Stocktakes sales are a crock. Not only are many of the claims misleading, but much of the merchandise is shipped in expressly for the purpose of clearances. Unlike the stocktake sales I remember from my childhood, the sales today are a continuous round of promotions and are often no better than a retail wolf in sheep’s (poorly made) clothing. But once you’ve realised that this is the case, how do sort out the good clothes from the rest of the bad and the ugly?
Know the real value.
Before the sales how much was the piece you want listed for? Chances are that it was overpriced to start with, but the first port of call is to establish if there is actually a real discounted price from the original retail price.
Was it worth the original retail price in the first place? Looking at 90% of the garments in the stores today, I can only shake my head at what is being offered to us. Unfinished seams, pulled threads, missing buttons, second rate textiles; to say nothing of the cheap labour used to produce them. But environmental and human ethics arguments aside, when did such poor quality become the norm and the supposed acceptable standard?
So to find out what you are paying for, take the time to do a little investigation. Turn your garments inside out and read the construction and care labels. (By law, all garments sold in Australia must have these)
Consider the fabric used – is it man made, synthetic, natural – how much of each type makes up the final product? Something that is 100% wool is infinitely better than a %10 wool 90% acrylic blend, that is unless you like sweaters that get stinky and pill up.
If you think I’m gong to pay $100 for an acrylic sweater in the sales just because you have a popular label, you have another thing coming! Well made Australian Wool at that price is a bargain, synthetics from China are not.
Read the care labels CAREFULLY. Does it warn of bleeding dyes, colour fading; is it a high use item that is designated for Dry Clean Only (so that in the end it will be no bargain at all?)
Check the seams. Deconstructed fashion is one thing, but having seams that haven’t even been tied off is quite another. Check for loose threads, seams that haven’t been caught in, missing buttons (does it come with a spare?)
Check the fabric for condition. I’ve been caught out a few times in my haste and discovered upon wearing that my new jersey top actually has a small hole in it that becomes a huge run the minute I put it on. Have previous shoppers stained it, snagged it or even returned it worn? ( Yep, I’ve seen sweat stained garments in stores).
Check the fabric for flaws. Changing rooms aren’t just good for checking out how we look in the clothes, but also the condition and quality of the clothes themselves. Hold your garment up to the light and inspect it for holes and irregularities in the fabric weave. One of the worst culprits for this at present are T-Shirts. The fabric appears to be getting thinner and thinner with less and less fabric memory or spring back. It might look okay at a cursory glance, but when you get out in the sun everyone will know if your belly button is an inny or an outy!
Consider it’s “fashionability”. Is the item discounted because it is “so last season”? (which of course really means a few seasons ago if you go by catwalk trend time). This is one factor that can be a blessing in disguise. Your ideal teal blue top may no longer be the colour de jour, but it may be your favorite and make your eyes irresistible to handsome men. If so, then it is very likely that you will be able to find a real bargain as the demand for your top is on the wane. Just make sure to hunt out the best quality version at the lower price.
Know what you want. Sales are not the time for window shopping or browsing unless you enjoy the sharp stabbing pain of buyers remorse. Evaluate the gaps in your wardrobe and go out shopping with the keen eye of a game hunter.This is not the time to be emotional, but to be ruthless. You never know what is around the corner so if you blow your last $100 on five poorly made tops, you just may miss out on the perfect single one at the same price.
Patience. The best bargains are not available at the beginning of the sales. Prices continue to drop and the crowds get smaller. For me, I can attest to finding the best and most enduring bargains at the end of the sales. This relies on a few things however; you need to be able to pick quality (which you should by now), you need to have a body or feet that do not fit the average medium of the population. For example if you are a size 8 or a size 16, you are likely to find good pieces in your size at the end of the sales at better prices. Lastly, it helps to be stylish rather than fashionable. If you want what is ‘in fashion’ then it stands to reason that so does everyone else. But if you are seeking classics, avante garde or just plain like to get creative, then you’ll find these pieces still standing at the end part of the sales.
So now I have given you my secrets to shopping the sales with success- go forth and save… or not and just make your own!
It’s just perfect. Dark, spiced and a...
Nice secrets!
I think it’s really important the composition and patient above all!!!!
Now I buy slower!
Great guide, very useful!
Fabulous guide SKM
I think the most important one is definitely choosing style over fashion. Trying to keep up with trends every season is just so expensive and ultimately unsatisfying because if you’re not *setting* the trends, you will always be a step behind.
And totally agree with you on the lack of quality these days. Its pretty annoying especially considering paying more doesn’t always equate to getting a better made garment. Boo.
Hey SKM thanks for this post! With the sizes, I’ve discovered that at Chadstone, the smaller sizes (6-10) go first, with heaps of size 14′s and 16′s and some size 12′s left, but it’s the opposite at the Glen – I discovered this when I went to Chadstone with my size 10 friend to buy bathers. Lots of what we found would fit me, but was too big for her.
