40 Photos From Inside the Elizabeth and James Sample Sale

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• Sample dress, $50
• Sample shorts, $40
• Sample pants, $40
• This dress is held together by safety pins and is going for $50
• Leather top, $150
• Wool coat with fur trim, $250
• Textile Elizabeth and James tops
• Textile tees, $25
• Tote bags, $2
• Convertible event bag, $15
• Fur scarves, $250
• Sample eyewear, $35 per pair
• $35

The Elizabeth and James sample sale has returned for the second time this year—but maybe not with the punch we expected. At the preview we attended last night, there was a decent variety of styles at prices ranging from 60% to 80% off retail (including plenty of samples), but there was a lack of stock compared to the last sale.

Elizabeth and James apparel start at $45 for tees. Tops and pants are $70, while skirts, jumpsuits and rompers are $80 and sweaters are $90. Dresses are $100, as are blazers and vests; and assorted jackets and leather tops are $150. There was a nice selection of outerwear, including some fur coats for $250.

Clothing here is organized by size, as opposed to garment type. Sizes range from 0 to 12 (and from extra-small to extra-large in some cases). Sizes 8-12, or large to extra-large, only occupy one row of racks, while smaller sizes have more styles to shop.

There are true samples offered, situated on four racks in the back of the room and mostly comprised sweaters and tees. Here, tees are $10, tops and bottoms are $40, and sweaters and dresses are $50. Since they are true samples, they come with true stitching problems. Most of the tops and dresses we saw had flaws including visible stitching or even chalk-marks for alterations—but they still managed to be very cute.

Denim styles should also be arriving today, but they were not available at the preview.

In the Textile section, tees (including graphic tees with words like "Loved" or "Hashtag" written across the front) are $25. Sweatshirts, the most abundant item, are $40, and bottoms are $50.

The cheapest item on the price list are the $2 tote bags, which were already sold out when we stopped in last night but have been replenished for today. Another popular bag style was a medium-sized convertible event bag for $15.

There was also a selection of winter hats, including a few black Suzie rabbit fur hats, and fur scarves for $250.

By the cash registers, there are three tables full of jewelry, including sterling silver and gold-plated pieces for 75%-80% off. Many of their fall 2012 "The Birds" pieces were available at 80% off. We also saw a few stone ring collections, such as an oval blue lapis ring for $125 (currently online for $175). There were also a few statement necklaces, like the Berlin Pyramid necklace for $190 (from $850).

In the eyewear area, there are more than 30 styles to shop, plus an entire selection of sample frames for $35. For the regular collection, prices range between $39 and $75. Sunglasses like the Crescent, the Waverly, and the Devon sunglasses are only $39, while Kenzie and Lyon glasses frames are $55. Pearl frames are $75 as are the Thompson sunglasses (which normally retail for more than $300).

We were told there could be some restocking throughout the week, but that's not guaranteed. There's a dressing room in the back with a 10-piece limit per person. Check out the Dealfeed below for specific sale times.—Hsini

· Dealfeed: Elizabeth and James [Racked NY]
· All of the New York City Sample Sales You Can Shop in October [Racked NY]
· Sample Sales [Racked NY]