For some Boxing Day means eating leftover ham and friendly games of backyard cricket. For others it’s a regulated bloodsport where ruthlessness is the only option. By that we mean the annual Boxing Day sales, which can have the tendency to turn even the mildest of people into a frenzied monster. And it’s easy to understand why it happens. Sales tend to whip up strong reactions – from fear of missing out to uber competitiveness – all of which can lead to making poor decisions. That purple bejewelled fedora at 50 per cent off might seem like a good idea at the time, but mostly, well, it’s not.
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To help with this we’ve pulled together the ultimate ELLE girl guide to surviving – and thriving – the summer sale season.
DO YOUR RESEARCH
Take cues from fashion girls who will happily spend hours trawling through runway shows, street style pics and shopping websites to hone in on what you really love, where to buy it and where you’re going to get the best price. This includes shopping like a ninja online – this includes making wish lists on your favourite stores and following your favourite brands on social media to get a heads up on upcoming sales and offers .
DO A STOCKTAKE
This is important. Take a long, hard look at your wardrobe and figure out what you actually need – remember a bargain isn’t really a bargain if you didn’t either need or absolutely love it. Do you have ten striped shirts but only one pair of jeans? Need a dress for your cousin’s wedding next year? This is a great time to plug the holes in your wardrobe.
BUY THE BASICS
Make like ELLE fashion news coordinator Claudia Jukic and stock up on the everyday items that you’ll use over and over, but don’t necessarily love spending loads of money on.“I always buy swimwear on sale – you can find cute ‘kinis and it feels better to spend less money on something with very little fabric … ditto lingerie,” she says.
LOOK FOR CLASSIC ITEMS THAT WON’T DATE
You can’t go wrong with classic, non-trend driven items that you will wear for years to come. Look for things like trench coats, crisp white shirts and tailored trousers. As Dee Jenner, ELLE style editor says of her sales strategy,“I try not to impulse buy. Things like cashmere, coats and a great bag are always going to be a good investment so I know I’m making the right decision.”
ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU CAN ALSO USE THE SALES AS THE CHANCE TO BUY SOMETHING YOU WOULDN’T NORMALLY
We don’t mean somethingridiculous,but if you were keen try a pair of fur lined shoes or a tutu during the year but couldn’t quite stump up the cash for something so … dramatic… and you spot them on sale, this is your moment. Or at least to challenge yourself a little, sartorially speaking. As ELLE digital contributor Ruby Jones says,
“I usually try to see them as an opportunity to buy my favourite item in a seasonal colour I would NEVER usually choose, this way I’m also encouraged to wear more colour.
“For example, last year [I saw] a pair of orange suede Altuzarra heels on sale for like $300 bucks. Obviously I bought them and now I proudly strut around in orange suede heels that are amazing. “
TAKE A FRIEND WHOSE OPINION YOU TRUST
The kind of friend who will tell you to put the unflattering (but such a bargain!) culottes down, and is not the kind of enabling friend that will encourage you to spend a week’s rent on a pair of shoes.
MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE SALES ASSISTANTS
Obviously this takes some pre-sales ground work, but being on friendly terms with the staff in your favourite stores can go a long way toward getting first dibs on the good stuff or at least an honest opinion.
LISTEN TO YOUR GUT INSTINCT
Try and remain calm in the face of a rack of half-off shoes and think about what you really want to buy, and what will inevitably be a regrettable decision. Your gut instinct will tell you to put down the drop crotch, acid wash, asymmetrical pants. You should listen to it.
EAT A GOOD BREAKFAST
A lot of bad decisions could be avoided had you had you eaten a decent breakfast beforehand. Hangry is not a happy place for shoppers.
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