Check out this cute online shopping spring/summer haul from Rue 21 and Tilly's.
I managed to score all the clothing pictured for just $30 including shipping.
So, what is my secret for finding bargains like this? Well...all of these warm-weather items were actually Black Friday 2015 deals!
Shopping off-season is one of the biggest ways to save on clothing. If you know how to take advantage of end-of-season sales you can easily build a stylish wardrobe for next to nothing.
Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your clothing budget:
Shopping off season doesn't mean you will be out style! Fashion flows in waves. Most trends circulate for a few seasons in various forms before dying out. If you stay up-to-date on fashion and have a good grasp of what's still in style and what's on its way out, you can easily grab trendy and fun clothes that still look fresh for next season.
Shop holiday sales. I find that the best time to shop online is during any holiday. There are deep discounts and better than usual shipping deals.
Never pay for shipping! When shopping online, be smart about shipping. Shop on days when stores are offering free shipping on all purchases or lower free shipping minimums. But don't buy things you don't want/need in order to get shipping deals.
Have patience and plan ahead. You have to be forward-thinking in order to shop this way. You've got to know what you are going to need and what type of events you are going to need to dress in coming seasons. You have to be prepared to let your new purchases hang in your closet until the seasons change.
Shop mid-season sales. Since the sale cycle starts so early in retail, you can easily get clearance clothes that are still in season.
Look for past-season clothes that can transition into the coming season. For example, if a store is clearing out winter merchandise, snap up that light-weight pink sweater that works perfectly for a cool spring day.
Be choosy. I used to buy just about anything I found on sale. While I did have fun trying lots of different styles, I also threw money away on clothes that didn't suit me, or that I never found a reason to wear. Now, I put just as much thought into buying sale items as I would full price clothes.
Rue21 Faux Suede Skirt $6
Rue21 Geo Print Joggers $3
Rue21 Crochet Fringed Sweater $3
Rue21 Halter Top $3
Rue21 Open Knit Sweater $3
Rue21 Crochet Back Top $3
Rue21 Crochet Back Top $3
Rue21 Strappy Tank $3
Tilly's Floral Duster Vest $3
So, Do you ever shop off season? What is the best deal you have ever found in end-of-season clearance sales?
Hi everyone! Today I wanted to share with you my latest Dr. Marten steal from Ross Dress for Less. My first Dr. Marten find at Ross was a pair of cherry red docs, which were by far the best Dr. Marten deal I have encountered. (You can see that post here.) Since that first pair, I have seen quite a few pairs of Docs at Ross in my size. The red Docs had a label inside that said "sample." Since I have only seen Dr. Martens at Ross in size 6, and the pricing is always very low, it seems likely that they are all sample shoes. So, if you are a size 6 and a Dr. Martens aficionado, scour your local Ross racks for these super deals!
Dr. Marten Lester Oxford
I discovered this pair at the Roosevelt Boulevard Ross here in Philadelphia. It is the Lester Floral Oxford. This style is not currently selling on Dr. Martens web site, but I found it selling on NordstromRack.com for $74.97, with an original price of $120.00. But... I got my pair at Ross for just $24.99!!!
These chunky floral oxfords are a fun way to add a pop of color to a simple outfit. They are great for the transition from winter into spring here on the East Coast. There are so many ways to style these...I imagine mine paired with a textured pink car coat, chambray shirt, or a black dress or skater skirt. Really the possibilities are endless! They come with 90s-style ribbon laces, but also include traditional laces. So, will you be incorporating any floral prints into your looks this spring?
Hi Everyone! Here are a few of my latest Ebay finds... This map watch is really similar to one I was eyeing at Urban Outfitters for $34, but I found this great retro-style watch on Ebay for just $2.78! That even includes shipping from China.
This crystal necklace is just so pretty and delicate! It is slightly smaller than my other crystal necklace from ebay. It was only $1.63 (for just the pendant without a necklace) and it always gets compliments.
These gold layered necklaces are similar to more expensive styles that I admired, but these were just 99 cents each-including shipping!
Whenever I see a new watch or jewelry trend that I like, I try to track a similar style down on Ebay. That way, I can own all the newest styles while spending next to nothing.
Hi everyone! I recently bought these two pairs of sandals at Shoe Factory, a local Philadelphia shoe store.
These thick strapped gladiator sandals are right on-trend and were only $9.99!
My pictures do not do these shoes justice-they are so cute on!
Not only are these stylish, the material of the straps is straps is very soft and the shoes are really comfy.
These nude sandals were also $9.99. They are made of a soft microsuede fabric embellished with plastic studs. I like how they kind of blend into my feet, giving a very neutral and minimalist look.
I decided to write this post after I realized there was barely any information about Shoe Factory online! This is a local family-owned Philly store that I have been shopping at my whole life. So, I wanted to do a quick review on this awesome store.
Shoe factory is located in Northeast Philadelphia at Castor and Tyson Avenues. It is within walking distance of the Roosevelt Mall. You can check out their Facebook page here.
Shoe Factory sells discount women's shoes and some girls' sizes as well. The prices are really reasonable, with their shoes averaging about $15 full price. (Their winter boots tend to be more in the $30 range full price.) They also regularly mark down their merchandise throughout the season. Sometimes there are sales where the whole store is marked down. Many times, I have picked up some cute shoes there for $4-$7!
Their selection is really random. They offer shoes in every imaginable color and style. This store is a great place to check out if you need to match a certain outfit or want some sexy shoes for a night out or a formal event. They carry many fashion-forward and over-the-top styles. You can find anything from basic to attention-grabbing, flats to stilettos. Most of their shoes are unknown brands, or inexpensive brands like Bamboo, Qupid, or Classified. Occasionally, you might find a store brand like Charlotte Russe or Forever 21. As a size 5.5/6 I find the selection hit or miss. Often, they don't have my size, or the sizes run too big for me. My sister who is a 7.5/8 fares much better.
They only have one location, and the store is cramped with tables stacked with shoes. It is almost always crowded. When I can, I like to go on week nights when it is a little more quiet. There is not much space to walk or try on anything on, but I consider the less-then-perfect shopping experience a small price to pay for such a huge variety of cute and inexpensive shoes!
I also saw a number of bad reviews of Shoe Factory's customer service on store review sites. This has not been my experience, but I have witnessed moments of tension between staff and other customers while shopping there. I personally think that this stems from two things: Shoe Factory's bag-check policy, and their return policies. The staff asks that all larger bags are checked-including handbags! This is not a common store policy, so I think it leaves some shoppers feeling disgruntled. I consider it an inconvenience that I'm willing to accept in order to get a good deal, and I simply leave my handbag in the car if it is large. Also, Shoe Factory's return policy is very strict. I'm not sure of the details, because I don't do returns, but I think returns are only issued as store credit and many sales are final. These policies tend to annoy certain customers, but since Shoe Factory is a small privately owned store, it is the owners' prerogative, and being demanding and pushy will get you nowhere! I have been shopping there since I was a pre-teen and never had an issue with customer service.
Shoe Factory is one of my favorite places to shop for shoes, because there are so many great deals to be found. Just leave your big purse and your attitude at home, and try not to go on Saturday afternoon!
You can also check out a Shoe Factory review from PhillyDiva19154
I scored these 2 blushes for free at Target yesterday evening! Actually, they were more than free...Target paid me $1 for these!!!
These Fit Me blushes by Maybelline cost $4.49 at my local Target. I bought the Light Rose and Light Pink shades.
I used a $3 off Maybelline manufacturer's coupon combined with a $2 off Maybelline Target coupon to buy each of these items. The coupons totaled $5 for each blush, but the actual cost of the item was only $4.49. The extra dollar left over from the coupons was deducted from the cost of the other items I bought in my order. So, not only did I score a free blush for me and my sister, but I earned a dollar in the process! Coupons are awesome!
I recently scored this haul of beauty products during CVS Drugstore's winter beauty clearance. CVS was offering 50-75% off of selected merchandise, so I racked up on inexpensive beauty products that make great stocking stuffers!
After the 75% discount, these NYC eye palettes were just $1.25 each! They even come with primer and highlighter.
The 75% off made these NYC nail polishes only 25 cents each. These four colors were on sale. I bought ten bottles in all.
These Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro polishes were a steal! They came to $1.12 after the 75% off, but I also had $1 off coupons for Rimmel, meaning I paid only 12 cents per bottle!!!
This entire CVS haul only cost me $5.90. I bought these about one week ago, but, if you hurry, you might be able to find some clearance bargains still lingering at your local CVS.
Even better than cheap beauty hauls are freebies. All of these items in the above picture were completely free!
I got the Suave lotion for free through a Suave Facebook Giveaway.
The body spray is by "Essence of Beauty" which is CVS's store beauty brand. I got this for free for liking the CVS Minute clinic page.
