Don’t spend all your hard-earned on fashion labels in the shops. Sample sales flog excess stock, store samples or pieces with tiny hardly noticeable flaws for a fraction of
the original price. But, be warned – there are such good deals, people can get competitive. Last year the police were called when things got out of hand at an over-subscribed American Apparel sample sale in Brick Lane. Elbows out!
Sample Hunters, Shoreditch
Rifle your way through men’s and women’s designer fashion bargains with 40-80 per cent off their retail price at The Old Truman Brewery. It costs £1 to get in and sells brands from all around the world, including Burberry, Luella, DKNY Jeans, Hackett, Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren, Armani, Juicy Couture, French Connection, Twenty8Twelve, Vivienne Westwood, Aquascutum and Missoni. Prepare for a scramble.
Shop 14 Hanbury Street, E1 6QR
Tube: Liverpool Street
samplehunters.co.uk
Thursday, September 8 – Sunday, September 8
DSUK’s Autumn/Winter sale, Chelsea
With a bargain-licious 90 per cent off designer gear, this one’s a must. Designer Sales UK has been going since the Eighties, so it’s worth your shrapnel. There’ll be new autumn/winter womenswear, menswear and accessories from more than 100 designers including Vivienne Westwood and French big guns, Yves Saint Laurent.
Chelsea Old Town Hall, King’s Road, SW3 5EE
Tube: South Kensington
designersales.co.uk
Friday, September 30 – Saturday, October 1
The Secret Sample Sale, Shoreditch
Scoop up as much Fendi, Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein, Thomas Pink and Jimmy Choo as you can this weekend at The Old Truman Brewery. Register to get in on the members’ only day (Thursday, September 1) to snap up the best one-off designer steals. Men’s and women’s clothes, shoes and accessories range from £5 to £500.
Shop 14 Hanbury Street, E1 6QR
Tube: Liverpool Street
secretsamplesale.co.uk
Thursday, September 1 – Sunday, September 4
Get there early for the best bargains
The London Accessory Sale, Mayfair
Stockpile some Prada heels and Ed Hardy hats, with up to 70 per cent off menswear and womenswear. This hot sale is for members only so sign up to the list for free on the website.
26 South Molton Lane, W1K 5AB Bond Street
Tube: Bond Street
londonaccessorysale.co.uk
Friday, September 9
Designer Warehouse Sale, Islington
This one is frequented by stylists and fashion editors and has more labels under one roof than Selfridges and Harvey Nichols. Expect catwalk one-offs, showroom samples and cancelled orders from current season collections, with 60 per cent or more reduced. Prepare to spend a few hours rummaging through bargains from
designers like Oliver Stone, Moschino, D-Squared and Kenzo.
5-6 Islington Studios, N7 7NU Holloway Road
Tube: Holloway Road
dwslondon.co.uk
September 16-18 (women), September 23-25 (men)
