If you go into a Filene`s Basement looking for a particular item or outfit-say, a long black and white houndstooth jacket and short pleated black skirt-you could be disappointed. But you might come out with a Cynthia Steffe ivory crocheted pullover sweater, originally $346 for $30. Or, if you`re a size 6, you might pick up last season`s Gianni Versace velvet skinny pants with a medallion print that were $696 for $350.
A guy might wander in and find a current Jones New York double-breasted navy gabardine blazer, priced to sell at $255, here $139; or a houndstooth Ralph Lauren/Polo suit that Saks once had (only Ralph knows when) at $685, then marked down to $449, Basement priced at $399.
Typical prices earlier this month at two Filene`s Basement stores:
Designers and manufacturers
Beaded, sequined A.J. Bari dresses, all $99.
Maxima leather coats: short swings, quilted suede anoraks, $299; long trenches, $399.
Bill Blass sporty quilted jackets and vests, regular $180, at $45.
Evan-Picone taupe or black silk-like, microfiber down-filled, long coats, with Hermes-like quilting, made to sell for $320, at $119.
Carmelo Pomodoro separates, all at $30, originally $150 to $750.
Krizia black jacket, $955 for $295.
Most looked current, even in-season. But, then there was the rack of Danny Noble separates, all from $35 to $75. Philadelphia designer Noble went out of business a few years back.
Assorted women`s
Tables and tables of bags: some, $8 to $25; Esprit, $14 to $26; others, $77 to $99; Liz Claiborne nylon, $20 to $30.
Shoes: Reebok tennis, $50 for $39; Yves Saint Laurent gray lizard pumps, $210 for $78; Cole-Haan penny loafers, $105 for $59.
More Top Picks Ladder Tosssss
Men`s
Hathaway dress shirts, $13.
Brooks Brothers dress shirts, originally from $29 to $70, at $19.50.
Joe Boxer shorts, $13 for $7.
Calvin Klein cable cotton pullover sweaters, $60 for $30.
Barneys sportcoats and shirts, some originally at $265, here $30 to $99.
Brooks Brothers suits, originally $495, here $178.