Neiman Marcus Last Call

So delighted! Found new leather cashmere gloves to match a coat I have had forever! I was missing one glove! Now a new pair. !

There’s nothing like a trip to Neiman Marcus Last Call to remind you why the non-​outlet version of this department store has earned the playful nickname «Needless Markup.»
Shopping at Last Call is kind of like a one night stand. It will produce one of two emotions in you: Heart pounding exhilarating when you find a pair of $ 600 Manolos slashed to $ 250, or tremendous guilt and loathing as you discover the same suede Vicini boots you paid $ 700 for last season lying in a bargain rack for $ 175.
Both have happened to me thanks to Last Call and their color-​coded discount system. And yet, month after month, I still drag myself out of bed Saturday mornings, cover my eyes with my darkest Oliver Peoples sunglasses and take that walk of shame through one of my favorite purveyors of conspicuous and needless consumption.
Like any discount store or outlet, you’re going to have to be prepared to spend some time at Last Call scrounging in shoe boxes and apparel racks like a wino digging for soda cans if you want to tease out the real treasures. You’ll also be doing it alongside dozens of other half-​crazed women who never went to charm school — or if they did, their well-​cultivated manners seem vanish at the sight of a 75% off pair of Pradas.
But if you are willing venture into the teeming masses, tolerate the wrong size or brand of heels in boxes or on racks, and put up with the heartbreaking realization that you aren’t going to squeeze your size seven foot in those obscenely discounted size 6 Sergio Rossi pumps, you might still get lucky.
The trophy brands tend to go fast (or the employees snap them up before they even hit the rack), so it can be challenging to find a Manolo or Louboutin at Last Call (this varies a lot by location.) It can be done, but it’s a bit like hitting the lottery. If you’re there on the right day and time, you might have a shot.
If you are shopping the mid-​tier designers (stuff like Marc Jacobs, Kors, Miu Miu, or Stuart Weitzman) you can do very well at Last Call. Selection is generally quite good.
Also look for some of the high-​end designers who don’t have as much mainstream name recognition, people like Giuseppe Zanotti. I’ve picked up a half-​dozen pairs of Zanottis over the years at Last Call at prices that made me feel like I was stealing candy from children.
Also, shopping at Last Call is one of those times where having a smaller or larger foot actually works for you. The more common sizes are naturally more picked-​over and in higher demand, but if you have an unusually large or small foot, it can reap huge rewards at Last Call.
If you’re really a masochist for fashion, you can always buy smaller, grin and bear it and hope «they’ll stretch out.» My podiatrist is getting rich off from my unfortunate tendency to do exactly that far too often.
While I’ve dished a lot about the shoes at Last Call, I’ve snagged other bargains here over the years as well. Jeans from 7, Rock & Republic and True Religion, as well a great Cavalli black sheath and one of my all-​time favorite Fendi shoulder bags.
If you open a Neiman charge account (not recommending this, just saying IF you do – believe it or not, I’m all for fiscal responsibility) you’ll get a discount off your first cache of goodies. My advice is to reserve this «nuclear option» for a big spree and don’t waste it on a $ 100 pair of shoes.
Trying to set a price range for Last Call is tough. Everything is relative here. Which is part of the problem. It’s easy to talk yourself into that $ 300 Kors mini dress because it’s marked down from $ 1200. But that’s how «sales» are supposed to work. While the saying «nobody pays full retail» is generally true (although I have more than my fair share of splurge purchases hanging in my closet to refute this), it’s easy to get going at Last Call and find yourself with a $ 600 bill (or more) at the service counter. So many bargains you just can’t pass up, right?
So depending on your style and tastes, Last Call will either look moderate to you, or pricey. I’ve gone with moderate for this review, because they do price things I like at levels much lower than I would typically pay for the items in the non-​outlet store.
One last tip: Restraint is definitely something that comes in handy at Last Call. Shopper beware.