WhatSheWears.ie

In my opinion, there are two kinds of sale shoppers:

The Early Bird
If you’re like me, you systematically set reminders in your calendar each June and December to ensure that you get first crack at the best deals from your favourite shop. There’s no shame in being the early bird that catches the worm, dear readers—it’s just smart shopping.

With this comes carefully planned purchases – i.e. either you’ve saved for a big item splurge, like a winter coat or handbag,  or you’ve cried your eyes out earlier this season because you simply couldn’t afford it , then now is the time to brace the winter sales.

The Bargain Hunter
There there are those who love the feeling of a bargain, who go along to the sales to see “what there is” and bag themselves, what they think is “the the best bargain”. We’ve all been there and made terrible mistakes (canary yellow shoes with green bows, what was I thinking?) and sometimes even bagging the bargain of the century.

But more often than not, if you take this approach then only the oddest sizes are left in the most awful colours and you end of with junk you’ll never wear, so avoid the disappointment and turn into an early bird for a day.

If you, dear reader, have been forced into thinking “more saving, less shopping” in this weird time that is the R word, then let the drum roll begin, because all your Christmases come at once come 26 December because some carefully planned shopping =The Sales= = heaps of savings.

Follow our tips to surviving the winter sales and come New Years Eve, you’ll be woo-ing your friends with tales of How I survived the first ever St Stephen’s Day Sale and Lived to Tell the Tale.

Tips to surviving the winter sales

1. Weigh up whether the 70% off an item worth €2000, reduced to €600 is worth sleeping on the pavement overnight like a demented sale shopper for (Some items are worth doing just that for, believe me!).

2. Find out the opening time of where you’re intending to “target” and if it’s a shop on the street or within a shopping centre. If it’s the latter, find out what time the shopping centre opens at, because, in the event that you do go along early to queue, you’ve got to be certain that you’ll get into the building!

3. Have picked out and tried on the item of clothing that you’ve lined up and know you size and exactly where it’s located in the shop,  (although the location may change on sale day).

Ladies, note that there will be huge queues for the changing rooms, and IF you get access to them it will be CHAOS, so, go with the idea that you’ll NOT be trying anything on, as you already know what you want and in what size.

4. Wear the right shopping outfit. Ballet pumps or slip on shoes, jeans and an easy to pull off top (if you didn’t happen to follow my advice in point 3 and do happen to end up in the fitting room or in front of the most available mirror).

There’s no time for bringing along your killer heels to see if they match the dress you want, or for trying it on with your most invisible nude underwear – this should be done BEFORE the sales even begin!

5. Before the sales, i.e. RIGHT NOW, find out the returns policy of where you intend to shop, especially on sales stock. You may have a cooling off period when you can take impulse buys back.

6. Some shops offer a personal shopping service during the sales. So, while everyone else is fighting their way out of a clothes recycling bin, you glide into a haven filled with clothes that have been pre-selected for you. Heaven! It goes without saying that this needs to be booked in advance.

Choose a department store like House of Fraser Dundrum (01-2991400), which has its own label brands plus plenty of high street and designer ones (from Topshop to being the exclusive stockist in Ireland for Kenneth Cole New York) – that way you have an amazing selection under one roof for you and the personal shopper to choose from – just give them your budget and the rest is easy.

7. Be prepared for the worst case scenario – a rugby scrum on the shop floor, this is after all THE most reduction on items you’ll probably get all year. Just take it all with a pinch of salt and endure it for the couple of hours that you need to. Oh and make sure your laser card has some money there to meet your spend after the Christmas shopping spend you did a few days ago!

WhatSheWears.ie picks for sales shopping online

From now

Asos - 30% off

Anthropologie - 40-60% off
New Look – up to 75% off
Oasis – up to 50% off
Twenty8Twelve – 30% off
Warehouse – 50% off
Whistles – 30-50% off
Spoiled Brat – 20% now, increasing later

My-Wardrobe.com – 30-50% off

Victorias Secret – 20-50% off

Thursday 24 December
Ted Baker – up to 50%

Saturday 26 December
Miu Miu - 40% off bags, 50% off ready to wear
Mulberry – 30-70% off
Net-A-Porter – up to 50%
Next - up to 50%
River Island – up to 50% off
Smythson – selected lines up to 50%

Monday 28 December
Paul Smith

The Sales, Ireland

Deirdre McQuillan, Fashion editor of the Irish Times, gives you the inside track on the sales in Irish shops. The original article is published here.

ARNOTTS Henry Street, Dublin (01-8050400) Will set a precedent this year – like Brown Thomas, Clerys and others – by starting its sale on St Stephen’s Day at 10am with up to 50 per cent off many labels. Star buys include wool/cashmere coats for €50, Tommy Hilfiger polo shirts for €10 and 40 per cent off brands such as Anglomania by Vivienne Westwood, Aideen Bodkin and Nanette Lepore. In menswear, up to 40 per cent off formal and contemporary brands such as French Connection, Diesel, Nicole Farhi and Firetrap.

ASHLEY REEVES Stillorgan (01-4934609) and Rathfarnham shopping centres Sale in progress with up to 50 per cent reductions. A silver grey Basler jacket was €315, now €158.

AVOCA Dublin, Kilmacanogue (01-2867466), Powerscourt, Rathcoole and Bunratty Sale starts December 27th at 10am with 15 per cent off everything (except fresh food) and up to 50 per cent off selected lines and clothing.

A¦WEAR Grafton Street, Dublin (01-6717200), 28 branches nationwide and awear.com Sale starts at 9am on December 24th with reductions of up to 50 per cent. A brocade bandeau dress was €45, now €30; sequin blazer was €60, now €40.

AURA 94 Sandymount Road, Dublin 4 (01-6672377) Sale in progress, with everything reduced by 50 per cent (except jewellery). Shop reopens December 29th at 10am. A star buy is a Stella Forrest embroidered navy jacket down to €200 from €400.

BELLA MAMMA The Triangle, Ranelagh, Dublin 6 (01-4968598) Sale starts December 28th at 10am, with reductions of up to 50 per cent. Star buy: J Brand “Love Story” maternity jeans were €270, now €170.

BENETTON Stephen’s Green Centre, Dublin (01-4781799) Starts December 27th at 11am with reductions of 30-50 per cent. Puffa coats in choice of three colours now €115.

BOW BOUTIQUE Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, Dublin 2. (01-7071763) Sale starts December 28th with up to 30 per cent off Eilis Boyle knitwear, Momuse jewellery, Camilla Norback sweaters and Mattie Doody dresses.

BROWN THOMAS Dublin (01-6056666) Sale starts in Dublin, Cork and BT2 Grafton Street on December 26th at 10am. Brown Thomas Limerick, Galway and BT2 Dundrum and BT2 Blanchardstown start on December 27th. For opening hours, see brownthomas.com and BT2.ie. All stores will offer reductions of 20-50 per cent off selected lines across womenswear, menswear, accessories, footwear, lingerie and homewares.

CARRAIG DONN Westport, Co Mayo (098-26287) and 21 stores nationwide Sale starts on December 27th at 10am with up to 50 per cent off fashion, jewellery and gifts. A purple jersey dress by J’Aime La Vie was €69 and is now €34.50.

CARL SCARPA Grafton Street, Dublin (01-6777846) and 13 branches nationwide Sale starts December 23rd at 9.30am, with up to 50 per cent off Italian footwear and accessories. Black suede ankle boots with stud detailing were €115, now €72.50.

CARU 30 Drury Street, Dublin (01-6040757) Sale with 20 per cent discounts in progress, shop reopens on December 28th at noon with discounts of 30-50 per cent. An Armand Basi pink cocktail dress (voted No 1 by Grazia) was €368, now €258.

CHESNEAU 37 Wicklow Street, Dublin (01-6729199) Starts December 27th at 10am. Expect reductions of between 20 and 50 per cent on selected bags and other leather goods.

CIRCUS Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, Dublin (01-6724736) Sale in progress with up to 40 per cent reductions. A Poltock Walsh sequin shoulder dress was €495 and is now €295.

CLOTHES PEG Sutton Cross, Sutton, Co Dublin (01-8321130) Sale in progress with reductions of up to 70 per cent. Shop reopens December 27th at noon. Star buys: silk jersey Antonio Berardi dresses (exclusive in Ireland) were €1,050 and €658, now selling for €100. Sergio Rossi brown suede boots reduced from €620 to €195.

CLERYS O’Connell Street, Dublin (01-8786000) Starts at 10am on December 26th with up to 50 per cent off throughout the store – and special offers for shoppers who get in line early.

CONSIDINE, SHEILA Unit 5, Lower Georges Street, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin (01-2311925) Sale in progress with reductions of up to 50 per cent. This will be the last sale in this premises as Considine is moving and will sell online at sheilaconsidine.com Wool coats in black, blue or cerise were €265 now €145.

COPELAND, LOUIS 39 Capel Street, Dublin (01-8721600), Pembroke Street, Wicklow Street, IFSC, Dublin Airport and Galway Sale starts at 10am on December 27th with significant reductions in suits, coats, jackets and trousers with a good selection of larger sizes. See louiscopeland.com.

COSTUME 10 Castle Market, Dublin 2 (01-6794188) Sale starts December 27th at noon with up to 50 per cent off all stock. Star buy: Roland Mouret dress, from €925 to €460.50.

DEBENHAMS Henry Street, Dublin 1 (01-8147200) and 15 stores nationwide Sale starts December 26th at 10am in Henry Street, Dublin, Patrick Street Cork, Mahon Point, Newbridge and Tralee stores — the rest open on December 27th at 8am.

DESIGN CENTRE Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, Dublin 2 (01-6795718) Sale starts tomorrow at 10am with up to 50 per cent reductions. Star buy: John Rocha camel “slouch” coat was €1,260, now €630.

DIFFUSION 47 Clontarf Road, Dublin 3 (01-8331592) A luxury bargain sale is already in operation with John Rocha, Lainey Keogh and Martin Grant all half price. Shop reopens on December 28th at 10am.

DOLLS 32b Westbury Mall, Clarendon Street, Dublin 2 (01-6729004) Sale starts on December 27th at 1pm with 30-50 per cent off selected items. Star buy: Gary Graeme silk dress was €580, now €348. Dolls owner Petria Lenehan will be opening a new store – a café with clothes – with her sister Maisha in early February in Portobello, Dublin 2.

EDEN 3 Market Square, Dundalk, Co Louth (042-9386739) Sale started yesterday (December 21st) with 20 per cent reductions and there will be further discounts when Eden reopens on December 29th at 10am. Star buys include a See by Chloé military-style coat now €400 down from €686 and a Luella prom dress that was €915 is now €700.

FITZPATRICKS 76 Grafton Street, Dublin (01-6772333), chq, IFSC, Dublin 1 and Dundrum Town Centre Sale started December 15th with up to 30 per cent reductions on Dior, Michael Kors, Fendi, Sergio Ross and DKNY ladies shoes. Up to 50 per cent off Zegna and Ralph Lauren men’s footwear.

GANT Pembroke District, Dundrum Town Centre (01-2964416) Sale starts December 27th at 9am with up to 70 per cent off menswear. In ladieswear, everything half price.

GENTLEMEN PLEASE 47 Main Street, Blackrock (01-2788788) Sale starts December 28th at 10am, with a special suiting sale blitz – all Palzileri Italian Super 100 suits that were €1,000 are now €249 (four left at time of writing) and all Strellson and Gibson suits also €249. www.gentlemenplease.ie

HARVEY NICHOLS Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin (01-2910488) Starts 10am on December 27th with up to 50 per cent reductions. Star buys include a pink Alexander McQueen clutch at €410, reduced from €825.

HAVANA Donnybrook, Dublin 4 (01-2602707) Sale starts on December 27th at 10am with discounts of up to 60 per cent. Star buys: Vanessa Bruno coat, was €595 now €360; Alberta Ferretti cocktail dress was €750, now €450 and Comme des Garcons coat was €1,740, now €1,045.

