Miss B: I originally published this post a year ago during sales month in London. But because a lot more readers have joined me since then (hello, everyone!), and because I’m constantly emailed and asked about how to build a quality wardrobe on a budget, I thought I’d re-post this as we’re again in the full throes of sale season.
Re-reading my year-old advice reminds me just how a good shopping strategy never dates. In short, buy little, but buy the best quality you can afford. And absolutely do save up for the sales – it’s a great way to buy into luxury brands at high street prices, and if something is a wonderful buy and true to your style, it will look marvellous in your wardrobe long after the store’s seasonal schedules have moved on.
Go forth, and good luck with your bargain treasure hunting!
I do love a good sale. But to emerge victorious, yet also with the budget, style and dignity in tact, one has to be strategic or it all goes awry very quickly indeed. So, to help sort out your strategy for heading into (sales) battle, here are my top tactical tips to live by come sale month. Above all, know your budget and make a plan beforehand!
1. Know your limits: This applies to both budget and time. Know how much you’re willing to spend and how many hours you can spare before you set out. And stick to it! This saves wasting your precious time and money, and getting caught up in the flurry of not being able to resist things just because they’re on sale but then regretting the blowout afterwards.
2. Make a plan: These sales get ridiculously chaotic – clothes flying everywhere, no shop assistants to spare, and girls who suddenly forget all semblance of politeness. The only way to avoid a) getting stressed, and b) wandering about aimlessly is to plan which stores and sections you want to visit first. Order according to the stores you know you like best, which will be the most popular, and where the best bargains are to be had. Whatever you’re looking for, put your blinkers on, don’t get distracted and move strategically. In the case of online sales, prepare a ‘wish list’ by putting things you would be willing to buy at full price in your shopping basket the week before the sale starts. Set a budget and on sale day, only buy those items in your wish list which have been reduced (to the limit of your budget) – this way you won’t get caught up in the moment and get distracted by everything else on sale you wouldn’t normally have considered.
3. Know what you want: As with making a plan, this helps you determine where to head first and avoid being distracted by everything else. If you’re only looking for new shoes, then don’t wander into homewares or clothing ‘just to have a look’ – you’re bound to see something else that you suddenly want. Another good tip is to scope out the store or site a couple of days before the sale starts (ask the sales assistants when this will be if it’s not publicised). That way you can make a list of what you want and head straight for those items in the sale. On Net-a-Porter I add things to my wishlist the day before and then as soon as the sale starts head to this to see what has been discounted. It can be yours straightaway without being distracted by the things you don’t need.
4. Be realistic: If you can’t walk in heels (and don’t have the luxury of a chauffeur), then are those sky-high platform Miu Miu swallow print sandals really going to work? Is that dress that’s a size too small and made for a model with the legs of a baby giraffe really flattering, even if it is the last Marc Jacobs dress left? Remember to only buy things that genuinely flatter you and work with your everyday life.
5. Stay true to your style: It sounds obvious, but if you’re normally all about vintage feminine lacy dresses, then getting caught up in the hype of a cropped Alexander Wang khaki midriff sweatshirt because it’s ‘in’ and makes sense at the time. Just because something is on sale and looks amazing on the models, doesn’t mean it will work for you when you get home. Don’t get swayed by trends that are not for you, or by items you feel you have to have simply because they’re a designer label on sale. Stop, picture what you love to wear, and only buy into that.
6. Would you pay full price? Ask yourself this: ‘if this item were not on sale, would I still be willing to pay full price for it?’ If the answer is ‘no’, then put it back. The only exception to this is something you’ve genuinely loved and wanted, but couldn’t afford at full price. In this case, grab it now and enjoy the bargain!
Do you have any tips for tackling the sales?
