AD-Vice AD-Lib: For the Flash-Sale Faithful; Commitment-Phobes Beware
The Ad"vice" Ad-lib will feature periodic tips and tricks for optimizing your approach to creating that perfect outfit. These include ways to get things for less, how to shop online, tips for styling and more. First, I call it my advice ad-lib because for me, shopping is my ultimate (and most loved) "vice" and these articles are my recommendations for helping others in the exercise of their shopping habits. Second, an ad-lib, coming from the latin ad libitum, means "at your pleasure," and is used for speaking and performing in free-form. These little advice tips are meant to be honest advice "from one girl to another" in a casually written free form style, for the readers to take to heart or not as they choose and "at their pleasure."
Those of you who know me, know I am an avid online shopper. And by avid I mean completely over-the-top-addicted to the use of online shopping. Many of my articles will involve different tips for shopping online and how to really do it right. Now, for some of you, you may hate online shopping so much that you just want to quit reading now. As I said before, these articles are for the reader to enjoy as they choose, so if the latter description matches your personality profile, feel free to go back to that Us Weekly you were flipping through before someone sent you this link. However, if you're amenable to learning the ropes of online shopping, please do read on, because it can be one of your best resources for finding that fabulous fashion find at prices so low, it can feel utterly unconscionable.
This week's tip is all about the flash sale. I'm sure many of you know about flash sales and how they work and may already frequently use them. Those who have probably know that if you really want to make the best use of them, it really takes a certain kind of devotion. My frequent flash sale visits usually revolve around four primary sites: Gilt (http://www.gilt.com/sale/women); Hautelook (http://www.hautelook.com/events#all); RueLaLa (http://www.ruelala.com/); and Ideeli (http://www.ideeli.com/welcome). There are different tips for using each one, but today I'll focus on introduction to the flash sale in general.
Flash-sale 101: Essentially a flash sale is like an online sample sale. It starts at a specific time and the electronic doors reveal the route to dream designer duds with delectably devilish dollar signs. Like a real-life sample sale, however, in order to get the best items in the size you want, you have to be there right when the doors open (despite the fact that those doors are only virtual). For Gilt, e-doors unlock at 9:00am Pacific (12pm EST). For RueLaLa and Hautelook take-off time is 8:00am (11am EST). And for Ideeli, the time varies depending on whether or not you pay for a premium membership. Premium members start at 8:00am PST and regular users may peruse the site at 9:00am PST.
To properly attack the sites, one needs to be ready at go-time. Understandably, given your work/play/gym/general busy life schedule, this is not easy for all to do on a daily basis. Most of the sites, however, post soon-to-be-sales up to 3 days in advance and send out e-mails slightly before the standard start-time letting you know which designers are displaying their duds. This allows you to pick and choose days so you can set aside the time for that ever-important upcoming sale featuring your all-time favorite designers. Additionally, some sites allow you to pick prime-time faves, and provide special alerts for the designers they know you love.
The most important thing to remember about the flash sale is that timing is everything. You have to quickly browse the items on sale, pick your favorites, prioritize your motif-must-haves, and try to add the irresistible item to your cart as quickly as possible. You then have a typical 10-15 minutes to decide whether or not you want to purchase the item. The key to success is patience, priority, and perseverance while you pine over that piece you can't part with.
It takes some getting used to, but if you can master the art of the flash-sale, you'll find the savings are worth the struggle. If you find yourself unable to commit to such a process for all aspects of your armoire, why not try it for a special event? I purchased the below Matthew Williamson dress from Gilt for more than 90% off retail for a rehearsal dinner I have this summer.
The Ad"vice" Ad-lib will feature periodic tips and tricks for optimizing your approach to creating that perfect outfit. These include ways to get things for less, how to shop online, tips for styling and more. First, I call it my advice ad-lib because for me, shopping is my ultimate (and most loved) "vice" and these articles are my recommendations for helping others in the exercise of their shopping habits. Second, an ad-lib, coming from the latin ad libitum, means "at your pleasure," and is used for speaking and performing in free-form. These little advice tips are meant to be honest advice "from one girl to another" in a casually written free form style, for the readers to take to heart or not as they choose and "at their pleasure."
Those of you who know me, know I am an avid online shopper. And by avid I mean completely over-the-top-addicted to the use of online shopping. Many of my articles will involve different tips for shopping online and how to really do it right. Now, for some of you, you may hate online shopping so much that you just want to quit reading now. As I said before, these articles are for the reader to enjoy as they choose, so if the latter description matches your personality profile, feel free to go back to that Us Weekly you were flipping through before someone sent you this link. However, if you're amenable to learning the ropes of online shopping, please do read on, because it can be one of your best resources for finding that fabulous fashion find at prices so low, it can feel utterly unconscionable.
This week's tip is all about the flash sale. I'm sure many of you know about flash sales and how they work and may already frequently use them. Those who have probably know that if you really want to make the best use of them, it really takes a certain kind of devotion. My frequent flash sale visits usually revolve around four primary sites: Gilt (http://www.gilt.com/sale/women); Hautelook (http://www.hautelook.com/events#all); RueLaLa (http://www.ruelala.com/); and Ideeli (http://www.ideeli.com/welcome). There are different tips for using each one, but today I'll focus on introduction to the flash sale in general.
Flash-sale 101: Essentially a flash sale is like an online sample sale. It starts at a specific time and the electronic doors reveal the route to dream designer duds with delectably devilish dollar signs. Like a real-life sample sale, however, in order to get the best items in the size you want, you have to be there right when the doors open (despite the fact that those doors are only virtual). For Gilt, e-doors unlock at 9:00am Pacific (12pm EST). For RueLaLa and Hautelook take-off time is 8:00am (11am EST). And for Ideeli, the time varies depending on whether or not you pay for a premium membership. Premium members start at 8:00am PST and regular users may peruse the site at 9:00am PST.
To properly attack the sites, one needs to be ready at go-time. Understandably, given your work/play/gym/general busy life schedule, this is not easy for all to do on a daily basis. Most of the sites, however, post soon-to-be-sales up to 3 days in advance and send out e-mails slightly before the standard start-time letting you know which designers are displaying their duds. This allows you to pick and choose days so you can set aside the time for that ever-important upcoming sale featuring your all-time favorite designers. Additionally, some sites allow you to pick prime-time faves, and provide special alerts for the designers they know you love.
The most important thing to remember about the flash sale is that timing is everything. You have to quickly browse the items on sale, pick your favorites, prioritize your motif-must-haves, and try to add the irresistible item to your cart as quickly as possible. You then have a typical 10-15 minutes to decide whether or not you want to purchase the item. The key to success is patience, priority, and perseverance while you pine over that piece you can't part with.
It takes some getting used to, but if you can master the art of the flash-sale, you'll find the savings are worth the struggle. If you find yourself unable to commit to such a process for all aspects of your armoire, why not try it for a special event? I purchased the below Matthew Williamson dress from Gilt for more than 90% off retail for a rehearsal dinner I have this summer.
Or maybe you have a big beach bash coming up, or a Fourth of July fiesta? Hautelook has some swim sales that will have you looking luscious for some of those sizzling celebrations you've got on your calendar. The below Beach Bunny suit was purchased at over half-off!
If these pieces aren't your style, or don't entice you to try the sales, there are many many more designers, styles and sizes to fit your fashion profile. Try these tips to get you started and there will be more to follow in successive posts!
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