Prada Grab Bag
Buyer beware...at Prada's sample sale, there's a 3-handbag limit!
NEW YORK: Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Yesterday, it was one for all—or rather, a free for all—as editors from Allure to Vogue gathered on the first day of the highly anticipated Prada sample sale—that was, if you could find the building. Elle accessories director, Ellyn Chestnut, was spotted pacing up and down East 57th Street, searching for the Fuller Building locale with the help of a fellow editor via cell phone. “I’m not coming from the office,” the jeans-and-jacket clad editor volunteered of her casual outfit. That seemed to be the case for many, as they came prepared to strip down to their skivvies and tank tops in the hopes of snagging a must-have look at a bargain-basement price.
Inside—bearing resemblance to one of Amy Sacco’s fashion week parties at Bungalow 8—cell phones and Blackberry’s went off and the shopping commenced. “All I need is my DJ in here,” the nighttime hostess joked. Sacco arrived early and hit the handbags first, snagging close to a dozen pieces before being informed ever-so-gently by an attendee that the limit was three handbags per person. “Only three!” she exclaimed, pouting ever so slightly. “What am I going to do?” Well, for one thing, pass the goodies along to friends like fellow attendee and PR guru Nadine Johnson, which was exactly what she did and second, stock up on shoes instead. Teen Vogue editor in chief Amy Astley, looking as perfectly coiffed as she does sitting front row at the Marc Jacobs fashion show, rifled through the racks of clothes, her manicured fingers sifting through the hangers with surely the same precision and skill as the hair stylist who cuts her razor-sharp bangs. “Yes, no, yes, not for me,” she said to herself, before departing with an armload of goodies, including one pair of leather-and-croc gloves.
Over on the men’s side, Harper’s Bazaar accessories director Danya Unterhalter took control of a full-length mirror and donned a layered green dress from the spring 2004 collection while fellow accessories editor Carolyn Tate Angel stood adjacent, trying on her own pile of wears. The Elle team—fashion director Nina Garcia, fashion news director Anne Slowey, style director Isabel Dupré and associate market editor Joann Pailey—all arrived together and were greeted by editor in chief Roberta “Robbie” Myers, who spent the bulk of her time checking out the leathers and exotic-skinned pieces. Marie Claire fashion director Tracy Taylor snagged one of the sought-after tie-dye pieces—a red, white, and blue button-down shirt. “It’s a bit too big,” she said, holding it up to her petite frame. “But that’s what a good tailor’s for.” GQ fashion editor Brian Coats scored with a shirt and a jacket, but was disappointed he didn’t find more. “I really came prepared to shop,” he said, giving the men’s department one last look before heading to the registers. J. Mendel PR director Lauren Davis, who arrived back to New York from Croatia the morning of the sale, was refreshed and ready to shop. “What does it mean when the ticket has a blue dot on it?” she asked. “That means it’s ten percent off,” shouted back another eager shopper. “What did you say? It’s $110?” Davis exclaimed back, mishearing.
Even fashion plate and actress Rashida Jones—accompanied by her mom, Peggy Lipton—showed up to get their shop on. Jones was happily shopping along, making her way from rack to rack, when she realized she had misplaced her yellow Marni top, which was accessorized with a major bling-bling diamond broach. Trying to stay calm, she said to herself, “It’s the only item in here without a tag, so I’ve got to be able to find it.” Thankfully, she did.
Allure editor in chief Linda Wells, looking weather-ready in a monogrammed Louis Vuitton trenchcoat and matching Suhali bag, arrived at 3:30PM on the dot, just as the crowd began to die down. Haley Binn, wife of Niche Media Magazines publisher Jason Binn, was dropped off at the sale by a girlfriend, having come straight from the Hamptons, and opted to go with some peep-toed shoes and a couple of fall-worthy bags after spending two hours at the sale. “I spent a fairly reasonable amount this time around,” she said enthusiastically. “But what I spent this time was nothing compared to the first time Jason and I came—we’re talking five figures then. But Jason specifically said not to buy him a thing this time around, which was fine because that means all the more for me.” And just how much did the first day bring in? Judging from one register—which broke down temporarily after ringing an endless number of sales—not too disappointing. “I had one woman spend $3,000 today, and she said she was coming back for more,” commented one cashier.
Others spotted in the crowd: New York magazine editor in chief Adam Moss, fashion director Harriet Mays Powell and contributing editor Jacob Bernstein, Burberry PR director John Cross, Gotham/Hamptons vice chairman Cristina Greeven Cuomo, In Style accessories director Alice Kim, People managing editor Martha Nelson, Maxim market editor Maria Ruocco, and Vogue associate market editor Karla Martinez and fashion assistant Ethel Park.
I've been to Ferragamo this year and I think Malo.
I tried to get a reservation, but it looks all full to me.
