She Lost Her Pants at the Rachel Comey Sample Sale
And lived to tell the tale.
Two years ago, Big Night founder and author
walked into the Rachel Comey sample sale on Mulberry Street as she always did: Ready to strip down to her underpants in front of everyone she knows and respects in the hopes of finding some great clothes at great prices. “I plan my life around attending the sale,” she tells me one afternoon this summer. It’s the only sample sale she ever goes to, and in addition to the deals, she loves the people-watching and the camaraderie that the scene provides. But this year was unlike any other year because this was the year Katherine Lewin lost her pants. “I remember it like it was yesterday,” she says. “It's nightmare stuff.”When Katherine recounted this story to me over the phone, I ALOL’ed (Actually Laughed Out Loud). I was also on the edge of my seat the entire time. How did this happen?? Did she ever get them back?? Thankfully, she can laugh about the experience now and has agreed to share it with you all, below…
“Okay, so… I'm wearing my Rudy Jude jeans. They have a carpenter pant vibe that looks Rachel Comey-adjacent. I'm in my little corner trying on so many different clothes. I've stripped down to my underwear and have the jeans, like truly, right next to me. And then all of a sudden, I look down and they're gone. I literally start crawling around on the floor in my underwear looking for them. Did someone kick them under a rack? I'm pantless and starting to panic. Obviously, I could have just bought another pair of pants. But I *love* these jeans. I'd worn them all throughout the pandemic and they were molded to my body and faded in a way that I was really happy about. So I was like, I cannot lose them. I throw on a skirt or something and start walking around asking, 'Has anyone seen my jeans? Has anyone seen my jeans?' I’m trying not to be too panicky, but everyone looks concerned. At one point, I see Jia Tolentino. No big deal. Everyone's in their own focus mode, though, so no one’s stopping to help. I go over to a staff member and I'm like, ‘I think my jeans have been abducted. What do I do?’ Their facial expression is sympathetic, but they're very much like, 'I think you just need to look around.' They also can't help. It's madness in there. Clothes are flying everywhere. It's like when your mom says, 'Just look in your room, I'm sure it's there.' Anyway, I look for about half an hour and don't find them. So I go back to the crew member and I'm like, please help me. At that point, they get on a loudspeaker, and they're like, MISSING: PAIR OF JEANS and give the description. I feel like a kid who's lost at the grocery store. But, once again, no one comes forward. Ultimately, I just decide, I am not leaving this place without my jeans, so I better calm down and commit to looking. That year, there were three or four racks packed with jeans, and I took my time and looked through every single one of them. A full hour after I first lost my jeans, I found them hanging there, waiting to be sold. I was so relieved. So relieved. And then I spent way too much money at the sale because I was like, Well, I got my jeans back, let's celebrate! It was a happy ending. I found my jeans and more pieces that I love, and I walked out feeling like my wallet was empty but my heart was full."
This year, Katherine wore bike shorts to the sale, which she recommends that other shoppers do as well. “You can walk around with them as your base layer without just being in your underpants,” she explains. Plus: “No one is going to think that a ratty pair of Amazon bike shorts is Rachel Comey.” Hopefully.
NEXT TIME: A chat with the founder of Pedal, whose on-the-go tailoring pushcart was parked outside the Rachel Comey sale.
PLUS: Katherine sent me her Big Night book, which came out this month, and it’s so great! Especially for culinarily challenged people like me. Make sure you stop by one of her stores and get a copy :)
P.S. — My friend Rolanda waited for two hours to get into the Jenna Lyons “stoop” sale last week and got a dress that Beyoncé wore. Worth it! She also told me that Jenna’s son handed out water and popsicles to people waiting, which I thought was sweet.
ALOL!!!