Plan ahead to bag a bargain during tempting sales season
PERHAPS IT’S THE MASSIVE signs in shop windows. Or the shiny rails filled with discounts. Or the hundreds of women battling for the same bag. Maybe it’s all three that sets my heart racing every sales season, when the impulsive desire for a bargain hits me heavy. Every summer I vow to retain some dignity on my spending but it’s challenging.
There’s something profoundly satisfying about spending money during sale season. What you manage to swipe up at a 70% steal becomes the topic of conversation over lunch with friends, on the phone to your mother or in the office with colleagues. The obsessive urge to shop becomes much more about the hunter/gatherer instinct, the love of finding a bargain but also the sense of achievement.
There are, of course, some foolproof strategies that you need to remember before you go shopping. In previous years I’ve left my favourite stores defeated because I had no game plan. The first thing you must do is write a list of things you’ve had your eye on, others that you potentially need and any birthdays or occasions that you’re hoping to buy for. Anything else you pick up impulsively will more than likely be relegated to the back of the closet.
More practised sales shoppers – especially those who are brave enough to shop in city centres – will know that you have to get in and out early. Leaving at midday, getting stuck in traffic, hoping and failing to get a convenient parking space, will take all the joy out of the experience. If you’ve managed to dodge the crowds having already brainstormed what you’re looking for, the rest should come easy.
When trying on, remember the fitting room mirror never lies. Don’t buy for an imaginary you that’s 5lb lighter – tailoring can transform the cut of a dress but it cannot work miracles. If it doesn’t fit, don’t hope that someday it will. Similarly, if it’s two sizes too big and it requires too much work, it wasn’t meant to be.
Never buy anything because of the percentage you’re saving – my mother falls for his trick every time. Whether it’s 20, 40 or 70%, the important question is how much it’s worth to you. That said, don’t completely ignore the bargain bins or shelves either. Obviously these won’t be the trophy items that you’ll be boasting about the next day but they are perfect for everyday jeans and jumpers that would normally set you back far more.
The summer sales make me inherently nostalgic. My wins over the years include my crepe Chloe blazer, my dusty brown Isabel Marant heels, my Victoria Beckham oversized mac and many others — all of which I still wear. And regrets? I’ve had many. But these have ultimately helped shape a stronger, more assured shopper.
There’s something very satisfying about spending in sale season