There was really only one thing we were hoping to find at the
Paul Smith Sample Sale. We don't actually
need anything, but we've had our eyes on the boots he has been making in conjunction with
Triumph Motorcycles for a few seasons now. Somehow we always seemed to miss the Sample sale, so this seemed like the rare chance to maybe find some. We like to call this activity "looking for something we don't really expect to find". Of course, there are plenty of things from Paul Smith we would be happy to have, and as it turned out there was lots to choose from in the big room at Chelsea Market. We got there a couple hours later than we had planned, so after waiting in a short line (with two jabbering people behind us) we entered the chaotic sale. Vaguely half the room was devoted to men's and the other half to women with a central section featuring books and home items. Organizationally it was kind of a mess, with some shoes over here, a bunch over there, and a larger section in the back obscured by the long checkout line running the perimeter of the room. People were enthusiastically filling their arms with goods. The Chelsea location was well chosen for their target customers. Even celebrated dandy Patrick MacDonald
was seen surveying the choices. Prices were listed at up to 75% off, but as everything was priced by category, they often ran less. Suits were only $250 maximum, so practically everything was truly a bargain. We saw no boots, but we found a beautiful floral print shirt for $50 (originally $420), and a pair of brown ankle boots for $75 (probably around $400 originally). But then we looked at the line, and our
Sample Sale Rules kicked in, mainly the one that asks, "Will you use it?" which implies "Do you
need it?"
And we had to think...well...no. And more importantly we didn't want to wait in the line that had by that point completely encircled the room. We reminded ourselves that there was no shame in leaving empty-handed, and comforted ourselves that we had saved $125, as we put the shirt and shoes back. Someone else will want them more than we did.
But then our Sample Sale Radar kicked in, and on a final pass before we left, we spotted the last pair of Triumph motorcycle boots, hiding in a corner near the women's shoes. In our size. In record time we figured out how to fit the $75 expenditure into our slim budget. We got in line. We nearly lost our mind as we were in front of three girls who wouldn't stop loudly chattering to each other or on their phones in a variety of languages, none of them English, but we managed to get to a Zen place, and after nearly an hour (seriously,
go early) we made it to the checkout table, where our appropriately British cashier told us, "You got some great boots, mate. For $75!"We'll take validation from whoever wants to offer it.
Paul Smith Sample Sale through 3/3/07Friday 11-7, Saturday 11-4Chelsea Indoor Market, 75 9th Avenue at 16th Street
