Yesterday, the fashion blog-world was a buzz about Nina Ricci clearing-out their stock of Olivier Theyskens' work. While we try to have a certain anonymity writing this blog, we will divulge that we have a strong personal connection to the work that was on sale today. We headed over to the sale this morning, held in Nina Ricci's press showroom... and we felt a little dirty.
The way in which Nina Ricci decided to rid themselves of Olivier's work is shocking:
One, it was a little early to sell off all the samples of his collections leading up to and including Summer 2009, considering that one floor below, in the boutique, the summer collection is still on sale at full price. At least Rochas waited to have their famous blow-out sale until the end of their last season (a sale in which we acquired at least 20,000€ worth of merchandise for 1000€).
Two, important runway looks were for sale. These are museum quality pieces, that we believe deserve to be conserved.
Three, Nina Ricci decided to even sell off demi-toiles, these are unfinished samples that are worked on in fittings. They have unfinished sems, raw hems, and are missing details like buttons, embroideries and lining. These pieces, around 20 of them and mostly dresses, were priced at 40€. They also sold samples that after completion were canceled by Olivier. This kind of work should have been destroyed like other luxury houses do, Louis Vuitton burns a majority of their samples especially cancelled ones. It was very cheap of Nina Ricci try to profit from these two kinds of samples, and it's not even like they got that much money for them.
Four, it was so inexpensive it was embarassing! Below, we photographed our purchases. The long dress was 100€ and is still available in the boutique at least 50x that price. The short dress was 80€ and is in the boutique, for at least 20x that price. To reiterate about the timing, to have the sale this early is a bit insulting to the clientele of the boutique... and it's not like this really the end of Olivier's work at Nina Ricci because the Fall collection is expected to arrive in the boutique in a few months.
The sale was very quiet, in the large space at 11am there were about 20 people. No lines. We overheard a group of girls saying that they were feeling a bit ashamed being at the sale, as if it was all too easy and a little sad. It is pretty ridiculous what we made off with for only 180 euros, but they found a good home. We'll take good care of them, and maybe one day, along with our Rochas wedding dress we'll donate them when a museum decides to do an Olivier Theyskens Retrospective.
Amazing scores Calla!!!!!!! Like I can't believe it!!!!! Can't wait to see you in them
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Posted by: KC | August 04, 2009 at 06:26 PM
These dresses are amazing...... I can't belive they sold them for this little, but I am glad they found a new home were they can be appriciated to their right value...
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