How to look like a Billion Dollar Babe

Designers’ sample sale a big hit in Chicago, due to return soon

By Christina Amoroso

Billion Dollar Babes’ second Chicago sample sale held Saturday, Nov. 12, gave new meaning to the term “shop till you drop.”

The sale attracted shoppers from all over the Midwest and offered clothes from over 40 top designers at wholesale prices.

Billion Dollar Babes is a national sample sale held in major cities such as Los Angeles, New York, London and San Francisco. The first event was held in April of 2001 in Los Angeles, and its first New York event was held in November of 2002.

Chicago landed its first event in August. “The August launch was monstrous,” co-founder Shelli-Anne Couch says.

Most sample sales are held to clear samples that designers present to buyers and stylists. In the group’s case, designers also sell overproduced merchandise from the current season and canceled orders from major department stores. The group tries to balance both high-end and contemporary labels. While some designers allow the group to hand-select the pieces that will appear at the sales, sometimes Billion Dollar Babes is limited to what the designers have available.

Shoppers at Chicago’s November sale had a wide variety of goods from which they could select. The first floor featured accessories ranging from dozens of Oliver Peoples sunglasses for $150 to bags by Mimi Turner. Tall, suede Mukluk boots, often seen on the feet of celebrities such as Paris Hilton, were also featured items. The boots, available in black, chestnut and other colors, were $200, just half the list price of $400. Courtney Wise, founder of Harper Lee Worldwide Ltd., which distributes the boots, was at the sample sale to take time to meet customers.

“We don’t usually deal with customers,” Wise says. She usually sells the boots to stores, so for her, the sale was a fun opportunity to meet potential buyers.

Also on the first floor was a small but varied selection of baby clothes from designers such as 3 Dot, Dylan, Naf Naf and Baby James Perse.

The second floor featured clothing from top designers. Shoppers were able to buy wool and cashmere-blend sweater coats as well as skirts and suit jackets from Theory for $89. Many of those items had list prices at nearly $400. Tulula featured cotton tops in a variety of bright, solid colors went for just $20, and Jules Allen cashmere was priced at $140. A pale pink, knee-length, silk skirt from Wendy Hil was just $45.

Other designers featured included Abandon, Alex Gaines, Petro Zillia, T-Bags, Da-Nang and Ya Ya. Shoppers could find anything they needed at the sale, whether it was work clothes, more stylish items for going out or casual pieces for hanging out. Shoppers at the sale expressed satisfaction with the selection offered.

“They had a variety of things,” says Mary Kay Wiggs, a 34-year-old physical therapist from Herrin, Ill. “It was fun.” It was her first time at a sample sale, and she purchased a necklace and a sweater.

Jiye Park, a 24-year-old graduate student, also enjoyed the sale. She heard about Billion Dollar Babes through an e-mail from StyleChicago. It was also her first time at a sample sale. “It was a good experience,” says Park, who bought a Theory blazer and black pants.

Billion Dollar Babes is such a popular event, according to Couch, because there are no real sample sales in Chicago. Also, the group brings top New York and Los Angeles designers to the Windy City, which adds to its popularity. It was originally brought to Chicago after popular demand from shoppers. “We had a lot of requests from girls at other sales,” Couch says.

Couch expects to bring the sample sale back to Chicago at least three times a year, possibly four. The next sale will be held in April.

Interested shoppers can register for sales on their website. In order to attend the sale, you must register your name and e-mail address with Billion Dollar Babes online so that your name and the names of your guests appear on the list at the door.

For more information, visit http://www.billiondollarbabes.com.

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