The Freda Salvador Summer Sample Sale Is Coming
Photo via Freda Salvador
Update — May 14, 2019: Due to storms in the forecast for Saturday, May 18, Freda Salvador is postponing the summer sample sale. There will be an online sample sale starting at 7 am on Friday, May 17, followed by the IRL sample sale at a date to be announced later in the summer.
Freda Salvador is showering the Bay Area with discounted shoes once more at its famous summer sample sale. Whether you're a Freda Sale Virgin—you'll never forget your first time!—or a seasoned pro, there are a few things to keep in mind.
First things first: the when and where. The big day is Saturday, May 18, starting at 10 am at the Freda design studio, 80 Liberty Ship Way #6 in Sausalito. That’s a change up from all the years it’s been at Fort Mason, but the Freda team is in the process of moving out of their studio, and they’re ready to clean house. In the past, the sale has had a scheduled end time of 4 pm, but we’ve been attending this blowout for a long time, and we have yet to see inventory last past noon. (Shoppers go HAM for discounted Fredas.)
Prices are typically in the $110–$180 range. Flats and sandals are cheapest, heels are a little more, and boots are most expensive. The price list will be posted around the sale. Merchandise will probably be organized on tables by size, and the 7s and 8s go first. Freda fans don't play around when it comes to a sale, so plan to queue up insanely early if you want first pick. That could be as early as 6 or 7 am.
Lady Falcon Coffee Club will be on site serving up hot coffee, but it's not a bad idea to bring your own coffee for the line if you plan to arrive around 6 am. Other things you might want to bring? An umbrella chair, a blanket or coat, something to read, and hand warmers. (On a chilly morning, you'll thank us for the hand warmers suggestion.)
We just listed a lot of items, but keep in mind that you can't take all that stuff into the sale. Bags and oversized jackets must be checked at the door, and the delay in the coat check line could mean the difference between snagging your dream shoes for less than $200 and walking out empty-handed. (#FailWhale) If you choose to drive, ditch your camping gear in your car before you enter the sale, and wear your mini crossbody bag to breeze past the coat check line. Security will let you know at the door if your bag is too big. If you need to run stuff back to your car, budget about ten minutes as parking near the studio is tricky. There’s street parking on Bridgeway and throughout Sausalito, but you cannot park in Schoonmaker Marina, (i.e. next to the Freda office).
Another stipulation in the past for the Freda sample sale is you can't hold spots in line for your friends. You will receive a wristband when you queue up—similar to the H&M designer collab launches—so don't try to cheat the system. If your friends oversleep and find themselves at the back of the line, you can still do them a solid by grabbing shoes in their sizes.
Once inside the sale, you'll find that fellow shoppers will hover around your pile of potential treasures waiting for castoffs. Most shoppers won't outright try to steal your shoes, but keep an eye on your stack. When you decide against a pair, be a decent person and either (1) let the staffers return them to the table, or (2) hand them off to another shopper. The crowd will be friendly; you might even make a new shoe friend in the process.
For those of you who LOVE Freda, and know there's no way in hell you're waking up for a prime line spot, be sure to follow Freda Salvador on Instagram in case they offer another early entry Instagram contest. (Last year, one lucky winner got first dibs on all the goodies.)
As far as San Francisco sample sales go, the Freda sale is one of the biggest events of the year. Do your homework. Go to bed early. Buy all the shoes. You won't regret it.