The Beauty of Outlet Stores

In my very first Bags for Bitches post, I talked about Linea Pelle's Dylan Patchwork tote. It really is a lovely bag, but at the time I wasn't willing to pay full price for it. When I finally got around to thinking about it again, it was no longer in stores. For a time, I thought the Dylan Patchwork would never be mine, but a quick trip to an outlet mall changed my fate.

Last Thursday, during a work-related trip to the Jersey Gardens Outlet Mall, I ventured into Neiman Marcus Last Call. Neiman Marcus is a fabulous department store that carries many, many beautiful bags that I unfortunately cannot afford.

Neiman Marcus Last Call is named as such because it carries last season's inventory at reduced prices and is the customer's last opportunity to purchase such products. When I walked into the store, I obviously headed directly over to the accessories department, bypassing perfume, apparel and the rather large furniture section. I dug around for buried treasure. Hideous Marc Jacobs, YSL, and Botkier bags were aplenty (hey, even the best designers sometimes have misses).

Then, on a rack on the edge of the department, I saw it: a brand new black leather Linea Pelle Dylan Patchwork tote, complete with brown and white zebra print silk lining. The bag was already marked down 35%; I haggled with the store manager and he knocked off an additional 20% (the bag was hanging on the wrong T-stand which proclaimed that all bags were 20% off, so he gave me the benefit of the doubt). Suddenly, the beautiful leather bag I had longed for was within reach. I knew if I let the opportunity pass by I would regret it; after carrying it for three out of the last four days, I know I made the right decision.

Say hello to Dylan: