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Update: As of Thursday morning, further markdowns of up to an additional 50% off already-reduced prices were taken on most merchandise. Original discounts are reflected below.
The giant caftan party—uh, we mean the Calypso St. Barth sample sale—is back this week, and we checked it out during last night's Gilt City/VIP event last night, where bargain shoppers were coming in droves—260 Fifth Avenue was jam-packed with shoppers looking to stock up for last-minute beach vacations, and they were happy to find plenty of summery pieces at mostly $80 and under.
To start off, check out the section with home decor and furniture—there's a larger inventory in this section compared to last spring's sale. We found decorative pillows for $30 (normally $150—$300), accessories like candles and frames for $20, doormats for $20, large rugs for $70, and even furniture for less than $100.
However, we were told by the organizers that a lot of these items flew out the door during the first hour of the preview, especially the pouf pillows and throw blankets. Doormats and large rugs were picked over. but a bunch still remain. There are still a lot of pillows, baskets ($20), and random home decor stuff like decorative boat paddles ($50), mirrors ($100), and a singular table ($70) that'll be available today.
For apparel, everything is priced by category, starting at $10 for basic tees and tanks; $30—$40 for tops, bottoms, and short sleeve sweaters; $60 for long dresses; and $70 for jackets. Prices generally topped off at $100 for outerwear. We were underwhelmed by the selection, but did find a few worthy pieces, like a lovely Velvet for Calypso white sweater for $40, wide-legged pants for $40, silk tops for $40, sequined jackets for $70, long white and navy cashmere wraps for $60, and flowing navy maxi skirts for $40. Check out more of our favorites in the gallery above.
There's also a few racks with denim from Adriano Goldschmied, 7 For All Mankind, and Paige for just $40—yup, you can find AG jeans at lower prices here than at the AG sample sales! We also spotted some Adriano Goldschmied denim jackets for $40, though only extra small and large sizes are left.
There are two racks of sample apparel by the stairs near the back, which we thought was not worth a look—but then again, it never hurts to look. Prices here are as marked, but most of the sample tank tops and tees are $10 (same price as the regular tops). Tunics and embellished tops are $30, while dresses are $40. Again, nothing worthy here, but it may be restocked throughout the sale and better pieces could come along.
Accessories include shoes ($10—$50), jewelry ($40), scarves ($40), and hats and belts ($20). The shoes are all the way in the back, beside the dressing room. Prices
for shoes start at $10 for flip flops, $40 for strappy sandals, $40 for sneakers, and $50 for boots. And although it's not quite the time of the year for boots, there are some real steals in this section, like leather booties and Mous fur boots for only $50 (originally $495). Sizing is limited in some styles, and the staff will help fetch your size.
In the same section as shoes, you;ll find three bins of swimwear, where you'll have to spend some time sifting through to find the style and size you want. Everything here, including one-pieces and bikini tops and bottoms, are $20.
Statement jewelry, including earrings, necklaces, brooches, and bracelets are all $40. They are displayed in trays in transparent zip bags, and a sales staff will put your picks aside for you until you are ready to check out. While some pieces might not look very interesting, there are a few pieces made with semi-precious stones that have $200 original price tags. Some larger chandelier earrings and bracelets caught our eye, but some pieces you don't even want to touch.
Handbags, hats, and jewelry can be found beside the cashiers. Handbags are all $50, but were already fairly picked over last night. There is still a bin full of textile clutches and a few crocheted raffia totes available in black, as well as a couple of oversized cotton totes that look perfect for a day at the beach.
We were told there will be restocking on apparel—in fact, they were even restocking during the sale—but probably not on home decor or furniture. For more details on sale hours and location, check out the Dealfeed below.—Hsini