The District Sample Sale: Dashing of the Doyennes
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Ladies, start scraping the change from the between the sofa cushions.
The Fall District Sample Sale is back, and if the Spring event was any indicator, the event on September 12 from 6-9 p.m. is going to be HUGE.
WHAT: The Fall 2007 District Sample Sale: Think SoHo/TriBeCa warehouse event meets Super Saturday. Local boutiques set up booths with their end-of-season and fall-preview items at insanely fantastic prices; local fashionistas of all ages and social strata leave with that contented I-scored-a-Phillip-Lim-dress-on-the-cheap-and-did-something-good-for-charity glow.
WHEN: September 12 from 6-9 p.m. at 3307 M Street (the old Staples space) in Georgetown.
HOW/COST: Tickets go on sale August 23 at 10:00 a.m. $40 gets you a general admission ticket before the event (show up to get in the line early), $55 gets you in the evening-of (but it’ll probably be sold out), $100 guarantees you a coveted VIP pass that lets you and 99 other savvy shoppers into the sale a full hour early, as well as a couture goodie bag and limited-edition tee. They’re only issuing 100 passes. WORTH IT.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK: Read up on the Spring event here and here. Catherine Andrews (accompanied by a somewhat overwhlemed male colleague) also had a great report.
WHY: All event profits will be donated to Miriam’s House, the Washington-based organization that provides shelter and assistance to women infected with HIV and their families. The first two events yielded $10,000 (Fall 2006, Suited for Change) and $11,400 (Spring 2007, S.O.M.E. Place for Kids).
…And because you want to get your photo taken, meet some of the most fashionable women in the city, and fill your closet with gorgeous clothes.
EXTRA AWESOME: Thievery Corporation’s Eric Hilton will spin during the VIP hour–hot. Occasions Catering (only one of the best caterers in the city) will fill our bellies like they did last year; this year they’ll be joined by local faves Nage, Morton’s, and M Street Renaissance. Bare Foot Cellars will provide wine & Snow Queen Vodka will be on hand with vodka that quite frankly tastes like magic.
See you there….and hands off my Loeffler Randalls.
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Is it worth attending this event if I’m only looking for phenomenal deals ($50 or less for most items)? I’m trying to stay on a budget and I’m trying to gauge if the items on sale will still be too expenseive for me (not to mention the $40 entrance fee). Thanks!
do you know the policy for assistants..if i get a vip pass.. can i bring my asst. (male) to carry and scout for me??if i buy two and hes not shopping for himself..id feel like i was robbing some poor woman of a pass!
xoxo
Hi–
First, thanks for thinking of us, Rachel!
Answers:
-There are LOTS of deals for under $50. There are two types of items: end-of-season merchandise, which is typically from 50-90% off, and then current season, whose discounts are usually smaller (10-25%) but discounted nonetheless. Plus there’s great food and fabulous cocktails to make it all worthwhile (and your $40 price goes to Miriam’s House, the HIV shelter and center in DC).
-Assistants: it’s $40 per person entrance, or $100 per for the VIP ticket. You’re more than welcome to buy two tickets–just get online early on 8/23, as tickets sell really quickly.
Thanks!
E.Streeter,
Excellent question. The answer is yes, there will be gorgeous items for $50 and under, but they might not be the objects you’d wish to score for that price (like stuff from Muleh I know will not be that cheap). HOWEVER, one woman I know got an amazing pair of heels for $35 (wish I could remember the brand) and I wish I’d written down some sample prices, but I remember gawking at a GORGEOUS dress at the Wink booth and demanding that a nearby woman of its approximate size try it on for size. And I think it was something like $75 or maybe less.
Anyone who attended in the Spring feel free to chime in!!
Suicide Blonde,
Your question is too hilariously awesome for me to answer. Loves it. I doubt they have a policy in place for assistants, but if I were you, I wouldn’t bother bringing him. I say this because the DSS doesn’t work the way the Filene’s Bridal event does, where women fly in, grab as many dresses as they can get their hands on, and then barter with one another. In other words, you can’t walk around with stuff from booth to booth. So–even if he comes, he wouldn’t be able to run after you with stuff. I just don’t know if it’d be ALL that helpful. I think if you have a VIP pass you’ll be fine. But if you want some definitive advice on this front, definitely email info@districtsamplesale.com.
…And let us know what they said, Miss Thing!
I WILL be trying that cookie thing on your site. BEST.IDEA.EVER.
Thanks to babsied, who alone is worth the price of admission.
( ;
I’m not trying to be snarky or anything, but how do women in this city have so much money to spend on clothes? I probably don’t spend more than $40 a month on clothing, shoes, jewlery, etc, so the notion of spending $40 for the privilege of buying a $75 dress astounds me. I know, it’s for charity and that’s great, so I’m not dissing anyone who attends this event, but I’m just curious……do you sacrifice other things so you can spend more money on clothes? Or do you just make a ton of money? I make more than most people my age but I’m always seeing younger girls in Georgetown wearing things that I know must have cost a fortune, and I’m wondering how they do it.
Eliza..
a great outfit or pair of shoes…is an investment and ..pays for itself..maybe its because i feeeeel soo fab in it/them ..but..i cant count the number of cover charges waived, drinks/meals paid for…deals closed..new contacts made…that i have to credit a certain pair of outrageous red pradas for… no kidding you have to see em to believe em..they were worth every penny…
so if im not feeling particularly great about an upcoming meeting..i always know i can pull a little extra confidence out of that shoe bag…
you cant put a price on that!
xoxo
Agreed! This is a great event and worth every penny.
Don’t forget that the Saks-Jandel 50-80% off sale is this weekend. Always a favorite fashion event. Some of my most treasured wardrobe pieces have come from this sale. YSL, Valentino etc.
E.Streeter -
Yes, there are absolutely finds to be had for under $50. My favorite purchase last year was an incredible sleeveless top for $75, though I did pick up several Cosabella bras/tanks for $10-15 each!
Hope to see you there!