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.
We dropped by the preview for the Vera Wang sample sale at 151 Wooster Street last night to check out the bridal gowns and ready-to-wear on offer. While wedding dresses are the star of the show here, there are really great prices on apparel, with discounts reaching as high as 80% off retail. You're welcome to try on everything for size in the dressing rooms, though note that they're a little cramped for the size of some of these cupcake fantasy gowns.
Ready-to-wear is priced based on ten original price ranges, from $50 (originally $100—$200) to $600 (originally $3,000). A variety of sizes from small to large are well represented in all styles, which includes everything from pants and shorts to coats and blazers. A black leather top is $250 (was $1,095), a gray sweater is $300 (was $1,395) and a white sleeveless tank top is $75 (was $399). We liked a pewter and bronze embellished top for $300 (was $1,395), black beaded shorts for $350 (were $1,850), and patterned marine blue pants for $100 (was $695).
There are also ready-to-wear dresses, from casual office styles for $250 to formal gowns for $400. Nearby in the center of the sale space, there are two racks of sample pants, tops, and dresses, with plenty of pieces going for $20 (they're all priced as marked). We liked a pair for white pants, a black bustier cocktail dress, and a few sample sweaters among the mix.
Now for the wedding gowns, available in a lovely array of silk, tuille, and satin in blush to ivory to stark white. All prices are as marked (often written in marker on the inside of the gowns), and sizes go from 2 to 10, organized counterclockwise starting on the right side of the room. We liked a tulle gown embellished with flowers for $1,200, an ivory gown with a black waistband for $1,200, and a princess-looking gown with bows and hook and an eye back for $500.
Some of the gowns have damage, so look out for snags and pulls in the tulle and embroidery. Our favorite lace and tulle gown (the last in the gallery) is $2,700, the highest end of the bridal gown pricing. Sizes will be restocked in all merchandise categories, but the focal point is certainly the gowns—if you're a bride-to-be, it's best to head over ASAP. See the hours in the Dealfeed below.