And with the t-shirts – so true! Why are they suddenly so much tighter and more see-through (especially white t-shirts)? It gets annoying trying to cover up underneath…
xox
Thanks so much for the guide! My best friend and I always go straight to the clearance section at stores, so we both can really benefit from this guide. The t-shirt thing is something i’ve complained about too, I hate how thin the tops are now to where you can only wear it around the house
Great tips! Since I work in retail, I know all too well how sales claims can be misleading, and how the quality of clothing seems to be declining. Anyone following your advice should be shopping pretty smart though!
Sage advice SKM! Having worked in retail for years I will add this: Boxing day sales are not your friend! There are very few real bargains after Christmas, the end of financial year sales are generally much better.
Another great post SKM! And I love the idea that handsome men have a different appreciation of your eye colour. Nice work
Nicole: Of course! All the best ones appreciate details like that as they fall under the spell of our mysterious appeal.
Harbour Master: Agreed! I miss Diamaru for those – they were the BEST! I still have amazing things in my wardrobe from there.
Lauren: I really must investigate this t-shirt thing further..
Annelise: You are very right! It pays to know the popular sizes in certain areas and sounds like you had a win with this.
Esz: That’s it – Be a fashion leader, not a follower – You’llbe much happier!
So true. My sister and her friends spent thousands in a few days, and swear they won’t ‘need’ to shop for another 6 months. Yeah right! I think it’s too easy to get caught up in the excitement.
Love your blog by the way
I’ve definately made it my news year’s resolution to buy high quality, classic pieces that fit and suit me and I can see myself wearing often. I’ve bought into false bargains too often in the past, and I’m determined to be fussier. Like you said, all it takes is a keen eye and a little patience!
Excellent guide! I find I have a great love of prints and they often go on sale, and suddenly my closet is psychadelic!
The best tip for me is to make sure I have a list, so there is no print explosion in my closet.
I always think, oh no, shouldn’t buy another print skirt but it’s only $50…and then I have nothing to wear with it.
Thanks!
Thank you for posting these tips and pointers! I admit, I don’t usually shop at sales that much anymore because the quality is so atrocious (I think it must be worse here in the US) and things are usually picked over. But for the times I do (scouting out high end boutiques for sales!), I’ll definitely keep your wise words in mind!
? Casey
blog | elegantmusings.com
Excellent guide! People also need to remember to buy what fits not what will fit when they’ve dropped a dress size or two just because the price has dropped.
Re the sheer T-shirt thing; every magazine, fashion programme and about 90% of fashion bloggers bang on incessantly about the joys of sheerness and layering. Perhaps manufacturers think this is what everyone wants now?
Floraposte; Re the sheeerness, if that is the case, what a cop out! I think it is more the case of cutting corners becasue the fabrics aren’t just sheer but cheap nasty and not even uniforml sheer most often. ( And not in an arty way)
Casey: I’ve always found the price point for quality point better in the US, but then my exposure there is limited and may have depended on where I shopped. I’m interested to look into the import and trade restriction laws in our two countires and see how that may effect the issue.
Christine: Ahh, I’m a sucker like that too. Certain colors and the like. Now I make a rule thast if I love the colour or print it has to be a dress or single piece so I don’t have to match it.
Emmi: Your wallet will thank you.
Lisa: Thousands?! Geez, unless that was going into high end quality seriously reduced, that is a big worry. O.o
Dear Candice,
This is a really good article. Being a Fashion Design student and having fingers that can’t stand poor quality fabrics I’m really happy that your educating the general public (which being such a popular blog are in the best position to do so) on just how bad poor quality the garments of today are.
I get all mad when I go shopping especially when I went down into Myers Basement section. crap after crap after badly made cheap fabric crap.. not to mention local brands ripping off the quality prints of Liberty fabrics amongst others.
So thanks again!
love your blog
xo
Emma
This is a great guide. Checking for damages is always a must.
Fantastic guide. Many of the reasons here are why I like thrifting – you have to take your time to examine stuff and check for buttons/rips/stains etc. and you know that the garment has survived at least one wear and wash!
Hey SKM. Because I am a relative newcomer to your blog (and love it), I just read your ‘How to pick a real bargain in sales’ article with a high focus on price vs quality post January 2010. As you know I am in the fashion industry and it is a known fact that Australia is a dumping ground for old stock, out of season, and poor quality from mainly China. This problem is that we are continuing to purchase this cheap crap which feeds the demand. We only have ourselves to blame. If we demanded high quality at sensible and fair prices then we might see a decrease in the cheap imported stuff sold here.
x deb x
Debra: Very very true. How do we re-train the masses? It has to happen as I can’t see the economy or the environment continuing to support the current manufacturing and purchasing trends.