FashBlog.com

by Lindsey Rawson-Lin


Who does not love to save money on clothing? What is it about getting a Dolce & Gabbana top for $40, when it retailed for $500 that drives us women into a frenzy? There is something about buying designer clothing for half the price that gives us a thrill, a rush. It is more than just the money you are saving; it is the feeling that you have found a hidden treasure of sorts, a deal. Who does not love a good deal? It is human nature to want to get a deal on something because it feels good.

For me, outlet shopping has become a sport, a pastime. The key to saving money and walking out with phenomenal discounts is all in the planning.

People often ask me how I get the best deals and how my clothes can be so cute and stylish and still come from outlets. The answer is simple. Some of the good outlet stores have really great clothes, selections, and prices; you just have to be willing to do a little bit of homework before shopping.

You want to be the smartest shopper out there. A lot of outlet stores sell merchandise for almost the same price, if not the same price as their counterpart high-end department stores. It is a trick that retailers use. Many stores bring you in under the false pretense of outlet prices and they sell you their overstock for almost the same price as the original retail at around a 10-20% discount.

After years of outlet shopping and owning an EBay business that sold designer and couture clothing at discount prices I have tips that will help you become a shopper that can save 60-90% on each outlet shopping trip. And the best part? You can buy from designers like Ann Taylor, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Guess, and Coach, all at deeply discounted prices.

The Keys to Outlet Shopping

Know your Stores:

All outlet stores do not offer outlet prices, so taking a few minutes to do the research and figure out what the normal prices are at the actual mainstream stores for slacks, skirts, suits, dresses, will prepare you to not fall into that trap. You do not have to be too specific. General prices will work well. If you are looking for a cashmere sweater, price it at a couple of stores in your area before you go to the outlets. When you go to the outlet stores you will know immediately if something is too close to the original sale price. If it is within 10-15% of the original store price, then you might not be getting a good deal. Remember, most outlet trips are out of your way so you want to make it worth the trip. Unless of course it is that item that you have to have, because we all know how that is. If it is that Marc Jacobs dress you have been looking at for the past few months and you have to have it and it is in your budget, then buy it.

Know When to Shop:

This may seem logical but you would be surprised how many people do not shop at the right time. Last summer I found Ann Taylor Silk Dresses that retailed at $159 in the normal Ann Taylor stores at the Ann Taylor Factory Store for $19.99. That is almost a 90% discount. I went in the middle of the summer, around mid July. They had a ton of inventory and sizes to choose from. Early in the summer and in spring those same dresses had been priced at $79 at the outlet. By waiting and going back later in the summer, I was able to scoop up five dresses for only $100 versus buying them in April at the factory store for $400. That is a steal. The dresses were elegant and wearable in almost any season. Often you can buy items that are considered seasonable and wear them all year round. Try to shop in the late part of each season:

July/August for summer
December/January for winter
April/May for spring
October/November for fall

There is a lot of overlap in all of these categories, so you might buy something for summer that you found in July and be able to wear it until October. If you arae looking for the best savings, avoid buying clothing at the beginning of the season. Buying at the high times will lead to the most expensive prices, it is all about supply and demand.

Another way to find out when to shop is to look at the outlet mall websites. The outlets will often list special promotional dates such as sidewalk sales or end of the season clearances. After Christmas and after Thanksgiving are also the best days to shop for yourself.

Know Where to Shop:

There are many outlet malls that advertise themselves as such, but when you actually get there you cannot find any good discounts. If you go to the very large outlet malls with over 50 stores you can usually find stores that have better discounts. It is the rule of probability. More stores will offer more selection and competition and probably offer better prices. It is worth the day trip or two hour drive you may have to take if you have found a good outlet mall. Take your girlfriends with you and make a day out of it.

Come with a Budget:

A shopper that walks into the outlet mall with a budget is much more prepared than one that does not. If you do not have a budget, you are more likely to blow a ton of money that you might not have otherwise spent. If you spend more money than you have in your checking account, even though you saved 70% on all your purchases you may be dipping into your money that was meant to be put into something else. Try to stick to a budget and buy the things you really want, not just everything that is a good deal. Buy things you will use. Do not worry about going over a little; a budget is just a guideline to help you keep your spending in check.

Make a List of Essentials:

Take an inventory of your closet before you go. What are you really looking for? What do you need? What would you like to splurge on for yourself? Making a list will help you be better prepared, so you stay within your budget. You can buy yourself items off the list of course, but making a list you will help minimize impulse purchases and you will save more money and be happier when you get home and realize that you have accomplished your task.

