SALE tips n treats from a professional (that's me)
A mix of my buyer’s thoughts on sale season, secret sites to shop, my dos and don'ts, and what sale gems I'm after... just don't pull the dress from under me!
Hello and happy twixmas (I hate that word, sorry!).
I didn’t know if you lovely lot would want a post this week, and technically I am off too (my first Christmas ‘off’ in as long as I can remember, after a lifetime working in fashion, more on that in my About Page). But! My fingers were twitching to try and help you with my SALE tips.
Giving you what my buyer’s brain advises and what my buyer’s eye is after (just don’t get in there first and steal my size!).
Now I’ve began this Substack for Studio B (previously my online store) I can’t not share all the things I know / find / love / think are worthwhile for you… which makes it difficult as I’m trying to keep most my valued intel for Paid Subscribers, as you’re the ones keeping this going! This really is my job now (honestly it takes longer than you think to prepare all this content) and I couldn’t do it without you ❤️
But, since it’s Christmas, I’ve left this longer article free to all as it’s a good one (I hope) to show you some of my worth!
Speaking of sales I have 10% off monthly, yearly or gift subscriptions for a whole year if you’d like to make my day and upgrade to paid 😊 (offer ends 2nd Jan).
Makes all my knowledge under £6 a month - less than a wet lettuce Pret salad!
I know sale starts earlier and earlier these days, I know, alright Gran, but I still remember sale being an exciting Boxing Day thing, not pre present giving.
Having always worked in fashion, then had my own online store for almost six years, I’ve seen the seasons shift. December is no longer your best month in retail, it’s moved to November with Black Friday - which I hated as a small business. It means stay on sale longer, you ‘have to do it’ to compete, yet you make even less margin. Great!
This year especially so many big sites went on sale SUPER EARLY at the start of November, before BF, and some have stayed on sale all the way through to now.
Even The Outnet had an extra 25% off which surprised me… but then again it didn’t! Sale shopping has been, and will be, GREAT this year. Most the big guys have massively over bought, they have done ever since covid, and have continued to do so based on *inaccurate projections. They have less demand and more stock to shift!
*I know I say that as if it’s fact but it’s so obvious as a buyer. Anyone could tell you covid was far from a ‘normal’ time - people had more disposable income to spend, with nothing else to spend it on (going out, travel etc.) and a big huge reason to treat themselves (duh, lockdown, a new dress will help!).
But Director’s tend to go off previous figures, add a % increase year on year, then spend (on stock) to achieve this goal… without really thinking about it in the scheme of real life. Like your assistant buyer might actually do (I may be bitter from past experience here.. . don’t talk to me about the insane buy budget from the multibrand I once worked at on Isabel Marant trainers, a year after the hype). But hey, here we are, great sales!
Anyway! You’ll already have seen plenty of sales I’m sure BUT I’ve got some lesser known sites for you - often with higher discounts and higher chances of having sellouts in stock.
First though some of my sale advice, to try and help you not waste your time!
SIZING - I know people buy the wrong size in sales as their usual has sold out but think about it…
OVERSIZED - DO go smaller, it mostly works if it’s voluminous, but consider sleeves for arm width. Look at measurements.
SIZE UP - Again DO (in reason) and you can alter - I bought this Cecilie Bahnsen dress in Net’s summer sale, two sizes too big, but it was meant to be oversized anyway, I just had the back taken in to fit me. Easy!
Speaking of Cecilie Bahnsen DO WAIT I’ve found they usually seem to go down to further reduced at Net or Matches. Try Liberty or MyTheresa too, or googling for independents.
The Cecilie Bahnsen dress I bought in Net’s summer sale at 70% off and had altered - I’d longed for a Cecilie B dress! ADD TO WISHLIST - Really does work on site’s where you receive a back in stock alert. I’ve got so many things like this! Often a couple of weeks after it was showing as sold out, when a return or two is processed. Matches is great for this.
PLAN AHEAD - Shop for a different seasons; look at resort wear and holiday styles now for summer, and consider what events you already have next year. I have three/four weddings next year and already bought for most of them in end of summer sales.
