Cheryl Shops

Once upon a time, I used to list every single sample sale in NYC every week. It was, to put it mildly, time consuming. Then I started to dread Mondays about 5,000 times more than I normally dreaded Mondays, so I stopped. (And, anyway, sites like Racked NY started to cover them way better than I could.) But every so often, sales so great come along, I can't help but share them. Here are five must-hit sample sales this week.

I hit the Friends & Family preview of the Thakoon sale this morning, and all I have to say is OMG. Everything is $200 or less; there's a room full of samples, mostly priced in the $50-$150 range, and a room of stock mostly in the $100-$200 range. Both Thakoon and Addition are in heavy supply; if you are a size 4, you will hit the sample jackpot. Through 5/3; 8:30-6:30: 225 Varick (at Houston), ste. 300.

Pretty much every girl I know loves Elizabeth and James (myself included), so all I really need to say is that clothes, shoes, jewelry, and accessories are up to 80% off. 5/2-5/3; 11-7; 233 Spring St. (6th Ave. & Varick), 10th fl.

Yigal Azrouel became famous for making sexy, draped dresses and perfectly cut leather jackets, but in recent years, he's taken a more refined, sophisticated turn. And because I love a designer who can age with me (and who starts a secondary line, in this case Cut 25, for those of us who never want to grow up), I highly recommend this sale, which tends to have a fantastic selection of actual samples. It runs 5/2-5/5; 10-7; 129 Grand Street (Broadway & Crosby St.).

Because I think one's apartment should look as good as one's closet, hit Madeline Weinrib's sample sale benefitting the Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. You can score her lovely printed pillows, rugs, fabrics, and furniture for 40-70% off and, yes, you will help cure cancer. Really! 5/3-5/5; 10-6; MSKCC Thrift Shop, 1440 3rd Ave. (81st & 82nd Sts.).

And if you've ever experienced the hair-pulling frustration of attempting to shop Gilt Groupe's end-of-season clearance sales online, I have a treat for you: The Gilt City Warehouse Sale. Ok, it's $10 to get in, but there will be drinks, snacks, Uber gift certificates, and, yes, clothing and accessories for men, women, children, and the home for up to 90% off. You must be a Gilt member to attend, so join now if you haven't already! 5/4; 11-9; the Altman Building, 135 W. 18th St. (6th & 7th Aves.).

Last month, I said I wasn't posting sample sales anymore. Okay, I lied. But with good reason: I'm back to report knitwear line Qi and its sister label Ainsley are holding a joint sample sale this week (you can preview the items here). What's really awesome is that they're offering Cheryl Shops readers an extra 20% off when you bring the flyer below—either print it out or flash your smartphone, and then congratulate yourself on scoring such cute, versatile knits at such a fabulous price! Through 6/23; 9-7 daily; 260 W. 39th St. (7th & 8th Aves.), suite 200.

So, back when I started Cheryl Shops (in 2003, can you believe it?), I listed all the sample sales every week, and for awhile, that was my claim to fame. In the years since, blogs like Racked have started doing, and doing it much more thoroughly and well than I have. Not to mention, compiling sample sales is very time consuming and, to be honest, not very fun for me. So I've figured at this point, you're probably not reading this blog for sale listings, even though I've been highlighting just a few favorites every week for awhile now. Thus, this will be my last weekly sample sale post. Not to worry—I've come up with a new weekly feature that I think you'll like even more. Look for it next week.

In the meantime, here's one last sample sale, and that is Rebecca Minkoff. I need a new bag like you'd not believe, so I'll definitely be hitting this one (which, by the way, tends to get more marked down as time passes). And now that Minkoff is a big ol' conglomerate-in-the-making, her shoes, bags, accessories, and ready-to-wear will all be available, at highly discounted rates. Tell 'em I sent you for one last hurrah. 5/9-5/13; 10-8, 10-4 Sun.; 260 5th Ave. (28th & 29th Sts.).

Normally found at the likes of Shopbop, Saks, and Bloomingdale's, Raoul is a contemporary line of minimal-chic clothes with a work-friendly vibe. Find their fall '11, cruise, and spring '12 collections at their sample sale this week. 5/1-5/4; 10-7; 601 W. 26th St. (at 12th Ave.), ste. 1745.

