Incredible guide, absolutely saving this for later. One sale to add for this community is fine jewelry! I noticed this year that small fine jewelry brands (yes I have one and didn’t have a sale last fall but so many other brands did!) typically have a sale in early to mid November because their pieces are made to order and they want to make sure customers can take advantage of the sale for holiday gifting (most small fine jewelry brands take 4-8 weeks to make their pieces). Saving for big ticket jewelry items and waiting for that early November sale could save folks a significant amount of money!
I have pinned this comment for it is absolute gold dust (no pun intended). On the agenda for our next call is the guest feature by you that I have on the content calendar! Love you.
for high end bags, I love using gem.app to search for them on the resale market. I just set an alert and get a daily update on the new stuff across the big resale sites. I've gotten great Loewe and Celine bags from Japanese ebay-- their prices are often better and the condition is always accurately represented.
Hi Cait - This is an amazing recommendation! I had never heard of it! I have just pinned your comment so that everyone can see it. I'm really grateful to learn new things from this community every day!
Such good, detailed advice. Some of my favourite sustainable retailers don't have sales, or only put items on sale when they are low on sizes, discontinuing lines, or in one case they have a discount on preorders. Of the one that does have sales (Grenson's) I've found it is worth it for me to buy things I will wear a lot at full retail at the start of the season, and then check the sales for anything else I have my eye on but don't consider essential. Not all of their lines go on sale at all, and I have got burned in the past waiting for a pair of sandals to be reduced!
Thank you so much, Louise. I just subscribed to your letter (an eternity overdue!) because I can't keep missing out on your knowledge of these sustainable retailers.
I have already refined my opinion on this in the three days since sending this newsletter. After an unsuccessful visit to the store of my favourite brand (Studio Nicholson) where I could not find a single thing I liked in my size - I made a pact with myself to proactively shop full-price this year. It's that or missing out and like I said, that cost per wear will compound I'm sure of it. It's been three days and I have already found it liberating. I'm now marking my calendar with the date collections launch as the dates sale start! I'll be seeing a sale score as a bonus going forward!
Also apologies if this is something you’ve addressed before and I missed it, but I’d love to know what other categories you think are worth buying full price vs on sale in terms of timing/availability! What you said about coats vs sweaters makes so much sense but I wouldn’t have thought of it myself.
Sorry for the delay of my response, and thank you for your lovely comment!
I was going to refer you to a few articles I have written before, but I realised they weren't exactly answering your question. I've given it a thought, and here is what I do. This split is mainly dictated by my own experience of shopping these categories. For example, with boots and winter shoes (loafers, etc.), I initially thought that styles are pretty timeless, and you could get away from buying at the end of the season (and on sale) because you'll be just as keen to wear the following winter. But then I thought about it some more and thought, 'Actually, no' first of all, a warm boot is something you will get SO much wear out of in the first season you buy them. I have worn the same pair of boots daily for the past two months! And, more crucially, the styles and sizes I want always get sold out!! So, that pair of boots I mentioned wearing non-stop, I bought it in the sale last year in a size too small, and I had to replace the sole, and they still could be a little more roomy. Anyway, that was a long-winded example, but here are the categories:
Buy full price at the beginning of the season (because the best stuff sells out and/or because it is a very high-frequency wear item): summer clothes (I feel like these tend to be trend-driven and can look dated from one summer to the next), coats, boots, statement tops/dresses, swimwear, pants (that depends on the person - cuts are timeless, but personally my size always gets sold out!).
Buy on sale later in the season (because the selection is extensive/less likely to sell out, and styles are more timeless): knitwear, winter accessories (like scarves/gloves), basic tops, denim, blazers/jackets, and summer sandals.
I’m just now seeing this but thank you so much for your reply!! It’s genuinely so helpful. And you are so right about summer things although I had never really put that together myself.
Your posts continue to be intelligently and thoughtfully written. I learn something new with each article. I’d love to hear from you and your readers about the oldest item in your closet (not vintage, just pieces you’ve had for years).
Hi Francine, I'm so so touched by your lovely comment. For you to come away having learnt something new every single time is exactly my goal. I have written about the oldest items in my closet and the special meaning they have for me in this letter - https://lizabelmonte.substack.com/p/049-to-all-the-clothes-ive-loved I hope it has everything you expected. My favourite is definitely the Isabel Marant denim jacket with the embellished collar. I recently did a big wardrobe clearout, which always involves me trying to style new outfits, and I keep getting blown away by the versatility of this piece. I will definitely be writing about this topic again in the future! Have a lovely week! x
One other comment…. I’m in Florida. I meet people that have 1 or 2 swimsuits and I think that is bonkers!!! We use them frequently so 6-7 new ones each year- easily.
