How to shop smart during sales
We all love a good old bargain hunt every season. Maybe you’ve waited to buy a certain piece for a reduced price and now it’s your chance. But, oh wait – this dress is cute! What about that blouse?? Ohh, and those jeans are dreamy… By the time you get to the till, you’re holding 20+ items, without even realising that you don’t actually need that much stuff. You just felt the shopping rush.
‘Well, because all of it is cheap!’
– and yes, that is great, but are you going to wear all of it or just leave it in the wardrobe so the dust could have it?
If you’re not sure, let me introduce you to how to shop smart during sales.
Why do sales happen?
They can appear for various reasons, depending on the brand, but most of the times it’s because they want to sell out the older product to make space for newness.
Or let’s say winter is over, so the retailer would want to sell ASAP pieces like heavy knitwear, warm coats, etc. There’s a higher chance that a customer will buy something that is at a reduced price, and that’s the sole purpose of sales – to get rid of it all.
That said, during sales season, there might be multiple further reductions, which means, don’t rush to the shop once the discounts land. Wait a bit until it’s cheaper, normally it’s 2–3 weeks from the commencing date.
Before you shop
In my previous posts, I mention that it’s essential to do a wardrobe revision before going shopping. It’s healthy for you and your purse.
Maybe you want a new pair of trousers or couple of blouses to wear to work, or just crave some fresh additions to your collection.
Make a list, so you keep track of what you’re buying.
A fun way to get inspired is to create a mood board. This could help you to keep focused and knowledgeable. Once you know what you have, and what you actually need, you’re all set for a shopping spree.
Panic! At the sale
You can truly feel overwhelmed by the choice you have. I sometimes fall into sales without even thinking and grabbing every single piece that I find cute. But somehow, I stop myself to reconsider my choices. And out of that massive pile, I leave 2–5 items with me that I will try on first, and then buy.
You can do it too.
The key is to take time and don’t rush. In general, best to go shopping whenever you’re up for it and have time to browse around and try on the clothes.
Next thing is to come up with at least 3 ways to wear the item. If you can’t, well, it has to go. It will do you no good if you get it, spend money on it and eventually you end up not wearing it at all.
Go with company
If you struggle with deciding what suits you better, grab a shopping buddy! Let it be your friend, sister, mum, etc.
Some of the shops provide personal shopping services, and I strongly recommend using them. These brands include: River Island, Topshop Topman, Lindex, House of Fraser, Selfridges, Farfetch. They’ll help you to choose the best outfits for you, give some styling tips and make your shopping stress-free.
Shopping and winning
If you want to make the best of your sale shopping, think about the time of the year you are doing it. Let’s say now we are in August, which means autumn is approaching. Thus buying less summery stuff would benefit you more.
Why?
Because we’re heading into the end of the season and if you buy a very light, strap dress, you might wear it once until it gets a bit colder. And you might forget about it next year, because the trends will probably be different that time.
So, look for more transitional clothing that will serve you now and in autumn – long sleeve blouses, jeans, light knitwear, blazers, denim jackets, t-shirts, etc.
Looking for certain colours is a good idea too. This autumn/winter 2020, most of the popular colours will remain as they were this SS20, just more muted and richer hues. Forecasted trendy colours will be: natural neutrals, tinted pastels, bold brights and jewel tones (read more: https://www.anniecatania.com/aw-2021-color-trends. )
