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My husband teases me that anytime he compliments me on a new outfit I’m quick to retort, “I got it on sale.” For me, that’s not an excuse, it’s a point of pride.
I’m a sales shopper. I'm a veteran of outlets, discount warehouses and the seasonal store blowouts where I’ve found most of my favorite fashion items — and you can too. Here are some tips for shopping the late summer sales in stores and online.
· Discounts only get deeper as the summer months start coming to an end because retailers are trying to clear spaces for fall merchandise. Is it worth it to buy a summer dress in August? Yes, because you’ll still get some wear out of it this year; you’ll have something pretty in your closet to kick off next summer; and you may even be able to wear it into the fall (more about that later).
· Most deeply discounted items are final sale. Before you buy, make sure you know the store’s return policy.
· If you’re looking for something specific — a shirtdress that you’ve seen online or in a store that you’ve fallen in love with — don’t wait too long. Is it worth the retail price? One markdown? Two? Decide how much it’s worth to you — it might be gone if you don’t snatch it up.
· The same is true if you’re shopping in a store and there’s one pair of lightweight jeans left in your size but you’re not sure if you’re going to buy them. Carry them around with you anyway. If you put them back on the rack they might be snatched up by another shopper before you’ve decided.
· When the very comfortable espadrilles I bought at the beginning of the summer went on sale, I bought two more pairs, in different colors. These generally can cost over $100 bucks, but I got mine for $30 a pair. I’m a big fan of stockpiling the basic pieces you love — with any luck I’m set for shoes for at least the next several summers and fall too. T-shirts, tank tops and your favorite jeans are all items you’ll wear over and over, so why not buy more than one if the sale price is right? (I’ve read that Jackie Kennedy used to buy multiples of favorite pieces too.)
· Look for flowy skirts and wide-leg pants that offer both style and comfort. During the rest of the summer wear them with T-shirts or short-sleeved tops (which you may also find on sale). Come September and cooler weather, pair the same skirts and pants with long-sleeved tops, crew neck sweaters or an oversized woolen sweater. Bulky sweaters with billowy bottoms are one of my favorite looks, especially when you add a pair of boots.
· The lightweight summer dresses that you buy on sale now will keep you cool during the rest of the season. And come fall, that dress will look cool paired with a sharp blazer or a boxy cardigan. You could also wear a clingy long-sleeved t-shirt under a spaghetti-strapped sundress. Or how about reaching for a white button-down shirt and layering it over the dress? Roll up the sleeves of the shirt and tie the ends of the shirt together at your waist.
· Swimsuits! Is there a style or manufacturer that makes a suit you’ve been happy with before? Google the name with the word “sale” and see if you can get that flattering suit that makes you feel confident at a discount. (A good friend just bought two black Jantzen sexy one-piece suits; each was $15 on sale.) Yes, follow her lead — buy a couple. But bathing suits are tricky, so unless it’s returnable, you’re buying a repeat suit, or you can try it on in the store, I’d pass on buying swimwear even at a deep discount.
· Along with other summer merchandise, sunscreen goes on sale near the end of the season, too. I’m sure you’ve noticed some of your favorite brands that used to be $15 for a big tube now retail at $30 and more. I’ve found great deals at CBS, Target and Walmart, among others. Be sure to check expiration dates though. The ingredients in sunscreen do break down over time and become ineffective.
· Bucket hats and wide-brimmed straw hats (some of them packable, for that winter vacation), all go on sale at the end of the summer. And if you can find a cute denim jacket or a lightweight cotton cardigan I’d snag them too — they’ll get you through those cooler summer evenings, and over-air-conditioned restaurants and help you segue into your fall wardrobe.
· Several states offer “tax-free days” in August, during which, among other things, the sales tax is waived on clothing. Check out “tax-free dates 2024” online to see if you can take advantage of this perk.
· Save big bucks on pricey activewear as August wanes. You can stock up on breathable tops, leggings and sports bras from the finest brands. You can also find deals on clothing and accessories for hiking and cycling.
· Finally, after spending several hundred words telling you what you should buy, I’m going to tell you what you shouldn’t buy. Don’t buy something just because it’s on sale. I speak, alas, from experience. How many times have I been seduced into buying a pair of shoes or a skirt that was just “a little too tight” because the original price was slashed? As my mother, the shopping maven, always used to tell me, “A good deal isn’t a good deal if you’re never going to wear it.”
Photo Credits (from left): Adobe Stock, Getty Images (4)
What do you try to buy at the end of summer because it's typically on sale? Let us know in the comments below.
