The Sale Brings Major Luxury Bargains (and Splurges) to Houston, Passes the $1 Million Mark

There are certain hazards to my job, as in covering myriad shopping opportunities ranging from store parties at Etro, to the Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market to the Houston Antiques + Art + Design Show and so many more. While not a shopaholic, I do get caught up in the thrill of beautiful things, which has resulted in recent months in the purchase of a fab kimono jacket from Etro, a stellar evening bag from the Nutcracker Market and an amethyst and pearl ring from Tenenbaum’s booth at the antiques show. Ka-ching! Ka-ching!

And now comes Tri Delta sorority’s The Sale, one of the most tempting shopping events on the books. I moseyed over to the Bayou City Event Center recently to get a look-see at The Sale’s fifth anniversary, for which PaperCity was media sponsor. Several unplanned purchases and one glass of champagne later, I was all in for this amazing market where everything, yes, everything is on sale with merchandise marked down from 20 to 75 percent.

More than 50 local retailers packed the ballroom with enticing bargains with the majority of discounts at 50 percent. Which is why I could not resist loading up on 2019 Christmas gifts from Marye-Kelley, a $15 crushed velour top for myself from Sofia Collections, a handpainted Moroccan dish from Laurier Blanc and a chinchilla rabbit fur wrap from à bientôt.

Actually, I was only imagining the latter as I have my share of wraps. But the dreamy fur, even at full price, was to die for. At half price it was a must-have. (The River Oaks Boulevard shop is having its in-house sale January 19 and there might be a few remaining.)

In the four years that Tri Delta has been holding The Sale, contributions to pediatric cancer research have reached $740,000. By the time the more than 1,200 shoppers had passed through the doors on the final day, proceeds tipped the giving to more than $1 million. This year’s contributions are earmarked for M.D. Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital research projects. In previous years, Texas Children’s Cancer Center had been beneficiary, thereby spreading the love throughout the Medical Center.

The Sale included a pre-sale champagne breakfast, featuring a video and remarks from three M.D. Anderson doctors, and a Sunday Funday panel discussion with Caroline Harper Knapp of House of Harper, Estela Cockrell of Switch2Pure, and Marla Murphy of The Blonde Pantry.

PC Seen: The Sale chairs Johnnie Taylor and Libby Sims; Houston Tri Delta Philanthropies president Jenn Moss; underwriting chairs Caroline Christian, Pam Sengelman and Connie Wright; corporate sponsor chairs Tami Owen and DeeDee Robinson; and program chairs Paige Wilson and Shelby Doehring.