Preview from the front: Tracy Reese

Michelle Obama fans have the fashion find of the year at the Tracy Reese sample sale. So will followers of Billboard winner Taylor Swift, who was one of the first to wear the red polka dot frock. If you're an individualist, head to the sample sale racks (many size 4s) where you can curate a look from original samples in cool colors and combos that weren't produced en masse. Even with sample sale counts that seem higher than pollen, this will be packed with fashionistas.

264 West 40th 9-7:30 -- For anyone who likes to make an entrance and eschews basic black.

/nancy brenner

Gilt.com vs.Tracy Reese

Does it always pay to shop with the herd?  Gaining entrance to the gilt.com Tracy Reese Frock! sale was harder than hailing a cab in an ice storm.  In under 10 minutes, goods are gone, and the sold out banner appears. The designer's own website offers Frock! dresses and will you see styles like Adison, Thea and Alena that are $10-$20 cheaper than gilt.com and still available.  Lesson learned - it pays to sleuth shopstyle.com for the best price and selection.

/nancy brenner

Fashion Week: Tracy Reese: Furs Flying - Pop an Antihistamine if You're Allergic

Black fur skirt, grey fox bolero, ivory fur vest, black fur coat, animal knit storm coat, ivory fur coat, and many more furs on the catwalk. Worth the Zyrtec.  Color addicts have options too: a jade fringed maxi slip, an antique gold cable sequins skirt and a rasberry ponte jacket.  A six week old week old baby boy bedecked in red and black bows bested me in the seating.  Not sure which designer he saw last night, but hope he enjoyed the show. A-listers included Julia Stiles and Gabrielle Union.

<3 Nancy Brener

Fashion Week: Tracy Reese Shoes

Roach killer heels in burgundy and black at Tracy Reese (bottom).

c/o nancy brenner

NM Last Call - Prices better than sample sales. And no shoving or stripping necessary.

After perusing the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book yesterday, checked out the new Last Call site today (which offered a 30% Columbus Day discount) and free shipping. Here's some of the discounts - Line Pella mini crossbody bag $61.60 - this brand is worn by starlets and a bag was just featured on the season opener of Courtney Cox vehicle "Cougar Town." A Plenty by Tracy Reese frock for only $42.00 and an on-trend fur pom pom scarf from blockbuster brand Adrienne Landau for only $35.00 in a choice of bright colors. Reasons to cheer.

Linea Pelle Veronica Perforated Mini Crossbody Bag, Pewter
Price $88.00
Promotional Offer (30%)
-$26.40
Promotional Price
$61.60

Plenty by Tracy Reese Lace-Overlay Frock Dress
Price $60.00
Promotional Offer (30%)
-$18.00
Promotional Price $42.00

Item: LCF11_T31FR
Adrienne Landau Rabbit Pom Pom Scarf, Red
Price $50.00
Promotional Offer (30%)
-$15.00
Promotional Price $35.00

~Nancy Brenner

Red Rules Runway

Juicier than a Jersey beef tomato were the rich reds on display at the Spring 2011 Fashion Coterie at the Javits Center. It's the color of confidence for Fall according to The Wall Street Journal recalling "Reagan Red" (Nancy, that is). Apparently Spring too. Rock red with a Shoshanna jacquard or select a twofer trend Tracy Reese frock of grossgrain faille for $378 (pictured) - red with sleeves staging a comeback!

~nancy brenner

Girly Girls with Great Gams Go to Tracy Reese: Report From The Front Preview

Today's To Do: DvF or Tracy Reese? Samples are $50 at Tracy Reese including current line pieces. Best buys are simply WOW dresses that retail for over $300, and some sparkly ones for over $400. Do your homework as one shopper eyed a leopard print dress online and was able to zone in on it faster than a New York minute on the sample sale racks (those tied with a bow). Sample sizes seemed smaller and shorter than usual and many shoppers tugged at zippers to try to make them fit. Recession weight gain or smaller sample size models? Note that Dillard's is having a fab sale on the lower priced, but equally original line, Plenty by Tracy Reese Carmen style priced at $52.50. Scope out dillards.com before you go and glimpse.com. Patient helpful staff and kudos to fellow shoppers who readily swapped dresses and offered picks that didn't suit their coloring or size.

~Nancy Brenner

What do Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and First Lady Michelle Obama have in common?

They've all been spotted wearing Tracy Reese. Now you can too - at sample sale prices. If you like bright colors and intricate designs be first on line at the Tracy Reese, plenty and frock! sample sale.

