The Complex Guide To Sale Shopping

Image via Complex Original

Markdowns are in full effect at many stores, and a lot of great gear is available at a fraction of its current price. Although it's easy to be swayed by a good deal, you shouldn't buy something just because of the low price.

There's some things you should consider before making that splurge. Here's a couple of them. Check out The Complex Guide to Sale Shopping.

Beware of Stocking Up

There are some things that guys need to stock up on, mostly underwear, socks, and basic tees. For items like sweaters or jeans, you should really take into account the quality of the items. Promotions like buy one, get one free, or buy one, get one half-off, may seem like a good deal, but if you're buying two crappy items, it's better to really just get one really good one. For knits, that means splurging on 100% wool, merino, or cashmere fabrics, rather than wool blends or acrylic. And if you don't know how to care for a proper sweater by now, isn't it time you learned?

Things Worth Splurging On

Filson Wool Mackinaw Cruiser
Buy It Now at Park & Bond, $290 

Red Wing 877 Boot
Buy It Now at Shoe Biz SF, $238 

Two items always worth making an investment in are a great winter coat and a reliable pair of shoes. The reason why products from Filson and Red Wing are hardly ever marked down is because they've been time-tested as being that damn good. They've made the same thing over the years and have done their best to maintain the high standards set by their predecessors to ensure they keep doing their job for generations, which means you're going to get a coat that keeps you really warm and a pair of boots you can walk in for miles.

Consider Your Entire Wardrobe

Alexander Wang Windbreaker Bomber
Buy It Now at Barneys, $229

It's easy to be distracted by a deep discount on a designer item, but will you really wear it regularly, even at 75% off? Chances are an item went that deep on sale because the quality just wasn't as good as the other things in the collection, or, like many designer pieces, some guys just can't pull them off. With designs like asymmetric zippers, unconventional fabric combinations like nylon and leather, or cuts made to hang off the body in a different way than you're used to, buying designer gear is often a personal thing that varies from person to person. If you can see the piece working well with a lot of stuff you already own, go for it. Otherwise, leave it on the rack.

Like vs. Love

Do you love the item or just kind of like it? This is definitely something to consider before pulling the trigger. When guys shop, usually it's just to fill a hole in their wardrobe: you might need a new blue shirt, a heather grey crewneck, or a pair of slim, straight, washed jeans. Developing the idea of a personal uniform helps most people determine the kinds of things they should buy. Otherwise, if you're not completely sold on something, you should probably leave it be, or...

Put Things On Hold

Place an item on hold for a few hours or a day. This gives you time to shop around at other stores or online to see if you can snag a better deal. At the very least, if you're not sure if you could cop a piece that's still pricey even though it's on sale, you can sleep on it. If you forget about it in the morning, you probably didn't really want it anyway.

Stores Have Better Deals In Store Than Online 

Since online warehouses have different inventory than their brick-and-mortar counterparts, that means sale prices will usually be different. And since the pressure's on these retail outposts to sell out their remaining stock, that means the prices will usually be cheaper in stores than online. The downside is actually having to go in and sift through racks to find your size, but that could be the diference between paying an extra 20 dollars to account for shipping and a higher sale price.

Try On Brands You Don't Know

Sites like Yoox, Gilt, and JackThreads regularly offer clothing from different designers and brands at great prices. Still, you should know how certain brands fit you prior to pulling the trigger. You can ask around on the Internet and look up stuff all you want, but nothing's going to beat heading to a store and trying the clothes on yourself. Since these sites usually get stuff from the previous season, you'll have to try on the newer stuff to get a feel for how a certain brand fits, but thankfully most companies are pretty consistent with how they cut their clothes.

Beware the Outlet

Outlet malls lure you in with the promise of great deals, and while they do exist, you have to be careful of what you buy. Most outlet stores are readily stocked with a crappier version of the mainline stuff, which you'll know because the tags will say "factory store" or "outlet" on them. What you really wanna dig for is the expensive stuff that got shipped here from the main retail stores. Spots like Barneys and Polo usually have a pretty decent selection of main line gear at great prices. 

Keep Your Receipts

A lot of stores will end up doing a final markdown closer to the end of January. Hold on to your receipt, as most places will honor a price adjustment within a week or two of the original sale date.