In fashion terms, summer is officially over. We are well and truly into sale territory and the first Autumn Winter stock will begin to hit the shop floors over the course of July and August (there are some amazing trends coming our way! ). Honestly, I get a lot more excited about the summer sale frenzy then the post-Christmas one simply because I think my money always goes further. T-shirts, shorts and sandals are among the most popular sale purchases and traditionally are the best bargains. So if you are heading away on your summer vay-cay and want to nab some last minutes suitcase essentials, your timing could not be more apt. So ladies, put on your most comfortable shoes, and let's hit the high street for some polite elbowing and shouldering and find us that summer steal!
The guidelines
There are no rules in fashion, as I tell myself all the time, but sale shopping can be made less stressful by having a guide. The most important factor - prepare a budget. When we have no amount in mind, we over indulge in things we don't need and pieces that sit in the wardrobe, still tagged, for the next ten years. Have a rough idea of how much you would like to spend, especially if you are making a big investment in say, a bag or shoes. Make a short list of the key pieces in your wardrobe that you wear regularly. These pieces are your benchmark; buy to match these so that your sale purchases fit into your personal style. Some may argue that sale time is a good time to experiment with new styles as prices are cheaper but I tend to disagree, the best possible purchase is one that will take you to the end of this season and well into the next. So, try and stick to classic pieces to add like dresses (Almost Famous Blue print dress, now reduced to €135.99, Burgess Athlone ), denim jackets, trousers, block colours in shirts and tops and accessories which will work with all the above (Peplum print skirt, ASOS reduced from €51.59 to €33.94 ). Building on that idea, keep next season in mind, what can you see on the racks that will work in the colder months? By just doing a little homework first, the fear associated with sale shopping will be eradicated!
The best bargains
I have been trawling the high street this week on the lookout for the best bargains. Shops like Zara and River Island have sales which start a little later than other high street retailers, but are famous for having some of the best reductions. Zara is great for jackets and blazers for work, and River Island shows merit in its beachwear bargains for your summer holiday (Crochet Kimono, reduced to £15, riverisland.com ). That said, summer sales are when I think boutique shopping comes into its own, particularly smaller shops that stock high end designers. You can be lucky and pick up pieces reduced by 50 per cent or more. I always find that designer jeans are heavily reduced and a few years ago I picked up a pair of D&G denims with over 80 per cent off! Now that was a joyous day for me! Take a look at shops that you may not normally shop in too; you never know what you may find; a new favourite designer or label or maybe a fit of clothing that you find hard to locate. Sale shopping is not for experimenting but exploring! So take a look at Kadee Athlone, Peaches and Lola Rose in Kilkenny and Mimi in Galway for some great designers!