Also take a look at things that you do not need anymore. This is a great time to do some closet weeding. If you have not worn it in the last year, chances are you probably will never wear it again, the exception being formal wear. I keep formal dresses for up to five years because I rarely wear them. Use this as an opportunity to clean out your closet and donate some clothing to a local charity. By removing the excess you are freeing yourself of a lot of extra space for more new stuff and contributing to a good cause.

Gravitate Towards the Back of the Store

The back of any store usually has the best deals, the sale and clearance racks. You will see deals in the front, but usually only around 20% off. Start in the back and if you cannot find what you like then go toward the front. At Ann Taylor Factory stores they have racks and racks of clearance and sale merchandise that often have buy one get one at 50% off of the reduced outlet price.

Check for red tag sales, these often offer added percentages off already reduced merchandise. I bought a silk designer dress during a read tag sale from Nordstrom Rack last season for $34, it retailed for $300.

Be Patient:

Come to the mall well rested, hydrated, and ready to find bargains. It may take some digging. Think about the exercise you are getting as you walk, sometimes miles canvassing stores and steals.

If you plan ahead, with your list of essential items you are looking for and you have done the research the process should not be as long and drawn out. The less prepared you are, the more time it will take to find what you are looking for.

Try Not to Bring your Husband (sorry guys unless they really love to shop) or Young Children:

As most of us know, husbands and kids can be a distraction while shopping. If your husband is not an avid shopper like yourself, when you take him to an outlet mall arguments will only escalate. I recommend not bringing him with you unless he is looking for a large selection of items for himself. If he is not shopping for himself, after about the first half hour he will get bored and start drifting, he may even want to leave. This will surely minimize your ability to look at all selections and stores on your list and you may purchase items that you could purchase elsewhere for much less expensive prices.

Kids are great, but when shopping for you it can be difficult and stressful to bring them. Hire a babysitter with your girlfriends and make a day out of it. You will get some time with your friends as well as some good focused shopping in.

Buy in Bulk:

It does not sound like fun to buy in bulk, but if something really works for you and you found it at 75% off the price then buy a few. Often when I find a pair of slacks that fit me well at good prices I buy two or three pairs. Seize the moment. You will be happy you did.

Favorite Stores:

Shopping at outlets and discount stores can be a very satisfying experience on your pocketbook as well as for you. If you plan ahead and prepare yourself you are guaranteed to save more money. Below I have listed a few of my personal favorites for getting the best deals, current trends, and selections.

Ann Taylor Factory Store. There are a lot of these outlet stores out there, so why shop at the original? This store is usually large and has a really good selection of colors, styles of dresses, business, and casual wear. Many of their styles are timeless so you will not feel like you are wearing something from a few years ago. Prices can be very reasonable. If you see a good sale, do not be afraid to buy in bulk.

Banana Republic Factory Store. This store is a little harder to find. But if you find one and you like Banana Republic, you have got to go. Banana has stylish clothes and the great thing about outlet shopping there is that many of their items never go out of style. If you shop here, you will not look like you have gotten stuck in a time warp. You can get the staples there like pants, sweaters, and skirts that you will wear for years to come. The quality is good.

You can get pants and work clothes for around 50% off normal star prices. They also have a clearance section in the back of the store. They have a wide variety of wool sweaters and sometimes cashmere for good discounted prices. The stores are always packed so be ready to wait in line, but it is well worth the wait. When you get rung up at the sales counter you will feel as if you have won the lottery.

Bebe Outlet. This is a trendier store so if you are looking for fun high-fashion styles I recommend stopping by. Most of their items will be around 50% off the store price with some clearance styles in the back. The styles change quickly there, they are good about moving their inventory quickly from the normal store to the outlet so you will not be much far behind the current fashions. Chances are by the time you get to the outlet, the fashions they have will just be starting to get popular. Monogrammed Bebe clothes offer the least discount because they are high sellers, you usually only get a 20% discount on those.

Nordstom Rack. How I love Nordstrom, both department store and outlet. They have some of the best designers out there from Juicy Couture, to BCBG, to Marc Jacobs, to Calvin Klein at the outlets. They also have a great selection of designer handbags at good discounted prices. If you have the time, check out the clearance first. It may take time to sift through but there are a lot of good deals to be had.

Coach Outlet. There are not a lot of Coach outlets. Many people do not even know they exist. Coach does not really want you to know that you can get their bags at a discounted price. You will not get the newest line, about a season behind, but if you have been dreaming of getting a Coach bag, they have some pretty classic looks and you usually save between 30%-60% which we all know for Coach is an amazing deal.

JC Penny Outlet. This is an outlet store that has many different items; clothes for children, house wares, clothes for women and men, and toys. They do not carry high end designers or products, but they do carry a wide variety of merchandise at good prices. You can find dresses, swimwear, jeans, and suits at really cheap prices. It is worth the stop.