WHEN MY SHOPPING-SAVVY pal Kamer called me this morning and told me Rizik‘s was having a huge sale, I hesitated for maybe a minute before heading downtown, wet hair and no makeup notwithstanding.
Were they going out of business? Turns out, “No,” said salesperson Sue Ellen Lewis, but the 108-year-old grande dame is closing as of August 1 (reopening in spring 2017), to update the space and expand the store’s selection.
In the meantime, everything — clothing, handbags, scarves, belts, wraps, jewelry, furs — is now marked down, some as much as 80 percent, the rest, 30 percent. Among the high-priced apparel labels I spotted were Fabiana Filippi, Gerard Darel, Les Copains, Max Mara, M Missoni, Moschino Boutique and Piazza Sempione, which were mostly 30 percent off. There were boldly graphic scarves from Christian Lacroix, structured leather handbags from European label Rodo, an adorable sable shrug (originally $6,375, now $2,650). The steals to be found were on the lesser known labels. I snagged a Pucci lookalike summer dress by Italian designer Averardo Bessi for $82, which was originally $410 and a blingy choker for $123, once $410. An absolutely fabulous collar necklace in sterling silver with sparkling gems was reduced from $1,200 to $250. And, prices on gloriously multi-colored must-have summer wraps were substantially reduced.
The sale was advertised (through a mailer sent to customers) to begin June 15, but anyone who happened to see the up-to-80 percent-off sign in Rizik’s window or happened to be in the store (one woman said she was there because her daughter had a wedding-dress fitting) were taking full advantage of the price drops already in full force. So, hurry in before the deals (there are fewer small sizes) disappear.
— Janet Kelly
Janet Kelly is the editor of MyLittleBird. She last posted on Lancôme’s new foundation.
It’s a great store. Great finds this week. And I look forward to its return next spring.
Likewise!