067: Black Friday won't wait for you any longer, it's here
Plus the SSENSE sale stages its triumphant return, and 85 other places to shop.
I woke up today buoyed by an unexpected sense of calm. I made tea, lit a candle, and sat down to several inboxes packed with little shopping rubies to polish and set in Magasin’s molten gold ore. It’s Black Friday week, and cut-throat commerce is ripping across the internet. But rather than be overwhelmed and try to squeegee the carnage into a controllable, containable puddle, I’m letting sale season’s vast ocean flow while I calmly dip my cup to catch deals as they dart past. This year’s shopping theme is: abundance.
From this vantage point, the SSENSE sale is like discovering an oil field in your backyard. After a week of Private Sale, the “public,” all-access sale is now live, with 558 pages of men’s deals, 509 pages of women’s deals, and 154 pages of Everything Else. What makes this legendary sale so good is that it doesn’t waste your time. The discounts are hot and the brands are covetable (see: all the Lemaire croissants and Margiela tabis on sale). And the items everyone seems to be on the buy for lately are at their best prices yet.
Take, for instance, the low-heeled, high-shaft leather boots on all of our lists—the By Far Edies have been “de-Private Sale-ized” and are selling for $462; the Margiela tall tabis are 30% off, as are The Row’s tall Towns; and affordable options from Paloma Wool and Justine Clenquet are under $350.
In outerwear, many loooooong, structured coats are imminently gettable: exquisitely sharp, black versions from Olenich and Our Legacy, a double-breasted grey melange style from The Garment, and (my favorite of the lot) this greige foldover from House of Dagmar. Superlative styles as follows: Best insulated is by Hope, best cardigan style is from By Malene Birger, best faux fur from Stand Studio, best leather-esque c/o Courréges, and best wild card goes to Chopova Lowena.
The next order of business is restocking our stalwarts. Predictably well-priced during this period, Jacquemus is ready with $150 logo-patch scarves and sexy knotted cardigans, $160 cardis with marginally more coverage, and well-proportioned $170 hoodies. Gil Rodriguez’s greatest hits are on sale, from its square-neck El Tigre cropped long sleeve and bodysuit to the sleek, mockneck Trinny catsuit and swingy Rey lounge pants, all for $150 or well under. And while each deserves deeper investigation, Lauren Manoogian’s pleated wool skirt, Baserange’s sheer Aroostook tee, Lisa Yang’s off-shoulder Gina top, and MNZ’s paneled Theo sweatshirt are among my faves from the brands.
But shifting our “tisms” from pragma- to drama- for a mo’, the SSENSE sale’s best deals are always on those perfectly outlandish pieces without which fashion might not be any fun at the end of the day. Not to say you need to sweep your closet and replace everything sensible, but are you really even living if you don’t every once in a while say fuck it for a Shushu/Tong lace sailor-collar jacket or some MM6 trompe l’oeil jeans? What about a Margiela padded shirt jacket (so good) or actually going for it with the Issey winding dress—or perhaps the turtleneck version? Without even spending that much money, you could be the one showing up to the party in a Fal-Ash dress or the Puppets and Puppets plate bag.
The outside-in shopping track means chasing the warm, cozy things that make us feel wonderful whether we leave the house or not. Wearing a Rus Ranpu balaclava is a way to make an entrance, but if you’d rather just never exit, this Georg Jensen ice bucket, Frama candle, and 40% off Visio throw are among the things that will make you succumb to being swallowed whole by your home.
The SSENSE sale is so dynamic it can feel like the only sale on the internet. But, of course, that’s not the case. Despite what’s in a name, Black Friday is already well underway on this otherwise unremarkable Tuesday, and Em and I have wrapped up the mess of sales in as neat a bow as we can tie, below. Shop the list, and keep an eye out for us in your inbox as more deals develop.
The best stuff, overall.
Net-A-Porter: Net’s sale caps at 50%, which is both higher and lower than some of the other sales found here. Still, it’s Net, so you know the merchandising is extremely competitive and the selection current. Of the 23,000+ items on sale, there are hundreds of pieces from Commission, The Elder Statesman, and its famously good buy of The Row.
Browns: These are fighting words, but the Browns sale might actually be better than SSENSE’s. In terms of luxury, at least, with brands like Balenciaga and Loewe ruthlessly marked down by up to 70%.
Saks: To be honest, Saks usually gives me a headache just browsing the site, but I always end up finding the deepest deals here, often by accident. The best advice I can give you is to narrow the sale results by designers, which is how I found Cecilie Bahnsen, Coperni, Lemaire, and Dries for 80% off (!!!).
