Some say good, old-fashioned, brick-and-mortar retail therapy can’t be beat. After all, there’s nothing quite like scouring the picked-over, deeply discounted sales racks for that unbelievably serendipitous find (like that 70 percent off, luxe, Missoni sweater in your size that happened to slip off the hanger and under the racks yet somehow caught your eye). But thanks to myriad online shopping sites, that “it-was-meant-to-be-mine” euphoria can now be achieved from the comfort of your own home computer. Click, view, buy, and get on with it. Leave all that parking-spot-hunting and shopping-bag-lugging to the masochists.
Log on and complete a quick sign up process, during which you’ll note your sizing, brand, clothing, and accessories preferences. You’ll wake up to daily or weekly emails featuring photos and prices of the newest sale items—customized to your size and interests—from designer-laden Web sites such as eLuxury, Bluefly, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Thomas Pink, Nordstrom, and more.
Think of RevolveClothing as Bluefly’s aggressive, edgy, competitive little sister. Browse lines such as Gold Hawk, Hollywould, LaROK, Mint, and Manoush at 30 to 90 percent savings, plus a few extras: free two- to three-day priority shipping within the U.S., price matching (any competitor’s coupons or non-clearance price within thirty days of purchase) and a guarantee that all items will be in stock in sizes shown, or you’ll get a coupon for 25 percent off your next purchase.
This Louisiana-based specialty site sells every denim permutation imaginable, plus a size chart to make sense of it all: Learn to minimize your bottom, lengthen your legs, and narrow your hips with the site’s helpful self-styling tips. Pick pairs from Citizens of Humanity, Seven for All Mankind, Splendid, Juicy Couture, True Religion, and more.
Although replete with pages and pages of sale items, consider ShopBop a great alternative to schlepping through dozens of designer boutiques, scouring the full-priced racks for the next big thing. You’ll see well-chosen pieces by both your favorite (Joie, Ella Moss, Alice + Olivia) and emerging, soon-to-be-favorite (Charlotte Solnicki, Dallin Chase, Stacey Lapidus) designers whether you live in Boston or Biloxi.
Reasons to love this site abound. Besides its blow-out sales on major designer goods (think half-priced Mulberry and Bottega Veneta handbags) and the latest/greatest in clothing (silk dresses by Rachel Roy, tunics by Jovovich-Hawk, bikinis by Melissa Odabash), accessories (necklaces by Erickson Beamon and Matthew Williamson; gloves by Miu Miu) and an updated list of “editors’ favorites,” you can view prices in your currency-of-choice. Shopping in Euros makes everything on the site look twice as cool.