Winter coats/sweaters we don’t really need. Light jacket and layering tops/light sweaters gets us through our few weeks ( December- February) of Intermittently cold weather (50-mid 60’s is our freezing weather😂) each year.
So at times those deep discounted sales- I still look and occasionally find stuff.
This is important to note too for sure! Wish I could address these little nuances in every letter. I know Australian readers on Fashion Substack are frustrated, haha! I'm working on a piece where I collect my favourite creators from every 'seasonal time zone', I hope to drop it next month! Xx
Liza!!! This is a masterpiece and the work it took to time all the parts of this calendar- wow. Thanks for your efforts.
This is a lecture in buying well and the pre plan game. Stupendously done👍🏽. Every woman that shops, whatever her stage in life, would benefit from reading this.
Also, egosyntonic is my knew life goal! I had to look it up😂.
And I too dress for the male gaze at times. And I say this without judgement. I’m Latina and one of my 3 words is sexy🤷🏽♀️. It’s part of my core. Also, I am a single Pringle so you never know who’ll you meet or where.😉
Hi Michelle!! This was the comment that kept on giving! haha
First of all, thank you so much for being so complimentary about this piece. I'm so so so happy you found it so valuable.
The end also made me smile a big wide grin. If you want to hear more about egosyntonic/egodystonic, I highly recommend this episode from the This Jungian Life podcast https://open.spotify.com/episode/739rZPfWi1VD1yjdJksiXq?si=69cc0dd21dc44f4b. I am FASCINATED by this concept and it was the first time that I used it in the context of dressing. Up until now, I have only ever used it in the context of ... dating! This episode delves into 'when wrong feels right and right feels wrong'. I'm sure you know exactly what that relates you when it comes to dating! Reflecting on this has helped me discern when I'm drawn to someone who isn't good for me for all the wrong reasons! I can't tell you how thrilled I am to be able to share it with a fellow single gal.
Also, got to take a page out of your book... I realised last week that there are a lot of attractive people where I co-work and I always show up there looking awful, and I keep my bose buried in my laptop all day long as a result, haha. As you said, you never know what could happen, or as per a line in my favourite movie, you never know when lightning could strike ;);). Embrace the 'sexy' 100%!!! Xx
Incredible guide, absolutely saving this for later. One sale to add for this community is fine jewelry! I noticed this year that small fine jewelry brands (yes I have one and didn’t have a sale last fall but so many other brands did!) typically have a sale in early to mid November because their pieces are made to order and they want to make sure customers can take advantage of the sale for holiday gifting (most small fine jewelry brands take 4-8 weeks to make their pieces). Saving for big ticket jewelry items and waiting for that early November sale could save folks a significant amount of money!
I have pinned this comment for it is absolute gold dust (no pun intended). On the agenda for our next call is the guest feature by you that I have on the content calendar! Love you.
Cannot wait!!! 🤩🤎
for high end bags, I love using gem.app to search for them on the resale market. I just set an alert and get a daily update on the new stuff across the big resale sites. I've gotten great Loewe and Celine bags from Japanese ebay-- their prices are often better and the condition is always accurately represented.
Hi Cait - This is an amazing recommendation! I had never heard of it! I have just pinned your comment so that everyone can see it. I'm really grateful to learn new things from this community every day!
Such good, detailed advice. Some of my favourite sustainable retailers don't have sales, or only put items on sale when they are low on sizes, discontinuing lines, or in one case they have a discount on preorders. Of the one that does have sales (Grenson's) I've found it is worth it for me to buy things I will wear a lot at full retail at the start of the season, and then check the sales for anything else I have my eye on but don't consider essential. Not all of their lines go on sale at all, and I have got burned in the past waiting for a pair of sandals to be reduced!
Thank you so much, Louise. I just subscribed to your letter (an eternity overdue!) because I can't keep missing out on your knowledge of these sustainable retailers.
I have already refined my opinion on this in the three days since sending this newsletter. After an unsuccessful visit to the store of my favourite brand (Studio Nicholson) where I could not find a single thing I liked in my size - I made a pact with myself to proactively shop full-price this year. It's that or missing out and like I said, that cost per wear will compound I'm sure of it. It's been three days and I have already found it liberating. I'm now marking my calendar with the date collections launch as the dates sale start! I'll be seeing a sale score as a bonus going forward!
This retail calendar is amazing!!
Also apologies if this is something you’ve addressed before and I missed it, but I’d love to know what other categories you think are worth buying full price vs on sale in terms of timing/availability! What you said about coats vs sweaters makes so much sense but I wouldn’t have thought of it myself.
Hi Lanier,
Sorry for the delay of my response, and thank you for your lovely comment!
