Sales Season
Sales season is just around the corner, here’s how to get the most bang for your buck…
Many internet sites have constant sale sections that you can return items to if they don’t fit or suit you. Stick to reputable sites, which display the padlock sign – meaning they guarantee secure payment. For designer, hit www.Net-a-porter.com, for diffusion lines go to www.My-wardrobe.com, and for high street, www.Asos.com rocks.
www.Piperlime.com is a personal favourite with free shipping and returns.
Most high street stores also now sell goods from their websites including during sale time, and the size selection is far better than a hit-or-miss approach at each store. TopShop.com, now updated daily, declares that every garment in-store is also featured on-site.
Www.matchesfashion.com, www.houseoffraser.co.uk, and www.whistles.co.uk are some of my favourites. Plus www.handbagcrush.co.uk buys handbags in bulk from Prada, Balenciaga, Christian Dior and more, selling them on for way under the recommended retail price.
Usually, sales goods can’t be returned, so ask at the counter. If you’re buying damaged goods, first get a discount (up to 30% off), then make sure getting them repaired by a local seamstress won’t cost more than the garment itself. Most department stores will offer on-site alterations and some will even do it while you wait.
Aside from the sales, there are ways of saving money on clothes all year round, you just have to keep your eyes and ears open.
Supermarkets are a great place to start - constantly offering promotions and points on their bargain fashion ranges.
Hit the kids’ departments. Tax-free and much cheaper, buying children’s clothing and shoes is a true money-saver. I recently bought a blue blazer with gold buttons from the Ralph Lauren Boys shop, (where kids sizes actually go up to age 20), for a third of the adult range price.
Vintage clothes are usually cheaper than new, with the added bonus of being totally unique. Portobello Road’s One of a Kind is one of London’s finest, A few points to note though:
-Beware of sewn-in designer labels, if the cotton looks hand-stitched, you’re dealing with a fake.
-Some boutiques take advantage of how “trendy” the vintage fad is, over-pricing garments that would be far, far cheaper in a charity shop down the street.
-Officially, “vintage” means over 20 years old. Anything newer is just second-hand, and should be priced accordingly.
-Avoid buying shoes, they fall apart and rarely appear in sizes above a UK4/US6.
Designer sample sales are no longer just for the fashion press. Check sites such as www.billion dollarbabes.com, www.designersales.co.uk and www.gilt.com and www.hautelook.com for insider info on the latest sales.
Google your nearest outlet mall. Bicester Village in Oxfordshire, the Great Western Outlet Village near Swindon, Portsmouth Quays and Manchester’s Lowry are the UK’s top designer outlets and great fun to make into a day trip. Call your nearest TK Maxx and ask when their next delivery will be.
Milan is famous for its discount stores outside of the city, the best of which is Marni’s factory outlet on Via Manzini. Paris’ Clignancourt flea market is incredible for vintage, and in LA, the Rose Bowl flea market is amazing for both clothing and furniture. New York’s hidden gem is Woodbury Common, an area just north of Manhattan selling end-of-line Marc Jacobs, Diesel jeans, Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren at discount prices.
