Anyone who lives in Tribeca and sees a flock of flannel-shirted hipsters heading towards Franklin Street before the hour of 9 a.m. knows this can mean only one thing: there's a Steven Alan sample sale going on. This morning marks the start of the bi-annual event, featuring markdowns as high as 75 percent off clothing and accessories from Alan's eponymous collection, as well as a slew of our other favorite designers: Geren Ford, Ulla Johnson, Sessun, Sunshine & Shadow, and Acne, just to name a few.
We got a quick peak of the setup and merchandise yesterday and while the rules and format are pretty much the same: wait in line, get inside, check everything—coat, bag, umbrella, bike helmet—and then dive in. Per usual there's no bringing merchandise between floors (you have to pay separately on each floor), which can seriously hinder your acumen for editing down purchases, however this year there's one big change: Steven Alan's namesake goods are all downstairs, while the majority of the other lines he carries are racked upstairs on the ground level. That said, if you're looking for Alan's signature plaid shirts, striped sweaters and the like, make a beeline for the basement.
We spotted Acne jeans starting at $35, women's blazers for $25 and coats marked at $249. Soft buttery gloves—cozy on the inside for winter—were stacked high and priced at $65, while a handful of Claire Vivier's coveted leather totes were reduced to $99. We'd also like to note that anyone who's a fan the Sunshine & Shadow and its awesomely-colored, vivid prints might want to grab what they can. The label's last collection was summer 2010.
87 Franklin Street: November 18-21; Thursday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
