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Hopkins Hospital’s Women's Board Best Dressed Sale Set For Oct. 5-7; Preview Sale, Oct. 4 - 10/03/2012

Hopkins Hospital’s Women's Board Best Dressed Sale Set For Oct. 5-7; Preview Sale, Oct. 4

Release Date: October 3, 2012

Some Baltimore traditions just keep getting bigger and better. Case in point: The 2012 Best Dressed Sale & Boutique, a fundraising project of The Women’s Board of Johns Hopkins Hospital, now in its 45th year, to benefit patient care. As in past years, the event takes place at The Carriage House at Evergreen, located at 4545 N. Charles St.

Every fall, thousands of loyal customers and fashionistas line up outside the Carriage House for the sale, eager to comb the racks of new and gently used clothing at bargain prices. Regulars pour in from the Baltimore-Washington area – women and men, all ages, all sizes – in search of unique finds and wardrobe boosters. Stories abound: Women report that they landed jobs by wearing a Best Dressed Sale outfit to the interview; brides have walked down the aisle in their BDS gowns; mothers have bought first tuxedos for their teenage sons.

Once again, exclusive designer dresses and shoes, chic contemporary fashions, classic accessories and enduring vintage clothing will grace the racks, waiting for a favored place in the closets of budget-conscious shoppers. Featured favorites include new designer clothing, vintage apparel, furs, shoes and wedding gowns. Enticing male shoppers will be a large selection of men’s suits, coats, jackets, formalwear and ties. 

Historically, the sale raises more than $150,000 annually; the 2011 sale brought in $190,000. All merchandise is donated by individuals and area stores, and most of the hard work – culling through and tagging thousands of donated clothes – is done by volunteers, so that nearly all proceeds support patient care at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. 

“It’s a great time to shop for holiday outfits and party styles,” says Dottie Truitt, co-chair of this year’s event. “We have plenty of new clothes at used-clothes prices.”

The presale takes place on Thursday, Oct. 4, from 4 to 8 p.m., with an admission fee of $45 in advance or $55 at the door. For serious shoppers, the advance shopping opportunity on Thursday offers not only a less chaotic shopping experience and first stab at the clothing, but also includes a cocktail buffet, informal modeling and a fashion consultation.

The event continues — with free admission — on Friday, Oct. 5, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (when most items will be half price).

For more information, please visit www.womensboard.jhmi.edu or call 410-955-9341.