Q: How much do sample sales cost?

A: Sample sale items are hugely discounted. It depends on each product/designer, but usually you are paying 10%-50% of what the actual price should be. I know it’s rude to talk about how much you spend on things, but I have a pair of shoes that were originally $1,000, that I got for just $80, doing the math, I paid only 8%. It’s pretty rare that you will pay that low, and that was a real score, but it does happen. These items have been warn on the runway, in magazines, sent out to editors and lent to celebrities or fashion people. There are a bunch of reasons for something to be considered “sample”, and once they are in that category, the cannot be sold in the store. Sometimes it’s for a reason like, they decided to use a different zipper in a dress, so all the previous ones made with the old zipper, are now samples..

Sample sales are a great way to have access to nice things, when you know it would take a year of saving up just to buy the same items at full price. If you can find them, it is a nice way to treat yourself! Since I’ve gotten older and I’m so wise now, I like to try and avoid buying cheaply made items, and instead take nice care of my quality things. I do so love my shoes, dresses and bags, and I really try to be gentle with them so they’ll be around forever. I know they are just “things”, but they make me feel pretty and special!