Loro Piana's cashmere is pretty much the finest money can buy, so buy more for your money at their sample sale, where cashmere knits, outerwear, accessories, and clothes for men and women can be had for super-reduced prices. Credit cards only; no strollers or children under 12. Through 4/26; 9-6:30, 9-5 Th.; 317 W. 33rd St. (8th & 9th Aves.).

Chances are you work in an office and need to look (at least somewhat) professional. If you're like me, sometimes you push the boundaries of corporate couture, but sometimes you just want to look pulled together, in a quietly luxe way. If the latter is the case, get thee to the Elie Tahari sample sale, where versatile, well-done work-friendly pieces for men & women are up to 70% off retail. Go with your coworkers. 4/17-4/21; 8:30-7:30, 10-5 S; 501 5th Ave. (41st & 42nd Sts.), 2nd fl.

Jimmy Choo shoes are almost always sexy in an obvious way, but then again, you could say the same thing about several other high-end designer shoe lines. What sets Choos apart is this: They are surprisingly comfortable. So go, and score yourself some overtly sexy, spendy shoes at major discounts (they went for $250 a pair at the last sale). Expect crowds; I recommend more practical shoes for line-waiting purposes. But just this once. 4/12-4/13; 2-6 Th, 9-6 F; Metropolitan Pavilion, 123 W. 18th St. (6th & 7th Aves.).

As you might have guessed from this post last week, I have trouble finding swimsuits. Or, rather, I used to. One of my go-to designers is Shoshanna, whose bikini tops are ingeniously sized by cup, rather than S-M-L. I will be stocking up for summer at her sample sale, where everything—swimwear, dresses, and separates too—is under $100. Stay away from the string bikinis—they're mine. 4/3-4/4; 10-6; 231 W. 39th St. (7th & 8th Aves.), ste. 422.

Comptoir des Cottoniers used to be one of my favorite stores to hit in Paris; when they came to the U.S. a few years ago, it was like un cadeau par dieu. But until now, they've never had a sample sale. Thankfully, plus ça change...Prices are up to 75% off and start at $10 for accessories and top out at $120 for outerwear; dresses are $80, blazers are $100, bottoms are $40-$50, shoes are $90, bags are $65, and tops are $50-$65. Magnifique! 3/31-4/5; 10-5 S-S, 11-7 M-Th; 261 W. 36th St. (7th & 8th Aves.), 2nd fl.

I have a running list of items to purchase, and on that list is a leather jacket from Veda. With the warm weather we've been having, it seems like a silly time to buy one, but with prices 50%-70% off the spring, fall, and holiday 2011 collections, if you ask me, there's never been a better time. 3/23-3/25; noon-6 Fri., 11-6 S-S; 412 Broadway (at Canal St.), 5th fl.

Often when I admire someone's coat, it's by Mackage. They're well designed and well made, fashion-conscious and yet timeless. In other words, everything you want a coat to be. During their sample sale this week, you can score one at 30%-50% off, a worthy investment no matter how you put it. Also available: fellow Canadian outerwear label Soia & Kyo. 3/15-3/18; 10-9 Th-F, 10-7 S-S; Chelsea Market, 75 9th Ave. (15th & 16th Sts.).

Apologies for the absence, dear readers—last Friday was my birthday, so MW & I took a little trip down to Turks & Caicos (I am now of the age where one tends to throw parties only for milestone birthdays, hence why I decided to hide out for a few days). Thankfully, I'm back just in time for the David Yurman sample sale, where I am planning on treating myself to something special. Prices are 30%-70% off retail, with 10% of proceeds benefiting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and both men's and women's pieces will be available for sale. Timing is everything, no? 3/8-3/11; 3-8 Th, 10-7 F-S, 11-5 Sun; 135 W. 18th St. (6th & 7th Aves.).

Rent The Runway, everyone's favorite source for event dresses, is clearing out gently used dresses and accessories by Badgley Mischka, Nicole Miller, Rebecca Taylor, and more of your favorite designers for up to 95% off retail. At these prices, buying might, for once, be cheaper than renting! 2/28-3/4; 10-7 T-W, 10-7 Th-F, 10-6 Sat, 11-3 Sun; 260 5th Ave. (28th & 29th Sts.).

Early word on the street is that this season's Barneys Warehouse Sale is not the best in recent memory—limited inventory, recurring merchandise from past sales, not so steep markdowns—but as always, the longer you wait to go, the better the deals get, and I rarely walk out empty handed. A bit shorter than usual, this season's sale ends this weekend, so I'd recommend heading over sooner rather than later. Through 2/26; 10-9 T-Th, 9-9 F, 9-8 S-S; 255 W. 17th St. (7th & 8th Aves.).

When I first moved to NYC in 1999 (yikes, I'm old!), Daryl K's store on East 7th Street was the coolest. She made the best pants and drapey tops, a combination that every downtown designer has since knocked off ad infinitum, but Daryl K still does it the best. So with her sample sale, going on now, you can go straight to the source. Online and in store through 2/10; 21 Bond Street (Bowery & Lafayette Sts.).

Nanette Lepore is always a favorite around Cheryl Shops—her clothes are unabashedly feminine but also fun and free-spirited. What's also fun and free-spirited is scoring her looks for a song: I'm talking $50 tops, $65 skirts, $80 dresses, $109 blazers, $130 coats, and $20-$35 shoes. Clothingline is hosting the sale, featuring samples and stock, for two days only—go early and go often. 2/1-2/2; 11-8 W, 11-7 Th; 261 W. 36th Sth. (7th & 8th Aves.), 2nd fl.

Opening Ceremony takes many of the NYC's-coolest-store accolades, but in terms of edgy yet accessible, I actually prefer Oak. For one, it's much more affordable, particularly during its semiannual 30-40-50 sales (which last week hit 50% off, in case you were wondering). For another, it has all the cool designers you want—Alexander Wang, Cheap Monday, MM6—plus a bunch of new ones you haven't heard of yet, as well as a very cool in-house label. Even better, starting last Friday, Oak unveiled a secret sample sale in the basement of its Bond Street store, featuring true samples, accessories from photo shoots, and other treasures unearthed in storage. Shh, don't tell the hipsters. Ongoing; 28 Bond St. (Bowery & Lafayette Sts.), basement.

For those of you not in NYC, you can still shop the 30-40-50 sale online.

Helmut Lang and Theyskens' Theory seem an unlikely duo for a joint sample sale: the former is a contemporary reinvention of a visionary minimalist designer's line (minus said minimalist visionary), while the latter is a contemporary line currently helmed by a visionary neo-gothic designer. But, really, the common denominator is that both companies are owned by Link Theory, and at this sale, they're up to 70% off, which is really the important part. Through 1/20; 11-7; 93 Mercer St. (Spring & Broome Sts.).

Lucky for people like me who missed the Giuseppe Zanotti sale a few months ago, it's back, with shoes in sizes 5-11 going for $225 (2 for $395) and boots for $295 (two for $550). As Nikki Minaj says, monster Giuseppe heel is the monster shoe. 1/10-1/12; 10-6; 381 5th Ave. (35th & 36th Sts.).

Clothinline is now hosting Showroom Seven's sample sale, which now means you don't have to schlepp to the far reaches of Chelsea to score Andy & Debb, Australia Luxe, and their other coveted indie designers. Through 1/11; 11-7; 261 W. 36th St. (7th & 8th Aves.), 2nd fl.

Stock, archive pieces, and samples are up to 80% off at Cynthia Rowley's sample sale. 1/12-1/15; 10-8 Th-F, 11-8 S-S; 376 Bleecker St. (Perry & Charles Sts.).

If you love shoes and have several hours to spare (this last point is key), head to the annual Shoe-Inn, where you can find everything from UGGs to Chloe—there are over 7,000 pairs for you to sift through. Boots are $39.99-$249.99, shoes are $19.99-$99.99, and new stock is added daily. In the past, everything has been sorted by size and piled on tables several boxes deep (hence why I recommend clearing several hours). 1/4-1/8; 9-7 weekdays, 10-5 weekend; 1356 Broadway (at 36th St.).


Online: If your shoe shopping tends to happen on your lunch break, as mine does, click on over to shopbop, where, with code EXTRA20, you can take an extra 20% off items already 50%-70% off. (Shoes, yes, but also clothes, bags, jewelry, and accessories too!) Through 1/5 at 11:59 p.m. PT.