Smooth Sale-ing

If you’re looking for warm weather items and your budget is tight, the time is now! Summer clothing and accessories are currently in stores at 40, 50 even 60 percent off of original prices!  It’s a great time of year to add a few more summer staples—T’s, dresses, sandals – and replace some of those summer whites that may have gone dingy.  Truth be told, I’m a big proponent of shopping the sales, but I’m not a big fan of shopping them exclusively.  My shopping philosophy is to shop twice a retail season: in the beginning of the season for pieces you must have to fill major wardrobe gaps (like that great pair of dress ‘em up, dress ‘em down black trousers or a classic trench) or items that are needed to complete an outfit. Those should be purchased at the beginning of the season—when the selection is best.  Then, at the end of the retail season, I recommend adding those pieces that are the ‘nice to haves’—items that are not critical to your wardrobe but rather add spice and variety your existing pieces. They may also be repeat purchases (aka ‘back stock’) to items that you love and wear now. Tip:  no matter how inexpensive an item is, the key question to ask yourself before walking out of the store with it is, “Would I have paid full price for it?” If the answer is a resounding ‘yes!’ consider it a find and bring your prize home!