Oct 20, 2016

*SAMPLE SALE* Keep Calm and Carré On

Despite yesterday's discouraging reports from inside the private VIP day, an enormous crowd gathered in the wee hours of the morning to attend the Hermès sample sale. How enormous, you ask? The line started yesterday at 8pm, wrapped around two street corners, stretched to 32nd Street, and had more than 650 shoppers eagerly waiting by the time the sale kicked off. In short, today's line made last year's record-breaking queue look like a joke. Scary, I know. I guess despite the disappointing early word, if you consider yourself a true Hermèsphile, you need to keep calm and carré on.

Arriving at the sale a little after 5am, I found 250 shoppers already in queue (many had brought tents, blankets, and chairs to shelter themselves and sleep in) across the street from Soiffer Haskin. After catching up on my reads, having a quick breakfast, and waiting 4 hours, I finally made my way inside the venue at around 9:30am. Thank goodness the weather was cooperating!

Because of tipsters like MZ and T, I already knew what to expect before I stepped inside the sale. Just as they warned us, there was absolutely no jewelry to speak of. Instead, shoes, apparel, silk scarves, and men's ties greeted shoppers, and hungry bargain hunters wasted no time snatching them up. Scarves were available in several different styles and prices were $87.50 for 45cm, $150 for 70cm, $197.50 for 90cm, $335 for 90cm cashmere/silk shawls, $550 for 140cm cashmere/silk shawls, $400 & $435 for mousseline, $80 for twilly, and $162.50 for maxi twilly. There was a purchase limit set at 7 scarves per person.

Men's ties were available on the right side of the venue where the jewelry section used to be. Upon my inspection, I found a full rainbow of colors to choose from. Twill ties were $90 while basket weaves were $112.50. Adjacent to the colorful assortment of neckties were scarves and pocket squares for men. Silk twill pocket squares were $72.50, cashmere/silk scarves were $350~$537, and cotton/silk scarves were $172~$210. FYI, a limit of 10 ties and 5 men's scarves were allowed for each shopper.

Shoes were situated by the window and you can't miss them. With sizes available from 34 through 41, I was able to find exotic skin pumps, espadrille sandals, smoking slippers, leather sneakers, peep-toe pumps, tall boots, as well as Corfou sandals. Men's footwear included loafers, moccassins, sneakers, smoking slippers, and oxfords, and they were situated at the back. All shoes for both genders were half off.

The RTW section was organized by size with women's apparel available from 34~46 and men's clothing from 46~58. Everything on the racks were 50% off. In addition, the sale also carried accessories like belts, swimwear, hats, gloves, shoe polish, and more at 50% off.

Reporting on sample sales for nearly seven years, I thought I had seen it all – clearly, I was wrong. Today's Hermès sample sale proved once again that it's indeed the mother of all sample sales. No amount of disappointing news or chaotic frenzy could deter Hermès fanatics away from setting yet another record for the longest queue at a sale. Mindblowing, to say the least.

So, this is my report. Now it's your turn. What did you think about this year's sale? Feel free to weigh in and join in on the conversation in the comment section below.

Price list:
Scarves
45cm Silk twill scarf $87.50
70cm Vintage silk scarf $150
90cm Silk twill scarf $197.50
90cm Cashmere/Silk shawl $335
140cm Cashmere/Silk shawl $550
63x180cm Mousseline $400
140cm Mousseline $435
Twilly $80
Maxi twilly $162.50

Men's ties/scarves
Twill tie $90
Basket weave tie $112.50
Silk twill pocket square $72.50
Men's cashmere/silk scarves $350~$537
Men's cotton/silk scarves $172~$210

RTW 50% off
Shoes 50% off
Accessories 50% off

50 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Hi Julia,

      Anything for my fellow Mizhattanites!

      Delete
  2. Thank you for your review as always!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bravo on the photos, Miz! I was terrified of getting kicked out to attempt taking any.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jenn,

      Did the best I could. Thank you so much for the compliment!

      Delete
  4. Miz, your reviews are indispensable! Lovely photos as always

    ReplyDelete
  5. I went there today and was chaos. Too many Chineses cut a line and reserve a line for them. What a shame

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Interesting. From what I saw today, I did not see people cutting line. There were indeed a lot of Chinese. But there is no reason to single out certain ethnicity and point fingers because they shop there.

      Delete
  6. Thank you for this! Do you know if they will be restocking? I won't have a chance to go before Saturday morning but am considering it... Hopefully a shorter line then? :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, unfortunately there will be no restocking. And yes, definitely much shorter lines by then.

      Delete
  7. Miz, thanks for your posts!

    I got a cashmere scarf today that I want to re-sell at purchase price. If anyone is interested in buying please leave your contact info and I will send pic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Could you send me a picture to happyiami@naver.com ?
      Thanks.

      Delete
    2. Highly interested - please contact me at abecker680@hotmail.com with a pic!

      Delete
    3. interested! Please email alicelab@hotmail.com

      Delete
    4. Interested !
      Jenmcnally1@gmail.com

      Delete
  8. Can you tell us more about the mens selection and if it was relatively untouched?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Men's RTW (tops, trousers, suits, and shoes) was ignored by everyone. The popular items were men's scarves and ties.

      Delete
  9. I really enjoyed reading this. The Hermes sample sale will always have a cult following!

    ReplyDelete
  10. 2nd day: Got here at 8am, barely a line (compared to what I was expecting from last year!)...maybe 1 or 2 hr wait tops. It's 8.41 now and they've already let the first group in, so now we are about 30 people from the front.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How long is the line over all?

      Delete
    2. Sorry - just saw this! The line moved really fast, like every 10 minutes. We were at the front in no time at all. Great selection of scarves, men's and women's shoes, and ties. Although...I was there for a good few hours and I did not see them restocking the 90cm scarves, which looked quite depleted by the time I left. So I don't know if there will be any good ones tomorrow...but if there's not much of a wait then definitely worth checking. Best of luck!

      Delete
  11. I also have a pair of men's suede Izmir sandal in size 41 that I purchase for my boyfriend but the size didn't fit so well. Selling for $500. If anyone is interested please let me know.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi there. May be interested. Would like to know more details.

      Delete
    2. Give me your email. I'll pic you

      Delete
    3. Great. Columbia475@gmail.com
      Thanks

      Delete
  12. If I got there 10:30 can I get in? How long will be the wait?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. About 30 minutes wait and soaking rainy

      Delete
    2. Thank you. Just got here, and roughly counted like about 80-100 people ahead of me.... :(

      Delete
    3. Not sure how long need to wait.

      Delete
    4. wow! have many people behind of you?

      Delete
    5. Not too bad, I already got in. Waited 1hr+ . And still two lines there for now

      Delete
    6. Betty- how's the selection of scarves and ties?

      Delete
    7. Hi Betty,

      Thank you so very much for keeping everyone updated!

      Delete
    8. how's the stock now? scarves and ties? shoe?

      Delete
    9. They still have many. Have lots lots of tie. But I don't think they did restock anything, I left around 1: 15. Miz, no problem, you are a very brave woman, coz before getting in they will particularly tell you no photographs no videos no imagines bla bla bla.....and you took tons of great pictures for us, appreciated !

      Delete
  13. The stock of scarves and ties was fairly strong at 2:00 this afternoon compared to last year, line was pretty short when I left at 3:00. Tie selection in popular color was becoming a little low.

    ReplyDelete
  14. only waited about 30 mins when i got there at 2 today. surprisingly still tons of scarves and ties although the nicer designs are depleting. left very happy :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Any update for today??

    ReplyDelete
  16. Waited 40 minutes in line this morning. Tons of ties and quite a selection of 90 cm scarves. it's clear they still have stock of scarves underneath the tables. Also left happy and broke.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, did you see any cashmere scarves ($550)?

      Delete
  17. i was in the last group which got into the store yesterday, and I saw few cashmere scarves..(more at the men's dept. but it was also cute. The one i saw has the horse prints). I assume u probably can find it today too...Because you can only buy just one cashmere scarf per person. Good luck!

    This year's sale was all about the silk ties and scarves. Wish we all cam see some jewerly next year!

    ReplyDelete
  18. i have a 90cm silk twill scarf to resell if anyone is interested.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi. Is the scarf still available?

      Delete
  19. I'm interested. How much?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. what's your email so i can send you the pictures of the ones im selling and we can talk there.

      Delete
  20. dude I'm not posting my email address on here. why don't you post yours and I'll inbox you.

    ReplyDelete

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