HOUSE OF FRASER Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin (01-2991400) Sale starts on December 26th at 10am, with up to 50 per cent reductions across the board. Star buy: an Episode fur cuff collarless wool coat was €420, now €252.

H&M Dundrum Town Centre (01-2991502) , Henry Street, Dublin and Gaiety Centre, Dublin Sale started on December 17th with up to 70 per cent reductions.

HUGO BOSS Dundrum Town Centre (01-2980000) Sale starts on December 27th at 10am with discounts from 30-70 per cent.

KALU North Main Street, Naas, Co Kildare (045-896222) Sale in progress with 30 per cent reductions, increasing to 50 per cent reductions on December 29th at 10am.

JEN KELLY 50 North Great Georges Street, Dublin 1 (01-8745983) Sale starts on January 4th at 9am with 30-70 per cent reductions. A handmade beige cashmere coat was €3,200, now €995.

JOANNE HYNES Brown Thomas, Sale started already with, amongst other items, 50% off belts, head pieces and over sized crystallized jewellery necklace. (added by WhatSheWears.ie)

KELLI boutique, 45 Ranelagh Village, Dublin 6 (01-4970077) Sale already in progress with up to 30 per cent reductions. Reopens on December 30th at noon with almost everything half price. Star buy: a camel coat by Valentino Red was €599 now €299.

KHAN 15 Rock Hill, Blackrock, Co Dublin (01-2781646) and Dominick Street, Mullingar, Co Westmeath (044-9396908) Sale starts on December 28th at 11am with up to 50 per cent reductions. A Schumacher shearling jacket was €1,998, now €1,000.

KILKENNY SHOP Nassau Street, Dublin (01-6777066) Sale starts at 10am on December 27th with between 20 and 70 per cent reductions on fashion and accessories. Star buy: Betty Jackson red balloon coat was €275, now half price.

LARA 4 Dame Lane, Dublin 2. Sales starts December 26th (open 10am to 2pm). Win the dress of your dreams if you buy on the day. (added by WhatSheWears.ie)

LES JUMELLES 11 Upper Abbeygate Street, Galway (091-564540) Sale started on December 10th, with up to 30 per cent reductions on new stock and 70 per cent on older. Star buy: La Petite Salope dress, was €1,215, now €350.

LOUISE KENNEDY 56 Merrion Square, Dublin (01-6620056) and Brown Thomas, Dublin The sale is already in progress, with discounts of up to 40 per cent. Star buy: angora and wool mix Juliet coat, was €775 now €495.

MARKS & SPENCER Dublin, Cork, Blanchardstown, Dundrum, Blackrock and Liffey Valley Sale starts December 27th at 9am with up to 50 per cent reductions across fashion, footwear, accessories, home, beauty and so on. A Per Una coat was €135, now €75, grey boyfriend cardigan now €12, was €35 and roll-neck cashmere jumper was €80, now €53.

MICHAEL BARRIE 20 Duke Street, Dublin (01-6715265) Sale starts on December 27th at 10.30am, with 30 per cent off all suits and 30 per cent and more off everything else. Hugo Boss suits at €420 and a sports jacket at €100.

MONAGHANS 2 Royal Hibernian Way, Dublin 2 (01-6794451) Starts Sunday December 27th at noon, with many cashmere sweaters half price. Cashmere stoles and capes were €350 now €150, selected scarves were €110 now €50.

MONICA JOHN 19 Westbury Mall, Dublin (01-6790045), French Church Street, Cork and High Street, Bantry Sale already in progress with up to 50 per cent reductions. Shop reopening on December 26th at 10am. Star buy: taffeta collar evening dress, was €675, now €335.

NELO MATERNITY 39 Clarendon Street, Dublin (01-6791336), 1 Robert Street, Limerick also online at nelomaternity.com Sale starts on December 27th at 11am with up to 70 per cent off maternitywear. Star buy: cocoon wrap dress, was €119, now €59.

NO 6 Castle Market, Dublin 2 (01-6708846) Sale starts on December 28th at 11am with up to 50 per cent off selected items. Wool cashmere coats reduced to €320 from €450. Tweed coats now €230, from €460.

