*SAMPLE SALE* Sampling Sandro's Sale

The French have a certain je ne sais quoi in the way they put together cool everyday outfits. Thankfully, minimalistic yet feminine Parisian brand Sandro opened a store on this side of the ocean in 2011 and gave us New Yorkers an opportunity to imitate the Parisian style. Now, after three years stateside, the label's inaugural sample sale is upon us.

With their awesome new digs in Soho, 260 Sample Sale unveiled the first-ever Sandro sample sale today. Naturally, my inquisitive nature necessitated I make my way downtown and inspect the goods. The sale was divided into men's (situated in the front) and women's (situated in the back). There were twelve racks of men's RTW comprised of tailored fit suits, dress shirts, casual tees, winter sweaters, trench coats, denim jackets, jeans, and hooded jackets. As far as prices are concerned, T-shirts were $50, dress shirts were $95, sweaters were $110, trenches were $250, coats were $350, jackets were $250, blazers were $275, and trouser were $110. There was a limited selection of men's shoes (sneakers, oxfords, and lace-up leather boots) for $200.

Moving onto women's products, I quickly noticed the fairer sex had a much more abundant inventory to peruse through. The apparel section was organized by category and I spotted everything from motorcycle jackets to sleek blazers to denims. Though the quality and selection of merchandise was top notch, prices weren't so inviting. Coats were $300, blazers & jackets were $200, skirts were $95, trousers were $110, jeans were $75, sweaters were $110, T-shirts were $50, cardigans were $135, leathers were $200~$300, and dresses were $110~$200. Also, if you're a size small (in Sandro's case, size 1), you'll have a hard time finding something that fits--particularly in the outerwear and dress sections.

Women's shoes were displayed on several tables in the back and everything was marked down to $200. I spotted hightop sneakers, studded slip-ons, classic black pumps, leather booties, black PVC pumps, and a few wedges.

Accessories included leather belts, knit berets, wool beanies, leather gloves, and embellished knit gloves. They were placed near the checkout counters with prices ranging from $30~$50. Handbags were also mixed in and I spotted Absinthe shoulder bags in ecru and maroon, crossbody bags in various colors, and fold-over clutches. All handbags were priced either $150 or $200.

I get the sense that, instead of a bargain basement bonanza, the maiden Sandro sample sale is geared towards opening the eyes of shoppers who have not yet been fully introduced to the brand. I don't have a problem with this as the merchandise was first rate but bargainistas may want to steer clear until further markdowns are taken. If/When this announcement is made, I will make sure to keep you informed. Until then, you can see the full price list from today's preview at the end of this article.

Price list:

Womenswear

Coats $300

Raincoats $200

Blazers $200

Jackets $200

Denim jackets $110

Jeans $75

Skirts/Shorts $95

Jumpsuits $150

Leggings $75

Trousers $110

Sweaters $110

Sweatshirts $75

T-shirts $50

Shirts $110

Cardigans $135

Dresses $110~$200

Half leather trousers $200

Leather trousers $300

Leather shirts $200

Leather skirts $200

Leather jackets $300

Leather shorts $200

Furs $500

Shoes $200

Menswear

Dress shirts $95

Blazers $275

Vests $95

Trousers $110

T-shirts $50

Shirts $95

Sweaters $110

Sweatshirts $110

Cardigans $150

Trenches $250

Coats $350

Jackets $250

Jean jackets $110

Shoes $200