Clothes

Clothes

The British High Street has been transformed in the last few years. Even retailers which were traditionally deemed to be expensive – Marks and Spencer’s, Zara – now have value and basic ranges which are relatively low price. This allows the retailers to compete in markets which they currently had no stake, and it allows shoppers to take advantage of low prices and high fashion.

There are now loads of really fashionable cheap and cheerful shops meaning students can follow up-to-date trends without paying over the odds:

  • Matalan
  • H&M
  • Primark (just beware of all your friends being dressed in similar outfits)
  • New Look
  • Peacocks
  • TK Maxx (they sell up-to-the-minute brands at discount prices – but beware, it can be time consuming searching the aisles)

Supermarkets

The supermarkets are also another good source of inexpensive clothes - almost all now have a clothing department and the prices are really low. Again, their ranges are up-to-the-minute and fashionable.

Charity Shops

Consider charity shops for cheap clothes. In certain areas there are so-called 'designer' charity shops where you can pick up expensive brands for next to nothing, and depending where you live maybe even celebrity castoffs. The wealthier the area in which the shop is in, the higher the likelihood of good second hand products.

Have a look at the charity shop association website, for information in regard to store locations. TRAID is a charity shop where clothes are taken apart and made into new clothes by fashion students allowing you to be ethical and cutting-edge.



Shopping Tips

  1. Make sure you use your student discount card everywhere. It can sometimes be a case of ‘You don’t get what you don’t ask for’
  2. Retail outlets are brilliant for certain items like jeans and trainers. As long as you don’t mind your purchases being ‘last season’s’ you can get real bargains with prices reduced by between 30-70%. One of the biggest in the UK is the McArthurGlen chain of designer outlets, which has branches all over the UK. Designer warehouse sales are held all over the country but the best is DWS held in London’s King’s Cross.
  3. Clothes swapping parties can be a great way to get rid of your unwanted (but still in good condition) clothes by trading them for your friends. It can be a fun way to clear out your wardrobe and get your hands on items you have yearned after from your friends for years, all the while remaining ethical and low cost. Designer clothes swapping parties are becoming increasingly popular. Y-Shop  organise parties in London but the company will be branching out nationwide in 2009.
  4. There are a number of websites that help you find out about on-and-offline sales the moment they start. Lynku.com and gooddealdirectory.co.uk provide information of sales including warehouse sales.
  5. There are a lot of the clothes for sale on Ebay at extraordinarily low prices but double-check whether you are getting a ‘real’ bargain by using a price comparison website such as shopping.com , kelkoo.com etc. If you are unsure about the authenticity of a clothing website, check out e-victims.com. The site offers free, practical and easy to use advice about websites and has details of recent scams, making your online shopping experience even safer.
  6. If there is something you really want to buy on Ebay or another auction site, don’t start a bidding war with other users. There are websites which will keep an eye on your item for you and allow you to “pounce” on it at the last minute – try bidnip.com , justsnipe.com and auctionsniper.com .
  7. If you are shopping with a retailer who has both a high street and internet outlet, as most now do, you may be able to get the internet price in-store. Print out the quoted internet price and ask if the price can be matched. This allows you to actually try on the clothes before you buy and take advantage of a lower price.
  8. Shopping from abroad is also possible via the internet. The cost of shipping and delivery can be high, but the exchange rate means that it can sometimes work out much cheaper.
  9. If you are a fashion follower asos.com copies the big celebrity trends at a fraction of the price, and details exactly which celebrity was wearing ‘your’ outfit. Similarly wornby.co.uk provides information about where to buy t-shirts and sweatshirts worn by TV presenters and celebrities.
  10. Check for daily offers on hotukdeals.com which has daily promotional codes for fashion websites as do sendmediscounts.co.uk and myvouchercodes.co.uk.
  11. Dress-for-less is one of the most popular discount designer sites with many of the big names appearing on the site – DKNY, Tommy Hilfiger and Miss Sixty.
    Mandmdirect.com offers more alternative brands, again at 75% off, with stock being updated every hour – lastseason.com follows a similar format.
  12. Laslty, if posible use a cash-back sites, for example quidco.com or topcashback.co.uk , and earn on your spend. If you have a cash-back credit card, use this aswell (althought always pay off in full); You will be getting extra cash for shopping online – money for nothing.

 


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Extra Ways to Save Money on Clothes

The following are a list of industry “truths” in relation to the tricks the retailers use to persuade you to shop and spend your money.

  • Shops put dots on clothing labels or laundry labels of stock which is just about to be marked down for a sale. If you see something you want to buy with a dot on the label hold out for the sales.
  • Student ID is invaluable. 10% off is still a discount.
  • Go straight to store management if you have a complaint. If you have a pricing complaint in a supermarket don’t complain at the till, instead take the receipt to customer services. The supermarket policies mean they are extremely competent in dealing with mistakes – double the difference, refund and replace etc.
  • If you are complaining in any shopping situation and you accept what is offered to you – the case is closed. Make sure you know this before you make a final decision.
  • Remember inconvenience costs. If a store leaves a security tag on and you have to come all the way back into town, ask for refunds on your travel expenses, especially if the purchase was for a special event such as a graduation ball.
  • If you have a special event and want the “must have” product but without the price tag then consider hiring the bag/dress/shoes for the day. Fashionhire.co.uk~ loans the most up-to-date handbags for short of period of times as does handbaghirehq.co.uk~

 


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