My current fondness for Vera Bradley kind of snuck up on me. Back in college, I mostly thought of Vera Bradley products as those “quilty-looking purses” other girls used to tote their books around campus. I didn’t really gravitate toward the style back then, and my student-level budget didn’t foresee a time when I’d consider adding the designer brand to my closet.
Then one day, I was introduced to the Vera Bradley outlet sale.
*Angelic singing*
During a hosted trip last April, I was invited to attend Vera Bradley’s annual outlet sale in Fort Wayne, Indiana (just under three hours from Detroit). When I first heard about the event, I thought, “Oh, cool. Maybe I’ll scoop up a few things to give out at Christmas.” I was also in the market for a laptop sleeve and thought that mayyybe I’d find something in my budget to splurge on if I was lucky. After all, this was probably just some sample sale where I’d be lucky to snag anything useful (or in a print/color I actually liked), right?
Oh, sweetie. You have so much to learn.
Talk about a wake-up call! The morning the sale started, I flipped on the TV in my hotel room to watch a little bit of local news before starting the day. The main story? You guessed it: The Vera Bradley outlet sale. On-screen, droves of women gathered outside the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, where reporters interviewed shoppers who’d traveled from near and far to get in on the action. I remember one woman in particular who was visiting with a group of family members. They’d woken up before dawn to travel from hours away, a tradition they carried out every year.
This was going to be a much bigger deal than I had realized.
Vera Bradley Outlet Sale: When You Get There
When you arrive at the Vera Bradley outlet sale, you’ll receive a price guide/map (to help you locate items in the 100,000 square-foot space) and a huge bag to carry any items you plan on purchasing (for security purposes, your items will be transferred to a different color bag upon checkout). If you’ve signed up for a ticketed session (totally worth the $5 to enjoy lighter crowd levels), you’ll have a set amount of time to shop and when time’s up, you’re outta there. But really—there are announcements, countdowns, and security guards who will kindly usher you out at the end of the session, so be sure to locate what you want quickly and efficiently!
Throughout your shopping session, you may also hear announcements for flash sales. These sales feature specific items that are marked down below their sale price for a limited time, so keep your ears open!
Vera Bradley Outlet Sale: What You’ll Find
I’ve got to hand it to Vera Bradley—this brand has come SO far since my college days! No longer are we limited to paisley totes in pastel shades (although, they still have those if that’s up your alley). Rather, there are now countless florals, modern patterns (chevrons, anyone?), solids, saturated hues, and even leather options to choose from. Oh, and just so you know, Vera isn’t just bags and luggage, either. At this sale, I found umbrellas, blankets, stationery, perfume, sunglasses, robes, slippers, flip-flops, lunch boxes, towels, and SO MUCH MORE. There’s literally something available for every aspect of your life, and you may find it difficult to draw the line between need and want . . . but at 40 to 60 percent off, there’s plenty of room for both. 😉
Vera Bradley Foundation For Breast Cancer
Did you know that Vera Bradley has its own cancer research center? Founded in 1998, the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer funds research at its own laboratories in the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center through a portion of company profits. In addition to regular sales, the Vera Bradley outlet sale provides extra opportunities to donate to the foundation, including special raffles. If you’re in attendance, make sure to support this worthy cause!
Vera Bradley Outlet Sale: The Haul
| 
| 
| 
In the end, I actually “just” went home with items for myself (*facepalm*). Best laid plans, right? My favorites: a phone/wallet/clutch hybrid that I wore to death last summer, a matching laptop sleeve, and a rolling carry-on bag that I received courtesy of Vera Bradley (the bright pattern makes finding my stuff in the airport baggage claim so much easier!). This year, I’m hoping to actually stock up on gifts for other people to make the next holiday season a little easier, and may be in the market for a larger rolling suitcase, as well. We shall see.
Vera Bradley Outlet Sale: Plan Your Trip
Upcoming Sale Dates & Registration:
April 11-15, 2018
April 10-14, 2019
Parking Information:
Buses/RVs – $15.00 per vehicle
Preferred Parking – $8.00 per vehicle
Shopping Restrictions:
Things To Do In Fort Wayne:
