January and February

The early part of the year just after the holidays is a great time to purchase certain types of clothing.

Winter Apparel and Coats

By January, consumers have already purchased a bulk of the items needed to endure the frigid winter months. As a result, retailers tend to begin discounting items to reduce excess inventory and make room for upcoming spring arrivals.

However, there is a catch to securing the best bargains. Markdowns usually increase as time progresses, but it may be in your best interest to purchase popular items when discounts surface, or you could miss out.

Formal Apparel

Suit sales seem to be stagnant in January, so be on the lookout for price reductions to move idle inventory, notes TIME.

Fitness Apparel

Will shedding those unwanted pounds or leading a healthier lifestyle be on your list of resolutions for the upcoming year? Perhaps you have not given this much thought, but be mindful that retailers sometimes offer discount workout gear each January to attract customers.

 

July and August

The summer months often bring some great bargains on clothing.

Swimwear and Summer Gear

In the forthcoming months, the frigid winter weather will be here to stay. This means the price of swimwear and summer gear will begin their rapid descent because retailers do not want these items lingering on racks in the fall.

Children’s Clothing

Most children return to school in August, so retailers offer sales to make apparel more affordable. Look for sales on everything from separates to school uniforms. Additionally, try shopping during the sales tax holiday (if available in your state) to help offset costs.

October

During October, you may be able to find clothing bargains, as well.

Jeans

Just in time for the cooler temperatures, retailers will begin applying discounts on jeans once the back to school rush has passed. Likewise, expect even lower prices if jeans are not projected to be on this year’s list of popular fashion trends, notes TIME.

Other Shopping Tips

No matter what time of the year you shop, it is possible to save money by following a few simple strategies.

Holiday Sales

Clothing retailers offer sales for practically every holiday throughout the year. However, Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) and the day after Christmas are the best sales to shop if you want to hit the jackpot.

The reason behind this is that many consumers are so fascinated with the deals on electronics during sales Black Friday that they completely overlook apparel. As for the day after Christmas, retailers are anxious to get rid of all the leftover inventory ordered to meet the demands of holiday shoppers.

Markdown Days

These days vary by retailer, but you can inquire with management or a customer service representative to learn more. If the store is holding a weekend sale, pay them a visit on Thursday evening when the markdowns are typically applied. This will enable you to avoid the mayhem and get first dibs on the discounted items they are offering.

Out of Season Apparel

According to ABC News, you can save between 40 and 50 percent by waiting until mid-season to go shopping. However, being patient and shopping out of season can land you even steeper discounts, between 50 an 75 percent, the article adds.

Save Money All Year

While there are optimal times to buy, shopping wisely will save you money on practically any type of apparel you choose to purchase.

About Kathryn Finney

Finney’s career as a savvy fashion advisor started in the world of high fashion. After receiving degrees from both Rutgers University and Yale University, she worked as a fashion editor for REAL magazine and as a stylist for photo shoots and advertising spreads.

Finney became one of the Internet’s first fashion bloggers with her site, The Budget Fashionista. Her success with this encouraged her to write How to Be a Budget Fashionista: The Ultimate Guide to Looking Fabulous for Less. Since its release, Finney has doled out workable fashion tips through various media, including CNN, the Style Network, and the Today Show. She’s also a guest columnist for Redbook.com.

And don’t worry: you don’t need to be a size 1-1/2 to benefit from her book. Finney, a champion of “real” women, stresses that women can look terrific, regardless of shape or size. Much of her advice is aimed at helping everyday women amp up their fashion arsenal to look and feel their best.

 

A Guide to Help You Shop Smarter

In How to Be a Budget Fashionista, Finney discloses a host of discount shopping ideas, including:

• Designer websites offering discounted products
• Outlet mall strategies
• Using eBay to your advantage
• How to spot and not pay for designer rip-offs

A big fan of living as debt-free as possible, Finney also offers practical advice that helps you stretch your fashion dollar. Simple things, such as tips for caring for clothes like the professionals do, can justify paying for well-made pieces that will look better, longer, especially when you know how to care for them.

Budget Fashionista Tips

Finney writes How to Be a Budget Fashionista in an accessible, lighthearted way – like two girlfriends sharing ideas and exchanging coupons. Many of her recommendations are very practical, such as:

• Establish a budget beforehand. This is important so you can make the most of your clothing allowance.
• Understand your personal style. You can avoid wasting money simply by not buying items that don’t suit you, even if they are trendy. If you’re not the type to wear a leopard-print outfit, but it’s all the rage, incorporate a leopard-print scarf so you look fashionable.
• Rack up bargains by association. Exchanging coupons is just one way to score bargains. Finney also describes ways to benefit from the discounts others’ receive.

If you don’t have an idea of what your personal style is, How to Be a Budget Fashionista has a handy questionnaire that, once completed, should give you a better idea of your fashion preferences.

How to Be a Budget Fashionista: The Ultimate Guide to Looking Fabulous for Less rounds out the looking fabulous department with some frugal beauty tips, too. Many household items and food products such as honey, eggs, milk, and strawberries make terrific cleansers, rejuvenating face masks, bath oils, and other beauty products. The book includes a how-to guide to making yourself beautiful at home for less.