045: The SSENSE sale's triumphant return

Decoding 613 pages of mark-downs.

The prediction I made last week that the SSENSE sale would return June 6 turned out to be nearly a whole month shy. But I'd rather be happy than right!

As of 8am today, the recently rolled-out Private Sale expanded to non-members as thousands more items join the discounts.

I know where my link clicks lay, so let's start with the trifecta:

Jacquemus, Lemaire, and Maryam Nassir Zadeh. A bunch from all were discounted as soon as the PS opened, but as I griped then, the selection was too fall/winter to merit shopping hysteria of the buy-now-wear-now creed. Now, the selection has expanded marginally, but I’m going to level with you—it’s not outstanding.

From Jacquemus, five pages of minis, bralettes, even some architectural earrings I hadn't seen previously. Also found, some obligatory below-the-knees for the year's innumerable upcoming weddings. But a lot of what we’re being served is the missed-mark Le Montagne collection, so there are a lot of ill-sitting camping details to reckon with.

The Lemaire Croissant bag is an obvious highlight (or the coin purse if you’re feeling teensy), but a lot of the offerings have been through the SSENSE sale cycle already—twisted blouses and shirts, knits, second skin items. They’re lovely, but they’re not anything new. The best gets this round are the shoes, like this pair of babouches and these d’Orsays.

Maryam also feels a bit thin, although I’ve just about convinced myself to add one of these organza bags to my order, and this strappy, tan top is a really sexy idea… I just wish there was more.

Coming for their thrones is a good mix of new and familiar names.

Polish brand Fal-ash, which I’m begging Megan Thee Stallion to wear, makes photogenic party clothes with inventive drapes and excellent colors—think Christopher Esber for the club meets Dion Lee for the gym. As an emerging brand its prices are already competitive, but on sale they’re a fantastic get. This is the dress that’s in my cart if you want to buy it out from under me.

Speaking of which! All the classic, sexy, fashion-as-cosplay pieces from Dion Lee are a great opp during the sale. Corset-ish tanks, holey dresses, things with complicated sleeves—they’re in the $100-to-$400 range mostly.

Nensi Dojaka swimwear and sheer things still aren’t exactly cheap, but they are exactly a moment in the making. Another moment, Aya Muse, tends towards lower price points, as well as a bit more stretch and coverage where it counts. Also in this vein, Miaou’s corsets, crops, and ultra-low-rise can be found below $200, even $100, apiece.

Justine Clenquet has blessed us with a whole new batch of things to buy on sale, especially jewelry for under $100, but also of course her excellent shoes, too. These earrings and these Cagole-esque sandals are my picks.

A new French brand, Vaillant, is doing great things with lace, but not how you’d expect to see it—asymmetrically across swimwear, in new iterations of the nude undershort, and barely hanging off a pair of leather pants, for instance. This skirt might be the umpteenth sheer one I buy this season, but really! There’s nothing like it!

Toteme’s whole sale page is ssinging (a type-o, but I left it) today. For instance: the perfect pale yellow trousers, the perfect dinner party dress, the perfect detailed black tank, and even though it’s off-season, the perfect cream leather pants.

Meanwhile Julia Heuer’s small-but-powerful selection’s prices are as zazzy as its prints, her pleated designs as if in direct dialogue with Issey Miyake over a glass of natural wine.

Ottolinger has a wealth of great pants (s/o Isioma for the high alert message!), cross-cross waist jeans and suit trousers, plus complicated strappy tops and bodysuits to go with them.

Everybody loves J.Kim, and this sale is in step. Even if you have no use for the puffer jacket now, you can still get these nylon pants or other flower-motif tops that won’t lay dormant in your closet.

The Garment, which I wrote about a couple sends back, is further proving its inevitable ubiquity this summer by being even more affordable. How about that! If you don’t fall for the oddly wearable crochets, you’ll certainly feel something for these itty bitty shorts 🥺

Oh, and just about every Coperni bag you can imagine (although not the glass one) is on sale.

Some brand sale pages require some mining.

Acne Studio’s sale skews FW, but in the mix there is summer gold! This adorable nubbly vest, the white version of my oilcloth tote, and a “denim” silk dress that’s even more astounding in person.

If you were ever going to go for Peter Do’s sleeved tank set (or just the tank), now’s as good a time as ever do it, though this polo might reasonably get more wear.

And then we have the breakout stars.

A JW Anderson knitted tote—for under $300, mind you—is about as much fun you can have with a work bag, in whatever color suits you best. Just a suggestion!

Not to say the rest of Paula Canovas Del Vas’ sale selection isn’t good, but I audibly gasped when I saw these devil-tongue heels, which, oddly enough, are the polar opposite of another standout shoe for me—these Repetto lifted ballet flats that have a slightly higher rise than usual, and it honestly just rocks my world.

I could die of old age listing all of the Ganni on sale right now, but I will call out one piece: these recycled polyester trousers with the perfect balloon-shaped legs. Wearable in literally every way! You know me, I’d add a black heeled sandal, maybe a Prada flip-flop. In my minds eye, I’d pair with a brown blazer, of which I have a million, but if I did not, I’d buy this one from Remain Birger Christensen.

There actually is a lot to choose from with Ellis, but in the midst of a Gautier-assaince and following that Kylie Balmain dress, I’m choosing to focus on just this body-print one-piece swimsuit that’s begging for a sheer skirt moment (my fixation! I’m sorry!) for going out and feeling hot. Also for partying or birthdaying: this Cormio pink number.

From Egg House Latke, I keep circling back to this one cardigan that can be de- and re-constructed in a hundred ways, maybe even snapped into other pieces of theirs. Similarly, this zip-happy Mackage trench coat has sprung to the top of my list for a tan trench (I’m in the market for one to complement my navy Burberry).

Lastly, this Vivienne Westwood dress, which literally disappears from the site until it reappears for every sale. At the opening of this here SSENSE sale season, our face-off begins anew.