Yoox: Say what you will about Yoox, but it’s one of the few places on the internet you can rely on to get on-sale Gucci, Prada, and Bottega. It’s current promo takes an 30% off already-discounted pieces.
Italist: Same goes for Italist, except that while Yoox offers up marked-down designer from years of yore, Italist’s cutthroat model delivers current season at often ludicrously low prices, and is often one of the only places to find certain pieces online whatsoever. Its FW22 collection is currently up to 60% off, and yes, it includes Prada.
Mansur Gavriel: MG’s 40% off sale event celebrates what’s most to love about the brand in the first place: color! Well, shape, too, and material and overall quality. There are lots of bags to take advantage of all these positive traits with, plus a bunch of cultish flats that will probably be the first to sell out.
J.Crew: Extending a 50% off discount with SHOPEARLY, J.Crew is clearly not playing around. Fair Isle sweaters for, like, $50, pricey-looking balaclavas for $35, and Weejuns-esque penny loafers are the way to go.
Delightful and surprising fashion sales.
Balenciaga: Balenci is…having a sale? It’s private (but can be found through this link), and goes up to half off, including parkas, logo tees, and fluoro heels.
Ganni: The Winter Sale is on and it cuts deep, up to half off on lug-sole boots, colorful sweaters, and flouncy dresses.
Bergdorf Goodman: Bergdorf’s Designer Sale—all 7,000+ items in it—goes up to 40% off and is more quick to discount bags and shoes than I’ve seen in other sales this week.
Verishop: This Black Friday preview sale goes up to 25% off with HOLIDAY22 and brings Instagrammy brands from apparel and beauty to home and beauty down to snatchable prices.
Martine Rose: Not advertised on the site, Martine Rose is running a covert sale that takes 20% off all AW22 with Martine20Rose.
Collina Strada: Another hidden-from-homepage sale, Collina Strada is extending 30% off a selection of items, some already marked down, with HOLIDAYSALE.
JW Anderson: From slinky, gorgeously off-kilter one-shoulder dresses to accessories knit with signature intarsia swans, there are many gems to be found up to 40% off.
Lisa Says Gah: Take 25% off LSG’s own designs as well as its well-curated selections from other beloved brands such as Dauphinette and Home of Hai with GAH25.
Madewell: Stock up on well-made tees and turtlenecks, plus jeans, cords, and fuzzy accessories to fill in your winter wardrobe gaps with a hefty 40% off most styles using OHJOY.
Shaina Mote: Take $35 off of orders over $250, $75 off $375, and $125 if your order tops $500 in Shaina Mote’s “Heirloom Sale” of simple, enchanting pieces made to last as long as you do.
The Arrivals: Take 30% off sitewide with PRIVATESALE until midnight tonight at this ~secret~sale~.
Simon Miller: Take 25% off SM items as advertised on the site, including the faux trim coat Doja Cat keeps wearing.
LCD: Shop an impeccable selection of brands with die-hard followings, from Eckhaus Latta to Pleats Please, with a 30% discount using THANKS30.
Mr. Larkin: Everything from the perfect (seriously) trench coat to delicately crocheted going-out tops can be found on Mr. Larkin right now—use MLBLACKFRIDAY for 25% off.
Shopbop: Some of the most coveted items of the year, maybe a JW Anderson Bumper Bag or some Loeffler Randall knee-high boots, can be found in Shopbop’s 25% off storewide sale using HOLIDAY.
Vince: Almost everything at Vince is 30% off with SAYHOLIDAY, including (and no, I still won’t shut up about it after a full year) the best cashmere turtleneck ever.
Gobi: This “ethical cashmere” brand (their words, we haven’t corroborated) is extending up to 70% off its nice-looking variety of knits.
Mia Vesper: Take 20-40% off dozens of kaleidoscopically gauzy pieces from the “Plissé” line in Mia Vesper’s pre-collection sale.
IAMGIA: 40% off storewide means no “going-out top” stone need be left unturned, with almost everything under $100 and many pieces under $50.
Mother: Mother’s comprehensive collection of denim in every cut, color, and rise you can imagine is up to 70% off, along with its more summery wares curated from other brands.
Luisaviaroma: Use BF40 for 40% off an overwhelming collection of over 10,000 full-priced designer goods—Coperni, Marni, and Paco Rabanne among them.
St. Roche: The fair trade and sustainability-oriented brand’s holiday sale is on, with Victorian-style high-necked blouses, adorable collared knits, and more for up to 50% off.
