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With discounts reaching up to 60% off retail prices at Bergdorf Goodman right now, we swung by the Fifth Avenue department store to see what the best deals are. Between shoes and apparel—we didn't really see much in handbags—the latter definitely has the best deals, with lots of great names (Alexander Wang, Diane von Furstenberg) going even beyond that 60% mark. And while the shoe department still has a huge selection with the best brands you can find, the 50% discount will likely still have you paying upwards of $400 for that coveted pair.
Start on the second floor, where the sales racks for shoes are divided into two sections (sizes 5 through 9.5, and 10 through 11.5) just off of the regular-price offerings. There's hundreds of pairs available in each size, but you'll need a sales associate to grab a shoe's mate from the back room when trying things on. Every big name you'd expect to see is here: Christian Louboutin, Chanel, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Manolo Blahnik, Prada, and on and on—but with big names comes big prices, even with a discount.
The majority of shoes are 50% off the marked prices on their soles, while a small selection that's highlighted is only 30% off. That puts a Saint Laurent heel with a silver studded pattern at $597.50, a Paul Andrew sandal at $397.50, a Chanel platform wedge at $725, and a Christian Louboutin graphic-print heel at $622.50—scroll through the gallery above for more examples of our favorites.
Most of what you'll find here are not exactly everyday wear for the 99%—think super high heels and architectural wedges. The small availability of low shoes veer toward espadrille sneakers and flats (like Charlotte Olympia kitten flats for $347.50) and a few flatform sandals—Miu Miu slides with fringe at $245 was the cheapest pair we picked up. However, keep in mind that brands like Chanel and Louboutin rarely hit discounts this high, so if you've been dying for a pair of label shoes to add to your wardrobe, now is the time to pounce.
If you haven't drained your bank account yet, then take the escalators up to the fifth floor to find contemporary designers on sale, with most merchandise marked at either 40% or 60% off. To your left, you'll find clothing organized by category (dresses, pants, sweaters, jackets, skirts, and such); to your right, it's by designer, but you can find other names mixed among a dedicated rack.
Believe it or not, there are under-$100 scores to be found, like a Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress for $99 (from $398)—that makes it even cheaper than wrap dress prices at her sample sales in years past. Other two-digit deals are mostly limited to basics, like jeans and shorts (we found a pair of Frame skinnies for $79) and soft cotton basics from brands like T by Alexander Wang, Theory, and Vince.
A lot of what we found was 60% off, but be on the lookout for deals even better than that—a clingy Alexander Wang dress with neon detail is down to $179 from $795, which is comparable to price drops that we've seen at his sample sales. Check out the gallery for more of our favorite picks from Marissa Webb, Veronica Beard, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Carven, Kenzo, and plenty more.
If there's a particular spring 2015 item you've had your eye on since it hit the runways last fall, go for it now—while there's still plenty of stock across all sizes, they might not stick around for long at prices like these. But if you play the waiting game and hold out for more discounts (Barney's discounts just hit 75% off today, and Saks' sale is going as high as 80% off), you could be rewarded. The department store is open daily through the holiday weekend.