MANHATTAN — It's a bargain hunters paradise — cut-priced high end clothing which passes proceeds onto charity.
The annual POSH clothing sale begins Thursday at the Pierre Hotel on East 61st Street, benefiting the non-profit Lighthouse International which works to prevent vision loss.
Gently worn or new Dior, Chanel and Prada will be on sale with a range of vintage clothing, handbags, shoes and accessories.
"We collect [clothing] all year round from friends and corporations," said Somers Farkas, 43, a former model and prominent Upper East Side socialite who now oversees communications, marketing and events for the Lighthouse Foundation.
"There are new clothes from Brooks Brothers, Carolina Herrera. ...We ask friends to donate clothes that they don't wear."
The sale, which has been a yearly event for over 40 years and runs Friday until Monday, has an entrance fee of $10. For those who want a head start on the 8,000 to 10,000 pieces on offer, a special preview event will be held on Thursday night from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m..
Tickets for the preview are $175 and stylists and personal shoppers are on hand to help with purchases.
"We really do have some beautiful pieces," said Farkus of the treasure trove that awaits shoppers.
Highlights include a Badgley Mishchka multi silk caftan that has a sale tag of $300, but retails for $695, or Oscar de la Renta black lace heels with studs for $475.Normally a pair will set you back $1,295, according to Lighthouse.
There is even an Eric Javits tennis racket cover with matching visor at $300, shaving 50 percent off the retail price.
While anyone can donate to the sale, Farkas relies on a circle of friends and acquaintances to hand in their lucrative wardrobe overflow throughout the year.
"We host POSH teas and people will come over and bring a bag of clothes," said Farkas.
The sale generally raises about a million dollars each year for the organization, according to Farkas.
"Every piece of clothing is helping someone, because everyone needs clothes," she said. “Think about people who don’t have enough money for a job interview suit."
Clothing not suitable for the sale, or anything not sold during POSH, is handed on to other non-profit organizations.
Along with the POSH sale is POSH Affair, a benefit dinner that is open to the public through ticket sales. Normally the dinner kicks off the sale, but this year it is a post-celebration and will be held on Tuesday May 15 at the Pierre Hotel, Farkas said.
The dinner will honor fashion industry personalities such as Chris Fiore, the president of Henri Bendel.
"It is chic and fun. It is more of a fashion insider dinner," she said.
POSH runs on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Sunday and Monday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for $10 at the door or online. Tickets for the Sneak Peek Benefit Preview for the POSH sale on Thurs. May 10 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. can be purchased on the night or by calling 212.821.9227.
Tickets for the POSH Affair dinner range from $750 to $1,500 and can be purchased by calling Kelly Boyle on 212.921.9428
