Seasonal sales « Penny Golightly

Big list of summer sales dates

June 25th, 2009 by Penny Golightly

I’m going to list all the dates of sales I’ve found that look half decent or better, in A-Z format. Most of these sales have 50% off selected items, although Selfridges have up to 75% off, and Debenhams have up to 70% off.

NB: This does NOT include one-day events, pop-up boutiques, sample sales, or vintage sales, please look elsewhere on the site to find those – they’re mostly hiding in the forums. Please add your own posts below if you find any more sales.

BIG BAD SALES LIST

Agent Provocateur
Now – ?

Agnés B
Jun 25-Jul 26

Alexander McQueen
Now – Sun Aug 16

All Saints
Now – ?

Antoni & Alison
Jul 20-31

Aquascutum
Now – ?

Argos
Now – ?

ASOS
Now – ?

b Store
Now – Sat Jul 11

Banana Republic
Thu Jun 18 – ?

Ben Sherman
Now – ?

Boots
Now – ?

The Body Shop
Now – ?

Bread & Honey
Jul 3-31

Brora
Now – Jul 26

Browns
Now – Sat Jul 18

Cath Kidston
25 Jun – ?

Celine
Now – Sun Jul 5

Chanel
Jun 27 – Jul 11

Chiara Fashion
Now – ?

Chloé
Now – Jul 25

Christian Louboutin
Now – ?

The Conran Shop
Thu Jul 9 – ?

Cos
Now – ?

Daks
25 Jun – ?

Debenhams
Now – ?

Designers Guild
27 Jun – ?

Dorothy Perkins
Now – ?

Dover Street Market
Now – Sat Jul 11

Emma Hope
Now – ?

Fenwick
Jun 23-Jul 22

French Connection
Now – ?

Folli Follie
Now – ?

G -Star
Now -?

Gap
Now – ?

Georgina Goodman
Now – Sat Jul 11

Gina
Now – Jul 15

Gucci
Now – Wed Jul 1

Habitat
Now – ?

Harrods
Jun 27 – Jul 19

Harvey Nichols
Wed Jun 24 – ?

Heals
Now to Fri Jun 26

House of Fraser
Now – ?

Hub
Sat Jul 4 – ?

Hugo Boss
25 Jun – ?

Ikea
Now – ?

Isabella Oliver
Now – ?

Jaeger
Now – ?

Jimmy Choo
Now – ?

John Lewis
Jun 26 – Jul 19

Joseph
Now – ?

Karen Millen
Now – ?

Kays
Now – ?

KJ’s Laundry
Jun 26 – Jul 12

Kurt Geiger
Now – ?

L K Bennet
Now – ?

La Senza
Now – ?

Liberty
Now – Sun Jul 19

Luella
Now – ?

Matches
Now – ?

Miss Selfridge
Now – ?

Miu Miu
Now – Sun Jul 12

Moschino
Jun 27 – Aug 29

Mulberry
Thu Jun 25 – ?

Myla
Now – ?

New Look
Jul 6 – 26

Oasis
Now – ?

Office
Now – ?

Original Penguin Clothing
Now – ?

Play.com
Now – ?

Purves & Purves
Jun 27 – Jul 31

Reiss
25 Jun – ?

Rupert Sanderson
Now – ?

SCP
27 Jun – 26 Jul

Selfridges
Now – Sun Jul 19

Sonia Rykiel
Now – Sat Jun 27

Start boutiques
Now – Sun Jul 19

Stella McCartney
Now – Jul 18

Topshop
They’re being coy and not saying when. Oh come on.

Twentytwentyone
Now – Jul 31

Urban Outfitters
Now – ?

USC
Now – ?

Viaduct
Jun 27 – Jul 11

Warehouse
Now – ?

Warren Evans
Now – midnight Jun 28

Whistles
Now – ?

Yoji Yamamoto
Now – ?

Zadig & Voltaire
Now – Sat Jul 18

Did I miss any out? Let me know.