NEXT 67 Grafton Street, Dublin (01-6793300) First off at 7am on December 26th with a minimum of 50 per cent off all stock.

OASIS St Stephen’s Green (01-6714477) and branches nationwide Sale started on December 17th with up to 50 per cent reductions. A black leather biker jacket was €200, now €100.

PAMELA SCOTT 84 Grafton Street (01-6796655) and 13 branches nationwide Sale started on December 17th, with up to 50 per cent reductions.

PORTRERO HILL No 1 Royal Hibernian Way, Dublin (01-6330133) Sale starts on December 27th at noon with 40 per cent off shoes, 20 per cent off housewares and 25 per cent off clothing. An MO851 Italian leather satchel was €320, now €250.

REISS St Stephen’s Green, Dublin (01-6712588) Sale starts on St Stephen’s day at 11am.

RICHARD ALAN 58 Grafton Street, Dublin (01-6168906) Sale already in progress with up to 50 per cent reductions. Shop reopens on December 27th at 10am. Typical bargain: a black wool coat by Irina Schrotter was €359 now €130.

RIVER ISLAND Grafton Street, Dublin (01-6778257) and branches Sale, with up to 50 per cent discount across all departments, starts December 26th at 10am in the Ilac and in Liffey Valley at 11am; Grafton Street reopens at 8am on December 27th. Star buy: a long purple jersey cardigan now €18, down from €40.

ROCOCO Westbury Mall (01-6704007), Glasthule Village and Galway and Noa Noa, 18 Westbury Mall (01-7071812) Sale started December 19th with 30-75 per cent reductions, shop reopening December 27th from 12pm. Star buy: a Louise Della boiled wool coat that was €695 and is now €329.

SMOCK 31 Drury Street, Dublin (01-6139000) Sale already in progress with up to 40 per cent reductions. Shop reopens on December 27th at 2pm. Star buy: David Szeto draped blue dress, was €795 now €395.

SOUL 2 Glasthule Road, Sandycove (01-2808895) Sale already in progress with 30 per cent off Robert Clergerie and Chie Mihara footwear. Star buy: stretch wedge heeled boots in black, brown or grey suede were €395 now €275.

THOMAS PATRICK 77 Grafton Street, Dublin (01-6713866) Sale starts today at 9.30am with up to 30 per cent off Stuart Weitzman and Bruno Magli shoes and boots. KMB, Gabor and Peter Kaiser ranges reduced by 25 per cent. Italian boots selling from €99.90. In men’s footwear, there is 30 per cent off Gant and Camel Active boots and shoes.

TOMMY HILFIGER 13 Grafton Street, Dublin (01-6337010) and stores throughout Ireland Sale starts on December 26th in Grafton Street and on December 27th in remaining stores. Discounts from 20-50 per cent off Runway collection exclusive to Grafton Street. A pink wool coat normally €649, now €324.50.

TOPSHOP St Stephen’s Green (01-6725009) and branches Sale starts December 26th at selected stores with up to 50 per cent off all autumn/winter lines and notable reductions in knitwear.

TYRRELL &  BRENNAN 13 Lower Pembroke Street, Dublin (01-6788332) Sale starts January 4th with 70 per cent off most items in sizes 10-18. Star buy: a full-length embroidered velvet coat with marabou trim down to €750 from €2,500. tyrellandbrennan.com

URBAN OUTFITTERS Cecilia House, Cecilia Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 (01-6706202) and Dundrum Town Centre Sale starts on December 24th with most items reduced by at least 50 per cent. Star buys: Vivienne Westwood leopard-print tote down from €431 to €194.99.

YASMIN VELLOZA 43 Dawson Street, Dublin (01-6799283) Sale starts January 28th with 20-30 per cent reductions. Star buys: silk brocade blazers down from €450 to €225 and matching skirts from €300 to €100.

ZARA Henry Street (01-8045900), Dundrum Town Centre, Blanchardstown and Gaiety Centre Sale starts on December 26th with up to 50 per cent reductions.