I subscribe to Gilt. Not "guilt" in the traditional sense (although I do have some of that running through my veins), but "Gilt" the invite-only sample sale website out of New York. Each day Gilt updates their inventory with amazing designer deals, and then sells them during designated time slots. Subscribers are alerted when each sale begins, and you "fight" online to get the item you want! When the items sell out, they are gone forever.
First and foremost, I am extremely jealous that I was not the wonderbrain behind this idea (the founders are two savvy fashionistas, Alexis and Alexandra), and secondly... I probably am insane for not stopping these daily sample sale alerts from coming into my inbox while I am on this shopping hiatus. I have a fear (most likely an irrational one) that if I close my Gilt account I will never be allowed back to shop. This may be a discussion I need to have with my therapist, but in the meantime I will continue to subscribe.
I must confess that I used their services before the holidays to buy my sis-in-law a Carlos Falchi evening bag. I saw the bag and thought that someone needed to own it, even if it wasn't me, so I ordered it as a Christmas gift. Other notable sample sale "heart breakers" have included CC Skye (my favorite L.A.-based jewelry designer), Rebecca Minkoff, William Rast, and well, the list goes on. And on. And on.
Am I suggesting that you, too, try and join this madness? Honestly, I don't know. What I do know is that with Gilt you can still try to buy consciously and thoughtfully (albeit with a ten minute time limit in your cart before the merch goes back into circulation) and there are great deals to be had. Often in a traditional sample sale there are zero returns (Gilt will let you exchange) and there can be a tendency to "impulse buy" based on fear. And by "fear" I am talking about that moment when you put down a possible purchase and someone comes along and tries it on and it looks amazing. You become upset, even fearful that you have lost out and you try to talk them out of buying it! You win, end up purchasing the item, and then six months later it is still hanging in your closet, unworn.
Ugh, I am getting stressed out just thinking about it.
Love, A
2 comments:
i took your suggestion and checked out gilt... only problem is they don't ship to canada!
That is so unfair, I had no idea! You should send them an email (I will do the same) stating that they should start shipping there. They are losing out on a whole country of fabulous people! Love, A
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