Photograph courtesy of Tibi
We must be in sample sale heaven. For the first time ever, New York-based Tibi will host a sample sale here in Atlanta. Designer and Georgia native Amy Smilovic has gained a strong following here for her tomboy glam fashions. And while her St. Simons outlet has long been a place to find Tibi discounts, this sale will be the first time Atlanta fans can purchase pieces from previous seasons and samples in person without driving to the coast. (Tibi sample sales are extremely rare outside of NYC—the only other was held in Connecticut about five years ago.)
The “Shop the Drop” sale coincides with the Shops’s Holiday Block Party on Saturday, December 14, where shoppers can expect a lineup of festive in-store events and restaurant specials, including more sales, live entertainment, adorable pet portraits, and more. And to add to the fun, Atlanta designer Abbey Glass will also be hosting a sample sale there, giving shoppers the perfect opportunity to find deeply discounted, fashionable finds just in time for the holidays.
Here’s what you need to know about the designers and the sales:
Photograph courtesy of Tibi
Tibi
Though based in New York, the Atlanta style scene can proudly claim Smilovic, Tibi’s founder and designer who grew up in St. Simons and graduated from UGA in 1989. When she launched Tibi in 1997, Athens boutique Heery’s was to first retailer to sell her designs. She opened her St. Simons store in 1998. (The brand’s flagship store is in New York.)
Photograph courtesy of Tibi
Photograph courtesy of Tibi
While the brand started with preppier, trend-driven pieces, in more recent years it has become “more of a lifestyle brand,” Smilovic said in a 2015 Atlanta interview. “When you’re about trends, you don’t really have a heart to it. You don’t have a clear identity. And so I really wanted to make the brand about the style that I was passionate about.” Now, the brand’s modern, casual-yet-elegant repertoire runs the gamut from classic pieces like sculpted blazers to playful fluffy magenta sandals.
At the sale, shoppers will find ready-to-wear clothing and accessories, as well as a few special runway pieces. Be sure to come prepared, though. All sales are final and must be made with a credit card.
When to shop:
Tuesday, December 10 through Saturday, December 14: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sunday, December 15: 12-6 p.m.
Monday, December 16 through Wednesday, December 18: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Where to go:
The Shops Buckhead Atlanta
Suite B200
3035 Peachtree Road
Atlanta, GA 30305
Abbey Glass
This Atlanta-based designer will be serving up an array of sips and treats while customers shop fantastic finds at up to an 80 percent discount. The designer’s Southern-inspired styles infused with a contemporary twist will start at $35 during the sale.
“Our clothing is designed right here in Atlanta and goes through many stages of development before it’s perfect and ready to be manufactured and delivered to our customers,” Glass said.
“You can expect to find one-of-a-kind samples that didn’t make the cut,” she said. The designer also said the sale will include design samples that never made it to the final racks. This means you could pick up an early piece of Abbey Glass’s creative process that was never sold in stores.
The sale will also include Spring 2019 and Fall 2018 pieces that are in the final few.
As a final gift to shoppers, the shop is giving 20 percent off all store purchases through the sale dates. Don’t stress if you aren’t able to get to the store this weekend. Abbey Glass is also offering 20 percent off sale items online with the code SAMPLE20.
When to shop:
Friday, December 13 and Saturday, December 14: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Sunday, December 15: 12-6 p.m.
Where to go:
Abbey Glass at the Shops at Buckhead Atlanta
3006 Bolling Way Northeast
Atlanta, GA 30305
