Walking down the street on a bright sunny spring day, cherry blossoms wafting through the air like a gentle snow, a girl’s thoughts turn to…BARGAIN HUNTING of course!? Some of the best sales for those truly motivated by the thrill of the hunt are just around the corner.??Below are three of my favorites.? Shopping these sales are a win, win, win situation for everyone. You are getting fabulous things you might not usually have access to. You are reusing & recyling both when you shop & donate and you are helping? incredible organizations continue their work. Plus they are just enormous fun? What more could you ask for??
Posh Sale @ The Lighthouse for the Blind
May 12 -May 16th
Preview Wed? 4-8
Thus-Sat 11-7
Sun 11-5
111 East 59th Street
Between Park & Lexington Avenues
New York City
This has been “The Hottest Sale in Town” since 1963.? I went to my 1st one in 1980(I was only 5 years old).? This sale is chock full of designer duds donated “gently used” from NY’s elite and brand spanking new from all the top designers in town.? You will find names like Manolo Blahnik, Burberry, Coach, Furla Classics Collection, Carolina Herrera, March Boutique, Nicole Miller, Bettye Muller, Tracy Reese, Joan Rivers, Rachel Roy, Theory, XOXO,and more for men, ?women and children.? They have one of the most extensive fur salon’s ever(gently used).? All proceeds benefit the Lighthouse’s efforts to fight vision loss and help make better the lives of those touched by it .
Now in days of?old when men were bold,?all you had to do to get first dibs on the best loot was to get there at about 7:30am and wait on line for the doors to open at 10.? Alas fair maidens and courtly gents, this is no longer the case.? There is a preview night, May 12th , with? tickets going for $175, which includes admission to all? public days too.? Tickets for individual public days are $10each or $30 for all 4. Buy online before May 7 and bogo free.? 75% of the ticket price is tax deductible.?? The stock is replenished daily, so it’s worth a few trips.
I LOVE THIS SALE!? The clothes are fabulous.? Understand that the competition for is fierce for the best stuff.? The women are wild!? Don’t be shy here or you’ll get mowed down.? A few tips:
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Get there between 8-9am.? The line will be around the block by the time the doors open.
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Wear clothes that come off and on easily. Speed is the name of the game here. If you snooze, you lose!
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Wear a bag with a shoulder strap that you can sling across your body so that both hand are free.
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Have lots of fun.? This sale is a blast!
Grenville Baker Boys & Girls Annual Clothing Sale
Donate:? April 5th -29th
Donor’s Day:? Wednesday, May 5th 10-8(By Ticket Only, see below)
Public Dates:? May 6th -12th? Weekdays 10-8, ?Sat 10-4, ?Closed on Sunday
135 Forest Avenue, Locust Valley NY 11560
(516) 676-1460
The first year this sale took place Richard Milhaus Nixon was president.? They’ve honed it since then to one of the best Ive ever been to.? The NY Times?has written ?this is where the “elite meet to shop for designer bargains”? An entire gym is filled to the rafters with all sorts of women’s clothing & accessories and even some home decor items.? There is a separate room for men’s wear & the women’s shoes are in the very large dressing room. (Almost everything is “gently used”)
I’ve gotten St John’s knit tops for $5 & Hermes shoes for $6.? You will see every major designer.? Ferragamo, Yves St Laurent, Dorney & Bourke, Ettienne Aigner, Adrienne Vittadini, Ann Taylor, Coach & Prada are some of the names I have bought in the past.? There is so much here to go through .?I have gone up to 4 different day in past years and still not seen everything.
It is a fun, fun experience.? Another plus is that if you donate, you get a ticket for “Donor’s Day”, which means you get to pre-shop the public sale one day before it opens.? There is a very long line for both donor’s day and opening day.? The same tips apply to this?event as do the Posh sale.? The only difference is the lead time.? You have to get?here about 1 hr before it opens instead of 2 1/2 hrs.? The prices are fixed for those 1st two days, then they start fall until the last day when everything is under $5 each.? Alert for NYC residents: the Long Island Railroad’s Locust Valley station is right at the end of the street.? It is worth the trip! (Bring your rolling cart or suitcase. You’ll need it)
Minks to Sinks
Under the tents at Danbury Road & School Road in Wilton,
1 mile north of Wilton Center (Town Tennis Courts)
Sat May 1st, 9am to 5pm?
Sun May 2nd, 12pm to 4pm? (1/2 Price Bargain Day)
Mon May 3rd, 9am to 12pm? (1/2 Price & Fill a Bag: Bargain Day)
This is the largest semi-annual tag sale in Wilton CT.? It has it’s roots in a town rummage sale which began in 1931.? In 1952 there was a donation of both a mink coat & a sink and the name Minks to Sinks was coined and? has stuck.? I have known about this sale for years and have been meaning to get there for as long.? I’m sad to say I haven’t made it yet, however I know it’s one of the best.? I know this because it is a favorite of the “dealers”.? In fact I’ve heard (a rumor only, not verified by me) that dealers get there really, really early actually sell spaces on line.? If that’s true, that’s a good sign.? Will this be the year you’ll run into The Elegant Tightwad rummaging around.? I’m hoping it will be!? It always takes place the first weekend in May & October.? I’ve also heard the clothing?here is incredible.? Here’s?some Directions.? Proceeds from this sale benefit? FCA (Family & Children’s Agency) of Norwalk.
So bargain hunters, you have your work cut out for you! ? Happy shopping & remember to shop responsibly:)
