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It happens every year. Just when you¡¯ve settled your closet with cool and comfortable summer clothes ¡¦ shazaam! Everywhere you look at the mall, in catalogs, in magazines and on the Internet, you are besieged with hot and heavy fall fashions. Suddenly, reality and retail do not mix!
It¡¯s 90 degrees outside! So why are the fashion magazines stuffed with woolens? Why are heavy boots and sweaters flooding the malls? As far as retailers are concerned, summer is over. They know women are bored with lightweight summer outfits. They know the rich colors and sharp designs will draw us like magnets. Besides, retailers prefer fall/winter merchandise over summer. They can sell it three times as long.
But wait! You can get the best of both worlds. There are advantages to shopping out of season, whether it¡¯s early or late on the calendar. All you need to do is put down that Slurpee and plan ahead!
1) SUMMER SALES
So, how do they get all that fall merchandise on the shelves before the end of summer? They do it by giving you ridiculous discounts in July.
A recent visit to a local mall proved this point. Nearly every summer sandal, accessory, bathing suit, sleeveless top, shorts, and handbag were marked down. It was dizzying to have so much choice at such great prices! Our kingdoms for a shopping cart!
Now, whoa there, Nelly. Don¡¯t go crazy. If you don¡¯t love it, need it, or look good in it, then a sale is not a bargain. Repeat that ten times. But if you still need a pair of white shorts, or another lightweight dress for the office, then this is for you. And the longer in the season you wait, the more marked down everything will be.
If you like to shop at discount stores, and who doesn¡¯t, then you can find a double deal. Not only are items regularly lower than retail, but a recent expedition showed a huge clearance section on summer items. Who says money can¡¯t buy happiness, especially if it¡¯s on sale.
Shopping at the end of the season is always smart, no matter the time of year. If you find something you love that you don¡¯t need now, you can get a great price on it and tuck it away for a nice surprise when you discover it later. Just two little cautions with this. One is that if you buy something really trendy, chances are it may be out of style by next year. The other caveat is that if your weight tends to fluctuate, what you buy now may not fit later. If you stick to the classics, and keep your weight on an even keel (which is the healthy thing to do), you should be fine.
2) THE EARLY-BIRD GETS THE BEST FALL PRICES
Speaking of sales (and aren¡¯t we always). Here¡¯s a great tip. Some stores, even large and prestigious chains, have special early-in-the-season prices for fall fashions. They have a ¡°buy now¡± price, and will post in big letters the ¡°will be¡± price if you¡¯re silly enough to wait until the item is in season. But you can actually often save 20-25% off full retail if you buy early. Suddenly, trying on that winter coat in August doesn¡¯t seem so bad.
Catalogs are also in the ¡°early bird¡± game. Like the stores, they often preview their fall fashions with ¡°buy now¡± discounts. But because you¡¯ve been a good girl all summer, some catalogs also offer a ¡°buy now pay later¡± incentive. That¡¯s right. They¡¯ll ship it now but won¡¯t bill you for three to four months down the road. How¡¯s that for planning ahead on your clothing budget. Just remember the bill will arrive!
3) GET WHAT YOU LOVE BEFORE IT SELLS OUT
We¡¯ve all been there. We fall in love with something in the window and it¡¯s already sold out. Shopping ahead of the season will ensure that you get what you want before it¡¯s gone. And don¡¯t count on them re-ordering the same item in the future. Since stores want to bring in fresh, new bait as often as possible, they may not re-stock that item. If the item is at a retail chain, another branch might have the item you covet. But if no one has it, you¡¯ll have to find a new, new love. Here¡¯s your new motto: ¡°Shop early. Shop often.¡±
4) BONING UP ON WHAT¡¯S ¡°IN¡±
Instead of asking ¡°What do I wear today?¡±, why not get the answer to ¡°What will I wear tomorrow?¡± Now is the time to check out the magazines, malls and runways to see what the latest looks will be and what will work best for you. But don¡¯t become a fashion victim. If you¡¯re not ready for micro-mini skirts, you¡¯ll find that the knee-length pencil skirt is still in style and just might look good on you. And if this fall¡¯s belted jackets and skinny pants aren¡¯t your thing, ladylike suits with skirts or pants from previous seasons are classics that will always be in fashion. Seeing what¡¯s coming next season can actually help you be a better, smarter and faster shopper.
5.) NEXT YEAR¡¯S ACCESSORIES CAN BRIGHTEN LAST YEAR¡¯S WARDROBE
The rules for buying accessories out of season is the same as the one¡¯s we¡¯ve already shared with you for clothing. But spotting the accessory trends for the coming season has an extra economical benefit.
Every year accessory designers come out with fabulous new handbags, shoes, fashion jewelry and scarves. Sometimes the accessory itself makes the entire statement for an outfit. So, if a new suit isn¡¯t in your budget, then perhaps a fashionable new blouse or scarf will give it the ¡°now¡± look you¡¯re after. This way you can go in style without going broke.
6.) MAKE YOUR OWN KNOCK-OFFS
Let¡¯s say you look into your fashion crystal ball and see that short skirts are on the horizon. But all your skirts are long and you can¡¯t replace them because your paycheck¡¯s crying ¡°uncle¡±. Here¡¯s what you do -- keep your long skirts and just shorten them. The same goes for the new thinner pant leg. You can narrow the seams on your wide-leg trousers yourself or just make friends with the local tailor. Here¡¯s another economical and easy trick to keep in style. When separates are in, all you have to do is take apart your matching suits and buy a few simple pieces to mix and match them with.
Who knows what fashionable styles are just bursting to get out of your closet? If Cinderella can make a gown out of rags, you can, too.
7.) CHANGING SEASONS IN YOUR OWN CLOSET
To change seasons in your own closet you have to take two things into consideration. The first thing is weather. It¡¯s best to hang in the back of the closet or store out-of-sight anything that you won¡¯t be wearing for a while. They will only clutter the space you have and make it even harder for you to get dressed every morning. (And getting you dressed is our reason for being.) Just protect them from the three ¡°d¡¯s¡± -- dust, damp and the dreaded moth. You can buy expensive storage bags and boxes or just use the plastic bags from your dry-cleaning. If you don¡¯t have the closet, attic or basement space to store out of season clothing, you can invest in under-the-bed boxes or even those space-saving vacuum-sealed bags sold on TV.
The second consideration is what¡¯s ¡°in¡± and what¡¯s ¡°out¡±. You can read the fashion magazines to learn what the ¡°latest¡± look is, but that doesn¡¯t mean you have to discard what you already have. The fashion world may be fun and fabulous but it is not gospel. For instance, denim is not hot for fall, but do you get rid of your jeans? Certain styles, like old boyfriends, come back. Classic looks, whether they¡¯re in or out, should never leave your closet. It¡¯s amazing how new something can look when it¡¯s been put away for a couple of seasons. Even if you grew tired of it the first time, it can look fresh with new pieces a year or two later.
When it comes to cleaning your closet, let your own personal economy be your guide. If you have kids to feed and bills to pay, just wear whatever you own, with your head up and a sense of pride. If you do this, we guarantee, you will always be in style.
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