Slumming it at the Chanel outlet store
BERNADETTE MORRA
It sounded too good to be true: A Chanel outlet, 90 minutes outside of Manhattan.
A no-brainer, but I was still skeptical. So I called Woodbury Common, the vast New Jersey off-price complex that makes the Factory Outlet Mall near Niagara Falls look like Dufferin Mall.
Woodbury is a pristine, almost Disney-like maze of clapboard cottages amid wide brick paths. Luxury brands such as Loro Piana, Bottega Veneta, Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent are tucked between more commercial labels including Tommy Hilfiger and DKNY.
"Good morning Chanel," a woman chirps when I call to establish whether or not I have concocted the existence of a Chanel outlet in my dreams.
Years back I had written about how Chanel burns any merchandise that doesn't sell. Had the policy changed? The notion of putting the precious quilted leather purses, classic boucle suits, and legendary spectator pumps in an off-price mall was too common to fathom.
"Yes we are open," the saleswoman replied. "But we don't have much right now. We are getting a shipment next week."
Perfect. That meant that my arrival on Sunday would be shortly after the boxes were unpacked.
I booked a flight to Newark, the airport I had to be coerced into trying a few seasons ago but now vastly prefer over shabby LaGuardia. The clincher: Newark has Starbucks. I also ordered a rental car so I could drive to the mall and lock my luggage in the trunk.
An hour later, I am striding past Diane Von Furstenberg, Kate Spade, Armani, Carolina Herrera and Tod's until I turn a corner and spot it, right next to the imposing Saks on Fifth: Chanel. The store is slightly larger than the main floor of Toronto's Chanel flagship on Bloor St. W.
The decor is a far cry from the lacquered richness of Chanel boutiques worldwide. And the stock is sparse though I have no way of knowing if that's because it's been picked clean by the Jersey women who pounce whenever a new shipment lands.
There is still plenty to plumb, however: poufy black cocktail wear, dove grey chiffon gowns, and lots of little tweed skirts.
Everything is half-price or more, minus another 25 per cent. Yee-haw.
I grab skinny jeans shot with metallic thread ($2,200 U.S. reduced to $667), a loopy pink tweed skirt ($1,880 to $563), and a black leather vest with rabbit fur trim ($1,955 to $845).
I gingerly step into a white silk dupioni shell, black jacket and cupola-shaped skirt, all edged in teeny, tiny pearls. I have no intention of buying the outfit. I just want to feel $6,900 worth of Lagerfeld-designed silk against my skin, even if it has been slashed to around $2,000.
I am regretting not pursuing some red velvet Mary Janes with camellia appliques that I admired from across the room. I tell myself they are probably much more than the spectator slingbacks and black patent flats I saw in the $225 range.
I also pass on a pink satin evening purse, now going for $550. In the end, I only make one purchase: a grey/black houndstooth cashmere knit vest with CC logos circling the hem. Exceptional quality and legendary status, for $300.
The store limits purchases to one or two of each item per customer — one pant, one skirt, two handbags, etc. Anyone who could afford more would probably shop full-price Chanel anyway.
PRADA PRIMER: Chanel isn't the only reason to detour to Woodbury Common. A Prada and Miu-Miu outlet is surreptitiously housed in a storefront called Space. The large store was brimming with shoes, clothes, handbags, luggage, even those famous feathered hats from a few seasons back. Stock is largely from last fall/winter at half off the original price. Not as much of a bargain as Chanel, though Prada silk pyjamas were $100, down from $800.
Other reasons to go to Woodbury Common: Loro Piana where I foolishly didn't buy any of the baby soft thick-ply cashmere scarves going for $99. At Carolina Herrera, I passed up the pointelle cashmere knit tops, originally $1,190, now $95. My mother will never forgive me!
Best of all, the outlet stores have none of the haughty attitude often found at full-price luxury shops. Everyone, staff and shoppers alike, is psyched for the thrill of the deal.
Chanel outlet store
its awsome i was at woodbury on monday its a dream come true
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