289: The slept-on-est sale
A Bally weekender bag for nearly $1,000 off is coming home with me.
Powered by Saks/Collective Voice
A common refrain from Magasin HQ has been that the Saks sale is even better than it gets credit for. Over the years, I’ve found some of the best deals on many of my favorite pieces, and while the instinct to gatekeep did sweep over me ahead of writing this piece, the fact of Saks’ Fall Sale officially launching made it a hard truth to bury given that this is a shopping newsletter.
I think the reason the deals get so good—currently advertised as up to 40% off, though when you dig you find that percentage reaches far deeper—is that Saks actually carries a ton of brands you wouldn’t expect it to. Perhaps its typical shopper doesn’t know what to do with Greg Lauren, Ralph’s nephew’s brand with 18 items on sale, or Winnie New York, an under-the-radar label I recently fell back into from the trenches of an Instagram rabbit hole (7 pieces included in the sale).
Saks’ bread and butter is also thankfully included in generous volumes: Greg’s kin Polo Ralph Lauren has a sweeping 1,364 items currently marked down (the barn coat! the skirt!), making Burberry’s 211 look almost quaint (these suede boots are insane…and somehow over 60% off???).
There’s a lot to sift through. 52,000+ items, in fact. Here’s where I tell you I did the searching for you, but really these are just the 15-ish pieces I’d ultimately buy. Nothing beats getting into the muck yourself.
Obligatory (yet agreeable) inclusion of these Leset pants, seeing as I’m wearing a pair right now, $182 $260; a more day-to-day tank version of the twist-back Proenza dress I let get away (also on sale), $474 $790; my beloved Little Liffner Banana Bag, in black suede (also linen and brown leather), $431 $575; a Lemaire suit (pants are $623 $890, jacket is $833 $1,190) I’d wear everywhere—airplane, errands, meet the parents, etc; a Margiela dress reminding us who did suiting deconstruction first, and arguably best, $1,330 $1900.
Remember that Co knit top I spotted on my Uptown trawl to Saks a few months ago? It’s finally on sale, $417 $695; this urgently great Bally weekender bag was hiding in the men’s section—I am dangerously close to owning it, $1,925 $2,750; this Issey dress is exactly what I mean when I say I’ll be wearing the brand a lot come spring, $547 $1,370; I swear this Lemaire mini Gear bag only launched under a month ago and it’s already generously discounted thanks to Saks’ witchcraft, $472 $675; an atypical trench with a “twist” that doesn’t render it any less wearable…Margiela, of course, $2,051 $2,930.
A very lovely suiting-fabric trench from Lemaire (this post is a bit of a love letter to the brand and a perfect example of what’s being slept on at Saks’ sale), $959 $1,370; finally, shoes! Coral Manolos I once tried on and have never stopped thinking about, $529 $1,325; Gabriela Hearst heels also from my Saks inspo trip, $805 $1,150; I have these Co flats in a fabulous two-tone colorway but have decided I need them in black, too…the shape! $417 $695; and did you know Saks carried Charvet? Saved me a trip to Paris and it’s on sale, $322 $645.
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I do think it's important to note, though, that their return situation has been an absolute nightmare for consumers lately. I bought and ultimately returned those coral Manolos on sale this summer and they exceeded their refund timeframe to the point I had to get Amex involved. That was back when they promised a refund within 14 business days of receiving your returned item. I believe that has been bumped to 30 days or more, which I think is pretty egregious for a "luxury" retailer.
I loved the Saks sale until they sent me a blatantly fake item that they comically refused to accept as a return three times. I finally got my money back after getting my credit card involved. Search Saks on TikTok and you’ll find plenty of stories like mine from the last few years.