Come, sale away
Sale, clearance and extra percent off.
Oh, the temptation. It’s those sweet deals on clothing and accessories that can get us in trouble. At 60 percent off, the store is practically giving us that sweater, correct? One in every color, please.
Sale shopping, whether offseason or in-season, shouldn’t be a reckless adventure, grabbing up this and that because it’s too good of a deal to pass up. But sometimes that’s exactly what it becomes. So, who better to share their thoughts on sales, shopping and good deals than those who sell the clothes they want us to buy?
“I would advise clients that shopping for sales can be hard work, but worth it if you have patience and time,” said Eden Turrentine, owner of Jonque Mode in the Plaza Arts District.
“Consider concentrating on your favorite stores and not just any and everywhere that has a sale sign in their window. If you shop in the store regularly, the staff will be much more likely to guide you about their sales timing if you are also gracious about it, welltimed in your inquiry and they may even let you know in advance when specific items hit the sales rack.”
Like most shoppers, Turrentine enjoys saving money when she can. She said she tries to buy cashmere on sale. “If a person could add one nice simply designed piece of cashmere a year to build their wardrobe, that’s a great item to watch for. Also, this year anything in velvet fabric from blazers to dresses and tops is a great item to pick up because it’s a pretty timeless fabric and not just for holiday anymore. It’s such a big trend this year, but going forward can be worn in a daytime fashion so easily.”
Great boots are another good sale investment because they’re a daily part of many women’s wardrobes, she said. Spring transitional items should be given a second look, too, if you can judge that the fabric and color will take you through the first quarter of the year, Turrentine said. “That includes ivories, olives, of course black, and camel. Add a colorful piece of jewelry, scarf or shoes, and you have an outfit that is March ready.”
Perhaps the most difficult part of sale shopping is passing up good deals.
“Try not to get caught up in buying pieces just because they are inexpensive,” Turrentine said. “Remind yourself that you want to love it in your wardrobe as if you paid full price for it, and just count yourself lucky on the great opportunity to save a bit.”
Winter clearance
Cindi Shelby echoes the same reminder.
Don’t buy something just because it’s on sale, she said. “Ask yourself if you’d buy it if weren’t on sale. You still need to really like it, otherwise what’s the point?”
Shelby has been in retail since 1977 working for and then owning Ruth Meyers specialty boutique and now as a representative and stylist for Worth New York She said her best advice to women shopping the sales is to never buy an item, no matter how fabulous, without finding something else to wear with it or at least knowing there’s already the perfect complement in your closet.
“If you don’t have a complete outfit, it won’t be worn,” Shelby said.
“Next, and I’ve been guilty of this, don’t settle for the item on sale instead of splurging on what you really want. You won’t feel satisfied and may end up getting what you really wanted in the first place and the
I would advise clients that shopping for sales can be hard work, but worth it if you have patience and time.” EDEN TURRENTINE, OWNER OF JONQUE MODE IN THE PLAZA ARTS DISTRICT
money spent on the sale item is just a waste,” she said.
Just as late July and August are good times for sales on swimwear, now’s an opportunity to snatch up a coat or sweater at reduced price if you need one.
“January is a funky month in the retail world,” said Jamicia Wylie, manager and buyer for Gil’s Clothing & Denim Bar. “We’ve just finished a crazy Christmas season, now what? We use this time to clear out odds and ends. We have styles that sold well, but we may have that one random size left in a style which otherwise sold out. During the month, we usually clear out super heavy items such as coats and leather jackets.”
January is a good time to grab some extra low prices on winter clearance items since there’s still plenty of cold weather ahead, she said.
“During January, we like to bring in new styles that are transitional, clothes in lighter colors but warm enough to be worn now. We believe in buy now, wear now. January to us is layers and brighter colors,” she said.
“Being Oklahoma local, we know that you can’t wear a strappy fun floral dress or shorts in January or February,” she said, but shoppers also want something fresh and new to wear right away. “Our customers tend to shop for now, not for the entire season, next season or next wear.”
While sales are part of the business, she said Gil’s is always bringing in new merchandise to refresh the store.
“So, yes, January is funky, but we look at it as a fresh start to a new year.”