POSH Sale

A thrifter’s fantasy awaits at New York City’s annual Posh Sale, which supports Lighthouse International. Each year, this sale (now in its fortieth year) takes place for three days during spring, in a different hotel on the Upper East Side. Recently an offshoot Posh Sale has begun in Palm Beach, FL too, and that one takes place during the winter months.
The 2012 NYC Posh Sale took place at The Pierre Hotel, near Columbus Circle. When we arrived, 20 minutes prior to the sale’s start time, the line to get in already stretched down the entire block in front of The Pierre. There is an admission charge to get in. This year, it was $ 10, but we made fast friends with a couple of ladies in line, who had been coming to the sale since it started in 1972. We were able to take advantage of their special $ 5 entry rate. Who says New Yorkers aren’t friendly?
Once inside, it is every man for himself (or as is more often the case, every woman for herself) as a ballroom full of donated designer clothing is arranged according to type and size. A full range of options — from $ 10 blouses to $ 4,000 YSL fur coats — is available. There is also usually a selection of vintage outfits worn by a specific starlet or socialite, which are more like museum pieces than ready-​to-​wear, if you ask me, but seeing them up close and personal is pretty fun.
The packed scene in the ballroom is a harbinger of what awaits you in the dressing room, which is really a glorified closet that becomes a jungle of limbs and naked body parts (that don’t belong to you!), all thrown together and trying on their finds. Be forewarned, this is for women who are OK with stripping down in front of complete strangers in the name of high end fashion finds. There was a woman next to me trying on an Alexander McQueen navy dress. I resisted the urge to tackle her.
In the end, I emerged victorious from the Posh Sale, the proud owner of a vintage white Thierry Mugler pencil skirt and a great-​for-​everyday, body conscious red jersey dress from a Canadian designer.
And, one more item: the treasure find of the sale, a pair of glossy black, high heel Gucci riding boots in excellent condition, for $ 225. Mama mia! I think I started shaking as I took my first few steps with them on. I will have these boots forever; just as a colleague of mine who used to live in NYC has held onto a blouse purchased many, many Posh Sales ago, ever since. These are special pieces that you just never let go.
Now, we all know that’s not Salvation Army-​style pricing. But we also know that this season’s Gucci riding boots are $ 1,550.
SCORE.
For the Gucci boots; for the good cause; for the thrill of the hunt; for the wild and wonderful friends that you might make in line; for these reasons and more, the Posh Sale should be a stop on your fashion bucket list.

I found the sale to be just so-​so. Most of the stuff is very old (I’m talking SHOULDER PADS on everything old) and still quite overpriced. But hey, it’s for a good cause, and my friend did nab two pairs of very hot shoes, cheap.