The Golden Rules of Sale Shopping
The traditional method of sale shopping is outdated. It is over, kaput. Enter the brave new world. Where we used to go sale shopping two times a year, there is now the opportunity to do this every other week. This could be due to the current economic climate and the rise in internet shopping sites.
You now need to be savvy and keep an eye on the items you covert. You need to research and find out when they will be on sale. Sales may last from 1 day to almost 6 months. It all depends on the item and the retail company's promotional policies.
Stay ahead of the sales game!
Sign up with a store you love
If you love a particular shop or a particular designer, put yourself on their mailing list so that you get automatic updates and stay ahead of the game. When you know a sale is about to begin, take a trip to the store and spy 0ut the garments that you are particularly interested in. Try on the clothes for sizing so that you can pay and go in the sales! This will save you enormous amounts of time !
Spy out the secret sales
Find out who has the secret sales. This is the period just before the public sale when shops will offer a discount on their wares. Customers in the know are usually notified by mail or telephone that there is a promotional period on before the sale goes public. See our link to Secret Sales.
Do your research before you leave home.
Search the internet for the products that you want. Flick through magazines to see what is on sale that week. Grazia and Look are fantastic magazines for this.
Have a mini wardrobe audit..if you can...invite a friend to help you!
Stage 1 Buy a wardrobe notebook
I know this sounds a bit serious, but a little cutsey notebook or iPhone will be perfect to help you shop imaginatively and intelligently. Don't worry, no one will know!
Stage 2 Categorise into colours
For a start, put your wardrobe into colour categories and make a note of the various colour combinations you have in your wardrobe. Are there any colours you don't wear? If so, pull them out. You may not want to get rid of them at this stage but you don't want to factor in colours that you actually don't like anymore.
Stage 3 Categorise into styles
Your wardrobe is an expression of who you are...so what do you look like? Are you having fun with your clothes footwear and accessories or are you very serious and life has become pretty functional. You might want to give yourself a score for fun, serious, functional, relaxed, uptight, party, work, joyful, depressed! Look carefully at your scores and consider what you would like to add to your wardrobe in order to make it more...expressive! Write down the categories that you are wanting to develop in your wardrobe so that when you sales shop, you know what you are looking for and you know the sorts of shops to go to first! Have a peek at our High Street section.
Stage 4 What's missing?
Okay, now it is worth looking at what you need...this is the boring bit, but is really necessary so that your wardrobe doesn't become bottom heavy. We think that for every bottom you should have at least three tops and to avoid eve thinking of this ratio, just buy lots of dresses!! Whatever you decide you need to buy, remember to reflect the style that you feel is lacking in your wardrobe.
Stage 5 What do you love that has seen it's last days?
Painful though this part is, it is very important to replace our wardrobe loved ones..though we all know they can never be replaced and will always hold a special place in our hearts. Clothes that look tired, though loved, need to be put into our subs draw and we need to find some fresh new replacements. Grasp the nettle ladies and see what you can garner from the sales this season. Our Maintain your wardrobe section might help keep those old, loveable garments limping on...you never know!
Stage 6 Have a quick slurp of champagne!
It's always worth hitting the sales with a little bit of frivolity..so whatever helps you to lighten up and enjoy yourself..this will probably mean you don't take anything male along...unless he is a fashionista daarling!
Set a few price limits
I have learnt, over the years, that there is little point in setting just one price limit. Here are some suggested price limits.
Price limit for 'Essentials'
Price limit for 'I have to have you' items
Price limit for 'I can just about afford you but will have to shop at Lidl for a month' items.
Once you have reached your Lidl price limit, you know it is over and you have to just walk away knowing that you have spent enough and any more would be consumer suicide.
A few tips for sales shopping 
Take your wardrobe notebook with you
This will really help you to stay focused and shop intelligently. It is amazing how we can so easily become distracted by a discounted massage tool or a Benefit special deal! Stay focused ladies and keep referring back to your little book of dreams!
Wear the right footwear & checclothes
No matter what, you are going to get hot, tired and bothered so wear comfortable clothing that can strip off easily and wear comfortable but lovely shoes. You have to feel gorgeous when you sales shop so that you don't fall prey to that desperate, poor waif feeling. You have to shop feeling great and thinking that any discounted extra addition will continue to make a fabulous wardrobe even more fabulous.
Let your fingers do the walking
Having a feel for the product you are buying will help you judge quality and comfort.
It might be discounted but check it's intact
We are so sad to have to report this but time and time again we see ladies paying fur coat prices for garments that are not perfect. Only last week, a gorgeous Nicole Fahri dress was discounted from £140 to £90 but had a material belt missing. How did I know..because there were very fine belt hooks and no belt. The department store would only discount it to £85 ..to me this is outrageous and if it happens to you..just walk away. No one should have to pay fur coat prices for clothes that have gone AWOL!
Have a plenty of breaks
This will help to recharge your batteries and make better choices. Read a lovely book or an intelligent article to remind you that there is a bigger, grander, important world out there that won't collapse if that dress isn't discounted enough or someone took the last size 14. Chill out a minute!
For more tips
Teach Yourself Thrifty Living
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