10 Rules to Help You Flourish at a Sample Sale

Right before the holiday shopping season truly pops off, sample sales blanket major cities in an array of discounted designer goods and long lines that snake around showrooms and pop-up rental spaces. They offer a chance for shoppers to cop from big name designers at prices that have been incredibly reduced. Be warned, though; sample sale success may cause drug-like lapses in judgment and mental blackouts.

Even experienced shoppers can falter at these high-pressure sample sales, especially at the more popular ones. But armed with the right knowledge, a savvy consumer can absolutely prosper at these events. Whether this isn't your first rodeo or you're new to the scene, make sure to check out 10 Rules to Help You Flourish at a Sample Sale.

Early bird gets the worm, and the early shopper has their pick of the gear. Get started on the right foot by arriving on time, and you won't be wondering if they had exactly what you wanted. Remember that sample sales are not like a regular store that will re-stock something if your size isn't available, and it's not like you'll have a chance to cop a particular piece at another retailer. Once it's gone, it's gone. Also, if a sample sale is especially popular or the space that's hosting the event is miniscule, there's a chance that only a few people are let in at a time.

Since things go quick at sample sales, and they only last a brief period of time, you need to do everything you can to help you make a decision in the moment. If you wear clothes that will complement the type of gear that's being offered, then you'll have a better idea whether something will fit into your already-existing wardrobe.

What this means is, if you're heading to a designer sample sale that offers a particular aesthetic, wear like-minded stuff. For example, if you're hitting up a sale that's all blazers and hardbottoms, don't come through in your finest cozyboy 'fit. If the sample sale is all-goth-everything, don't come through in your toughest workwear. Wearing clothing that is complementary to what you might cop will give you a much better idea if something is actually worth the commitment.

Before you enter a sample sale, you should try to know exactly what you're going in for. You need a nice coat? Don't get distracted by the knits. Currently lacking in button down shirts? Keep that the focus. Is there a grail item from this particular season that you've always wanted, but never could scrap up the cash? That's the prize.

Yes, you don't know what will really be on sale until you literally get inside of the sale, but studying up on the season that's being offered along with a general knowledge of what the label has done means you can make an educated guess on what will be available for you to acquire.

Depending on how popular or how well-known a sample sale is directly affects the crowd size. Bigger crowds means a higher likelihood that the one piece you have to cop will be swiped by someone else. Generally speaking, once an item is in your hands, it's yours—at least until you put it back on the rack, which is why you should grab anything that strikes your fancy until you can't hold anything else. Once you have a good amount, you can try things on and then decide what you want to keep and what you want to put back.

Sometimes you instantly convince yourself that you need to cop something you spy, but before you pull out your wallet, take a step back and consider if you're copping for all the right reasons.

Is this garment something that would boost your personal style and last for a good amount of time in your rotation? Or are you only copping because you're in a "must-cop-now" frenzy and the price reduction is making you justify the fact that it's not a good size or even something you'd rock that often? Remember, just because the gear is discounted doesn't mean you're still not handing over your hard-earned cash.

Sample sales are great, and if you get the chance to cop expensive gear after a significant price cut, take it. But if you go in looking for limited releases, hyped collaborations, or high-selling popular gear, you're likely to be disappointed. At the end of the day, a sample sale is how the designer or brand unloads back stock and unsold units at the cost of production.

Don't expect the highlights of the season to be sitting idle on the racks (and if by chance those pieces are there, be prepared for the least popular sizes). Go in with the understanding that the most hyped pieces aren't likely to be there, and you're less likely to be disappointed.

It's very likely that you're going to come across something that you couldn't cop when it was in retailers and fall under a hypnotic spell that will make you think you have to cop by any means necessary.

Here's the thing though; a sample sale is generally selling, well, samples. These press and production pieces mostly come in a certain size, which is typically medium. To put it simply: Even if the low price is mind-boggling, if you don't fit into the item, don't cop. You don't want buyers remorse to set in once you emerge from the drug-like influence of the sample sale. Not only will you be out a few more bucks, but you're now stuck with a smedium piece that simply won't look good on you.

Sure, price slashing is going to be everywhere you look at a sample sale, but the relative discounts are going to be even bigger on a few genres. Generally speaking, shoes and outerwear are marked up heavily at retail, so when you see either at a sample sale, make sure to stop and check the tag. Big markups equate to big markdowns on the back end.

Some sample sales don't even allow it, but if you're are at a sale where you can try on your clothes, it's near impossible to have a place that has a section that's meant for fittings—much less an area that's private. We definitely recommend trying on your clothes before you make your final purchase, but you should be prepared to strip down in public when you do. Just do it; finding an amazing piece for stupid cheap is well worth a few seconds of being uncomfortable.

Shopping with your friends is usually a good thing; not only do you get to chill, but a good friend can save you from purchasing a brick. However, at a sample sale, that's just another body in the room, and another person to box you out from what you want. Depending on the crowds, there's not really a lot of time to discuss your purchases with anyone else, so any discussion may slow you down instead of refining your purchases.

Also, if your squad is filled with people who are the same size as you and with similar taste, then bringing friends is the same thing as bringing extra competition. Sure you may like having the camaraderie and assistance, but it's not uncommon to get into it with a friend when you both have your eye on a “must-have” piece. Save yourself the trouble: Shop quickly, and shop alone.