Hundreds of New Yorkers Postpone Voting to Shop Manolo Blahnik Sample Sale
New York’s streets this morning were rife with Election Day activity. But at the Warwick Hotel on West 54th Street, a different sense of anxiety unfolded — this one shopping-related. Hundreds of New Yorkers had gathered to rummage and shop at Manolo Blahnik’s semiannual sample sale — many attendees forgoing the morning polls in favor of purchasing discounted shoes.
“The polls are open until 9 [tonight], and I could only have the babysitter so long — you can take the kids to the polls, but not so much to the Manolo sale,” said Jennifer, a child-life specialist.
“Shoes first and voting later. I have until 9, so as long as I do it as some point,” Joann, a finance professional, said of her day’s schedule.
Shoes at the sale retailed for upward of $125 — 70 or so percent off their retail price. Boots were priced at $200 and up.
The event’s well-appointed waiting room appeared to be split half-and-half between eligible voters, and foreign residents and tourists.
For the room’s American contingency, the event was a pleasant remedy for Election Day jitters.
Said Lea, a marketing manager: “It’s definitely a form of therapy for today.”
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