In Spades

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How to Shop Black Friday Stress-Free

NYFW SS20 OOTD 1 The Vampire's WifeOne of my best Black Friday purchases ever

Every year, the Black Friday deals start earlier and earlier.  Does anyone else think that we’ll get to a point where Black Friday starts on Halloween?  :S

It’s my job to report the sales to you and even I get overwhelmed.  I’ve written several blog posts over the years on how to shop the holiday sale season stress-free.

Here are 3 simple tips to stay on track.  Below I’ve linked the sales I’m personally shopping.  If you like the outfits I share during the year, now is a great time to get them on sale.

Black Friday Shopping Tips
1. Have a plan

I actually have a notebook where I keep my Wish List.  Throughout the year I edit my closet and assess where there are holes.  Anything that’s lacking gets added to the list.

I also include the items I’m coveting.  These are new designers I’ve discovered, investment pieces and special occasion pieces.

Just like you shouldn’t go to the grocery store without a grocery list, you shouldn’t even look at the Black Friday sales until you have your Wish List.

Think of it this way.  You might love Levi’s, but if you don’t need new jeans, don’t fall for the clickbait and check out the Levi’s sale.

STAY ON COURSE.

2. Download retailer apps and set up your profiles

Create free accounts at your favorite retailers and “heart” the items you’re eyeing.  You should ALSO add your most loved brands to your profile.  This will push these brands to the top of your feed so you don’t have to sift through 1500 pairs of sale shoes.

ENABLE PUSH NOTIFICATIONS so you get real-time notices of the exact items you want.

3. Determine your budget

If you have $250 to spend, only spend $250.  Look at your Wish List and determine how you can configure the best bang for your buck.

Too many people just buy, buy, buy and then figure it out later.  You’re much more prone to overspend this way because you won’t want to send back all of the pretty things you bought.

ONCE YOU HIT YOUR BUDGET, STOP.

Black Friday Sales I’m Shopping

Matches Fashion – the majority of my designer pieces are from here and their sale is currently 50% off.

Bloomingdales – I just ordered this coat and I’m obsessed.  Tons of great home items on sale too.

Sundays – I buy all my 10-free nail polish here.

SSENSE – the best curation of edgy and top-rated fashion brands.  Plus two-day free shipping and returns.

Shopbop – the fast, free shipping and massive product selection are key.

Levi’s – the best around when it comes to denim.  And it’s all 40% off.

Mini dress & Mules for Summer

Loveshackfancy Viola dress

Dress // Mules // Sunglasses

This dress and these mules are my favorite summer sale purchases.

I’m a big fan of LoveShackFancy dresses.  They are 100% cotton (washable), comfortable and stay cool in warm summer months.  This one comes in blue, pink, white and yellow.

Amina Muaddi is a shoe designer that has totally captured my heart.  Her playful mules come in tons of fun colors and materials and I’m coveting a pair of her boots for winter.

This would make a fabulous date night look.  I am looking forward to putting on something fancy (i.e. this) and hitting the town.

Shop the Post

Net-a-Porter Sale Picks

Bermuda shorts suitWearing pieces I scored in the Net-a-Porter sale over the years

The Net-a-Porter sale started yesterday and I’m so excited.  Surprise, surprise, this is one of my favorite sales of the year.  I score the majority of my designer pieces in this sale (as well as this one which started last week).

There is a strategy to shopping this sale (and ALL of the designer seasonal sales for that matter).  I’ve talked about it extensively before, but here’s a recap of what you need to know.

The Lowdown

Buy now, return later.

As the summer wears on, the discounts will get deeper and more merchandise will be added to the mix.  Get what you want NOW because items are still returnable for a full refund.  In a few weeks, they won’t be.

NYFW SS19 OOTD 2

Buy multiple sizes.

Unless you know FOR SURE what size you are, I highly recommend ordering an item in two sizes to be safe.

Follow the step above for whichever size doesn’t work.

Utilize your Wish List.

One of my biggest shopping tips is to keep a year-round Wish List active with your favorite retailers.  Rather than searching through 4000 dresses – or even just every item from the brand you love – go directly to your Wish List.

You’ll be able to see if your items went on sale and immediately add-to-cart from one screen.  No clicking through multiple pages or sifting through tons of categories.

Budget for the late release brands.

“Late release brands” are the premium luxury brands that won’t start their discounts with the rest of the designer sales.  They can vary from retailer to retailer, but Prada, Celine and Christian Louboutin are three of them.  These brands may have some accessories on sale now, but their big discount push will happen in late June/early July.

