Jessica Herman

The 3500 shoppers who attended Chicago's first Billion Dollar Babes (BDB) sample sale in August all agree on one thing: there's nothing like a good deal. Launched four years ago in Los Angeles by two Aussie dames with fashion biz connections, BDB brings excess designer merchandise and samples to shoppers at rock-bottom prices. We spoke with co-founder Kate Nobelius for tips on preparing for BDB's next sale:

Tip 1: Arrive early: About a hundred people lined up in August before Billion Dollar Babes opened its doors. Diehard sample-sale fans should consider becoming gold or platinum VIP members, which allows access to the collection three to five hours early.

Tip 2: Strategize: Check out the roster of designers on the sample sale's website and decide which designers and types of garments you're seeking. Otherwise, you'll find yourself overwhelmed and heading home empty-handed. Tocca winter coats sold out within the first two hours in Chicago.

Tip 3: Dress Appropriately: Wear clothing that easily slips on and off like flat shoes and a skirt or thin layers like tank tops so that you try on sizes in the main room. Communal dressing rooms hold as many as sixty people at a time, so choose your panties wisely.

Tip 4: Consider buying one size up: Return is not in the sample-sale vocabulary. When in doubt, size up and have the garment altered for a better fit.

Tip 5: Follow your gut: Impulse buying is one of the thrills of sample-sale shopping. If you find something you love, buy it; it's unlikely that you'll be able to put any items on hold.

Practice your skills at Billion Dollar Babes' second Chicago sale on November 12 at Skylight Studios, 1956 W. Grand, billiondollarbabes.com

(2005-11-08)

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