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Full disclosure; I’m not a big fan of sales. I find sales goggles are a lot like beer goggles: the minute something is 50 per cent off, it looks twice as attractive and buying at the end of the season means you’re not really going to ‘move your wardrobe on’ as my fashion editor friend likes to say. ‘Spend more on autumn’ is what she also says. (This is how fashion editors are: by mid-June they’re licking their lips in anticipation of all the tweedy coats, black tights and knee high boots just around the corner.)
That said, even my fashion friend appreciates that sales provide opportunities you may never otherwise get and, so long as you’re careful not to get diverted, they’re a good time to fill out gaps in your wardrobe. Here are my five sales rules – and the five bargains I’m hoping to buy.
Rule 1. Make a beeline for labels that are way above your pay grade and look for ideally 50 per cent discounts on clothes that are luxurious and long lasting.
It could be something cashmere (the go-with-everything sweater that will make all our separates look twice as expensive). It might be a great boyfriend shirt. Don’t waste your time buying nice sweat pants, buy something that will make an impact and inject some high (quality and style) to clothes you already own.
I have my eyes on Jigsaw’s neat ‘compact’ cashmere blend jumper in cream down from £99 (now £59, jigsaw-online.com) and Wyse’s cashmere mix chunky funnel neck sweater in taupe or cocoa (was £275, now £192.50, wyselondon.com). This sweater is still not cheap, but I’ve been eyeing it for months and the quality and shape are perfect – just long enough in the body with a flattering funnel neck – plus I’ll wear it year round.
WNU, the crème de la crème of shirtmakers, doesn’t have a sale but they have a sample sale with shirts up to 75 per cent off (details on their events page withnothingunderneath.com) on the last weekend of July.
Don’t: buy something ordinary: if it’s a sweater make it cashmere and cream.
Rule 2. Think about autumn and spring, rather than next summer. This is another way of getting yourself to zone in on ‘forever’ classics.
Red is a hot summer colour that’s sticking around for autumn and I’m going for a pair of wide-leg swishy trousers from Hush (down from £100 to £49, hush-uk.com). Useful now with sling backs and a cream shirt and in autumn with that sweater or a velvet jacket.
Don’t: choose overtly summery styles or colours; pick shades you can wear in autumn like red, olive, taupe, chocolate.
Rule 3. Think accessories. Shoe styles change, but you can’t go wrong with a pair of good quality loafers or ballet flats. Try Russell and Bromley for sale loafers and LK Bennett for ballerina flats.
I’m also pretty sure you can’t go wrong with a pair of plain snakeskin knee-high boots, if they’re almost 50 per cent off (now £139.99, samedelman.co.uk), so long as they have an undatable plain heel and almond toe. A great way to upgrade an A line midi skirt come September.
Don’t: get trainers. If they’re in the sale, it means the style is losing traction and since trainers are the easiest shortcut to being on the fashion money, it’s a shame to waste them.
Rule 4. Focus on tailoring. For the obvious reason: you’ll get more for your money and it will look more expensive.
Me+Em is the label with the reputation for quality, grown-up friendly tailoring and it has several jackets and coats on sale at half price. The ones I’ll be deciding between are the tomboy pinstripe (camel and charcoal) blazer, and a wool-blend long line navy blazer (was £325, both now £162.50, meandem.com). Either will sharpen up jeans and trousers. The label’s salt and pepper fringe tweed jacket (was £350, now £175) is the closest I’ll ever get to a Chanel jacket with a hint of added edge… so that’s tempting too.
Don’t: buy jeans. If they’re in the sale then you can hear the distant drum beat of changing shape.
Rule 5. Look for leather and suede jackets or faux fur. All three are now year-round staples that add an extra element of luxury and cool. Zara has a taupe collarless tie belted faux fur coat (60 per cent off £55.60 zara.com) that‘s remarkably elegant, looks expensive and slung over any dress or smart trousers, is your winter glamour sorted in one.
Don’t: buy leather clothes if you haven’t had the urge before. But if you do like leather trousers, Wyse’s are now 60 per cent off (£78, wyselondon.com).
