Why pay full price for designer clothing when we have Sample Sales!

Working again at London Fashion Weekend this September reminded me of how fantastic sample sales are and that there really is no need to pay top price for designer wear. We can all own unique items of clothing if we take the time to explore sample sales. There are so many around these days and I have listed a few of the main ones below to get you started.

London Fashion Weekend - this happens twice a year at the end of every Fashion Week in February and September from the Wednesday evening to Sunday afternoon. Best times to go are in the day on Thursday and Friday when it's not busy. Although the designers do start to discount their items on Sunday and you can often haggle a bit - but don't tell them I told you that! It has everything from designer swim wear to cashmere to beautiful jewellery and shoes! You will be able to get your tickets for the next one in February at www.londonfashionweekend.co.uk

Watch the clip to see me in action at Fashion Weekend!

Fashion Forward - this is a members only club, but well worth the £60 a year considering the discounts you get. They have various locations around London where they hold the sales in show rooms and sell over 50 designers that vary regularly. They are different from other sales as their samples are next season's and they are sold at 70% discount off retail prices in upscale central London showrooms, they take their members to places where the public cannot go. If you are interested they do allow guests to visit a sale to "try before you buy" membership. The website is: www.fashion-forward.co.uk


Secret Sample Sales - this is also a members club but it's free to join, you just have to sign up to their mailing list. Then they send you a members pass with the dates for their "secret" sample sales. They have sales at two to three month intervals at the Old Truman Brewery in Shoreditch and various other locations around London. They sell London's fashion designers and retailers to sell their studio, showroom or catwalk samples and clearance stock all at up to 80% discount from retail price. Click here for their site and a list of all the many designers they sell www.secretsamplesale.co.uk

Billion Dollar Babes - Billion Dollar Babes is an exclusive invitation only sample sale held in London, New York, LA, San Francisco and Chicago. It is huge and sells over 40 designer labels such as Vivienne Westwood, Marc Jacobs, Missoni, Sass and Bide, Agent Provocateur and Diane Von Furstenberg. You can either pay for membership and gain early access to the sales or go a day later and just pay to get in, which is £2 and goes to Fashion Targets Breast Cancer. Full details are on this site: www.billiondollarbabes.com