Everyone likes a sale, though it is a very select number of women that actually enjoy the sport of digging through sale racks. It can be frustrating (and time consuming) to try and find that one perfect sweater or pair of shoes on the 40% rack!
I'm always on the hunt for the perfect pieces for my clients at the perfect price (see this month's Washingtonian where I shopped from start to finish at Filene's Basement!)
Here are my tips:
1.) Have an open mind. If you're looking for a black 8-ply cashmere cardigan with pearl buttons in a size M, you're going to get frustrated really quickly (or be the luckiest woman alive, in which case, put down the sweater and go buy a lottery ticket).
2.) Early bird gets the Dolce. If you want the best selection, get there on the first day. If you want the best deals, get there at the end.
3.) Know the chain of command. First call/private sales, then last call, then the big messy pile in the back of the store, then off to the outlets, then to the liquidators. So if you see something advertised in the paper for a holiday sale, don't expect to find it in their outlet two months later.
4.) Let your freshly manicured fingers do the walking. Besides Bluefly, etc. (or my favorite for accessories, Portero), there are some great shopping sites. One of my favorites is Shop It To Me, where you pick the designers, sizes and stores, and they send you a weekly email of everything in your list that's on sale online. Their list of stores is a bit short (though Saks and Nordstrom's always have lots of items), but I've found some great deals.
Happy shopping!