June 8-9
260 W. 39th Street
Between 7th and 8th Avenues

Tuesday, June 8: 9am-7pm
Wednesday, June: 9am-7pm

Thanks to Nancy Brenner for the tips!

Tracy Reese: Extra Dressing, Please

Straight from Daily Candy: Extra Dressing, Please

REPORT FROM THE FRONT: TRACY REESE

Nancy Brenner...how does she do it?

Is your version of the LBD really fuchsia? Find funky frocks for $50 or $35 at the sample racks at Tracy Reese. These people know how to throw a true "sample sale" on a day when it feels like every showroom on Seventh Avenue in Soho and Chelsea Markets have swung open their doors - pre-empting the Black Friday sales.

Spotted at today's Friends and Family a shocking pink spots cardi retailing for over $200- here $50. That "stars" dress that Paris Hilton wore to the David Letterman show - skirt version for $50. A ruffled strapless dress in purple for $35 - bargain basement! Ladies line up early, especially if you're the lucky sample size for Tracy Reese, Frock and Plenty. Just please ban men from the mirrors!

260 West 39th Street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenue - 5th Floor
9-7 Thursday and Friday

Report from Cynthia Steffe Sample Sale

From the Guerilla Shopper's Guerilla Shopper, Nancy Brenner:

Let me tell you about the fabulous Cynthia Steffe sample sale - I bought five items for $75 including a black patent leather jacket that still had the $550 tag hanging from it and the dress was $265 from the holiday collection. It will be a holiday for me next year when I rock this $15 frock! These are not recession prices. These are depression prices. There were tons of people on line waiting to get in this morning - even in the torrential rain and the women were hemming and hawing about hitting Tracy Reese, Catherine Malandrino, the Spade sale, etc. It was one of the most hectic sales I've ever been to - hardly anything except for coats and leather was more than $25. Women walked out with whole wardrobes. The mirror situation was tight - only four and hard to find - hogged over by a few women - as is usually the case in these situations. Two were totally hijacked by groups of friends or frenemies and acted as if they brought the mirror with them to the sale - you know the type. Again, if you are the sample size, go to the sale in-person, otherwise hit the Gilt Group one online.

A report from the front (To sample sale online or brick and mortar?)

Another re"tale" provided by the prolific Nancy Brenner:

I feel like I won the sample sale lottery last night. I must report that I snagged the Michelle O cover of People Tracy Reese pink eyelet kimono for a mere $50 at a garmento sample sale . It retailed for $395. A true sample sale price. Only the week before, Gilt, where I have a credit following an errant purchase, had an online sale and I compared the wares. Many of the items I saw at the sample sale were also online, but at substantially higher prices. Why shop online? If you're not a sample sale size, you may be better off buying online where you know you can get your size in 30 secs without the hassle and hustle of getting there in person. And even though sample sales are starting earlier (a good number now at 8 am and some open until 9 pm - formerly unheard of), it may still be hard to get to given your work schedule, parenting or social commitments since it's almost summer (even though it feels like a London fog one at that). If you're an out-of-towner, online still works unless you want to use your vacations for mini-shopping trysts to New York for sample-sale packed weeks like this one where you can catch Shoshanna, D&G, Catherine Malandrino, etc..... The deals online are still good compared to full-on retail and hand to hand combat at Berdgdorf's, but they are not steals compared with brick and mortar. And the shoes were a mere $45 - why don't they start the line with a size 5? Petite feet need to be shod too! Even men were snapping them up, presumably as gifts. I've noticed way more many men at women's sales - without any women in tow - are they shopping for themselves, a girlfriend, or to flip it on eBay? And please stay away from the dressing rooms! Readers, what say you on online versus in-person?

Big Drop Warehouse Sale: Jan 18-20

What: Big Drop Warehouse Sale

When: Friday, January 18th to Sunday, January 20th; 10a.m. to 8pm

Where: Open House Gallery: a socially and environmentally responsible venue 201 Mulberry street between Kenmare and Spring streets

Payments: Cash and all major credit cards. Minimum charge $100, otherwise, cash only

Featuring apparel from Seven Jeans, Citizens For Humanity, Paige Denim, Mara Hoffman, Tracy Reese, Rebecca Taylor, Edun, Young Fabulous and Broke, YA- YA, Development and more…

Some price examples:
- Seven Jeans were $205 now$49 to $59
- Citizens for Humanity Jeans: were $192 now $49 to $59
- Development: cotton voile v-neck dress with silk trim was $360 now $99
- Edun: Striped blazer was $345 now $99
- Rebecca Taylor: Wool coat was $548 now$159