Hill House Home: With 30FORYOU, take 30% off the site’s array of tartan and velvet options, monogrammable knits, and holiday-ready headbands.
Wrangler: Pick up a pair of classic jeans with 30% off the site’s small but spot-on selection of denim offerings.
ASOS: ASOS is “warming up” for Black Friday with an edit of over 5,000 styles for up to 70% off—godspeed, all those brave enough to comb through for the gems.
La Ligne: The brand’s annual “Mercigiving” sale has many picks mercifully marked down by 50%, with plenty of dresses and knits around the $200 mark.
Anna Sui: One of the most genuinely fun sales of the season is Anna Sui’s, with rainbow tweeds, graphic knits, and more marked down up to 50%.
Fashion Brand Company: FBC’s unhinged clearance sale, with 50% taken off at checkout, includes some gorgeous pieces as well as less wearable stock such as a “Tampon Vest” and vinyl “Sex Cult Gown.”
With Jéan: Use WJBLACKFRIDAY at checkout for 30% off corsets, miniskirts, and other colorful wares to pair with tights or save for springtime.
Liberty: A one-stop shop with 30% off a selection of big-ticket designer garments and home goods, as well as 25% off a collection of beauty products from Biologique Recherche to Olaplex.
Kule: Kule’s first ever Black Friday sale is on, offering sturdy cardigans, colorblock puffer vests, and more, and with KULEYULE you can access its “buy more save more” deal for extra discounts.
Shoes and accessories, specifically.
Feit: Feit’s shoes have been around since well before the current garder-core wave, but they’ve never been more relevant at up to 50% off clogs, slippers, and more today.
Dear Frances: With all this boot conversation happening, DF’s 25% off sitewide sale with BF25 shouldn’t be overlooked.
Flattered: With BW at checkout, get early access to 15% off impeccably designed shoes, whether you’re looking for a ballet flat, knee-high boot, or loafer.
CamperLab: Early Black Friday lasts until the 23rd with up to 40% off some of the most unique shoes in the game, plus free shipping, using BF22.
Margaux: The week of Margaux’s sale has begun, and its array of rich-hued ballet flats is 20% off, as are many other styles of shoes and some excellent sock and slipper selections.
Labucq: Get 20% off everything on the site including lots of indestructible lug sole and platform styles.
LoQ: Similarly, take 30% off sitewide at LoQ with EARLY-ACCESS—personally, I love the Ema Mary Janes and Silvia boots.
Jack Erwin: Take 20% off orders greater than $200 with THANKS22—many sizes of Jack Erwin’s buttery-leather boots and satin mules are still available.
TKEES: TKEES’ Black Friday sale is divvied up into 25, 50, and 75% off shoes and clothes, the best deal being next summer’s (or this vacation’s) colorful flip-flops for less than 20 bucks.
Palladium: Take 40% off all footwear the Palladium site has to offer, ranging from gorp-y to rave-ready, with BLACKFRIDAY40.
Missoma: Pledge allegiance to the Missoma “family” (all it requires is an email address) to access 30% off its gorgeous, gift-ready jewelry before the deal opens up to the public on Friday.
Poppy Lissiman: Poppy Lissiman’s wildly textured and joyfully colorful accessories are 20% off all week with BFCM.
Pamela Love: PL’s hosting an early access sale—its biggest of the year—on the brand’s signature warrior-esque gold and silver-plated jewelry.
Susan Alexandra: Take 30% off the majority of Susan Alexandra’s site, a haven and a hub for jolly gifts.
Machete: Machete’s hair claws, sunglasses, jewelry, watch bands, and more are all 20% off this week.
Bonnie Clyde: Adopt some of Bonnie Clyde’s L.A. cool at its “once in a lifetime” annual sale with up to 60% off a selection of sturdy and chic sunglasses.
Varon: Enjoy 20% off the experimental, gender-neutral jewelry the designer describes as “glimpses of stardust forming part of our daily reality.”
Bagtazo: Using CLASSICS at checkout will get you 50% off the brand’s flagship styles of its candy-colored, artisanal hats; the Jagger, Pallenberg, and Turnstyle hats are all part of this deal.
Jiwinaia: Take an extra 20% off Jiwinaia’s sale section, consisting of gems sporting aliens and pearls adorned with “CBD/THC” motifs, using 20EXTRA20.
Studs: It’s the perfect time to fill out your “earscape” with Studs’ 30% off sitewide sale on earrings for any part of your lobe or cartilage.
Monica Vinader: The brand’s already-accessible luxury is made even more attainable with 30% off everything, most pieces ringing up under $100.
