Shopping Secrets Spilled: Get Your Fashion Fix For Far Less
Because we all love a good bargain. [Photo: Getty]
Now that Fashion Week has shown us the style future, the urge to shop and fill our wardrobes is overwhelming. We have a growing wishlist but unfortunately our bank balance only goes so far.
Luckily, there are some incredible websites and apps out there which are helping shoppers get the best deal on their favourite fashion and beauty buys. Stop spending more than you have to and read on - today we’re sharing our sale shopping secrets.
Search The Sales Without The Stress
Consider yourself a bit of a bargain hunter? Well your hunt just got easier. Websites like LoveTheSales.com trawls through Internet sales to bring you a searchable database of discounted products.
We searched for our regular skincare staples like Liz Earle Instant Glow Tonic and Maybelline Dream Velvet foundation and found that they were on offer at Boots. It’s a great site to check if you’re buying something specific - just in case you can find them cheaper elsewhere.
The best part is that you can search for a particular item and it will scan hundreds of shops to let you know if it’s on offer anywhere. You can even follow a particular brand and be alerted when they start a sale. Brilliant, right?
A Day Out At The Outlet
If it HAS to be designer, but you don’t mind that it’s not instantly off the catwalk, why not try out an outlet shopping centre like Bicester Village or a McArthurGlen Designer Outlet? Filled with well-known designer shops, you can get huge savings on designer and branded goods – simply because there’s a newer collection coming out in stores.
Don’t be fooled into thinking it’s all summer bikini sales in winter though: A lot of the items there are leftover samples or current season overflow stock. And we’re not just talking end-of-season sale prices, you can get up to 70% off RRP.
In addition to the current season discount, Belstaff at Bicester Vilage are offering an ADDITIONAL 20% off their quilted jackets until the end of March.
Find Hidden Gems On A Mobile Marketplace
If you don’t mind a pre-loved item, then marketplace apps like eBay and Depop are perfect for finding that specific item you missed out on. You might not have snapped up that must-have Zara blanket scarf but someone will have.
Shopping and getting outfit inspiration from your phone has been made so much easier, thanks to the Instagram-appeal of Depop (which has us lusting after things we never knew we even wanted!). You can even buy items from celebrities and bloggers who are selling their stylish swag to their fans for bargain prices.
For the ultimate in savvy shopping, why not sell your own items to fund your new purchases. Are you overdue a wardrobe clearout? We found these Karl Lagerfeld leather boots on Depop for £30 when they were worth about 10 times more.
We felt that we were saving money just by buying them (or at least, that’s how we justified it to ourselves!)
Hire It For A Day
Why spend a lot of money buying the latest designer dress when you can borrow it for a fraction of the cost? GirlsMeetsDress is a great website where you can hire beautiful, in-season designer dresses from £29. You simply enter the dates you want it for, when you can return it by and it tells you how much it will cost.
Websites like these are great for special occasions or black tie events. We would never get to wear £900 dresses and labels like Alexander McQueen and Herve Leger otherwise! We love this gorgeous detailed Self Portrait dress worth £280, but you can borrow it for £69 and feel like a super rich celeb for an evening.
Figuring out how to use some thread and a needle could save you a bundle. [Photo: Getty]
Learn To Sew
The biggest discounts can sometimes be found on damaged clothes but when we say ‘damaged’, it’s doesn’t always mean that an arm is missing or there’s a huge hole in the crotch. Sometimes an item is only faulty because it’s missing a button or developed a tiny hole in the seam – all of which can be easily repaired if you have some skills with a needle and thread.
If you’re buying an item in a shop and notice it’s not perfect, sales assistants are often more than happy to award discounts. If the item is not in perfect condition, you are well within your rights to ask for one. Just make sure you know how to fix the issue first (or be prepared to take it to someone who does!)
You need balls of steel for this one, but braving a sample sale could help you snap up that designer item you’ve been dreaming about. [Photo: Motion Pictures]
Shop The Sample Sale
Sample sales are a great time to get access to discounted brands. Become a sample sale pro and get updates for the latest sample sales by following a site like Chicmi or a popular sample sale venue like The Music Rooms.
For a successful sample sale, knowing the location is only half of the job. Check out these top tips for surviving a sample sale, including what to wear, when to get there and sample sale etiquette.
It’s not all elbows and pushing but be prepared to get into close contact. Be the Monica of the sample sale - not the Rachel!
What are your top tips for finding that fashion or beauty bargain? Does second-hand or faulty put you off? Tweet us at YahooStyleUK!
