Here’s another reminder that summer is coming to a close: Housing Works kicked off its Best of Fall sale series last night at its Soho outpost and it was really great.
All year long, Housing Works staffers sift through their vintage, gently-used, and sometimes even new-with-tags donations and hand-select the best merchandise. That merchandise is then featured in seasonal sales to benefit their totally worthy causes. It’s like having a tastemaking friend curate a shopping experience for you, plus you get to do good for your community at the same time.
The Best of Fall series includes several one-day or one-evening sales throughout the company’s Manhattan and Brooklyn stores over the next few weeks. (Here’s the complete list.) Each location has unique merchandise that has been specially reserved for this event, and if yesterday’s three-hour Soho event is any indication of what’s to come, we are massive fans. While prices aren’t bargain-basement, they’re consistent with the quality of the goods, and who can argue when their money goes towards helping out New York’s homeless population?
The ladies’ selection had a good sampling of unique vintage pieces and higher-end contemporary brands. A sheer plaid Prada blouse was $50 and a brightly striped vintage button-down was $25. A vintage Breton-striped cropped jacket was $120.
Among the dresses, we spotted a dazzling vintage sequined mini-dress that looked like it had been re-worked by a stylist or designer (it included new zippers, new lining, and some perfectly strategic and modern darting) for a bargain at $65. We also found an abstract patterned Missoni dress for $85. The womens’ coat racks were particularly well-stocked. A luxe Trina Turk leopard fur coat was $135 and a Christian Dior leather moto jacket was $200.
Guys are also in luck. There were plenty of dark coats for the months ahead, including a Gaultier for Bergdorf Goodman peacoat for $200 and a charcoal gray Hugo Boss coat for $175. While we wished there was more color on the racks, there was a rack of button-down shirts and a display of bright silk ties that caught our eye, with both vintage and new starting at $20. A quick perusal turned up brands like Hugo Boss, Paul Smith, vintage Brooks Brothers, Ben Sherman, and our personal favorite, Liberty of London.
The shoes and accessories were particularly good and will help you transition to next season. A pair of vintage gold pumps were $15 and a perfect-for-fall pair of striped flats was $55. Several pairs of black Prada pumps were available for $75 a pair, and we also found a pair of mens’ Prada boots for $200 buried underneath a rack of coats. Men’s LL Bean duck boots were available for a reasonable $40 and a pair of Kate Spade purple suede ankle boots were $65. One lucky guy (or gal?) will get to take home a vintage custom-made and never-worn fedora for $25. It still had a protective clear liner inside that was never been removed.
The selection of housewares was also chock full of gems. Among some new-in-box Jonathan Alder pieces, we spied a genuine McCoy pottery cookie jar from the 1960s for $95 (these are hot sellers on eBay). We also loved a mid-century modern etched glass and metal ice bucket and glass set for $60 and dainty colorful tea cups, with each piece starting at $3. Of course, we’re sure lots of you would drool over the piece of vintage Louis Vuitton luggage that was front-and-center in the store’s window display for $400.
