How to Get Early Access to Sample Sales in LA (VIP Days, RSVPs & More)
By Mereyah Smith · Updated October 19, 2026
At a busy sample sale, the first few hours matter more than anything else. That is when sizes are complete, the best pieces are still on the racks and lines are manageable. Getting in early is less about luck and more about knowing where announcements happen. This guide covers the main routes to early access in Southern California, with real examples from the StealDrop SoCal tracker.
1. Know that VIP days exist
Many shoppers do not realize that a lot of LA sample sales have a VIP or early access day before the public opening. In October 2026 alone, our listings included:
- RtA Women's + Lamarque at Eclipse L.A.: VIP early access Oct 13, public Oct 14–18.
- True Religion at Eclipse DTLA: VIP early access Oct 20, public Oct 21–25.
- John Varvatos at Eclipse L.A.: VIP day Oct 20 per Uncover LA, public Oct 21–25.
The pattern is common: the VIP day is often the day before opening. When you see a sale announced, look for VIP or early access details in the announcement and on the host's page.
2. Get on the brand's list
VIP access is frequently offered to a brand's existing customers or email subscribers. The single most effective step is to subscribe to the newsletters of the brands you actually want to shop, and follow them on Instagram. Brands typically announce sample sales to their own audience first.
Make it manageable: create a filter or folder in your email for brand newsletters so sale announcements do not get buried, and search that folder for "sample sale" every week or two.
3. Get on the venue's list
In LA, a handful of venues host sale after sale. Following the venue can be even better than following individual brands, because you hear about brands you did not know were having a sale. From our listings:
- Eclipse ran sales at three SoCal locations this October: 315 S Robertson Blvd in West Hollywood, 910 S Los Angeles St in DTLA, and 81 Technology Dr W in Irvine.
- 260LA at 301 N Cañon Dr, Beverly Hills, hosted Ganni and then Staud.
- Alternative Retail hosted warehouse sales in Tustin and Carlsbad, including Pacsun + Welcome Skateboards, Beyond Yoga + Ana Luisa and Santo Studio.
Check each venue's website and social accounts for mailing lists or early access sign-ups.
4. RSVP the moment registration opens
Free RSVPs are increasingly the norm, and for popular sales they act as a form of early access. The Pacsun + Welcome Skateboards sale used Eventbrite RSVPs for one-hour arrival slots, and True Religion and Beyond Yoga + Ana Luisa also listed Eventbrite RSVPs. The earliest slots go first. If you see "RSVP required," book right away and pick the earliest window you can make.
Tip: if you use Eventbrite, following an organizer there can surface their future events.
5. Watch the local roundups
Several local publications compile sales weekly. StealDrop's own listings draw on public sources including Uncover LA, BargainsLA and the California Market Center calendar. The LA Fashion District also posts showroom sale announcements on its events calendar and Instagram the week of "Sample Sale Friday."
6. Learn the recurring calendar
Some sales are predictable enough to plan weeks out. The Fashion District's showroom sales typically fall on the last Friday of each month, with more dates in November and December. That is exactly what our tracker shows: CMC and The New Mart on Oct 30, then CMC Holiday Sample Sales weekly in November. See our month-by-month calendar and our DTLA showroom guide.
7. Show up at opening on day one
If there is no VIP option, the next best thing is the first hour of the first public day. Check the listed hours; for example, True Religion was listed at 10am–6pm Wednesday through Saturday. Arrive before doors with your RSVP ready and a plan of which sections to hit first.
8. Book appointments where they are offered
Some categories work by appointment rather than first-come, first-served. The Panache Bridal Sample Sale in Pasadena is listed as by appointment. Booking early gets you the best time and the fullest selection.
9. Let StealDrop do the collecting
The reason early access is hard is that announcements are scattered across dozens of inboxes, Instagram accounts and websites. StealDrop pulls publicly announced Southern California sales into one list and sends a weekly email roundup. Every listing includes the VIP or RSVP details we could confirm, plus a link to the original source.
- Subscribe to the weekly StealDrop email from any page on the site.
- Filter the SoCal tracker by "Next 2 weeks" to see what is coming.
- Open each listing and check the notes for VIP and RSVP details.
A note on honesty
We never sell "VIP access" ourselves and we do not invent early access dates. If a listing says "VIP early access," it is because a public source said so. If you are a brand or venue and want your VIP day listed, submit your sale through the form on the SoCal page.
New to sample sales? Start with how LA sample sales work and our what to bring checklist.