to march 8? is there a phone number to call?

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  10. Do you know when the next sale will be?

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