Sale Shopping Guide

Right, Christmas is over, you've unwrapped your gifts, got your vouchers and money ready to spend in the sales, but how to navigate the unending piles of discounted merchandise, Where to begin? What to buy? DO I EVEN NEED ANY OF THIS SHIT?! 


I have a secret, I find shopping overwhelming at the best of times, the sales only make it worse. I did a cursory sale scout round sleepy Worcester on Boxing Day (having already checked out all the online sales on xmas day) and formulated a PLAN. You can use this plan too. It might stop you having a mental breakdown in Selfridges. 


1. Think about what you actually need. Perhaps your mum forgot to buy you perfume for xmas, or you want a designer leather bag in black. Get these first. 


2. Do your research. Look at the website first, that way you'll already know what is in the sale allowing you to edit out the crap quicker because you already have a vague idea of what is there, what you like, what you don't. 


3. Plan a route. Linked to 'Do your Research' you can't go everywhere and everywhere has good discounts. Department stores are my favorite- best discounts, lots of choice. House of Fraser, Selfridges and Harvey Nicks get my vote. 


4. Upgrade. If, like me, you fritter your money away on cheap tat the whole year round, stop. Don't buy the same tat but cheaper. Go up a price bracket- Cos instead of H&M, Whistles instead of Topshop, Selfridges instead of Debenhams. 


5. Don't buy clothes. The bargains are to be had on Make-up, Perfume, Bags, Shoes and Jewellery. Better discount, easier to find, less seasonal. 


6. If you do Buy Clothes Buy Classics, designer ones if possible. White shirts, black trousers, garments that fit. If its faux fur, fairisle or any other big trend from AW11, if you don't already own it, forget it, everyone else will buy mid Jan. 


7. Only buy it if you love it. Or if you considered it full price, if you thought it was ugly at full price, it is no less ugly because its only £20


8. Set a budget, stick to it.  


9. Outlet Shopping. Bicester Village boutiques have sales as does the Outnet. Yes. Go. (but remember the plan, this plan)


10. Ignore the sad looking sale and buy full price shiny newness. This is what I did on Boxing Day.  


Items that fit into THE PLAN and are in stock at the time of writing: 

YSL Four Colour Eye Palette, Was £37.00, Now £24.66 at Debenhams 

Other make-up brands with fab discounts in all dept stores include Lancome, Guelian, Benefit and Estee Lauder (gift set of advanced night repair is reduced in HOF)

Prada Amber Gift set, Was £50.00, Now £33.33 at Boots

All boots fragrance gift sets have between £10 and £15 knocked off- as do everywhere else's. 

Micheal Kors Skorpios Large Leather Hobo, Was £780, Now £390 at Harvey Nichols

ITS HALF PRICE FFS! 

  Harvey Nicks has the best accessories sale I've seen. 

Brain Atwood Maniac Nude Courts, Was £470, Now £329 at Selfridges

Black Leather Trim Cigarette Trousers, Was £45, Now £20 at Topshop

I wanted these full price, they fit, they are classic, they are cheap, I will wear them with a man's white shirt and red lipstick and look french.

I would also recommend buying a half price designer wallet- Mark Jacobs, Mulberry and Vivienne Westwood are usually marked down. Not that you'll have any money to put in them. 

Gold Classic Leather Orb Purse Was £96, Now £48 MyWardrobe.com

Object of Desire

I need this bag. 

They sell it at House of Fraser if you want one too.

New Shoes

My first pair of designer shoes! Well Vivienne Westwood for Melissa might not really count, but I love them all the same. I stood in the Vivienne Westwood store for what seemed like hours debating over colours (the grey version is equally stunning)and the different styles, I am still considering buying the matt beige ones with the wax seal, and if they would make my feet hot (they do, but its totally worth it)

I was unsure about the colour, I thought they might not go with anything, then I decided the complete opposite, they would go with EVERYTHING!

I Want One of These

I saw this on www.my-wardrobe.com and need to start saving my pennies or applying for credit cards... Classy and Punky? Viv's nailed it.

I saw a girl in Kentish town with last season's small, black patent, boxy orb bag and nearly grabbed it and ran.

Vogue's Fashion Night Out

Fashion's Night Out, organised by Vogue was touted as "A global celebration of fashion" with similar events happening in 12 other cities across the world.

Curious about this, and unsure of what would actually be happening I got off the tube at Oxford Circus after work to investigate. Topshop was the first stop, and apart from a board saying it was Fashion's Night Out and a small section of 'Vogue Edits' there was not much else to suggest the glamour and celebration promised. In fact, the highlight was spotting Noel Fielding browsing the leather trench coats.

Disappointed, I made my way to New Bond St, which at first sight looked sad and deserted and going into an abandoned Fenwicks did nothing for my mood.

Then, with a champagne reception at Bally and one of the Vogue staffers milling about and yet more champers and Vogue cupcakes at Follie Follie things were looking up. Anya Hindmarsh had cocktails and the opportunity to be photographed your favorite bag and the chance of winning it. Unfortunately, my photo was terrible so I stand no chance of a free bag.

Once I got down into Bond Street it was a whirlwind of fabulous drinks receptions and a real party atmosphere. Mulberry had amazing berry cocktails and prize draw (which I did not win), Jimmy Choo had Kanye West blaring out the speakers and scrummy Margaritas, Longchamp had a singer in the window, good old Vivienne Westwood served delicious canapes and gin and the Burberry party was the busiest, filled with the most stylish people and celebs with a queue for the early parts of the evening.

I had a truly fabulous time and thought that all the designer stores really made the effort to make it a great night. Bond Street retained its air of exclusivity, even though the event was open to all. It was a rare opportunity for fashion wannabes to glimpse the glitz close up, I truly hope there will be one next year as it is the perfect way to ring in the new fashion season in style.