Tags: big list of sales, Seasonal sales, summer sales
Posted in Seasonal sales | 6 Comments »

The REAL sale rules

June 24th, 2009 by Penny Golightly

The summer sale season is in full swing now, with offers all over the place. What’s the best way to do the sales without putting your blood pressure through the roof or maxing out the credit card on items you’ll hardly ever use?

Rule 1: Think about what you need
Is there anything in your home or wardrobe that needs replacing, or might need replacing in the next few months? Electrical goods, clothes, bedlinen, towels, glassware and crockery tend to be on my list. Do you have any occasions coming up where you’re expecting to give a gift of some sort?

Rule 2: Find the item that ‘pulls it all together’
One small purchase might help you to make better use of the things in your wardrobe: perhaps you already have a great skirt or pair of trousers but you never wear them because they need a belt/ a shirt/ the right pair of shoes that you don’t have. An amazing ornament might pull your home design together and complete the look. A baking dish, a lunch box or some freezer boxes might make it easier for you to have friends round for dinner or cook more economically. You get the idea.

Rule 3: Know what you can afford
You aren’t saving yourself money if you overdo it and get into debt. Make a rough budget, and rank items you want in order of priority. I confess that I always build something completely frivolous into the budget so there’s something fun to look forward to, even if it’s just a tiny treat. I also allow myself a ‘discretionary overspill’ – if the perfect interview suit turns up, for example, I’ll go up to a certain amount on the credit card and pay it off before the charges come rolling in.

Rule 4: Make a shopping list
It reminds you of the important things that you need, so that you don’t get dazzled by all the other pretty things in the shops.

Rule 5: Know what things are worth
A little internet research will show you who’s got your favourite things at the right price. You might also be able to buy online and save yourself a journey. Also find out which clothing trends are set to continue for the next few seasons, and you’ll get a lot more wear out of what you buy.

Rule 6: Plan your route and timing
Check the Hurry, hurry, hurry pages on the Penny Golightly forum to work out what’s on where. There’s a limit to how much ground you can cover in one day, or one lunch break. If it’s likely to be a popular sale go early or go during an off-peak time if you can. Camping on the pavement for two days to save £50 on a telly is insanity, however. Wear the right outfit: comfortable shoes to get around quicker, and if you’re looking for clothes then wear plain underwear and things you can whip on and off quickly.

Rule 7: Go alone
It’s so much faster, you don’t have to worry about being democratic or taking umpteen extra loo breaks, nor will you end up having a bun fight with your friend who wears the same size clothes and shoes as you.

Rule 8: Be nice to the shop assistants
Seriously. They’ve already been run ragged by assorted needy, greedy and rude people since the sales began. Treat them nicely and they’re more likely to nip back to the stock room for the last size whatever, or do you a discount for that missing button or broken zip.

Rule 9: Know your rights
If you buy something you know to be faulty then your chances of being able to return it are slim to none. All other goods, regardless of discount, if sold as non-faulty must be fit for purpose – if something goes wrong with them then you’re entitled to a full refund (you don’t have to settle for vouchers or exchanges if you don’t want to). If in doubt, buy from established retailers who have a good reputation for after-sales service, such as John Lewis.

Rule 10: Don’t get sale fever
It’s easy to become mesmerised by items that would fit perfectly into your fantasy life. Oooh, a ballgown! Sorry, got a little distracted there, and I don’t fancy going to a ball. Oooh, £500 off an £800 designer bag!! Hang on, I don’t have £300 to spend on a bag right now. Quick, let me have another look at that shopping list so I don’t forget what I came in here for. Also avoid: things that might go off if you’re planning on keeping them for a while, this season’s fad, technology that’s about to be replaced by something better, clothes that you’re hoping you can slim into in the next few months, anything that needs several other purchases to make it useable/wearable, and anything that needs mending/altering unless you’re the sort of person who sorts that out right away. But you’ve budgeted for at least one fun purchase, haven’t you? I’ll be the one in the lime green diamante sunglasses, ciao.

It’s murder out there, good luck.

Tags: bargain hunting, need vs want, Seasonal sales, summer sales
Posted in Seasonal sales | 8 Comments »