Sample Sale-ing in Paris

Who got up early last Thursday to check out The Outnet's 1$/1£ birthday sale? Many of my friends and some fellow bloggers did - and the verdict was unanimous: it sucked. Of course since most people didn't end up with a purchase, it was to be expected.. But while I only logged on five times (a half hour late mind you) only to be greeted with a time out screen or 'we're sorry' messages and finally the actual homepage two hours later (by then the 'sold out' stickers were plastered on almost every item), I was still frustrated. I hadn't waited up the whole night nor set my heart on scoring anything, but this experience made me realize that as much as I adore online-shopping and the convenience or occasional great deals it comes with - when we're talking big sales, I might actually prefer the 'real life' version... this coming from someone who hates queues and crowds. And as fate had it, three hours later I ended up heading to two old-fashioned sample sales by Maison Martin Margiela and Givenchy - where the experience was so completely different to the online one, I felt like doing a comparison post.

The very frustrating apology screen that greeted customers on The Outnet's UK site during the birthday sale (above) and the dreaded pink 'sold out' stickers that popped up within seconds of entering the sale.

This isn't going to be a rant about The Outnet, because to be honest, we all know this event was more like a lottery that was meant to increase their PR and global brand recognition. But I can't help feeling that every time there is a great online sample sale, whether it's on Gilt or HauteLook... your chances of getting the item you want are based on pure luck, sometimes dependent on server speed and the retailer's bandwidth to name a few.

Yesterday's Decades Two sale on HauteLook... 1 minute after logging on. The best stuff from Chloé or Bottega Veneta was already on hold.

This is how I've experienced the average 'coveted' online sample sale - i.e. the one that doesn't just sell junk or steak knives: you eagerly anticipate the start time of the sale by sitting in front of your computer and nervously clicking the refresh button every two seconds (make that one second if it's your favorite designer). The sale opens and you click to enter. Sometimes the server crashes or takes too long to load, in which case nervous refreshing is in order again. You're in the sale, find an item you love, put it in your shopping cart and check out (ideal situation). More often than not, you are greeted with 'sold out', 'on hold' stickers or depending on the retailer (Outnet and Yoox work this way sometimes), it's in your cart and you're told when checking out, that the item isn't available. In even worse cases, you've checked out and are informed days later the product is no longer in stock (Barneys and Harvey Nichols, I'm looking at you). Annoyingly enough, while online sales allow even those in the furthest corners of the world the possibility to shop great brands for cheap, going up against a global population of online shoppers means the competition is that much stiffer.

Gilt's Marc Jacobs handbag sale early this week. Five minutes after logging on, half the items were sold out.

Of course regular offline sample sales aren't necessarily better. In fact, nothing can evoke as much dread and excitement at the same time, as the mere mention of a sale. Think sample sales, and chances are these images will pop into your head:

As demonstrated by Isla Fisher in 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' - sample sale mania, starting with the ridiculously long queues (top), crowds surging towards the entrance (middle) and grabbing random items you see (bottom).

To an extent, those images ring true. I once witnessed a woman literally throw herself on a table of Stella McCartney shoes during a sample sale in London, in order to secure her must-have item (I'm sure she almost broke a rib). I can't say I've seen women fight over dresses and bags, but I'm certain it happens (wedding sample sales are supposedly the worst). Generally there's a lot of queuing involved, you end up getting there well in advance to secure a spot, you wildly put anything remotely interesting in your shopping bag, strip down to your undies in the middle of the room to try stuff on and wait even longer at the cash desk.

The fight scene: Isla Fisher aka Becky Bloomwood wrestling another shopper for a pair of Gucci boots.

However, I've found Parisian sample sales to be incredibly tame - with the exception of the Hermès bi-annual event which involves queuing for 4 hours and where eBay sellers with empty suitcases form half the line (thankfully I have never felt the need to go to this). Last year, I already posted about how refreshingly normal the seasonal sales in Paris are. Sample sales are pretty much the same. For both Margiela and Givenchy, I showed up on the first day of sales, one minute before doors were supposed to open. There were long queues but I only waited in line for 15 minutes. Once I got in, I was surprised by how empty the place looked, even though there were plenty of shoppers there. I started browsing - I was never pushed or shoved. Girls who wanted to browse my section of the clothes, would wait patiently until I was done. I tried on a few pieces, proceeded to the cash desk where I waited for another 10 minutes. I was in and out of each sale within an hour and it was probably the most relaxing shopping experience I could have had.

The venue: ranging from grand and majestic at Fendi (left, please note the lack of queues) to a loft warehouse for Vanessa Bruno (right).

Queues can of course be more or less horrid - last year I waited for two hours to get into Maje (which is merely a high street brand) and waited one minute to get into Fendi, but the actual shopping experience has always been the same: fellow Parisians respect you and don't feel the need to push or snatch away a dress that's right in front of your nose. The staff is generally very helpful. Margiela SAs running around in white lab coats would tell me which season each item was from and were kind enough to double-check the prices of the pieces I was planning on buying (a black dress and a grey cardigan).

Neat and organized: racks of clothes during a Chloé sample sale (left) and the coveted Vanessa Bruno totes categorized by color (right).

The best thing about 'real' sample sales though? They're straightforward. You know that even if you're last in line, chances are, not everything will be sold out by the time you enter the venue. If you're first in line (or on time), you'll definitely get in. Show up on the second day and chances are you won't even have to queue. Once you're in, you won't see 'sold out' stickers on clothes you may have wanted. If you have something in your shopping cart... it's pretty much yours and no one else can take it away. You get to see the clothes, try them on (albeit in a very public setting) and most importantly... take your time deciding whether you want something or not. And when you've finally checked out... the item is definitely yours and you're spared the whole ordeal of credit card authorization or cancelled orders.

Racks of YSL goodies and Kris van Assche gowns at a multi-designer sample sale.

Best of all? There's always a camaraderie going on with fellow shoppers, both during the wait outside and while browsing or trying on clothes. The most fun I had during these two sales was seeing girls and guys try on the craziest Margiela pieces or watch them attempt to walk in even more outrageous studded Givenchy heels. It's nice to see someone stand in front of a mirror with a glow in her eyes after having found the perfect LBD or hear squeals of delight when a shopper finds a pair of strappy platforms in her size for 90% off.

The Maison Martin Margiela sale I went to last week... taken 20 min after doors opened. Yes, it really was that spacious, with pieces dating back to 2007. The top floor catering to menswear (top right) and the relatively short queues at the cash desk (bottom right).

Am I saying online sales are worse? No, because I've scored great items both on- and offline. But I am saying that if you're lucky enough to have sample sales going on in your area and are terrified of the idea... to give them a chance. They're not all as bad as they're cut out to be. And if you're in Paris, depressed by the prices of designer goods but wanting to look as chic as most of the locals (who rarely pay full-price anyway), then definitely check them out. Despite being the fashion capital of the world filled with hardcore style addicts, Parisian shoppers are very well-behaved. The experience can be more fun than browsing overfilled department stores buzzing with tourists.

So what's your verdict on sample sales or sales in general? Online? Offline? Or would you rather spare yourself the stress and just shop at regular prices? Do tell!