Pro Tips for Getting the Most Out of Sale Season

July 26, 2022 Katie Mander

Sales, we love them, and we hate them… Where you fall on the love/hate spectrum often depends on how you approach a sale. Is it random, and you grab what you can? Do you fall prey to shiny object syndrome? Do you forget to read the fine print and are stuck with something you’ll never wear?

Never fear, friends… There is a strategy I’m going to share that can help you get the most, for the least. Some of these tips I’ve shared before in one iteration or another. But consider this your comprehensive guide to all things seasonal sales.

What is a seasonal sale?

Seasonal sales are when retailers want to “get rid of” the items they bought for the current/previous season to make room for new merchandise. That makes sense, right? And it typically happens while we are still in the current season - like now, it’s the end of July, and all of the summer stuff is being reduced in price to make room for fall merch. So, duh, it’s a great time to buy.

Don’t Fall into the Sale Trap.

If you have items in your closet that you’ve gotten on sale that you have not worn, you, dear reader, have fallen into the dreaded sale trap. Because scoring something on sale, even at a deep discount, that is sitting in your closet, not being worn, is NOT A SAVINGS. Money is basically thrown away because the item is just sitting there, in no-man’s land.

You Are Not Alone

Even though I am sharing my tips for sale shopping success, please know that you’re not alone. I am human and have made all of these mistakes myself. In fact, that is how I developed this strategy… by making the blunders (yes, plural as in multiple) myself and then learning from it and course correcting.

MOST IMPORTANT RULE OF SHOPPING A SALE…Have a Plan

When it is sale season (or for that matter, for any sale) Do NOT just buy to buy. That is the number one biggest mistake people make. Always, but especially for a sale, try to shop with intention. If you go to the grocery store hungry and without a list in hand, you end up with way more food than you need. And often a bag of salad that gets gross and mushy because it was never used (ah-em, not that I’m speaking from experience or anything!)

My 4 Step Sale Shopping Strategy

Step #1 Think about holes in your wardrobe.

Before shopping a sale, ask yourself:

What are the items you’re always feeling like you’re missing when it comes time to get dressed?
What does a day in your life actually look like? Like the real nitty gritty version, not the dreamy, highlight reel.
What are the pieces you love that are getting worn and need to be replaced?

Once you’ve answered these questions, I suggest following these tips while shopping a sale:

Shop for basics. They’re the backbone of your wardrobe and they’re also pieces you know you’ll wear on the reg. If you have any basics missing in your wardrobe, shop for those first.

Be self-aware regarding your closet. Let’s be honest, we all have aspirational views of our lives. But what does a day in your life REALLY look like?

Side note: I have a client that at our first meeting had a closet full of gorgeous, stunning cocktail dresses (many straight from runway collections, swoon). And she also had two toddlers. Most of her days were spent at preschool, mommy and me etc. And she only had Lulu leggings to wear for that - her real life and aspirational life (at least in her closet) were not aligned. Long story short - we put a kibosh on cocktail dress purchases and beefed up her casual yet polished options. Now her closet is aligned with her actual day to day activities.

Look for pieces you know you love. The pieces you love the most also get the most wear and tear. They get worn out faster than the rest of your closet and sale season is a great time for a refresh. Also - you know you like them and how they fit into your wardrobe, so why not save a little money?

Step #2 Think About How and Where You’ll Wear It.

Sometimes this is called the 3/3 test. In a nutshell, it means when you find an item you’re thinking about purchasing, do a little check in BEFORE you pull the trigger.

Think about 3 outfits this piece of clothing could go with. Ideally from items you already own.
Think about 3 actual, real life places you will wear it.
If you are able to pass this test, go ahead and add to cart!

Step # 3 Read the Fine Print

Ugh, nothing is worse than not reading the return policy and getting stuck with an item you do not wish to keep. PLEASE, PLEASE PLEASE read the fine print and return policy.

If something is final sale (and many retailers are going that route these days) keep a couple of things in mind:

Know your measurements - most sites put the measurements for pieces right in the description - this can help decide if you want to take the gamble
Opt for replacement items - so you know your size etc. Then a final sale is not that scary
Read reviews, watch the videos. I recently purchased a Tibi skirt that was final sale - I was kinda nervous. But I did all of the steps above (especially watched a video about the sizing) and am beyond thrilled with my new skirt! BTW it’s something I can and will wear 12 months a year - so on a cost per wear basis it was a great buy.

Step #4 Look to the Next Season

With seasonal sales, it’s a great time to look ahead at the next season. See what is “trending” and then assess where in the trend cycle it falls. In a perfect world, we’d find what is currently in the market and on sale that will feel fresh for the next season.

In some ways that is why folks go bananas for the Nordstrom Sale - being able to buy items for the upcoming season and on sale is the best.

While I have not done my official Fall Fashion Trend post yet…

Here are some on trend items to keep a lookout for:

Leather (and faux leather) are always big for fall
Blazers - in a more oversized silhouette
Moto and bomber jackets - also in more relaxed shapes
Bright, saturated colors - Dopamine Dressing is still going strong
White tanks (paired with black trousers) were all over the runways
Interest and fun - look for pieces with added embellished details
Pink - there was a lot of pink showing up on the runway and now you’ll be seeing it everywhere

Some Insider Sale Tricks You May Not Know…

Join my Facebook group for our Sunday Sales roundup - each week we pick the best sale items and link them to the FB group!
Bookmark a specific item you love and keep looking, that way you’ll know if it goes on sale. And if it’s already on sale and not available - you’ll be alerted if someone returns.
Subscribe to your favorite brands’ newsletters and follow them on social media - they’ll often alert followers to sales early.
Also keep looking if you’ve purchased something for full price - some retailers will price adjust.

We scoured the internet and rounded up the best seasonal sales, by store…

Banana Republic

60% off sale styles online only through 8/8/22

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J.Crew

30% off your purchase using code SHOPNOW- in stores and online through 8/1/22

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Madewell

Extra 50% off sale using code MAJOR- in stores and online through 7/27/22

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Mango

Up to 70% off- in stores and online while stock lasts