Fashion Girls for Japan: Sample Sale @ Bowery Hotel

Bright and early at 10:55am, I arrived with my mother at the Bowery Hotel for a huge sample sale (led by Julie Gilhart), dubbed "Fashion Girls for Japan." Over 60 designers including Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Prabal Gurung and Altuzarra donated one rack of clothing for a great cause � 100% of the sale's proceeds will go towards the Red Cross Disaster Relief Efforts in Japan. I didn't really know what to expect of the sale. If it was heavily publicized, I was sure there would be crowds of attendees and a long line. But who knew? Maybe it would take place in a tiny windowless room and no one would show up.

I shouldn't have worried about feeling stupid if no one else showed up, because an over-abundance of people attended. I stood in line for an hour and fifteen minutes, admiring everyone's outfits that seemed so much cooler than my own, and grumbling about the cold and sketchy old men smoking under the construction awning. Once we got inside, we waited another ten minutes on the bag/coat check line. But it was all worth it � everything was at least 50% off and the selections certainly weren't picked over despite the hundreds of people that got in before us. Everything by Proenza Schouler was, as expected, quite expensive despite the discounts. Same goes for Alexander Wang and Prabal Gurung. I actually held onto a knit cardigan by Wang until the very end, when my mom (thanks for taking me!) persuaded me to purchase a Marc by Marc Jacobs purse and blouse instead. And yeah, there was another line to wait on for checkout, and then to retrieve our bags. When we left, the line to get in was still snaking around the block. Hopefully, the sale will raise tons of money for Japan � check it out today until 7pm, or tomorrow from 11am to 5pm. The address is 335 Bleecker Street. (If you're uncomfortable being semi-naked in front of hundreds of people you probably shouldn't go because there is no dressing room. You basically try stuff on in a sectioned off area of the room with mirrors. Dressing rooms aren't usually the nicest at sample sales, but this one was non-existant.)

This blouse has puffed sleeves. Circle-shaped sections of the fabric are sheer, creating a translucent dot pattern.

Purchase tickets here. You can also buy them at the door for a minimum $5 donation. Show up and support Japan!