Yesterday was one of those days that you realize working in fashion is fantastic:
The Burberry Sample Sale
They opened at 8am and people were queuing for hours.... A few years ago it used to be at the Haymarket store, it being one of their key sites. However Burberry took the decision to relocate the flagship store status to Bond Street. Since the flagship store was relocated, Burberry chose to use their Heritage site for functions and events, sample sales being one such event.
The Haymarket store has an element of Burberry’s past heritage visible through the antique clock on the building, it evokes a feeling of true British-ness and quality. It is after this grand store that they originally decided to name their truly memorable and most copied check, “Haymarket”, and it has stayed that name ever since.
The sample sale used to be held for up to a week! It consisted of two huge floor full of bargains including shoes, scarves, trench-coats, handbags, gloves, swimsuit...even golf balls...EVERYTHING !!!
Items were generally replenished constantly, with a large selection of sizes.
However todays sample sale consists of a limit selection of sizes. It is currently located in the headquarters, Horseferry house, in a very small room, bursting to the seams with eager employees, keen to achieve bargain. Unlike the early sample sales of Burberry, there is a feeling of a maximum security prison. Two I.D. checks add to a tense atmosphere, and create a large overwhelming queue of Burberry loving women.
Is it worth it? Yes, at 90% discount off retail press, of course it’s worth it.
I fell in love with these shoes. I checked the price and the ticket said it was £375 now £225..for me this was still too expensive...one hour later I came back to the shoes to recheck the price and stupid me...£220 was the store sale price, the sample price was £37 of course the girl just in front of me took the last pair in my size. For the rest of the day I felt annoyed at that girl for taking my shoes that were obviously meant to be mine and not hers!!!
Instead I treated myself to a scarf, sale price £25, and that leather trench coat for £100 and the puffa jacket above, (the first in my life, I normally hate that style) for £69.
I found good items for Christmas present; a few scarves, coats for the guys, and men’s ties...
This image summarizes the day I had at the Burberry sample sale.
From Alexander MacQueen, Stella Maccartney to Jil Sander, Joseph or Aubin and Wills... something is going on.
