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Why would a swimwear company have a fall sample sale? To prepare you for fantasy tropical vacations, of course. Malia Mills' sample sale does just that with beach -eady swim separates, cabana-lounging accessories, and gauzy ready-to-wear — all with big discounts. We previewed the sale an hour before the doors opened this morning while a group of devoted customers formed a line outside.
Lining the walls are racks of Malia Mill's ready-to-wear line, and most of it is resort wear. Yet since most of the apparel pieces are in dark neutrals — blacks, olives, and grays — a lot of what's here is good for wearing around the city right now. A 70s-inspired white cotton blouse is $159 (from $595) while a dark denim jumper is $199 (from $595).
Tucked into the racks of clothing and littering tables are surprise appearances from other brands, all with heavy reductions. Baja blankets are going for $40, while assorted beach-ready hats are either $25 (from $120) or $59 (from $210).
What's most important here is the seemingly endless collection of assorted swimsuits. The sale seems to be a bit two-piece heavy, with boxes and boxes of separates neatly organized by size and color, though there is a rack of one-pieces with heavy discounts, too. The discounted price for ready-to-wear is marked on the tag; however, figuring out the price of swimsuits is a bit tricky.
Different colors indicate a different level of markdown. The three tiers of discounts on swimsuits are 35%, 55% or 75% off, resulting in an itty-bitty olive top going for $41.25 (from $165), a full coverage lavender top for $78.75 (from $175) and a coral high-waisted bottom for $90 (from $200). Check out some of our favorite pieces in the gallery above.
There's no fitting room available here. Associates are milling around the sale ready to help you find different sizes, matching bottoms, help with fitting assessments, and even doling out drinks. The sizing is plentiful for both swimwear and apparel, with both smaller sizes (think 30A) and large sizes readily available. There is some some back stock that will be brought out, but not much
What's going to go fast is the limited-edition and novelty swim suits, like Liberty of London exclusive prints made in limited batches, ruched black leather swim separates, and cotton seersucker tops. Luckily, a folder of inventory is available to shoppers, so you don't have to spend hours combing through boxes just to find that your size or color wasn't available in the first place. Check for the hours and dates in the Dealfeed below.