Dark Garden Annual Rummage Sale & VIP Pre-Sale Party

The curviest event of the year is nearly here! Join us again for our famous Annual Rummage Sale, now a 3 day luxury experience.

Entry to the Rummage Sale will once more be coordinated via ticketed groups on a timed entry system, as to reduce wait times and crowding during the event. For safety and comfort, we have a limit on how many people can be in the shop at one time, and will let everyone in as space allows. We will accomodate walk-ups when able; those who pre-book their slot will have guaranteed entry at that reserved time. Unfortunately this year due to staffing, we will NOT be accomodating REMOTE appointments. We apologize for any inconvenience and please be sure to join us on Sunday for our Instagram LIVE Sale(@darkgardencorsetry) where we will showcase our remaining inventory!

We are reprising our extremely popular and limited VIP cocktail preview on Friday night from 7-9pm to kick off the event; these tickets always sell out! Premium tickets are $150 and include individualized attention from our most experienced staff, a non-shopping plus one, $50 credit, gift bag, cocktails, and 15% off new corset orders placed that night. This is the only day of the sale when new orders can be placed; the remaining days are dedicated to off-the-rack shopping ONLY. We are limiting this part of the event to 10 customers (plus their non-shopping plus ones) for a maximum customer capacity of 20 individuals plus staff.

Saturday is the main Rummage Sale, with all day in-person shopping. As to best ensure that premiere time slots are not occupied by no-shows, there is a modest fee for early entry times on Saturday (Early Bird), which can be applied as a coupon towards any purchases made at the Rummage Sale. Later times slots (General Admission) have no fee. Unfortunately this year due to staffing, we will NOT be able to accommodate REMOTE appointments. The Early Bird ticket price is not refundable in the case of the customer deciding not to purchase anything day of. If you need to cancel your appointment, please contact us so we can do so and process that refund.

Saturday Early Bird & General Admission slots will have a maximum of 15-30 customers per time slot, with no plus ones, as to ensure appropriate attention from our expert corset fitters. Please see below for more information.

Sunday will be held on Instagram Live ONLY, from 12-2pm PST! The store will be CLOSED but you can visit us on IG (@darkgardencorsetry) as we go through our remaining inventory! You'll be given directions on how to claim items during the sale, and while we have it slated for 12-2pm, we will go as late as the sale requires! As a courtesy to other virtual shoppers, please log on to the LIVE promptly as we will be going through our items systematically and will not be interrupting that flow to re-showcase corsets or other inventory that have already been displayed. Once all items have been showcased, we can go back to previous items per request.

The SALE!

Here's what you can expect to find in the way of corsets at our rummage sale:

• Corset raffle! Tickets are $5 each and the winner gets the pot! The raffle funds can be applied towards any corset or corset order! (The winner is pulled on Sunday, following our Virtual Shopping Instagram Live and will be contacted by the end of the following week.)
• Bespoke sample corsets, deeply discounted from their to-order price
• Pre-loved corsets, sold on consignment from their previous owners
• 15% - 25% discounts on floor stock corsets
• Fashion show ensembles & retired archive corsets, including our Shades of Ivory collections. No new collections will be released this year.

Tips for the best experience:

• Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the time on your ticket so you can check in and be sized while in line. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes while you wait, although feel free to bring heels or specific shoes if you want to try them on with your new corset!

• Masks are REQUIRED for unvaccinated attendees. Please bring your favorite face-coverings. We will have hand sanitizer available.

• We do NOT have a public restroom! Our staff restroom is not ADA accessible and is quite delicate and can not withstand a large number of guests so it is not available to the public. We request, for your own comfort, that you use a private facility before arriving at the Sale. Public restrooms are unfortunately not easily found in Hayes Valley.

We suggest you keep the following in mind when planning this year's shopping spree:

• Interested in selling back on consignment? Consignment is accepted during the month of June only with a 5 corsets/items per consignor limit. More info below.

• You may wish to call your credit card company ahead of time to alert them that you might be making a large purchase the day of the Sale

• Masks are MANDATORY for *unvaccinated* attendees at ALL TIMES. Vaccinated Clients and Staff are encouraged to mask but it is not required. If you are experiencing flu or cold like symptoms or have been exposed to COVID, we respectfully ask that you stay home and join us on the IG LIVE sale on Sunday.

• Only 3 corsets per person are allowed in the fitting room at a time. Large personal bags, backpacks, and totes will need to be left with the front desk and are not allowed in dressing areas. No exceptions.

• We will not be answering phone calls during the Rummage Sale. We apologize for any inconvenience.

• Photography is welcome! But if you photograph anyone other than yourself (we love selfies), please have their consent beforehand. Please be sure to tag us @darkgardencorsetry on IG or TikTok.

• Unless you attend the VIP event Friday night, we do NOT take orders for new corsets during Rummage Sale (except standard fit black or khaki poplin). We suggest you come back during the week if you are interested in Bespoke or Made to Order corsets (no discounts will be extended).