If you have something from a late release brand on your Wish List, make sure you allocate your budget accordingly.

It’s really easy to get overwhelmed by these sales and forget what your focus was in the first place.  Don’t just buy to buy or buy because something is marked down.

Net-a-Porter Sales Faves Under $300

2020 Sale Season Shopping Tips

I can’t believe it is already the week of Thanksgiving.  2020 has been a year like no other.  I’m SO excited for holiday movies, hot cocoa and sharing family traditions with my daughter.

This time of year also brings my favorite shopping season.  If you’re a long-time reader, you know I’m a diamond in the rough shopper.  After building wish lists with my favorite retailers all year, now is the time I pounce.

There are going to be so many amazing deals from here on out, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.  My advice?

  1. Stick to your go-to retailers and brands (this is NOT the time to impulse buy just because something is on sale).
  2. Look at your Wish Lists FIRST.  You should always build a wish list with your fave retailers.  Before you even look at the sales, check to see if items on your wish list got marked down.  THEN, you can peruse what else got marked down.
  3. Buy now, decide later.  The further into sale season we go, the more picked over the inventory is AND return policies tighten or disappear.  Protect your ability to return and price adjust.
  4. Bundle your shopping.  I like to shop at no more than 3 retailers during sale season.  Most stores have points or other benefits for shopping with them.  Keep your eggs in one (or 3) baskets so you can maximize those incentives.
  5. Think about the “now.”  I firmly believe we are at least 6 months out from the world returning to some semblance of normalcy.  I recommend investing in comfortable, high-quality staples that will transition to post-pandemic life.  Let’s face it – you’re not going to wear your finery for a while.  If you are going to buy a cocktail dress, statement handbag, killer shoes, or some other piece that won’t get a lot of wear, make sure it is something that will stand the test of time.  Now is not the time to fall into trends.

Net-a-Porter is one of my favorite retailers.  They launched their 50% off sale and for the week of Thanksgiving, they’re taking an additional 15% off the markdowns.  Here are some of my faves.

Net-a-Porter End of Season Sale Picks 

The End of Season Sales I’m Shopping

Cyber Monday Sales 2019

Ahh my favorite time of year.  Designer sale season.

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I do a Fashion Friday series on Stories.  This past week I dedicated it to Black Friday and how to navigate the craziness.  And boy is it crazy.

Literally everything is on sale so it can be totally overwhelming.  And when we’re overwhelmed we tend to overspend and lose focus on what we really need.

Below are the designer sales I’m shopping and some tips for how to stay focused and get the best bang for your buck.  (READ: stuff you actually need and will wear)

Sales

Moda Operandi – probably my FAVORITE of them all because of the insane discount and inventory selection.  Currently up to 50% off plus an additional 30% off sale.

Net-a-Porter – Currently up to 50% off plus an additional 15% off.  My go-to for fashion AND beauty.

SSENSE – the edgy kid in the bunch, they have tons of Balenciaga and street style brands.  Definitely check out their sale on Moussy Vintage jeans.

24S – like a cool French girl with impeccable style, this retailer has a wide range of European designers (they carry Celine RTW!) and don’t charge sales tax to orders in the US.

Totokaelo – extra 10% off sale.  Amazing selection of up-and-coming indie designers like Khaite.  If you like menswear inspired pieces or structured silhouettes, Totokaelo is the shop for you.

Farfetch – the largest selection of inventory.  Period.  If you can’t find it on Farfetch, it doesn’t exist.

Matches Fashion – extra 10% off sale.  Like Farfetch, the inventory is extensive and the user experience is top-notch (their search function is incomparable).

Need Supply – extra 20% off.  A great mix of designer and affordable items.  Check out Stelen and Farrow; two trendy yet affordable brands exclusive to Need Supply.

Tips

1. Make a list and stick to it.  You should utilize your favorite retailers’ wishlist function and add to it YEAR ROUND.  That way, when Cyber Week sales hit, you can simply check to see what on your wishlist went on sale and pounce.

2. Take advantage of buy/return.  At this point in designer sale season, nothing is final sale.  If you are unsure about sizing or think an item you want may go to a further discount, but it now and take advantage of the option to return or price adjust.

3. Don’t shop when you are tired or have had a glass of wine.  Sounds odd, but when your defenses are down, you are much more likely to overspend!