A Few More A_Concept Store Approved Sale Season Finds
Because Nordstrom's SPACE section has some gems.
Let me get some big news out of the way first: Dover Street Market Market is BACK. Yes, I am screaming (as is my bank account), because there goes my entire shopping budget for the foreseeable year. If you’re in New York City it runs from June 8 to 11 at 866 United Nations Plaza. Given how long the lines were at their sale in London, expect it to be equally as packed — not a huge surprise since they haven’t done this for seven years! The prices aren’t rock bottom cheap as CdG and all of the other house brands are 70% off the tag price while other brands are 80% off. It sounds like a great percentage off but once you factor how much it all costs at retail, you’re still going to spend around $400 to $500 minimum on the really good pieces. Still, I think it’s worth it since even years later, I wear pieces from prior sales all the time because they thankfully are so weird that they exist outside of the trendy cycle.
Anyway, because I know most people aren’t able to get to go to the sale, I’ll be doing a series of posts on stuff that’s marked down. I know it’s not quite the same but at least you don’t have to camp out and fight with other equally as obsessed fans? First up is SPACE at Nordstrom, my favorite section of the department store mainly because I will follow Olivia Kim off a cliff. For those who don’t know much about her, she came from Opening Ceremony and has incredible taste, curating the most interesting designers and housewares. If A_Concept Store was a human, she’d be equal parts Rei and Olivia. Also, if and when Rei steps down, someone please give Olivia the role of taking over at DSM as curator! Putting this out in the world because who else could do it better?
What I love about Olivia’s curation is that it’s equal parts big brands like Simone Rocha, Comme des Garçons, Undercover mixed with lesser known labels like Yan Yan knits, Collina Strada, Chopova Lowena, etc. It’s definitely more colorful than my personal wardrobe but I always love checking everything out at the flagship on 57th. Right now pieces are marked anywhere from 30 to 70 percent off and some styles are limited to the last one but lots of interesting stuff to check out so let’s get into it.
A. Roege Hove is a brand I profiled last fall and I absolutely love what Amalie does with knitwear. She’s worked for Cecilie Bahnsen and her pieces are all made thoughtfully, with the goal of being as sustainable as possible. This sheer black-and-white knit is down to the last one but I think her sizing is quite flexible. I’ve seen it styled both this way and also worn backwards. I love the idea of layering it over pieces for dimension — it’s way more versatile than you’d think.
Some people have terrible memories of skorts but I love them. I bought a really weird Sacai one nearly a decade ago, with one leg the length of a Bermuda short and the other a booty short, all covered with a sheer pleated white skirt. Suffice to say I love it and this Simone Rocha one is pretty great too — short enough for summer without worrying that an errant breeze will cause some creep to stare at your legs.
Honestly if the DSM sale wasn’t this year, I’d have already ordered this dress. I may still order it because I like to buy one piece from every collection to create my own archive. I’d probably wait to wear it — most of my CdG dresses are super thick and trap a lot of heat so this would be better for early fall and even winter, with a thin knit layered under.
I met designer Meryll Rogge recently and I’m obsessed with her work. She worked under Dries Van Noten before going out on her own and her pieces are always so fascinating whether it’s clashing a bunch of colors or making incredibly luxurious looking oversized knits. This knit is actually two cardigans layered on top of one another so you can either wear them together or separately, making for some interesting silhouettes.
Chopova Lowena have become huge social media hit and I’m among the brand’s many fans. I’m still kicking myself for not buying one of their skirts on super sale back in the day. These pants are a little more out there but the oversized chain detail is so cool that you don’t have to do much more in terms of styling.
Literally a good deal on an Undercover piece, especially since it’s made with real leather — this definitely falls under my statement skirt umbrella.
Nensi Dojaka pieces are really really revealing but this one has a nice balance of showing skin without feeling too naked, at least for me as someone who is short with a small chest. This is the closest I’ll come to hot girl summer dressing.
Melitta Baumester just had her sample sale the other week when I was out of town, much to my dismay. She’s another cool up-and-coming brand that I adore and she’s been nominated for a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award so she’s definitely a rising star, This white top has a random hole in the back, a weird detail to keep the outfit interesting. I also really love it in red as well and that has more sizes.
Speaking of hot girl summer, I’m headed to Las Vegas for work for the next 72 hours and it’s a great excuse to tackle two topics that I always struggle with: going out clothes and swimwear. See you on Sunday, when hopefully I’ll have solutions on what to pack and wear.
Requisite disclaimer here: If you click on a link, I may get a small commission which helps support this newsletter. Also, sharing is greatly appreciated!
That skort!