In July, retailers start to put summer items on sale. It’s a great opportunity to add great pieces to your wardrobe at a reduced price. Learn how to look for the best trends when shopping the sales.
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Good and Bad Merchandise in the Sales
Sales serve to get the merchandise of the current season out to make space for the new items of the next season. However, often retailers add already items from the upcoming season to test what sells. Doing so helps them to gauge the market for a big, less risky order later. Typically, they sell this test merchandise for a bit less than their regular price. Look for these items when you want to become a trendsetter.
However, some retailers stock up on cheap items for the sales! These pieces are bad deals even at “50% off”!
How to Identify the Deals That Are Worth Your Money
The cheap trendy items bought for the sales are not the ones you want to shop ever! Cheap can be very expensive, and a splurge can be very cheap when it comes to the cost-per-wear. To identify whether a sales is a great deal calculate the following:
Cost per wear = Price of the clothing /Number of times you expect to wear it
The cost per wear should be below $1 for a good deal, no matter of the price. More on how to know when to bargain and when to splurge.
Stylist tip: Never fall for a 50% off on last season’s pieces. If it is not your style, color, it’s a bad buy!
Read how to save when shopping for fashion.
Spring/Summer Pieces to Buy Now
When buying pieces from the spring/summer collection, don’t buy the trendy It item. Err on the safe side. Go for classic basic pieces with a twist in neutral colors! Look for these evergreen pieces in the summer sales.
- Shirt or sheath dresses in white or black
- Cotton or silk black and white print clothing in classic with a twist cuts
- Clothing in a classic with a twist cut with a blue print on white in cotton or silk
- Trench coats. See this post to learn what to look for in a trench coat to get a classic one that stays in style for years.
- Solid white or black high quality T-shirts.
- Classic cuts of blouses, tops, or button-downs
- See examples of good buys in the carousel below
Stylist tip: Look for and stock up on high quality timeless basics in your neutral colors when you can find them on sale.
Fall Trends to Look for in the Summer Sales
The “new trends” of the upcoming cold season may look expensive as compared to items of same quality on sale from spring/summer 2022. They may be just 10% off, 15% when you are lucky. However, they are most likely cheaper than they will be in fall. Just think the Nordstrom Sale. Therefore, when you want to get the new trends for less, here is what to buy.
- Pieces that match your personal color palette and style as well as your lifestyle
- Clothes that work with at least three pieces in your cold season wardrobe
- Trends you expect to wear it over and over in the upcoming season because you really love the piece.
- Classic basics in your neutral or fashion colors.
- Look for the following fall/winter trends.
Pro tip: A trendy piece should go below $1 per wear over the upcoming season!
Trends not to Buy…
- Low rise jeans or pants. This look isn’t suitable for anybody. Just imaging a midlife belly or midlife love-handles spilling over the waist band! It looks like a walking cupcake. Muffin alert!
- Short shorts. They never looked good. Even on our younger self at 20 something. So why making the same mistake twice?
- Logos all over the clothing. You are not an advertising column!
- Boxy work wear inspired overalls.
- Bold shoulders when you have inverted triangle shape. The wide shoulders are what an inverted triangle shape should play down!
You can find a comprehensive list of ugly trends you should never buy at this link.
Summing Up What to Look for in the Sales
Don’t let the percentage off fool you. Never buy a piece just because it pretends to be a bargain. Only buy what makes sense for your style and wardrobe. A minimalism piece, for instance, is a great investment for someone who has American Classic, Minimalism or Euro Chic Style. However, it’s a bad buy for someone with Bohemian Style or any very feminine or even Romantic Style.
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Photos of me: G. Kramm
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