Living and working in NYC gives me access to sample sales, which means my wardrobe boasts some high end designers that I got at a steal. My work basics, though, come from Talbots because their petite size fits me better than anything out there and is always work appropriate. We recently had a St. John sample sale (their first!) and I picked up entire suits for $140. Nanette Lepore is another staple designer and I've cleaned up at her sample sales too. Lately, I've branched into Dolce & Gabbana, Bottega Veneta, Rebecca Minkoff, Free People and Desigual. I have a few
Prada pieces from the days when they used to have sample sales, as well as
Fendi. There are a couple of Chanel pieces lurking from the days when we had a Chanel outlet at Woodbury Common, too. I also have a stash of Escada and Burberry that I've built up over the years.
For shoes, there's the Manolo Blahnik sample sale and end of season sale, Loeffler Randall sample sale, Charlotte Olympia sale and the Ugg Outlet because they make a lot more than just moon boots and their flats are AMAZING.
I also don't stick exclusively to LV bags because -- you guessed it -- sample sales like Nancy Gonzalez and more happen with regularity.
I don't know what I'd do if I ever left NYC...