Eugenia Kim's Sample Sale: $5 Hats, Holiday Headb

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Eugenia Kim's sample sale could not be better timed: who isn't more open to the idea of buying knit beanies and hats when it's freezing outside? When we stopped by this morning, we saw a small but enthusiastic group perusing the many options available. We also noticed a huge variety of price points: there's a bin of $5 samples (though many look damaged), as well as fur trapper hats for $295 and flats for $350 (barely 35% off their original retail price). As a result, we think this is a better sale for fans of the brand, for whom any discount seems like a worthy reason to stock up. Otherwise, you may end up balking at the price tags ($145 for a beanie?).

That said, we saw some great options in the sample bins. Sadly, though, none of these are cold weather styles (that is to say, knits). Samples can be found for $5, $35, $45, and $65, and the styles range from basic to really cool. Our favorite was a black style embellished with metallic shapes on the brim ($45).

For the rest of the hats, you'll have to check the price tags for each individual item: the sale price will be in red below the original price on the tag. Staff told us that the majority of items were about 50% off, though the discounts went up to 70%. That sounds about right, though for every item marked 70% off, there's another marked 35% off, especially in the Genie by Eugenia Kim section. For example, here we found the Jordan fedora, priced at $55 from $85. The same hat is currently available on sale at Shopbop for even less ($51).

In fact, many of the items available at the sale are currently at Shopbop. The Elyse ($75) and the Jill slouchy beanie ($145) are both here, but selling at their suggested retail price on the site. Other styles we spotted are the Mimi fur hat, the Rain pom pom hat, the Cara hat, and the Fifi scarf. Staff told us that, compared to previous years, they had less merchandise this year, but the styles were better and more current. Some of the designs are also very helpfully displayed alongside images from editorials and celebrity photo shoots, so if you know you want to follow in Taylor Swift's millinery footsteps, you can pick up the Georgina fedora for $145.

One section we definitely don't recommend spending much time in is the footwear area. Pickings are slim and the prices are high: generally in the neighborhood of $350. Depending on the style, the savings were higher or lower: higher for the Karens (original retail: $800), lower for the Babs (original retail: $535). However, knowing you could get Tributes at the YSL sample sale for $250, this price point seems like a reach.

The headbands that were displayed below the shoes, however, are worth a look. In particular, we liked the options from Kim's Halloween-themed capsule collection, which includes the Narcissa, a chrome-colored headband covered in skulls and bugs ($75). Despite the obvious Halloween connotations of black cats and bats, these pieces are surprisingly versatile.

We heard that they will be restocking, though mostly in the knits (the felt options are scarcer). We were also told they would likely be doing additional markdowns, but not until the end of the sale. However, since merchandise is in general more minimal than during previous sales, we were warned not to expect too much stock remaining if/when markdowns start. The sale runs through Tuesday, December 16th. See the dealfeed below for more info.

· Dealfeed: Eugenia Kim [Racked NY]
· 129 New York City Sample Sales to Shop in December [Racked NY]
· Samples Sales [Racked NY]