Plus underwear, swim, and athletics.
CUUP: As the new default place to get one’s underwear, CUUP’s sale is bound to be among the most shopped. Up to 60% off bras and knickers in a broad range of sizes.
Agent Provocateur: Running one of the best sales I’ve seen in a while, AP’s 30% off everything sale extends to its Outlet section, where 60% and up pieces are eligible for the extra discount with AP30.
The Great Eros: Buy one, get one half off at The Great Eros’ flash bra and underwear sale.
Sheertex: Stock up on rugged, snag-resistant tights for $35 or less a pair, “while quantities last.”
Etam: The French brand is offering its lingerie and pajamas for up to 50% off, with a choice to donate 10% of the discount to Solidarité Femmes.
Basic Swim: A default for unfussy bikinis in refreshingly pared-back cuts, Basic Swim’s streamlined collection is 40% off with BFCMS40.
Summersalt: Sort out your 2023 swimwear or pick up cozy lounge clothes with 30% off sitewide using THANKFUL.
youswim: youswim wants its customers to thoughtfully purchase its swimwear, which was all over Instagram last summer, so you have until the 28th to take advantage of the 25% “Thoughtnight” discount.
The North Face: The North Face is holding a 40% off sale on a selection of fleece, puffy, and protective gear, and XPLR Pass members can take 25% off full-priced items sitewide.
Sweaty Betty: Take 25% off athleisure gear that doesn’t sacrifice coolness for comfort using SBSAVE.
Girlfriend Collective: Cult-favorite Girlfriend Collective is offering 35% off everything, with up to 70% off select styles (think flowered crew socks for $7 and scrunchies made from recycled scraps for $3).
Outdoor Voices: As the site crows, “the early bird gets the endorphins” with 70% off select styles and plenty to be found under $30.
Nike: Get an extra 20% off styles on sale with BLACKFRIDAY for up to 60% off a solid selection of gear, including some best sellers and fan favorites like these sale-on-sale Air Max 97s.
Asics: Take 30% off almost everything Asics, debatably the superlative sneaker brand of 2022, with CYBER.
Beauty products to replenish and discover.
Moon Juice: Once mocked for its hippie mentality and high-priced powders, Moon Juice is now a non-negotiable part of many people’s mornings (and afternoons, evenings, etc.). Its well-formulated supplements and high-functioning skincare—Acid Potion and Plump Jelly are requisites in my routine—are 25% off across the board, while subscriptions are 30% off.
Heretic Parfum: My favorite alternative fragrance creator Heretic is hosting a tiered sale on its perfumes, candles, and bath products, starting at 25% off orders $75+.
Vegamour: Make sure all your hair (head, lashes, and brows) is well-maintained for the new year with 25% off all the vegan products on the site using 25FRIDAY.
Target: Though peering into the maw of Target’s BFCM sale is daunting, it may reward you with amazing finds—especially since this year, Ulta has its own subsection of the sale.
And the best home goods sales happening anywhere.
OffHours: Get 20% off the ultimate “Homecoat” (essentially a wearable duvet that doubles as a heavy-duty coat) with COZYFORLIFE and never leave your house again.
Our Place: With up to 30% off its entire collection of timeless kitchenware and the “cult favorite” Always Pan at its lowest-ever price, Our Place’s Black Friday sale is the excuse we all hoped for to toss our blackened, mismatched cookware.
Ghia: Ghia’s alcohol-free spritzes, aperitifs, limited-edition glassware, and Nutella-like Ghianduja are even more tempting at 20% off sitewide throughout the week, a discount founder Melanie Masarin even admitted meant they’ll barely take any profit.
Open Spaces: Chic and sturdy organizational tools are surprisingly delightful contenders in this year’s Black Friday sales, with up to 30% off gems that might look like actual gems but will store your cotton swabs.
Onsen: The brand’s signature lightweight waffle-woven material is available in bathrobe, hand towel, and bath towel form, all for 30% off this week. Getting towels in slightly cheaper sets of two will make the most of this deal.
Parachute: Enjoy 20% off everything in Parachute’s biggest sale of the year, from comfy gauze bathrobes to linen duvet covers–there’s a “sale best-sellers” guide if you’re not sure where to start.
Brooklinen: Take 20% off sitewide with BLACKFRIDAY until the 28th, with some especially good bundle deals if you need to completely revamp your bed linen situation.
Dusen Dusen: Everything on the site is 25-40% off including the brand’s beloved salt and pepper grinders, a multitude of towels for bath or beach, and a snuggly knit sweater.
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