Smart shopping in the January sales starts at home. Look at what you already have, make a short list and mainly buy pieces that combine with several items in your wardrobe. A discount is worth little if you hardly wear the garment. So choose timeless basics in good materials, be strict about the fit and leave impulse purchases in trend colours on the rack. Below you will read step by step how to go about it, with a checklist for the fitting room or your online basket.
Why sales so often go wrong
With a discount you quickly look more at the saving than at what you really need. That leads to more bad buys. A garment you never wear is not a bargain, however big the discount was. A short list helps you choose more deliberately.
Step 1: take stock of your wardrobe
Before shopping, first look through your wardrobe calmly. Empty it out or go through it calmly and establish for each category what you have and what you are missing. You often discover that you have five black sweaters, but not a single smart pair of trousers that fits well. Or that your shirts are all the same colour. Use the sales mainly to fill in such missing basics.
Step 2: make a short list
Write down a maximum of five pieces that really improve your wardrobe. Be specific. Not trousers, but black or navy high-waist trousers that I can wear to the office. A concrete list makes it easier to avoid impulse purchases.
Step 3: choose timeless basics
The sales are the ideal moment for pieces you will wear for years. Think of:
- A white blouse that fits well. You wear a fitted blouse with darts in white to the office, under a cardigan and with jeans.
- A dark pair of trousers. High-waist pleated trousers in navy are just as versatile as black, but softer.
- Fine knitwear in a neutral colour. A knitted polo with V-neck in black combines with almost everything in your wardrobe.
- A light blue shirt. For men, a cotton shirt with an Italian collar in light blue is, after white, the most versatile shirt there is.
- Smart black trousers. Slim-fit trousers in black suit shirts, polos and knitwear.
- A supple polo. A modal polo with a soft drape in navy is the link between casual and polished.
Step 4: the rule of three
Before you buy something, name three pieces in your wardrobe in your head that you will combine it with. If you cannot, leave it. This simple rule prevents most bad buys, because a single piece that goes with nothing is almost never worn.
Step 5: be strict about fit
Do not let a discount be a reason to look less critically at the fit. Trousers that are just slightly too tight, a blouse where the buttons pull a little: you think it will be fine. If something does not fit well now, it usually does not get better at home. Buy only what fits well now, not what would fit if you lose a little weight or have it altered. A small adjustment such as shortening a hem is fine, but shoulders and waist must be right.
Checklist: buy or leave it?
| Question | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Was it on my list? | Keep looking | Almost always leave it |
| Does it combine with three pieces I own? | Keep looking | Leave it |
| Does it fit well now, without alterations to shoulders or waist? | Keep looking | Leave it |
| Would I also consider it at full price? | Buy | Think carefully |
| Is the material pleasant on the skin and easy to care for? | Buy | Doubt |
Watch the material and care
Read the label before you pay. A beautiful piece that can only go to the dry cleaner is worn less often in practice. Fine materials such as lyocell, merino wool and modal are pleasant on the skin and often easy to care for. On our page with care instructions you can read what each material needs.
Shopping online in the sales
Online it is extra easy to order on impulse. Leave pieces in your basket for a night before you order. Measure a similar garment that fits well and compare it with the size chart. Look beforehand at how returns work: read the page about returns, so that you know where you stand if something does not fit after all.
After shopping: the home test
Leave the labels on for the first few days and try your purchases at home with the clothes you already have. Make at least two complete outfits with each new piece, including shoes. If it feels like something you already want to wear next week, you have chosen well. If you keep doubting, assess whether you will really wear it. In that case, return it rather than keep something because it was on offer.
Trend pieces and unusual colours
Part of the sales consists of what sold less well during the season. Those are often the striking colours and pronounced trend pieces. Ask yourself honestly whether you will really wear them. A colour accent can enrich a wardrobe, but only if it suits the rest.
Start your search with the basics: take a look at all collections for women or all collections for men.
Shop the look
Delphine: fitted blouse, white
Arabelli: high-waist pleated trousers, navy
Josephine: knitted polo with V-neck, black
Hamilton: shirt with Italian collar, light blue
Vincent: slim-fit trousers, black
Montgomery: modal polo, navy
Frequently asked questions
What is best to buy in the sales?
Timeless basics that you wear often: a good white blouse or shirt, a dark pair of trousers, fine knitwear in a neutral colour. They combine with everything and last for years.
How do I avoid bad buys in the sales?
Make a short list beforehand, buy only what combines with at least three pieces in your wardrobe and be strict about fit. If you doubt online, leave it in your basket for a night.
Can I return sale items?
That differs per shop. With us you can return from €5 and you get your money back within 14 days. Read the returns page for the current terms.
