Never Pay Retail

Bottega Veneta Pre-Holiday Sample Sale

This mini sample sale was passed along as an invite-only sale, but you don’t actually need an invite, so stop on by before 5 p.m. today if you can!

There isn’t much left (we totally regret not getting there at 10 a.m. when the sale started), but what is left is a good deal. Ladies who wear 39 and 40 shoe sizes are in luck as more shoes are left in those sizes, though there were two pairs of flat black boots in 38 when we left - very practical and a total steal at $100! 37 has one pair of green flat-forms, so if you’re smaller than a 38, you might want to skip this sale.

We saw a handful of dresses left, but deemed $350 a bit steep (and they’re also a bit long - probably better suited for taller versions of ourselves). There’s a lot more men’s clothing left.

As far as leather goods go, there are a handful of large bags—no basket weaves though—and some exotic leather clutches for $600 and $800. Sadly, we saw only one coin purse left; we had been hoping to snag a wallet. There’s also a tray of sunglasses for $100 each.

If you’re looking to splurge, we spotted a rack of fancy bejeweled and feathered dresses behind the cash register—prices seemed to range from $600 - $1,000.

The sale was pretty empty and there are two mirrors, but there isn’t much space to change/try on things, though we suppose you could hide out in a corner or behind one of the clothing racks (but the space is pretty open).

Make sure to sign in when you enter the building, as you’ll need the doorman to swipe his ID to operate the elevator!

TODAY ONLY (Tuesday, Nov. 27)
10am – 5pm
685 Fifth Avenue (entrance on south side of 54^th Street, between 5th and Madison)
11^th Floor

Women’s Early-Fall 2012 and Men’s and Women’s Fall 2012 Ready-to-Wear, Shoes, Bags, Luggage and Accessories

Credit Cards Only

There will be a limit of 2 bags and 2 small leather goods per person

(This does not seem to include shoes, as my friend bought 3 pairs…or they’re not enforcing.)

-Z

Tweet

Tweet

The One (Facial)

Since moving to NY, I’ve tried a least a dozen different facialists.  I kept hopping around trying to find THE ONE- until I found Ling Skincare.  I could never find any place that cleaned out every single one of my pores like they do at Ling! Now I never go anywhere else. This place thoroughly inspects every pore, ensuring that when you leave, your face is gunk free, well hydrated, and well protected to face the grimy streets of NYC once again!  

And now, they’re having a deal on Bloomspot!! $89 for a Ginseng Herbal Facial, a Single Peel, and Eye Treatment ($230 value) or $199 for Ginseng Herbal Facial, Oxygen Infusion, and a Quadra Peel ($410 value).  You can buy 2 of each so obviously thats what I did.  Saturday Score!!  Hurry and get it- 2 more days only!  

Tweet

Skincare Review: Yuli Panacea Elixir

As some of you may know, I am quite the skincare product junkie.  Every time I discover a new product, I HAVE to try it.  So when my good friend told me about YULI Skincare, I was immediately intrigued.  

Frequent travel and working in dry, air-conditioned offices for 9-10 hours a day can be quite dehydrating for your skin.  Add to that a constant lack of sleep, stress, and incessant coffee guzzling and you can really look quite unsightly by the end of the day.  I’ve recently started adding YULI’s Panacea Elixir to my daily routine and am loving it so far.  My facialist tells me that I absolutely MUST use toner so I never skip that step.  You just never know what reside tap water leaves on your face so using a toner will help balance your skin.  The Panacea Elixir does just that, and more!

In addition to balancing, it hydrates, and helps prevent congestion.  Unlike many other toners, this one is alcohol free.  This product was practically made for difficult skin like mine: dehydrated yet oily!  Not only do I use this elixir after washing my face day and night, but also to energize and hydrate my face (and wake myself up) throughout the day.  It’s fresh scent is from a combination of its all natural ingredients: aloe vera gel, tulsi (a super strong antioxidant), and rosemary.  

