I had never been to a sample sale ever before. The thought of rummaging through piles of clothes in some sort of dark and damp smelly location where everything is model size only, just doesn't float my boat, but this wasn't just any old sample sale, this was the Net-A- Porter sample sale and either shoes, a bag or both for my daughters wedding was high on my shopping list, I didn't hold out much hope of actually getting an outfit.
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| Peter Pilotto for Target Beach Towel for Marbs! |
Not open to the public, staff, family and friends only, assembled in one hour slots at Chelsea Town Hall over a two day period and with the daughter who interns there on holiday in Thailand, I was under strict instructions and armed with her shopping list, I have to confess an hour really wasn't enough to find stuff for yourself and the missing members of the family! Complete nightmare. hubby even gave me a Mr Porter list, he had no hope!
My daughters work colleagues had been instagramming pictures of Louboutins throughout Friday and Saturday morning but come 3pm (we had bought tickets for the first family and friends slot) it was a completely different story and this was the only pair of red soles in the whole place by the time we got in!
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| Claudia's Loubies waiting in her room for her return from holiday. £90. |
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| Acne Dress for Claudia £40. I would deffo wear this but it's tiny. |
As we joined the queue already forming at 2.30 I felt it best to adopt a strategy which involved me doing shoes and my eldest daughter going straight to handbags. There was one complete (very large) hall full of footwear and I scanned every size, every row of tables that was devoted to size 3, 4, 5 etc for red soles before I took the time to go through my own size for anything else that might take my eye.
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Two of my girls bought the Peter Pilotto for Target Skater Shoes for £35 when the collection launched a few weeks ago. On Saturday they were £10 so now all three daughters have a pair!
There was plenty to get excited about, not least the bargain prices. The Jimmy Choo pointed flats are this season and currently online for £395 here. I had seen the style instore when we went bridal shoe shopping at the end of January and silver flats were a gap in my shoe collection that definitely needed filling. I paid £60. Little crease across one of the toes but seriously you would easily pay that on the High Street for decent flats.
![SHOE OF THE DAY: - The point-toe flat]()
They were even featured on the NAP website home page this week.
Just like the Acne Pistol, the Marant Dicker was a boot itch I could never normally afford to scratch, so in the words of Rachel Zoe, I actually said out loud "I die" when I picked these up and saw the price - £70. Currently online in this colour for £360 here. Just a small mark on the sole.
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| Be still my beating heart. |
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| Blingtastic! I am such a Magpie! |
They may not be Rockstuds but they are Valentino. Obviously I had the wedding in mind with these and in the absence of a dress, I may plan an outfit around these stunning beauties. I paid £50, seriously, I can hardly believe it myself!
So both these shoes and the glitter clutch could be possible wedding contenders depending on what I end up wearing. If not then one of my daughters wants the bag and I am sure these divine heels would find a good home.
So both these shoes and the glitter clutch could be possible wedding contenders depending on what I end up wearing. If not then one of my daughters wants the bag and I am sure these divine heels would find a good home.
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| Oldest daughters Stella's £70. How wicked are they? |
I couldn't wait to get my Dickers on and go out yesterday! I honestly never thought I would ever get a pair! Happy happy!
It really is wonderful having a daughter interning at the power house of international designer fashion. Don't ever leave Claudia, do you hear me? I so wanna go back next year armed with more money and a bigger bag!
Have you ever had sample sale success?
