Lucky Shops Makes Designer Treasures A Reality for Fashonistas

When Lucky Magazine premiered, it was a unique treat showcasing "finds" fashionistas might otherwise have overlooked from traditional outlets, boutiques, retail, and online shops. Shoppers, rejoiced! Now, the well established Lucky Magazine is a 'must-have" for fun reading every month, and to find treasures throughout the United States!

Each year, Lucky Magazine also hosts LUCKY SHOPS, a discount shopping event Held at the Metropolitan Pavilion, a popular event space for sample sales and fashion week runway shows, eagerly anticipated and always sold-out event makes the pages of Lucky Magazine come to life.

The two-day extravaganza attracts women of all ages who (for a small fee) are able to purchase fashion items from some of the most high-end designers, with price-tags that bring these items into the realm of reality for non-celebrities and millionaires.

For the 2008 show, tickets were just $20.00 and included a free subscription to Lucky Magazine (a $12.00 value). A Thursday night VIP Shopping Party ticket was available for $250 with a bonus VIP gift bag (worth over $500). If anyone was feeling mildly guilty about spending money to spend money, it was good to know that a portion of all ticket sales and select merchandise sales go to a charity. This year, the beneficiary was the Robin Hood Foundation. Since 1988, Robin Hood has targeted poverty in New York Cit, offering programs to help those in need.

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Like every intrepid bargain hunter, I can't wait to get in and see what's for sale! Long before the doors open for Lucky Shops, eager shoppers line up to be first in line to snag the hottest bargains hoping from dozens of designer labels at more than 50% off. However, unlike many sample-type sales, Lucky Shops seems to bring out the best, not the worst, in people. They venue is huge, and there is plenty of stock for everyone. The aisles are wide, and the atmosphere is charged with positive, high energy. It never feels "frantic" and I didn't see anyone grabbing or pushing.



Once inside, well marked aisles offer a "candy store" of designer treasures. This is not budget basement shopping, but for those with just a little cash who want something really stupendous they might not have been able to justify at full retail, it's a fabulous opportunity. The items are current or almost so (not more than a season past). It's easy to get carried away when you spy an $600 handbag for $300....just make sure you stay within your budget!



Within minutes of opening, shoppers at Lucky Shops are off and running, amassing quantities of blue and orange (and re-useable) Lucky Shops bags. One example a good deal is the black, jeweled, Charlotte Ronson sweater jacket in the photo above (it comes with a patent leather belt, too) worn by salesperson, Jessica. It was just $60.00 ( Charlotte Ronson sweaters routinely sell for over $200).




Another extremely popular feature is the Lycra denim bar with a large selection of designer jeans and an on-the-spot hemming service (jeans pickup in 30 minutes)!



I loved the multi-colored gold from Alex Woo, and I found funky earrings from boutique designer Bing Bang discounted from $85.00 to $25.00 (and lower), and the popular, online designer discounter, Bluefly's area featured high-end Prada, Gucci (and more) for less than their usual prices. The Robin Hood Foundation's area was selling new and "gently used" and new items. I saw Manolo Blahnik, Prada and even Ferragamo shoes for $50.00-$100 (let someone else have the painful work of breaking them in for you). For a fashionista, this type of "find" is akin to Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex and the City visiting the famous, Vogue closet!

Lucky Shops past vendors, offering up to 70% off, include: 7 For All Mankind ,Alex Woo ,Alice + Olivia , ,Andrea Brueckner , Benefit Cosmetics , Bing Bang , Bluefly.com , Botkier ,Charlotte Ronson ,Conscious Jewelry by Danna Weiss ,Corey Lynn Calter ,Cynthia Rowley ,Devi Kroell ,Dooney & Bourke ,Dr Martens ,Earnest Sewn ,Ed Hardy ,Eskell ,Foley + Corinna ,Garnier ,Gerard Yosca Jewelry ,Geren Ford ,Golden State ,,Hanky Panky ,Havaianas ,J Brand ,Jill Stuart ,Jonathan Adler ,Kate Spade ,Keds ,Kerrigan/ Daryl K ,Kooba ,Lauren Wolf Jewelry ,Lee Angel ,Lizzie Scheck ,Lorelei ,Lyell ,Mara Hoffman ,Miguel Ases, Inc. ,Milly ,MINT ,Jodi Arnold ,Miss Sixty ,Nicholas K ,Nine West ,Onitsuka Tiger ,Paddywax ,Prada, Vavra ,Page Sargisson ,Plaza Too ,Rachel Comey ,Rachel Pally ,Rafe New York ,Rebecca Minkoff ,Rebecca Taylor ,See by Chloé ,Shelly Steffee ,Shoshanna ,Sonia by Sonia Rykiel ,TDM Design ,Tevrow + Chase ,The Pink Slip ,Theory Women ,Theory Men ,Theory Accessories ,Thread Social ,Tous ,Tracy Reese ,Twinkle by Wenlan ,Vena Cava ,Vera Wang Lavender ,Zero + Maria Cornejo .....just to name a few.....


..but .not everything is for sale. Some offerings are free, such as free skin consultations and complimentary products from Garnier....

....and raffles and contests such as this one at the Ed Hardy fragrance table where you could spin to win an Ed Hardy tote bag (really cute) with purchase....

...and to keep you from fading before you've shopped till you've dropped, complimentary non-alcoholic beverages and light snacks are also available.



When you're ready to purchase an item, the well-run cashiers station make the task, easy. In the two years I've covered Lucky Shops I've never seem mass mayhem and long lines at the very busy checkout stations. Find the items you want, and you get a chit/check for them, while they are stored in a re-useable, fabric, Lucky Shops tote bag . Take the chits for your purchases (within one hour, or they go back into circulation) to any of the cashiers, pay, and take the receipt back to the booth(s) to pick up your items, already packed and ready to go!

If you missed this year's Lucky Shops, you won't want to miss the next one! Visit http://www.luckyshops.com/ for more information.

copyright 2008 all photos and text, alison blackman dunham No portion of this content may be used or copied without permission to advicesisters(at)advicesters(dot)net