Are T J Maxx and Saks Off Fifth Whispering to You? Discount Shopping Works!
Can you shop at a discount store and look chic, sleek and expensive? Yes, but it takes discipline, vision and a few well-chosen strategies. You can shop for less, but never look it, if you know that you don’t have to buy something every time you walk in the store, if you refuse to compromise on fit, if you pass over all the garments with too many details, darts and dangles, and if you think about what might make a great piece of clothing end up discounted.

Size… If a garment is labeled with the wrong size, it will end up at your favorite discounter at a fraction of the original price, so don’t limit your looking to your very own size…

Fit – If you find a petite and you don’t have to have the garment fitted by your seamstress, you can afford to pay a bit more for better quality.

Color - Know your palette, what looks good on you, what is current and what will brighten your wardrobe. Less expensive clothes work better in neutral colors, especially if you find the perfect scarf for an accent.

Be happy with one good piece. If you come across a suit at a great price and the jacket is perfect, but the pants don't make it, grab it and pass the pants along to a friend.

Overstocking – If too many were ordered, a supplier may have to dump quantities of a product. That’s when you see all those Merrills or Ralph Lauren’s at Ross.

Last Season’s Style – If it is a classic and well made, it will work well with your wardrobe. 

If you are strategic, you are more likely to find what you want at a price lower than you might have imagined.

Consider Price Points – When Saks and Neiman Marcus’ outlets are bringing in the latest fashions and want to move merchandise out fast, the price at the register may be far below the price on the tag. Take the garment to be scanned so you know how much you are saving.

Dress to shop. Wear clothes that strip off easily and wear layers, so that you can slip on a jacket without going to the dressing room. Keep accessories to a minimum and you can slip on scarves, belts and jewelry without removing your own.

Shop only where you can return garments for a full refund, so you can reconsider at home, in front of your very own full-length mirror. If a mark down means the item cannot be returned, be very certain before you buy.

Know the brands that work for  you. Levi and Ralph Lauren jeans, Asic running shoes, Merrill casual shoes, Uggs, Columbia workout clothes, Sportsac and Dooney & Burke handbags are all favorites that have been found regularly at discount stores at a fraction of their price.

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