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Shopping Smart In The Sales

The Black Friday sales are already in full swing and if your inbox is anything like mine, it’s being bombarded right now with emails containing ‘huge discounts’ and ‘special offers’. The temptation to make a purchase when we’re bombarded with ‘great deals’ is huge and I’m certainly not immune HOWEVER, I want to urge you to pause before you hit ‘add to cart’ and have a read of this post first…

As someone who advocates buying less, choosing mindfully and making items last, sales shopping has never sat well with me.

I have always disliked the frenzy that sales create, the urgency with which people are encouraged to buy, not to mention the utter chaos in the sales section when you do go into stores – it does not make for a pleasant shopping experience in my opinion.

That’s not to say I don’t love to snap something up that I’ve been lusting after but would otherwise been out of my price bracket – but there are some questions you need to ask yourself before you bag that ‘bargain’ as well as some other ways to add a coveted piece to your wardrobe at a lower price point. 

Photo credit – Heidi Marfitt

So you’re shopping the sales and have a cart (either online or in-person) full of items you just HAVE to have – here are a few questions to consider before you take the plunge…

  1. First off, price aside, is it your usual style? Does the colour/shape flatter you and fit with your overall style aesthetic?
  2. Does the item work with at least three other items you already own (or can you style it in three different ways using items from your existing wardrobe)?
  3. If it was full price, would you consider buying it? It not, ask yourself why? If the reduction in price has brought something you’ve been coveting into your price bracket then great – but really think about how the cost and perception of a ‘bargain’ is influencing your purchasing decision
  4. What will your cost per wear of the item be over the next 12 months?
  5. Do you feel FABULOUS in it? I don’t let anything below an 8/10 into mine or my client’s wardrobes – we never buy anything because ‘it’ll do’ – we can do WAY better than that!

Aside from the above, there are other ways to purchase quality items at lower prices without shopping the sales – pre-loved stores, Depop and eBay are all great places to purchase items that may otherwise be out of your price bracket and really are the most sustainable way to shop.

One of my favourite sources for beautiful pre-loved items is The Pod run by two wonderful Yorkshire-based businesses women, Cath and Alex, I can’t tell you how immaculate their collection of pre-loved designer items is and they are well worth checking out.

So happy shopping lades – be mindful, be savvy and enjoy building your dream wardrobe. As always, if you need any help in that area, you know where I am!

Until next time,

Anna xo

Photo credit – Heidi Marfitt