I know The Sales are on almost all year round these days, but I still think you get the best bargains in what were the January Sales (now basically the late December Sales). Mainly because you can get things that just are usually expensive, like Coats, Cashmere and Boots.
My only advice when shopping in the sales is ask yourself these questions:
- Did you contemplate buying it at full price ?
- Does it fill a hole you have in your wardrobe ? (metaphorically)
- Will you wear it more than 10 times ?
- Do you love it and can’t live without it ?
- Can you afford it?
If you can say yes to most of these questions, then go ahead. You shall buy and your life will be complete. Well, maybe not, but you’ll feel good for a while, and that’s basically the best we can hope for these days. Here’s my pick of the sales for you…
CASHMERE AND KNITWEAR
Cashmere is expensive. It’s also soft, warm, luxurious, and once you try, you will never look the same way at any of your wool/acrylic mix knitwear ever again. This is the best time of year to get your cashmere fix. It’s still winter, you can still wear it. If you treat it right (lavender anti moth sachets and a sweater shaver are your friends), it will last for many winters to come.
1. Re/Done Stried Cashmere/Wool Blend Jumper
2. Chinti & Parker Cashmere/Wool Peanuts Cardigan
3. Chinti & Parker Black Cashmere Jumper
4. Bella Freud Pretty Things Cashmere Jumper
5. Whistles Cashmere Roll Neck Jumper
6. Pure Collection Boat Neck Cashmere Jumper
COATS & JACKETS
Coats are also expensive. Chances are you know that as you have a few. But was there one you thought about buying back in October, but couldn’t justify it? Now’s your moment. Hopefully you’ll find it on sale AND the coldest months are still ahead of us. We tend to forget that it’s January, February and March when we really need our winter warmers. Look out for puffer jackets. They are having another moment this winter and there’s lots on offer right now.
1. Whistles Check Wool Blend Coat
2. Boden Caddick Puffer Jacket
3. Mango Water Repellent Puffer Jacket
4. Apparis Margot Faux Fur Coat
SHOES & BOOTS
A no brainer for me this one. They are things I wear all the time and you should never grow out of them. That said, after I’d had children, my feet seemed to get larger for a time. Back to normal size now. Maybe it was water retention? Maybe I was just fatter. I would usually advocate looking for classic styles when you buy shoes of boots, but in the sales, all bets are off. Get the pair that makes your heart sing.
1. Isabel Marant Derwina Suede Ankle Boots
2. All Saints Lira Leather Boots
3. Boden Caversham Leopard Ankle Boots
4. Selected Femme x Anthropologie Trainers
5. Shoe The Bear Yellow Suede Agda Boots
6. M&S Hiker Trainers
DRESSES (just because I love dresses)
I really do love dresses and I love discounted dresses the best. Usually I head for Ganni in the sales, as I find their dresses the most flattering for me. Nothing too tight around the waist, good length, always have sleeves. I can also say the same about ME + EM, a brand I love and that does classic pieces but I can’t really justify them at full price.
1. & Other Stories Voluminous Ruffle Mini Dress
2. Mango Metallic Thread Floral Midi Dress
3. Ganni Cotton Silk Leopard Print Dress
4. ME + EM Abstract Animal Print Dress
THINGS I BOUGHT AT FULL PRICE
This is always the annoying part about the sales. When you’ve bought something and now it’s half the price you’ve paid for it. I try to be dogmatic about it. If I’ve worn said item more than 5 times then I figure I got that much money’s worth out of paying full price. The Boden swimming costume is a good case in point. I recommend buying it immediately. It’s the most universally flattering swimsuit I’ve ever found. I might even get one in a different colour for my next holiday.
This Matalan jacket is the opposite. I only bought it last week at full price. It’s now only £12! And it’s reversible, so that’s essentially £6 per jacket. I don’t normally look in Matalan, but I saw this on my friend Sarah (Little Spree) and it’s a spit of an Anine Bing one that’s over £250.
1. Boden Santorini Swimming Costume
2. Cos Draped Wide Fit Shirt
3. Matalan Falmer Quilted Reversible Jacket
4. Per Una Satin Floral Wrap Skirt
5. New Balance 574 Trainers
HIGH TICKET ITEMS I CAN’T AFFORD AT FULL PRICE
Sometimes you just want something you’ve been lusting over for months. For me it would be this Batsheva Corduroy dress. I’m not actually going to buy it because I already have more Corduroy than any person has a right to own. I also already have a pair of these Stella McCartney jeans, which I also got on sale, they are now 5 years old and I still get joy from them. Designer jeans are actually a great thing to look for in the sales. I’ve never paid full price for any of my expensive jeans.
1. The Outnet Stella McCartney Leopard Sunglasses
2. Alessandra Rich Diamante Hair Slides
3. Batsheva Corduroy Puff Sleeve Dress
4. JW Anderson Anchor Logo Bag
5. Chloe Sonnie Trainers
6. Stella McCartney Star Print Jeans
I hope you have a wonderful and happy New Year. Thanks so much for reading my blog in 2019. I will be back in 2020 with pretty much more of the same. Do let me know if there is anything you’d like to see next year. You’ll still have to do that over on Instagram though as I’m yet to fix the comments section. Maybe that’s something I need to get around to next year.
K x
