Women's clothing

October brings not just a nip in the air but a bonus for consumers: department stores’ fall clothing sales. “Because retailers are purging their end-of-season merchandise to make way for winter stock, you can find terrific buys this time of year,” says Art Beroff, coauthor of The Bargain Hunter’s & Smart Consumer’s Field Guide (Avebury Books 2003, available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com). “It’s possible to come home with high-dollar department store label and even designer clothing for the same prices you’d pay for cheap discount store duds. “But,” Beroff cautions, “if you don’t know what to look for, you can end up with a closet full of garments that will end up costing you more than you spend.” He suggests these strategies to help you zero in on the best buys:

·    Be realistic. Decide which departments you want to hit before you get to the store. For instance, if you’re a petite or a plus-size, head for that area instead of the misses department where you’ll waste time, effort, and money (as well as self-image) trying on things that won’t fit right and will probably end up in the back of the closet unworn.

·    Plan your attack. Retailers usually place clothing with the biggest discounts (50 to 75 percent off) at the back of the department so shoppers have to weave through the newest, full-price merchandise and the garments marked at 10 to 25 percent off to get to the major sale stuff. Don’t get distracted. Head directly to the racks with the biggest discounts and then work your way forward.

·    Read the big print. Sale-rack signs can be misleading. Signs that offer “50% off original price” mean just that. But don’t think “Take an additional 30% off” means you get 80 percent off the original ticketed price. Instead you take 30 percent (or whatever the discount is) off the already discounted 50 percent. In other words, a $100 sweater at a 50 percent discount would be $50, with an additional 30 percent, or $15 off, for a total sale price of $35—in actuality, 65 percent off.

·    Be thorough. Don’t dismiss an overstuffed sale rack at a glance because you didn’t see anything you liked; you may miss a gem you’ll love hidden among the muddle. If you find an item you like but it’s the wrong size, comb through the larger and smaller sizes; you may find your choice thrust into the wrong section by a previous shopper or a careless clerk.

·    Think it through. Just because something’s on sale doesn’t automatically make it a wise buy. Clothing that demands dry-cleaning, for instance, can cost you hundreds of dollars in cleaning charges as well as valuable time dropping it off and retrieving it later; garments that require hand washing and air-dry blocking can also cost you valuable time. Read care labels and decide if you’re willing to commit to the extra cost and effort before you buy.

·    Be prudent. While sales present terrific opportunities to expand your wardrobe, don’t get carried away and buy clothes you (or your children or mate) will never wear. This includes tops or bottoms that don’t go with anything in the closet, too-trendy gear that seems fashionable in the store but you know you’ll be too embarrassed to wear in public, clothes that don’t fit comfortably, and clothing for your kids or spouse that you like even though you strongly suspect they won’t. All these items will end up not only as orphans on the closet floor, but also as money needlessly spent.

·    Think seasonally. Don’t ignore deeply discounted summer clothing because it’s now autumn. In some parts of the country, you can still get a month’s or more wear out of them, especially if you layer tops under sweaters or jackets. And all over the country, you can set those summer togs aside for next year’s pleasure and start the season off with brand-new stuff.

·    More is good. While you wouldn’t want two of the same party dress, two—or more—of many other garments can be a smart purchase. If you find an exceptional buy on items like men’s shirts, buy one in each available color; you can end up with several brand-name items for the price of a single non-sale purchase.

·    Ask for more. If you find a garment you love that has a flaw like a missing belt or button or a minor tear and you can easily repair or replace it, ask for an additional discount. Retailers will generally grant you an extra 10 percent off the sale price.






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