Stockpile Special-Occasion Dresses at the Shoshanna Sale

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.

Grid View

Expand

Update: The sale has been extended through Thursday, June 12th from 10am through 5pm.

If you're looking for a special dress to wear for a wedding or any other swanky event this summer, you just can't go wrong at the Shoshanna sample sale, which started yesterday and runs from 10am to 5pm today.

When you enter, you'll be greeted with racks of swim separates, all well organized and wrapped in plastic, but the real stars of the sale are the two racks of true samples at the back of the showroom. Head back there first to see what's left.

Upon our visit yesterday, ladies were tearing these racks apart. Sizes are not marked in general on the samples, but a staffer informed us that they are typically a 4 or 6 (though you may find some larger sizes if you dig).

Be vigilant of unfinished pieces, because several of the best dresses seemed to have some abnormalities, like sleeve hems hanging loose. Anyone handy with a sewing machine will find some great deals with sample dresses, tops, and bottoms, all marked at $50. There will not be restocking of the samples, so once they're gone, that's it!

Other than that, there's plenty of stock of special occasion and work appropriate dresses and separates that range in size from a 0 to 12. Expect at least a rack of each size. Stand out pieces include a groovy beaded number for $125, a few pairs of shorts for $75, and an unmarked coat in bright tangerine.

Be warned that there is no changing room, but that didn't seem to bother any of the women, as folks were changing in all corners of the showroom. If you plan to try anything on, be sure to wear your fancy underwear or plan ahead and wear leggings and a camisole for easy try on.

Don't leave without checking out swimwear, which is a super deal at only $20 per separate piece. Tops are organized by bra size, with sizes going up to DDD and bottoms that range from P to XL. While there is no trying on allowed of the swimwear pieces (even on the outside of your clothes), the genius bra sizing of the cups should help select the right size.

Many of the pieces have cool brass details, and there's a nice variety of shapes and colors to choose from. There is one small rack of one-piece swimsuits at $35 each, but the bikini separates are definitely more exciting. Swimwear is constantly being restocked; an associate told us there is plenty still to bring out.

For those of us who love to dig through a bargain box, there are a few really good ones, including two boxes of sample sweater dresses (check for damage) marked $50 each, and some sample swim separates at $5 each. You might not be able to find a full suit, but you can easily mix one of the non-sample black tops with the $5 bottoms.

There's a box of swim sets at $20, but be sure to check the sizes on each piece carefully—we found one set with an XL bottom and teeny top.

Cards are accepted with a $40 minimum, and as stated on countless signs throughout the space, there is no haggling allowed. Doors will close tonight at 5pm, so if you want to go, get there ASAP!—Riian Kant-McCormick
· Dealfeed: Shoshanna [Racked NY]
· The June Sample Sale Calendar: 59 More and Counting! [Racked NY]