Savvy & Co. President and CEO Ann Taylor knows sample sales; as she should. The 13 year fashion industry veteran remembers the start of sample sales in the early eighties. Sample sales, a Manhattan brainchild of an idea, started as a way for the “have nots” to sample designer goods hoping to wet their appetite to purchase items largely out of their budgetary reach.

How was the L.A.M.B. / Harajuku Girls sale in L.A. last week?

It went over really well. Gwen Stefani has a strong following on the West Coast, so it was a no brainer.

How does L.A. compare to New York in terms of sample sales?

L.A. is probably fifteen years behind New York in regards to sample sale scope, size and frequency. New York was the original sample sale city. Sample sales started here around 1982…1983. And for the most part, sample sales have remained unique to New York.

Why?

Because garments were manufactured in New York, designers lived in New York, it held the market. Even consumers who couldn’t afford retail prices where familiar with the designers. The demand was there. Especially in the late eighties and early nineties, there was a such a surplus that designers needed a way to unload a previous season’s product.

When did you start Savvy & Co.?

In 1997. I’ve been in the industry for twenty years and had this company for thirteen.

How have sample sales changed since then?

With the emergence of online private sample sales like those you find at Gilt.com, and the popularity of sample sales in general, there is more competition for product. In the past few years, especially in the recession, designers are making less product, but more consumers wanted to purchase from sample sales. So the demand continues to exceed the product.

Will other cities start to see an increase in sample sales?

L.A. yes. More designers are living and and working in L.A. and the fashion community there has become familiar with the concept of the sample sale. Other cities, possibly, but a successful sample sale requires working closely with the designer and having the market for it. New York will always be the sample sale leader.
Savvy & Co. continues to be the New York City leader in brick and mortar sample sales, carefully selecting the most premier designers. For more information on designers they are working with and upcoming sales, visit www.thesavvy.com.

Written and edited by Emma Dinzebach

Day trips to outer borough must first and foremost start with brunch. Where to go and where to take your madre this Sunday (um, it’s mother’s day!)? Courtyards, mimosas, and cuteness are on the menu.

My pick numero uno is Le Petite Cafe in Carroll Gardens. The ambiance in the courtyard (yes, it’s the place with the tree and water fountain) is beautiful, especially for mom. Their brunch menu isn’t anything particularly wonderful, so if mom is a food snob, you might want to choose something a bit more upscale. La Petit Cafe has great french toast and wonderful omelet selection. The service can be a bit slow, but you hardly notice as you’re focused on the atmosphere. Adorable.

Buttermilk Channel lends itself to food snobs. Also in Carroll Gardens, Buttermilk is known for warm sour cream donuts that taste similar to funnel cake, out of this work bloody marys - think rosemary-infused vodka - and short rib hash that makes my mouth water just thinking of it. The service is divine if you don’t mind feeling a teeny bit rushed out.  Buttermilk has a separate vegetarian menu if that’s your fancy and Court Street makes for a wonderful Sunday walk with mom.

For lingering atmosphere or upscale brunch, you can’t really go wrong with either Carroll Gardens spot. And both are reasonably priced so as not to break the bank on Mother’s Day.

Emma Dinzebach

You wouldn’t think twice about spending $200 on a pair of jeans, especially if they make your butt look amazing. Most of us even spend up to $100 on work out pants. Pants we sweat in. But when it comes to our haircuts, we are forever looking for the best cut for the cheapest price.

But why really? It’s our hair. We wear it every single day. Not to be melodramatic, but it pretty much makes or breaks our intended look. Our hair says something to the world. “I am soft and sweet.” “I am fearless.” “I am funkified, so watch out!” Hair rocks. Hair rolls. Hair is there to stay. So let go of your death grip, and start treating your hair like you treat your derriere.

The average American woman has her locks trimmed every eight to ten weeks, that’s 5-6 times per year. At $100 a pop, that’s $600 per year. You might spend that much on one bag or one pair of shoes that you wear three times. It is better invested on your head, the topper of your outfit. To list the great salons in the city would be laboriously long, so I have a few short guidelines.

1) Going to the celebrity stylist isn’t necessary. You don’t need highlights that will photograph beautifully on the red carpet, and there are great stylists that don’t charge $600 for them. You should be able to find a hundred dollar haircut that you love.

2) Ask. Ask. Ask. If you see a woman’s hair you love, just ask. Remember, you wear it everyday. You may as well get it right. Plus, you will make her day. Hair karma is good karma.

3) Never be lured by those guys on the streets who ask where you get your haircut. If there salon was really reputable, they wouldn’t have to solicit tourists - or you - off the street.

4) Utilize their services. If they offer to trim your bangs three or four weeks out, go get your bangs trimmed. Your style will last longer, and you will feel immensely better about the price. You paid for it!

Still can’t decide where to go? We like Laicale in Soho, Sam Brocato on Wooster, and Soon Beauty Lab with locations in both the East Village and Chelsea.

Emma Dinzebach

“Then he asked if we could still be friendly. So I think we are set to have a drink,” explained my friend on the phone last night. She just pseudo broke up with her pseudo boyfriend of just a few months. The past few days she has been sad over the pseudo break up but also because she is sick of having the break-up talk. Another round of break-up talks means she soon has to re-emerge on the big bad city dating market, but not before the awkward post-break up follow-up talk.Because they had so many mutual friends, a conversation was in order. I’ve had these conversations on numerous occasions, usually for the guy’s benefit as I normally could care less if I see you with your new girlfriend. If I were meant to be your girlfriend, I would be. Some people, my aforementioned friend included, think that because they have mutual friends they have to be friends. Plans to meet for drinks and friendly back-and-forth emails ensue.

So this is the thing, if these are empty promises intended to lighten the break-up blow, then fine. I mean, I don’t make them, but if you want to play pretend, it’s all fine. However, if you actually plan to meet up and have a drink with him, pretend like last time you did so you didn’t go home and romp, then you might need a mini wake up call. Remember how you wanted to tone your arms, read Man In Full, organize the shoes in your oven, learn to use your oven, go to yoga, catch up with your college bio lab partner? Well you are not going to accomplish any of those things going to have drinks with someone who doesn’t want to be your boyfriend.

Let me repeat that: You accomplish nothing, nada, zilch spending time with someone who doesn’t want to be with you or you don’t want to be with. For all of the dating mistakes I make, I don’t do the “let’s be friends” thing unless there was a truly solid friendship before said “relationship.” I have plenty of friends thankyouverymuch. Friends enrich our souls, make us laugh, push us to grow and mine bring pints of frozen yogurt rather than ice cream because they know that when I feel better I won’t want to be fat. Until you say “I Do,” friends are more important than dudes you date. And even after “I Do,” YOU are the most important priority in your life and making sure that you are growing to your personal potential comes before all the rest. Having drinks with some lame ex whatever-he-was is counterproductive to this growth.

By all means, be friendly, but kindly decline set plans. “Oh I would love to but I can’t Tuesday, I have plans.” Because you do have plans…with your yoga mat. You are strong enough to make choices that fuel your fire and allow you to burn brightly and smart enough to start making those choices now.

Emma Dinzebach