Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.
The doors to the Surface to Air sale opened a few minutes early this morning with a quiet start among the hustle and bustle of the Chelsea Market. The discounts were markdowns of 60% to 80% off original retail prices, and most items were under $99. Most of the pieces shared the same few print motifs, with the print from a men's button-up also appearing on a women's blouse, shorts and dress. The racks were organized by men's and women's categories and by size. There was also a communal dressing room toward the back of the store.
Let's discuss women's options first, and then return to menswear in a later post. The back wall of the sale was lined with women's denim and trousers, all priced at $69. The denim assortment came in beige, blue, and grey, with sizes ranging strictly from 25-30 all in skinny cuts. Trousers were sized from Small through Extra Large, and a pair of silk drop crotch pants with an ankle zipper caught our eye. There was also a rack of leather accent leggings for $69 in black and beige. However, by the time we left the sale, all that remained were the beige pairs. Certain items were the last of the inventory but we were told most other items would be continually re-stocked throughout the day.
Next we took a peek at the blouses, knits and other bottoms. Silk, leather and cotton button-up blouses were all $69. The selection included tops in floral cotton, a palm tree silk patterned chemise, and a sheer silk ruffle blouse. The rack also had matching high-waisted shorts and skirts in the same patterns, for $49. We also found a pair of tan suede shorts for $79.
We got excited about the dress racks in the middle of the floor because the pricing was so low. Cotton and jersey dresses were $49 and silk and party dresses $89. For $49, there were a couple cute knit dresses, including a crochet sweater dress and an open back cap-sleeve dress. In the $89 price range we found a printed silk romper, maxi dress, and shift dress.
The sale also had some great women's basic tees and tanks, priced from $19 to $39, including cotton graphic tees and crop tops. Women's sweaters were all $59, and included a cardigan with embellished shoulders, and a mesh open knit sweater. Vests and blazers were $99, and leather jackets $239.
There was a small assortment of women's shoes, with boat shoes and sandals for $69 and all other shoes and boots for $99. Sizes in stock ranged from 36-40. Disappoiningly, the sale didn't offer any of their popular jewelry pieces.
The bottom line is, the Surface to Air sale delivers great basics at super low prices. There are some dressy pieces to be found, but the person who will love this sale the most is the "jeans and tee shirt" type, with most pieces being casual yet chic. Cash and credit card are the accepted forms of payment, and you get a free canvas bag with your purchase.—Apneet Kaur
Update: Men, here's a detailed report on what you'll find at the sale.
· Dealfeed: Surface to Air [Racked NY]
Loading comments...