Now, I know it’s Christmas Eve and we should all be basking in the glow of twinkly lights, making polite conversation with Auntie Jean about her tidy garden and sipping on Egg Nog, but there is another thing you can sneak off and do, just for a few minutes. Browse The Sales! 99% of the sales have already started by today, so get involved. Here are some sales Tips for you…
1. Only buy it in the sales if you contemplated buying at full price. Of course you didn’t actually buy it at full price, but you thought about it. That’s a good rule of thumb for avoiding mistakes. i am guilty of ignoring my own advice when faced with discounts of over 70% though!
2. Get the things you REALLY want early on, but pop those things you are just ‘thinking’ about in your virtual basket. Most of the big designer sites, (My Theresa, Browns, Net A Porter, Matches) will alert you again when they get reduced further.
3. Another great way of getting alerted to reductions is to go to Shop Style. Find the item you are after, pop a Sale Alert on it and they will email you when it gets cheaper. Easy.
4. I like to target the designer end of the market. Getting a bargain that you previously couldn’t justify the spends on is very satisfying. I have never paid full price for any of my faves, Stella McCartney, Isabel Marant and Bella Freud. Always kept an eye on them to go in the sale! if you are patient you WILL get those deals.
5. Online is your friend, especially with the high street shops. See the terrible jumble sale that Zara becomes. You can browse in the comfort of your own home without fear of a potential punch up with someone over that last remaining satin embroidered bomber jacket in size 12 at 50% off.
6. Online you can search by size/designer/style/price/length of sleeve/will it make me look like a twat. Thus eliminating a load of stuff that you love but is not quite in your size, and avoiding that, ‘But, if I just lose a few pounds, I can squeeze into it one day’ scenario that goes though your head.
7. If you must go to the shops, stick to the nice ones, Liberty, Selfridges, Harrods, Harvey Nichols. Avoid the high street, especially at the weekend.
8. Go in the morning if you can, Friday ideally, as soon as the shops open so you miss the hoards. Makes for a much more relaxing sales shopping experience. I don’t know why Friday mornings are so quiet, but in London, it’s often the best time.
9. Never go with your friends, your children or your partner. Get in, get out, get home, enjoy your bargains at your leisure.
10. Go back for a quick once over when the sales are ending, that’s when you find the massive bargains. I once got a Vivienne Westwood Red Label Dress in the dregs of the Liberty Sale, reduced from £895 to £95!
So, here’s my pick of the sales. I’m sticking with high-end for now. Once I get my bloody laptop fixed (got to take it to the Apple Store the day after Boxing Day. At Westfield — kill me now!) I will do another post on my picks from the high street sales.
Here we go… Have . wonderful Christmas, see you on the other side.