I found these Nivea lotions at Dollar Tree for $1, and I happened to have $1 off Nivea lotion coupons, making both of them free for me.
I plan to give all of these items as gifts. I am going to make up little bags of goodies to share with a few friends who I usually don't exchange gifts with. I like how sale items allow me to stretch my money further and show my friends I was thinking of them during the holidays. So, what goodies are you planning on giving as stocking stuffers this Christmas?
To all my American readers, I wanted to wish you a happy Thanksgiving. I hope you have a wonderful holiday! And for my American readers, we also know that with Thanksgiving comes a lot of great sales. With all the pre-black Friday alerts hitting my inbox, I've already been online shopping like crazy! That's why I wanted to tell you about the best deal I've found so far. Tilly's is having a 50% off sale merchandise promotion with free shipping on all orders-no minimum!!! Their sale prices are inexpensive to begin with, and after the discount, there are accessories for just $2-$3, tee shirts and sandals for just $5. I tend to not buy online unless I get free shipping, so, I jump at sales like these. If you are not familiar with the store, Tilly's is a sort of skater/surfer shop. They sell brands such as Roxy and Oneil. Because of the laid-back beachy vibe, I particularly like shopping this site for swimsuits and sundresses. Here are a couple items I really liked but did not end up buying:
These open oxfords were only $10 after the discount! I saw a similar pair for $25 at Forever 21 just last weekend.
These adorable sandals were only $8..unfortunately they only had a size 10.
This fringed backpack was just $10. Nice! They also have lots of cute little rings and necklaces that would make great stocking-stuffers and they carry men's and children's clothing as well, for those of you who are shopping for Christmas gifts. Although this sale does feature some current season items like sweaters, flannels, and boots, the best deals to are to be found on off-season items. For all my savy shoppers, it is time to stock up on cute sale items for spring and summer! If you are someone who has a good feel for trends, you can easily rack up basics and trendy items that will still be cool into the next year. I always shop this way, and it saves me tons of money. I saw many items that I liked, but ended up restraining myself to the absolute best bargains. I ended up buying two cute summer dresses by Full Tilt that were only $5.99 each! Since this is my first time buying from Tilly's I'll do a post about the experience and the items I bought, so look out for that some time soon. So, have you found any amazing deals/sales yet? Do you plan on shopping on Thanksgiving, Black Friday, or Cyber Monday? For my international readers, does your country have any big shopping days like Black Friday in the US?
Last weekend I scored some unbelievable deals at Franklin Mills Mall in Philadelphia... Forever 21 had and additional 50% off of all clearance items, and I was able to find some really nice things.
This sheer sleeveless collar shirt with pocket studs and a slight high low hem was only $6!
I got this apricot-colored pleated skirt for only $5!
I like the shape of this top, and that it can be worn casual or for work. It was only $4.50.
This lovely peachy-nude chiffon shirt with a studded collar was only $5 on sale. Wow. (Sorry for not steaming it before snapping the pic!)
Detail of the pretty collar studs
Forever 21 also had basic camis for only $1.80. These are my go-to layering camis, so I stocked up!
I got a $10 gift certificate Dick's Sporting Goods from a Facebook promotion. I grabbed these Reebok shorts on sale for $13, so after the free $10, I only paid $3 for them.
Bath and Body Works had a coupon for free lotion on their Facebook page, so I stopped in and picked up this 3oz Sexy Dalia Rush lotion for FREE. Smells really nice, too.
My sister and I ate at Burger King with a $5 gift card that I also got through a Facebook promotion.
Its amazing the deals you find if you look. This is the first time I've taken advantage of free gift promotions that are redeemable in-store.
So, Do you use these types of offers? What is the best in-store freebie you have ever gotten?
While in Ross last week, I spied a really cool pair of cherry red army boots from afar. They looked like high-quality shoes. I was trying to tell myself I don't need a pair of red army boots as I picked them up and discovered they were genuine Doc Martens...
AND THEY WERE ONLY $19.99!
I have never owned a pair of Doc's before, but I knew they are never that cheap. I couldn't believe my eyes. They had two other styles in my size, all priced the same, so I knew it was no mistake. Suddenly I realized I NEEDED a pair of red army boots! (haha) They just looked so cool, I had to have them. And when I tried them on...SOLD! If you never tried on a pair of Doc Martens before, they have to be the most comfortable shoes ever! I can't believe my good luck.
