The First Commandment..
Thou Shall Shop the Sales with Ease and Experience
Perhaps a little late for the Summer sales but as we all know, there will be far more to come and here are a few rules to go by to ensure a sensational sale shop !
1) Isn't there something with January sales and Next opening at 5 in the morning Boxing Day for the seriously dedicated bargain hunter ?! Going by the saying that the early bird catches the worm would be an understatement in this situation, however, this is not always the case. I suppose really, its classed as laziness but I find that going through racks and racks of clothes is made so much easier and less stressful at quieter periods in the day. I found a pair of River Island hot pants half price on the rack outside the changing rooms by chance about three o'clock one afternoon, perfect for my holiday and a lot less fuss !
2) Don't go into sales with the mind set of finding little tops for holidays or the summer dress left-overs. With the British weather, it is always likely that shops will still stock jeans. This way, it is a real saving that is appreciated because staples of that type are the most expensive to buy full price. Department stores for more expensive jeans are sometimes best because they are better quality at really reasonable prices. Jewellery is also something to keep an eye out for in sales as something quirky that you would have overlooked before could be a lot more appealing at a smaller price.
3) Sales are often organised by size in order to make things easier for the shopper and categorize the clothes but remember, there are very few people that are, for example, a size 10 across the high street spectrum. Don't be afraid to look for the size smaller or bigger because how many times do things look better when they're a bit baggier or tighter or we walk into Topshop and struggle with 12 jeans then slide into Dorothy Perkins' 10s with ease ?! I found a size 6 top in the River Island sale (it was in the wrong place, I wasn't that hopeful) and due to the cut and shape, it fit me fine.4) Always have a little peak outside of what you consider to be your comfort zone or things you would normally wear. When better to try something a little different and new than when its at its cheapest ?! If it doesn't work out, then at least you didn't spend stupid money on something that you don't see yourself ever wearing. At the same time, have some sense.. If you know deep down it is something you will NEVER wear, don;t buy it just because its a tenner off !
5)Don't go into a sale thinking that everything will be bargain bin prices at less than a fiver. If you imagine original prices in places like Zara and Topshop are up to £40 for an evening top, then £20 is actually great value. I have an awful habit of suddenly becoming shocked by price tags above £10 when I enter sale mode and I have to stop and remind myself that it is worth the money as half the time I would pay full price.
At the risk of adding a cheesy ending, the final rule is to just get shopping.. And take the right person ! You need someone prepared to walk around all day with limited breaks and a lot of patience if you're like me who needs to pick up everything before buying a single t-shirt.
