Reposting something I wrote last year on the terrific bargains at the Serena & Lily outlet. It’s time for another visit!
It’s been a few months since Sophie and I hit the Restoration Hardware and Williams Sonoma outlets in Vacaville. We were disappointed that the Serena & Lily outlet was unexpectedly closed on that trip. I am a huge Serena and Lily fan, but “bargains” and “inexpensive” are not words I would use to describe the store! So when a free weekend came up (right before my mental health day!), I decided to make the drive back to Vacaville to check out the Serena & Lily outlet. After checking that it would indeed be open this time!
Pro tip: Actually spend some time thinking about what you might need and take a few measurements before you leave the house. And bring a measuring tape with you! I was amused to overhear the couple squabbling over whether a 3×5 or 5×8 rug would look best in a child’s room. I wanted to provide some advice: “In general, go with the larger size.” But I refrained!
And make sure that if you need some advice, your chosen advisors are available. I consulted with Sophie at home through FaceTime on some colors and sizes. Thank goodness she was willing to take my calls in the middle of her AP Biology studying 🙂
Unlike the Restoration Hardware outlet nearby, Serena & Lily does not appear to manufacture items just for the outlet. That means it’s a real hodge podge, and there’s a lot of chance involved in whether you will find a bargain or not. Good luck making sure things work and aren’t missing a piece (or aren’t labelled the wrong size.)
And be sure to try everything out… I sat on one of these cute fabric sling chairs and it immediately crashed to the ground.
Finally, I scored my bargain! We need a new slipper chair for our closet (we’ve been using a very sad one that I thrifted off Craig’s List and did a pretty crappy job of “reupholstering.”) It’s cute, comfortable and fits our space perfectly.
There’s a “pop-up” next door for chairs and rugs. The space was formerly a gym of some sort, and it made me a bit sad. The future of gyms is looking pretty bleak these days. Aside from that, the rug selection was pretty modest (and that’s where I found the feuding couple :))
But if you need a Riviera chair and you live within 150 miles of Vacaville, you really need to do yourself a favor and head to the outlet. They have literally hundreds of them.
And buyer beware- check the quality carefully. All sales are final.
I did stop by the Restoration Hardware and Williams-Sonoma outlets nearby, with no success. Pretty picked over. I did consider picking up some new Restoration Hardware towels but a quick bit of googling informed me that they are cheaper on rh.com. Which sort of made me mad.
Still, I like my new chair and it’s a fun outing to do a couple of times a year. Nest time, I’m bringing Sophie; I seem to have better luck with her by my side!
Serena & Lily outlet, 870 Alamo Drive, Vacaville, CA 95688 +the rug and chair “pop-up” next door at 890 Alamo Drive