Love, Miss B xx
* Illustration by me
ha in response to the start of the Net-A-Porter sale perchance? i agree most with your last tip – never buy something on sale that you wouldn’t pay full price for. knowing that the Net-A-Porter sale would have plenty of things i’d love to buy, i started putting everything i really wanted on my wish list months ago and then revisited it constantly cutting out the things i no longer loved as much as when i’d first seen them. i’m now waiting for a new pair of heels and a beautiful McQueen bracelet that i know i’ll truly love. having time to think if it’s something you really want is the best way to avoid buying something just because it’s on sale or a bargain.
hope you found some awesome things too!
x
Fab post! 🙂
Great post. Having recently scored three fab items from the Opening Ceremony sale in NYC (having had to endure an hour in scorching sun outside first):
1) never let go of anything you think you might want until you’re sure; 2) take a bottle of water; 3) take a banana or power bar; something tidy and easy to eat to keep up your energy.
I’d actually urge you to step *out* of your style zone if there’s something affordable you can finally try at 70% off. I snagged a raspberry sorbet colored bandage-type (think Azzaro) skirt that was very different from anything I’d previously bought, and love it. I would never have spent full price on it as it was so unusual for me, but am delighted to have it and the sweetie loved it!
Also…with the sample sales we have here, you can’t pre-scout but have to make snap decisions about whatever is in front of you, with a gazillion others grabbing fast. I decided to try the OC sale because they’re considered one of NYC’s hottest. Standing in line I asked the woman in front of me (an OC sale veteran) if they might actually have anything my size (14-16) and she assured me they would. That helped me focus my search when we got inside.
im planing on doing some designer shopping myself so this post is bookmarked asap!
check out the giveaway on my blog! <3
I think you covered everything. The only thing I could say is that I agree with the first comment of making a wishlist much sooner and whittling it down/adjusting it as time goes on so you really are down to what you truly want and love. I actually have a list of things I need and carry it with me to help me remember and keep to what I am looking for but then it’s useful to refer to if a surprise item pops up sometimes as you instantly check if it will knock something off that list or work with it and the rest of your wardrobe.
I’ve been going through your archives and read this recently, even thought of you when I heard about the Selfridges sales 🙂 xxx
Thank’s for this amazing post ! I love the drawing above ! Check out : http://nothinlasts.blogspot.com/
What great advice. I never went to a sale in person before I moved to NYC, I would shop online though. In person my biggest mistake has been number 5) – I haven’t always stayed true to my style and I think this is the best advice here.
http://www.styleonthecouch.com
Great advice, thank you! I’m useless at shopping in the sales (get stressed and come home with junk), so tend to avoid them. But my wardrobe is in serious need of an update and I’m on a tight budget, so will follow your tips and give them a go.
Have you written a post about wardrobe essentials?
Thanks! Hannah
oh god. i’m pretty sure we share a brain.
This is some great advice and I think sales shopping can definitely be ‘managed’. I always have a list of things I want to buy and diligently wait until the sales to finally purchase them. Mind you, I’ve been lucky that the items never sold out by then. I’ve also done the pre-sale scouting and if you are on very good terms with sales assistants, they will even set aside an item for you a day before the sale. Sample sales on the other hand are a lot more tricky, because you just can’t plan anything (aside from a spending budget). In such cases, I would first grab everything you love, try everything on, then sit in a quiet corner and go through every item with a mental picture of your wardrobe and scenarious of when you’d wear it. It’s so easy to buy stuff you’d never wear again, but I’ve also regretted not splurging on certain items because I didn’t think I’d need them.
Great article
Great tips and so true=D Will defo keep these in mind or even joint them down,hehe
Happy shopping!
Cinz
i mean jot, not joint! lol
This is very sound advice Miss B. In particular the last bit about whether or not you’d make the purchase were it f.p. All too often I have ignored my answer and lived to regret it!
Thank you! And believe me, it’s learned through experience (ie. I used to always get caught up in the excited frenzy of sales and buy designer things JUST because they were on sale, only for them to hand unworn in my closet. Have since learned!)
B xx