Of course, it wouldn’t be a true NeverPayRetail NYC post without a promo code!  Until Sept. 5th, use code NPR12 to get 12% off at Yuli Skincare!  Enjoy!

Happy Labor Day shopping! 

-D

Tweet

Photos from Ted Baker’s 5th Ave. Grand Opening!

[Photo courtesy of Ted Baker USA Facebook]

This afternoon, a couple of us stopped by to check out the last day of the Ted Baker grand opening event on 5th Ave. The big ‘Grand House’ Opening was actually three days ago — wherein we heard reports of people winning $500 gift certificates to the store! — but the festivities ran until today, including staff dressed as butlers serving tea and sandwiches and a scavenger hunt and photobooth for customers. 

[The key to Ted’s House. These were being passed out on the street to alert people to the event — wish I could have gotten one! Instead, was able to get this nice child to show me his key.]

[Free ‘I <3 Ted’ buttons that were placed all throughout the store.]

[The Instaprint Photobooth :{ ]

[Strawberry + Ginger (L) and Cucumber + Ginger (R) teas.]

[Our prize for completing the scavenger hunt!]

— — — — —

The store is both gorgeous and whimsical and each floor followed a theme to create a proper manor. The top most floor was the lady’s boudoir and the basement floor was the servant’s quarters. So Downton Abbey!

— — — — —

If you missed the opening event days, don’t worry! You can still enter their drawing to win a shopping trip to London, 3 night accommodation, and a £500 spending spree at Ted Baker London. That’s £500, people!

Click here to enter. Good luck!

Tweet

Photos from the Matt Bernson Sample Sale

Tweet

Tweet

Tweet

YSL Sample Sale

Date: June 12 - 14th (9 - 6:30 pm), June 15th (9 - 3 pm)
Location: Soiffer Haskin at 317 W. 33rd Street

I forced myself to wake up early this morning to brave the YSL sample sale. I arrived a little after 7:30 am, and there were maybe 100+ people in line. While in line we were told that they would start letting people in a little early, and that they just got a new shipment last night! I got inside a little after 9:00 am, but you still have to wait for coat check and then wait on the stairs. 

Sadly, I was still too late because all the hoarders had snatched up all the good bags (very few Muse bags, a couple Easy bags, and a couple black Roady bags) and started stacking up shoes waist high! A lot of the wallets and small accessories were slightly damaged or in my opinion not cute. I wandered the floor hoping people would start making decisions and dropping stuff, but no such luck.

I looked at shoes mostly for 36 and 36 1/2. I saw tribute sandals in red, purple, and green, but were all being hoarded. The shoes that were available were mostly wedges, flats, sandals, a couple suede pumps, and tall boots. I told my co-worker that there seemed to be more selection for the bigger sizes (size 39 and up), but she said the grass is always greener on the other side. 

The accessories were pretty well organized. Plenty of belts for $50, unless marked otherwise. Plenty of arty dot rings left in a variety of sizes and colors (e.g., blue, coral, white, black, teal etc.) for $50 (retails for $195 on Net-A-Porter).

Around 9:50 I gave up hope of finding anything worth buying and got in line to purchase my teal arty dot ring. I started chatting up the cashier to see if they would get more stock, and he asked me what I was hoping to find. I was hoping to find some cute pumps, a nice wallet, and maybe a bag (I guess that’s a lot to ask for). He turned around and pulled out a Muse wallet, and gave it to me at a discount price ^_^!!!

The sale is well organized, and for the most part the people working the sale are really friendly and nice (not just because he gave me a discount :P). Check out Mizhattan’s review for a full list of prices.

If you decide to check out the sale, get there early! Seems like they plan on slashing prices, and the cashier encouraged me to come back Friday (maybe they have more shipments coming). I’m sure I’m preaching to the choir, but as the lady at the sale said, “please act civilized”. 

Tweet

Elie Tahari - Private Shopping Event

RSVP now to get 30% off Elie Tahari merch while sipping on cocktails—and helping out with a good cause (Room to Read).

Tweet