How To: Shop A Sale

Holiday season is finally here! In the fashion world this means 2 things; shopping for loved ones and hunting down sales. Luckily the two go hand in hand. Now shopping a sale may seem like you’ve already done all the hard work. You found a sale, things are already going to be cheaper than they would be originally. Unfortunately, buying something on sale does not always guarantee you are getting the best deal. I have listed below my top 4 tips that make sure that you are getting the most bang for your buck. Though I will not be doing a gift guide on my blog, I will however be posting a photo of my favorite holiday picks on my Instagram @thevelvetdress_

I want to note that this will be a 3 part series (this is part 1) and they will cover, in my opinion, the 3 main tiers of knowledge in reference to sale shopping. This is the holiday sale edition 🙂 Though I hope to continue this series as my blog progresses, as I mostly learn through experience and reading stats/interviews.

1. Always check other sources
Just because you found something on sale doesn’t mean that’s the cheapest it’s being sold for. Once you find that perfect item your looking for, you should search to see where else it’s being sold. I cant even say the number of times I’ve been stoked to find something on sale for lets say 30% off then found the exact same item being sold on another site for 40% off. In this situation, who the source is doesn’t really matter, your still getting the same item but just at a cheaper price. (though its always important to look up costumer reviews for this very reason, you want to research who you are really giving your money to)

2. Wait till end of season (if you can)
At the end of seasons, mostly winter/summer, you will be able to get the best deals. When it nears the end of the season they are forced to put their stock at low prices just to get rid of it. Nobody wants to buy a heavy jacket in summer just as nobody wants to buy a sundress in winter. Therefor I personally always wait till end of season to get that jacket or pair of boots I’ve been lusting after. Even though you may not be able to wear it right then, chances are if you really do love it you’ll never get sick of the item. Also when it comes time to wear it and people want to know where you’ve found it, it will already be unavailable to purchase. This is unfortunate for those looking to buy, but also guarantees that you will have your own look/style that can’t be bought.

3. Sometimes buying directly from the designer is the best deal
Though this is not always true, but when it is you’ll be surprised on the amount you’ll save. Example; A pair of designer shoes are marked down slightly in price at a fancy vintage boutique, you might look at that deal and just buy it on the spot. But if you check the official designers website they are being sold at regular price, which is listed as less than the current “sale” price. Even though this particular store has brought down the price, it still isn’t really a deal.

4. Never buy something just because it’s on sale
If you are about to buy the item and you think to yourself, “I would never pay full price for this”, then don’t get it! I know it’s tempting when you see something cute on sale to just get it right then because, hey, its on sale right? Wrong. There will always be cute clothes on sale and you cannot buy them all (unless you can). But I personally suggest only getting the pieces you really want. In my opinion it’s better to spend a bit more money to get exactly what you want, rather than getting even half price off and not wearing it that much.