I was going to refer you to a few articles I have written before, but I realised they weren't exactly answering your question. I've given it a thought, and here is what I do. This split is mainly dictated by my own experience of shopping these categories. For example, with boots and winter shoes (loafers, etc.), I initially thought that styles are pretty timeless, and you could get away from buying at the end of the season (and on sale) because you'll be just as keen to wear the following winter. But then I thought about it some more and thought, 'Actually, no' first of all, a warm boot is something you will get SO much wear out of in the first season you buy them. I have worn the same pair of boots daily for the past two months! And, more crucially, the styles and sizes I want always get sold out!! So, that pair of boots I mentioned wearing non-stop, I bought it in the sale last year in a size too small, and I had to replace the sole, and they still could be a little more roomy. Anyway, that was a long-winded example, but here are the categories:
Buy full price at the beginning of the season (because the best stuff sells out and/or because it is a very high-frequency wear item): summer clothes (I feel like these tend to be trend-driven and can look dated from one summer to the next), coats, boots, statement tops/dresses, swimwear, pants (that depends on the person - cuts are timeless, but personally my size always gets sold out!).
Buy on sale later in the season (because the selection is extensive/less likely to sell out, and styles are more timeless): knitwear, winter accessories (like scarves/gloves), basic tops, denim, blazers/jackets, and summer sandals.
I hope this helps you!
All the best,
Liza xxx
I’m just now seeing this but thank you so much for your reply!! It’s genuinely so helpful. And you are so right about summer things although I had never really put that together myself.
Your posts continue to be intelligently and thoughtfully written. I learn something new with each article. I’d love to hear from you and your readers about the oldest item in your closet (not vintage, just pieces you’ve had for years).
Hi Francine, I'm so so touched by your lovely comment. For you to come away having learnt something new every single time is exactly my goal. I have written about the oldest items in my closet and the special meaning they have for me in this letter - https://lizabelmonte.substack.com/p/049-to-all-the-clothes-ive-loved I hope it has everything you expected. My favourite is definitely the Isabel Marant denim jacket with the embellished collar. I recently did a big wardrobe clearout, which always involves me trying to style new outfits, and I keep getting blown away by the versatility of this piece. I will definitely be writing about this topic again in the future! Have a lovely week! x
One other comment…. I’m in Florida. I meet people that have 1 or 2 swimsuits and I think that is bonkers!!! We use them frequently so 6-7 new ones each year- easily.
Winter coats/sweaters we don’t really need. Light jacket and layering tops/light sweaters gets us through our few weeks ( December- February) of Intermittently cold weather (50-mid 60’s is our freezing weather😂) each year.
So at times those deep discounted sales- I still look and occasionally find stuff.
This is important to note too for sure! Wish I could address these little nuances in every letter. I know Australian readers on Fashion Substack are frustrated, haha! I'm working on a piece where I collect my favourite creators from every 'seasonal time zone', I hope to drop it next month! Xx
Liza!!! This is a masterpiece and the work it took to time all the parts of this calendar- wow. Thanks for your efforts.
This is a lecture in buying well and the pre plan game. Stupendously done👍🏽. Every woman that shops, whatever her stage in life, would benefit from reading this.
Also, egosyntonic is my knew life goal! I had to look it up😂.
And I too dress for the male gaze at times. And I say this without judgement. I’m Latina and one of my 3 words is sexy🤷🏽♀️. It’s part of my core. Also, I am a single Pringle so you never know who’ll you meet or where.😉
Hi Michelle!! This was the comment that kept on giving! haha
First of all, thank you so much for being so complimentary about this piece. I'm so so so happy you found it so valuable.
The end also made me smile a big wide grin. If you want to hear more about egosyntonic/egodystonic, I highly recommend this episode from the This Jungian Life podcast https://open.spotify.com/episode/739rZPfWi1VD1yjdJksiXq?si=69cc0dd21dc44f4b. I am FASCINATED by this concept and it was the first time that I used it in the context of dressing. Up until now, I have only ever used it in the context of ... dating! This episode delves into 'when wrong feels right and right feels wrong'. I'm sure you know exactly what that relates you when it comes to dating! Reflecting on this has helped me discern when I'm drawn to someone who isn't good for me for all the wrong reasons! I can't tell you how thrilled I am to be able to share it with a fellow single gal.
Also, got to take a page out of your book... I realised last week that there are a lot of attractive people where I co-work and I always show up there looking awful, and I keep my bose buried in my laptop all day long as a result, haha. As you said, you never know what could happen, or as per a line in my favourite movie, you never know when lightning could strike ;);). Embrace the 'sexy' 100%!!! Xx
Saving this one Liza - so, so helpful! And such a helpful way to think about purchases throughout the year! Thank you for the shout out too x
Thank you lovely, and I just read you were unwell! It's the worst! Get well soon!!! Xx