INVESTMENT PIECES - I like to go for knitwear and coats from premium brands. Higher ticket items I wouldn’t be able to afford at full price, but are lovely quality and often more timeless (I won’t be buying a festive party dress in sale… but if it’s some sequins I can wear in summer that’s a different story!).
LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE - I can’t be bothered with aimlessly scrolling big sales (who has the time, or the energy!) but I will go straight to my favourite luxury brands. The dream ones I love but can’t buy at full price… but sometimes a sale price is so good it would B rude not to!
DON’T BUY FOR THE SAKE OF IT - An obvious one I know 😂 but we’ve all been in that frenzy before haven’t we, I’ll admit it! But try not to do this from small businesses as returns are crippling (mentally crushing, business wise costly).
Okay, I know you want the good stuff! I’ve added some pieces further below from my sale wishlists. And here’s my ‘what and where’ for my go to brands and sites.
WHAT - Brands I search in sale
Cecilie Bahnsen, Sea New York, Sleeper, Molly Goddard, Simone Rocha, Rejina Pyo, 16Arlington, Kika Vargas, Shrimps, Saks Potts, Nodelato, Aje, Loeffler Randall, Alemais, Taller Marmo, Ganni, Zimmerman.
WHERE - My secret sites
Okay, some aren’t that secret, but you may not think of them as these big guys usually dominate sale in the UK:
Net-a-porter, Matches, Selfridges (the latter I personally think can have a bit of a boring buy; they have the brands, but usually not the pieces I’m after).
Ssense - I love Ssense, great selection.
End Clothing - loads of big brands, wide selection, but I don’t think everyone has heard of them. This is where I got my Saks Potts green Foxy coat in sale in April (45% off!).
Biffi - I’ve found some big brands cheaper here.
Cettire - good for bags.
MyTheresa - another fave of mine, do look here. I got the red Ganni cowboy boots here in summer sale at 65% off (which I’ve worn SO much), they weren’t even in sale anywhere else!
Larizia. Flannels. Italist. Luisaviaroma. Vitkac. Julian Fashion.
Browns - I find they have stock sometimes on sold out things (often can find their stock on Farfetch too).
Coggles - usually have good discounts.
Baltini - Italian so look out for EU taxes. Shopbop - US, same with the taxes.
Always try some smaller independents too. And if you know the specific item you’re after always google it and see who has it for less / your size in stock: Jules B, Blaiz, Koi Bird, Wild Swans, The Mercantile, Nola, The Hambledon.
NOW THE GOOD BIT… WHAT I’M BUYING!
Talking of knitwear I’m hoping this goes in sale at Doen… it hasn’t yet (damn it! It did have 20% off in November for Black Friday).
Yep I’m thinking ahead to summer too, sale can be a great time to buy ahead now!
Okay stay with me, I have a vision of this with wide leg linen trousers in summer, classy Kermit!
And this isn’t in sale (YET) but I’ve had my eye on this Dissh dress for half the year; a simple summer linen, more neutral than my usual, but I just love the shape.
And a simple slip, but for me this is summer sequins. Ohhh, can you just imagine for an eve at the beach bar. I am right there now (in spirit), pomada in hand 😎
I’ll leave you with…
Saving (one of) the best till last…
And my FINAL sale tip, don’t forgot Fortnums! I know sounds random, but last year I got a 4 person beef welly HALF PRICE in sale between Christmas and New Year - for £35 - DELICIOUS! All thanks to @claudia_berresford sharing this 😋
See you in the New Year my loves! Hopefully I’ll B wearing that Sea NY coat 💙
Again the B-iggest B-estest THANK YOU for being here supporting Studio B, building a community on here means a lot to me right now and I cannot tell you how happy I am you have joined the journey 😊
See you in 2024! xx
Havana boutique in Dublin sell Cecile Bahnsen & Simone Rocha, Rick Owens etc. lots deeply discounted just now: https://www.havanaboutique.ie/
Happy new year!! All great tips! Xxx