Off Season Shopping = Huge Savings

Yes, it’s going to take a little planning, but shopping “off season” is an incredible way to save a ton of money on clothing and accessories. What do I mean by "off season”? What was being featured at the front of the store for full price (for example, the Fall two piece set I’m wearing in the picture above) is now (Spring) on a CLEARANCE rack for a fraction of the price. When I say a fraction of the price, my set was $89.00, full price. I bought it for $9.98. It was originally reduced 30% OFF in the dead of winter, then put on the under $10 CLEARANCE rack for Spring. I figure, if it’s still available in my size at that price, it was fate. Gotta get it. I also got an incredible Little Black Dress for under $10, and walked out of Macy’s that day feeling amazing.

I know. Off season shopping is hard. It all comes down to top-of-mind-awareness. You have a cocktail event coming up and you suddenly realize that your go-to little black dress is too tight. You dash out the door and panic shop. There’s noting is more frustrating than going to a 100 stores and you can’t find the one thing you’re looking for, but it always seems to happen that way. Wouldn’t it be amazing if, six months ago, you had found an updated LBD on sale and hung it in the back of your closet for a day exactly like this?

The key is to think ahead. Make a list of clothing and accessories that you should always have in your seasonal wardrobe. Then, wait until the opposite season, for example if it’s summer, it’s a great time to grab winter and early spring pieces, for next to nothing. Carve out a few hours and cruise through your favorite stores. Check out the SALE and CLEARANCE racks for pieces that you love, and can wear in six months. I know it’s hard to bring things home and not be able to wear them right away, but when you pull your Fall bin out of storage and there’s that brand new pair of booties that you scored last spring for $20, it will make it all worth it.

My favorite department store where I’ve made off season shopping a habit is Macy’s. They carry a wide variety of Designers and prices, so their selection is excellent. Macy’s gets new shipments to each department regularly, so they’re constantly moving merchandise. It starts front and center and full price, then will get moved to a 30-40% OFF rack. If it sits on the sale rack for long enough and needs to move out, they’ll put it on the CLEARANCE rack that says, “I’m priced to sell-Must go”! Not really, but if the rack could talk, that’s what it would say. Again, if it’s something you like and is available in your size, buy it. Tuck it away for another season and you can build an entire wardrobe for a fraction of what everyone else is paying.