Most of us love a bargain, and the sales can be a great time to bag one! I also include outlets when considering sales, as you can get fantastic reductions all year round. There are, however, many pitfalls to sale shopping that it’s easy to fall into, so here’s my guide to being a savvy sale shopper. Read on to discover how to shop the sales successfully.
How to shop the sales successfully:
Audit your wardrobe before you go shopping:
To shop the sales successfully, you need to think about what you already have in your wardrobe and where the gaps are. This can give you a bit of a game plan for hitting the shops. It can also help to determine your budget before you go. Those sale bargains can add up if you get carried away!
Stick to the three style principles:
- Is it a good colour for me?
- Does it fit me well?
- Does it suit my personality and lifestyle?
If you only answer yes to one out of three, put it back on the rail! It doesn’t matter if it’s a great reduction; it’s will sit unloved in your wardrobe, or worn once or twice at best before you realise you’ve made a big mistake!
If you answer yes to two out of three, it could be a maybe… If the colour isn’t perfect, you might make it work better by combining it with another shade. This could be easily done by adding a scarf or piece of jewellery in a great colour. If it doesn’t fit 100%, you may be able to get it tailored or adjusted. Having something altered to fit you perfectly can make a sale purchase worthwhile – the money you save can go on the alterations.
NOTE – Things that are a bit too roomy work best than items that are too tight to start.
For an excellent alteration service locally – I recommend Louise MacIver, who is based in Felpham Way – her contact number is 07762 941588.
If it’s not your usual style, handle with care! A sale can make us do funny things when it comes to making clothing decisions! A jewel-encrusted leopard print faux fur coat we might not usually pick up suddenly becomes a draw reduced from £200 to £50! But you really aren’t saving money if it’s something you aren’t going to wear. Leave it for someone else who’ll love it!
Consider the cost-per-wear
You’ve probably heard me talk about an item’s cost per wear before. A simple formula (who knew maths could come in handy for fashion!) where you divide the price of an item by the number of times you have or are likely to wear it. So, take a sale bargain dress that you had to have because it was £100 reduced to £30. You wear it once and realise it was a mistake – meaning it cost you £30 per wear. On the other hand, a classic investment coat that you paid £300 for, have had for three years, and have worn at least 100 times becomes just £3 per wear.
Thinking this way can help to make more conscious, wise purchases.
Enjoy it!
As ever, fashion and style should also be fun, so enjoy your bargain hunting. You might find some fabulous things that are generally out of your price range. And if you do make a faux pas purchase, you can always sell it or donate it to charity! Just don’t be tempted to leave it languishing in the wardrobe because you feel guilty it’s still got the tags!
As ever, I can help with auditing your wardrobe and can come shopping with you to make sure you’re buying wisely. Contact me HERE.
I like the £s per wear idea Vicky and the 3 principles/ questions are very useful!
Thanks Alison – it does make you think a bit more when buying new things!
I’ve actually steered clear of the sales this year to avoid doing funny things!
Armed with your advice I may be tempted to take a look and become that savvy shopper – I’ll let you know how I get on x
Ha ha – yes keep me updated Moira!