Above the Fray: Womenswear Overload at Steven Alan

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There is a dress code for the Steven Alan sale, which just launched as a preview this afternoon at 4pm, and that dress code is leggings. It's not that the sale attracts a particularly pants-hating crowd—it's just that there aren't any dressing rooms, there are a lot of men milling around, and the deals are so good you're bound to wind up trying stuff on.

Walking in, you're confronted with shoes: Our correspondent reports four pairs of those Rachel Comey platforms that keep popping up everywhere, in nude, for $95, alongside $25 Steven Alan gladiators with a studded ankle cuff and $25 white Superga velcro sneakers. For $25 you can also get the khaki Camden jumper, baka tops in various patterns (southwestern and floral), and floral vintage-like boardwalk skirts. Cute cotton-wool Heddy shirts with gathered fronts are a little pricey at $75; might make more sense to go with the tweedy herringbone Frida skirts, also $75, or the matching blazers at $195. Khaki wide-leg pants with suspenders are $125 to $240. As for coats, we're seeing the "Tippi" (as in Hedren?) for $175 and fall coats in olive and plaid for $195.

We spotted two sample racks in the front, with samples priced as marked and unmarked items going for $50. Goods there include a grey Myne jumper, a royal blue Acne skirt ($75 from $298; it might be in the wrong place), Acne wide-leg pants, and a Tippi coat in a size four. There are also a lot of Heddy shirts and boyfriend cardigans, but those are going fast.

Downstairs, where non-Steven Alan brands live, we saw Mirage leather jackets—light brown, black zip front, buttery suede, even a long black trend—for $75, plus two pairs of large leather pants for $100. There isn't a ton of Sophomore, but we found v-neck boxy tees and slouchy tanks for $28. Zip-front tanks in sorbet orange and green are $15, and cut-out dresses in that same sherbet hue are $35-$45. Myth & Ritual has pretty satiny (but not actual stin) skirts in jewel tones for $35, and ruffly button-front puff-sleeved tops, also $35. Spring & Clifton sweaters start around $50, with black-and-cream striped sweater tanks and short-sleeved sweaters going for $48.

Other labels: Sunshine & Shadow shorts are $40, tops $79, and tie-dyed scarves $20-$45. We're seeing Veda leather jackets ($150) and bags ($100), and some adorable $75-$100 dresses from SEA. DemyLee's cashmere sweaters start at $119, and we also spotted racks of Ulla, Pipit, A.Lawless, Jam Jam, Publicka, Christina Lehr, and Octopi, as well as one girl's black undies under her white tights as she stripped in public. Seriously, people: Leggings. You'll need them.
· Lineblogging: All Quiet Outside Steven Alan Preview [Racked]
· Dealfeed: Steven Alan [Racked]