Many sales have already started and they’ll all be in full swing on Boxing Day and beyond, so if you are wanting to add a few new items to your wardrobe here are my top 10 tips.
- Ask yourself if you can ‘shop your wardrobe’ first
Before spending your hard earned money, why not re-evaluate what you already have. We often have wardrobes and drawers full to the brim of clothes that can be combined in different ways to make new outfit options, or that can be dyed, alterered or worn in a different way (eg, leaving a shirt undone to wear as a jacket). Try playing with your accessories (jewellery, scarves, shoes/boots, bags etc.) as they alone can transform outfits. It never fails to amaze me how many new outfits are just waiting to be discovered in client’s wardrobes! - Make a shopping list
So that your shopping trip is successful, I’d urge you to appraise your wardrobe first and then make a list of exactly what it is that you need. It sounds obvious, but so many people don’t do this and then find that they spend hours aimlessly wandering in and out of shops and coming home empty handed and exhausted. If you have had your eye on something at full price now is the time to see if it has gone into the sale, so definitely add such items to your list. - Consider charity shops and pre-owned shops
As well as finding some great bargains in the sales, you can definitely find some amazing deals in charity shops and shops offering pre-owned items. People often have a clear out of their wardrobes over the Christmas period and into the New Year, so it can be a great time to pay a visit to the charity and pre-owned shops. - Have a budget in mind to avoid overspending
It’s easy to get carried away and come home with too much, so have a set budget in mind and keep tabs on it as you shop. - Now’s the time to buy quality brands or bigger ticket items at a discounted price
The sales are an excellent time to buy items from brands that are usually out of your price range. Or to buy the bigger ticket items, a winter coat for example, that will now be more affordable. - Only buy things that you would choose to buy at full price
Sales can be tantalizing and it’s easy to get carried away and buy things just because the price is so attractive. Rather than filling your wardrobes with things you’ll probably not wear just because they were a bargain, instead ask yourself whether you’d have liked and bought the item when it was at full price? Only if you can truly say yes should it make its way into your bag! - Only buy things that you know go with other things in your wardrobe or create a whole outfit in themselves
Another danger of sale shopping, is coming home with arm fulls of tops and bottoms, none of which either go together or go with other things in your wardrobe. If you want to maximise your investment by keeping the ‘cost per wear’ low, you need to buy things that you know you will wear and wear again. Another reason for making sure that you look through your wardrobe and make a list before you shop. - Make sure that the clothes you buy tick the 3 F’s: Fit, Flatter, Function
Buying clothes that fit you properly, that flatter you (in terms of their colour and style) and that function for the way you spend your time, means your your purchases will be good value. Don’t waste your money buying lots of clothes for dressier occasions if you don’t have need for them. If you spend your time in more casual clothes then this is where you should instead spend most of your money. - Try before you buy
Obviously you can’t do this if you’re shopping online, but always try your clothes on before you buy if you want to avoid costly mistakes in your wardrobe, or trips back to the shops to return things. - Enjoy your new clothes
If you’ve spent wisely bearing in mind the tips above, and have treated yourself to a few new items, now you just need to enjoy wearing them and reaping the compliments that are sure to follow – even better in the knowledge that you saved some money too!