• To maintain a healthy and fair environment, the time on your ticket is a hard limit. We can not accommodate customers lingering in the building after their time slot (except in cases where they are waiting to check out). Please be courteous to the next group of shoppers in being aware of the time. We will announce when you are approaching the end of your slot and ask that you complete any transactions.

• If you have a trusted friend or partner helping you choose, please ask them to be ready for a video-call before you enter Dark Garden so you can get the feedback you need! Unfortunately we cannot allow non-shopping attendees or plus ones in the building during the event (except for those listed in the VIP night).

FAQs:

How can I enter my corset for sale?

If you've outgrown your old Dark Garden corsets, bring them in before July 1st to be assessed for consignment. You can opt to get cash or Dark Garden store credit if your corset sells at the rummage sale. Corsets must be dry cleaned and in good condition to be eligible; only Dark Garden-made corsets or garments can be sold on consignment. Please email [email protected] with "Attn: Boutique Manager" or "Rummage sale consignment" in the subject line to make arrangements for consigning your Dark Garden corset.

What safety measures is Dark Garden taking?

We are still very dedicated to keeping EVERYONE safe. We will thoroughly disinfect all public areas and will have hand sanitizer accessible at the door and through the shop. All corsets are sprayed down with an alcohol solution for general refreshing; this protocol is not COVID specific and is not shown to K*ll coronavirus. All of our staff are vaccinated and boosted, and will be encouraged to wear masks and will frequently wash or disinfect their hands. Masks are required for ALL unvaccinated attendees at all times during Rummage. Anyone not following these guidelines will be asked to leave.

What should I wear to the rummage sale?

We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and lightweight clothing that will be easy to get in and out of when trying on corsets. The wait-line is outdoors, please be sure to wear sunscreen and any appropriate sun protection. Many fittings are done right on the sales floor, so non-bulky clothing is highly advised! Guests with long hair may want to consider wearing it up to facilitate easier corset fittings. Masks are highly encouraged for vaccinated attendees and mandatory for unvaccinated. Please bring your favorite face covering.

Will I have access to restroom facilities?

To save our ancient, delicate plumbing system, we DO NOT allow public use of our staff restroom during the Rummage Sale. Our facilities are not ADA and therefore can not be offered to the public by CA law. We recommend using private facilities before coming to the event (there are a few cafes in the adjacent area with public restrooms, such as Christopher Elbow Chocolates). Hand sanitizer will be available at entry and throughout the building for general use.

What size corsets will you have?

We often have all sizes from 18” to 46”! The best represented sizes vary year to year and selection can not be guaranteed. All corsets are sized by the corset waist measurement. There will be a combination of off-the-rack and customized corsets which suit different proportions. If you do not know your size, worry not! Staff will be on hand to help you! The usual person wears a corset 4-6 inches smaller than their natural waist.

Is it JUST corsets for sale?

It's not just corsets! We’ll have last-season fashions, any mildly damaged stock and accessories, dead stock and last pieces, fabric remnants from the studio, vintage patterns, and all manner of miscellany.

What is your return policy?

All sales at RUMMAGE are FINAL. However, after a year of enjoyment, you are welcome to come back to us and place your item on consignment for the next sale.

What does the time on my ticket mean?

In an effort to reduce long wait times and crowding for this popular event, we have a timed entry system with reserved tickets! The time on your ticket is the time we will start letting the first people from that group come into the boutique; we recommend you arrive about 10-15 minutes early to check in. We have a limit on how many people can be in the shop at one time, and will let everyone in as space allows. Please understand that we cannot over-fill the boutique, and we aim to get everyone inside as quickly and safely as possible.

What's the cancellation policy?

If you need to cancel your ticket, you have up to 24 hours prior to the Rummage Sale to do so. Within 24 hours of the Sale, all tickets will be non-refundable. We are unable to compensate for any no-shows or late arrivals.

I want to give my ticket to someone else. How can I do that?

While we do require your photo ID at check-in to match the name on your ticket, we can still allow for tickets to be given as gifts! Please send us an email with the first and last name of the person you want to give your tickets to.

Will you be accepting walk-ups?

Yes, but ONLY when we are safely able. If a time slot does not have all tickets claimed or a ticket holder does not arrive for their time, we can allow for a correlating number of walk-ups. Non-shopping companions will be asked to wait outside to allow for space for active shoppers.

How can I contact the organizer with any questions?

Please email us at [email protected]. "Attn: SF Boutique Manager" or "Rummage Question". Our boutique manager will be sure to respond at her earliest convenience.

We look forward to seeing you! Happy Lacing & Corset Hugs, all!

*****

Dark Garden reserves the right to refuse service. Abuse of any kind (verbal, physical, etc) to our staff or other attendees will not be tolerated. Dark Garden is a safe and inclusive space. Consent is mandatory.

Host or Publisher Dark Garden Corsetry