https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 15 May 2026 09:03:56 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing/page/2#post-2063945 Wed, 25 Sep 2019 15:33:33 +0000 bronx 2063945@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>im shocked&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing/page/2#post-2063222 Mon, 23 Sep 2019 01:03:06 +0000 Anonymous 2063222@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yep, there are many things specifically made for the outlets, Rack, etc-though some of the things are returns from the main stores too. My closest shopping, aside from little independent shops, is an outlet mall. Some of the shops in there are just low cost places like ON and Loft, then there are higher end shops like Coach, Kate Spade.</p> <p>My advice is, no matter the price/ "discount": look over everything carefully. Be very picky. Check seams, make sure the fabric is substantial, etc. Gems can be found. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing/page/2#post-2063158 Sun, 22 Sep 2019 19:25:34 +0000 Jenni NZ 2063158@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do so wish that fewer clothes would be made! Why can’t they realise they can’t sell them all, if they are destroying unsold stock? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2063153 Sun, 22 Sep 2019 19:11:17 +0000 Irina 2063153@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well, bj1111, I would think that selling fakes is a prosecutable offense and none of the regular retailers would dare to do it. As we all know some high end brands destroy their unsold merch and other sell it to department stores, who in turn sell it to discount retailers. As fashion industry became “fast fashion”, more and more merchandise is being made . Discount stores are having its moment as many higher end brands need to dispose their old stock. LV bags I saw were not a popular design and priced above $2500 Can. Max Mara coats were about $700. Not exactly Winners prices. I only know two Winners in Toronto that receive these kinds of brands a couple times a year. But unless “fashion machine” will slow down, we can expect to see it more often. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2063095 Sun, 22 Sep 2019 15:28:28 +0000 bj1111 2063095@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I would be concerned about fakes if lv (etc) bags at tk/tj/winners. Unless you know the source (and even then) of these bags, it’s a risk.</p> <p>Clothing, I am less suspicious. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2063090 Sun, 22 Sep 2019 15:14:05 +0000 JAileen 2063090@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sterling, I thought they were the same jacket, too!</p> <p>FashIntern, I think Pendleton wool clothes are very high quality. I ordered this jacket (in charcoal) during NAS, and although I ended up returning it, I thought both the fabric and construction were excellent. The fleece jacket seemed expensive for a fleece jacket. I have several Patagonia and North Face fleece jackets that are high quality and cost a lot less. Plus, they are washable. Anyway, that’s why I didn’t order this Pendleton fleece jacket. I was interested, though, because I worked three summers in Glacier NP. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2063037 Sun, 22 Sep 2019 11:29:26 +0000 Anonymous 2063037@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Jaileen</b> -- that was a fascinating comparison. &nbsp;Without looking at them side-by-side, I would have assumed they were the same exact jacket. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2063018 Sun, 22 Sep 2019 08:58:44 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2063018@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm so uncertain of Pendleton fashion as it is! I grew up with the blankets. They are wonderful. But looking at the clothing fabrics and location sites, I am not at all convinced that they are the same quality, that buying them has positive economic effects, or that I want then, as nice as they can look on the website. But I think I do want a new blanket from them. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2062949 Sun, 22 Sep 2019 00:21:13 +0000 rachylou 2062949@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh now that’s interesting, JAileen (!) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2062823 Sat, 21 Sep 2019 15:35:31 +0000 JAileen 2062823@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Here’s an interesting example of very similar Pendleton jackets at Nordstrom and the Rack. Visually, the Nordstrom jacket has a zipper placket, patch pockets, and is a little longer. </p> <p><a href="https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/pendleton-glacier-sunset-water-resistant-fleece-coat/5267179?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&#038;breadcrumb=Home%2FAll%20Results&#038;color=glacier%20stripe" rel="nofollow">https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/p.....r%20stripe</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.nordstromrack.com/shop/product/2982375/pendleton-glacier-meadow-faux-shearling-zip-jacket?color=GLACIER" rel="nofollow">https://www.nordstromrack.com/.....or=GLACIER</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2062783 Sat, 21 Sep 2019 13:08:52 +0000 Irina 2062783@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Fashintern, They probably do have but I don’t buy it. I bought EF items at Winners and I know they a “real deal”. As it was said here before, in Toronto we have a couple of Winner that sell a selection of higher end brands. Twice a year or so they even have an event “Red Carpet” or something like this. I was there a few days ago and saw Celine and MaxMara coats. Armani jackets, Marni dresses and such. At other times I saw Balenciaga and LV bags, Jimmy Choo and Manolo shoes. Prices are too high for me even from Winners for these designers. And I don’t believe they would have a special discount lines.<br /> I assume, this is unsold stock from department stores.<br /> EF, R&amp;R, Theory, Vince and some designer jeans are often sold at Winners.<br /> My point is - know the brands you buy and their practices. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2062738 Sat, 21 Sep 2019 08:57:49 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2062738@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Irina, so does Winners/Marshall’s not have designers make lower quality lines to sell in their stores? I have bought EF at the Rack and it does seem high quality to me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2062724 Sat, 21 Sep 2019 07:12:09 +0000 Gigi 2062724@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Sterling,&nbsp;</b>you're welcome . </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2062706 Sat, 21 Sep 2019 03:34:28 +0000 Aliona 2062706@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Irina, there are a few Eileen Fisher « company » stores across the US and they are legit deals if you live close by, but (based on the one near me) are not worth a long-distance field trip as they are feast or famine depending on when shipments arrive.</p> <p>Otherwise I only shop Rack for discount because I can track items on their journey from full price at Nordstrom to the minimum price I’m willing to pay. I have a system I follow that takes time and there’s zero room for FOMO, but it works for me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2062705 Sat, 21 Sep 2019 03:13:47 +0000 Irina 2062705@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well, for WIW, I have my strategy when shopping at Winners/Marshall’s:<br /> I buy only the brands I know and respect. After I made a purchase, I search for a stock pictures to see if it was a regular item during the previous seasons. My hope is to buy a “dead stock”, items that the not sold at the time and may be a couple years old. I actually recently saw a jacket from Massimo Dutti that I bought two years ago at their store. Not all the brands produce discounted lines. I buy Eileen Fisher from Nordstrom Rack, I haven’t heard about any EF “outlets”. I don’t know a lot of brands, this is why I limit myself to what I do know and can research. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2062697 Sat, 21 Sep 2019 01:55:28 +0000 cindysmith 2062697@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>A lot of brands have licensed their names to the off price retailers. TJMaxx even has it's own proprietary house lines. Even a lot of the stuff at Nordstrom Rack and Saks off 5th is made just for those stores and never offered at the brand's own site </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2062661 Fri, 20 Sep 2019 21:24:17 +0000 Jenni NZ 2062661@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well in NZ we don’t have many “outlet malls”. I go to at least 2 outlet stores at the actual factory ( Sabatini) or the head office of the brand/importer (Scope Clothing). So I guess I am lucky. One of our outlet malls Dressmart does have familiar NZ brands which look to me like they have the usual stuff from a season or two earlier at cheaper prices, but I may be deceived. We are a small market. About a hundred to a thousand times smaller than the US market I suppose. Just under 5 million people in the whole country. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2062654 Fri, 20 Sep 2019 21:00:49 +0000 Anonymous 2062654@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Gigi </b>-- I forgot about your post. &nbsp;It was a GREAT post. &nbsp;I found it very informative. &nbsp;Thanks for sharing it with me again. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2062485 Fri, 20 Sep 2019 11:56:24 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2062485@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks kkards! Disappointing as it is, that makes sense. Not like they’re going to decide to make that change out of their big, benevolent hearts. Darn it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2062478 Fri, 20 Sep 2019 10:20:30 +0000 kkards 2062478@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>FashIntern....FYI Marshall's didn't change how they talk about their pricing volunterally, they were sued by the state attroney general of CA, as was Ross....</p> <p><a rel="nofollow" href="https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/closed-settlements/830427-calif-tj-maxx-marshalls-homegoods-deceptive-pricing-settlement/">https://topclassactions.com/la.....rshalls-ho</a></p> <p><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.retaildive.com/news/ross-to-settle-49m-lawsuit-over-deceptive-price-tags/538768/">https://www.retaildive.com/new.....gs/538768/</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2062466 Fri, 20 Sep 2019 09:09:14 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2062466@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wish they'd just be honest in labeling. Calling them "outlets" when they have different merchandise is intentionally misleading. I'm glad to see this "the marshall's ads recently they no long call out the savings, they now just call out great prices...."</p> <p>Gigi, I don't know how I missed it a year ago--I had posted about considering a Fossil bag not long before then--but thanks for mentioning your old post!</p> </p> <p>The Rack is usually pretty straightforward about what's what. Some things, like Max Studio, are made exclusively for the Rack, some things are returns from the main store, and there are some things that are what we expect outlets to be--stuff that didn't sell at the big store that they're moving over to the lower-priced outlet. In my experience, that info isn't as clearly presented at outlet malls. </p> </p> <p>A related thing has to be the way designers produce different lines for different stores. Macy's, for example, seems to have down-market versions from many labels, with lesser fabrics. You can't just see that it's Nicole Miller, or whatever, and assume you know the quality level. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2062427 Thu, 19 Sep 2019 23:33:16 +0000 Gigi 2062427@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, I knew most of this, but I didn't know about some "designer" lines being created specifically for Marshalls and the like. Tricky.</p> <p>Regarding the Rack, I believe that some of the items come from the regular Nordstrom store, and some are made specifically for the Rack. So you need to look at the label. You can definitely find some good deals at the Rack.</p> <p>I read in an article once that the reason outlet stores have their own lines is because as manufacturing techniques got better, there was less and less damaged or defective merchandise and therefore not as much to fill the outlet stores. The companies running the stores also realized what a big source of revenue the outlets were. So they eventually started manufacturing specially made outlet clothing to keep up with the demand of shoppers. Of course, the shoppers weren't told this...</p> <p>I visited my local Fossil outlet store a couple of years ago and asked which items came from the retail store. The SA showed me a very small selection of items on the wall. There were maybe ten purses total.</p> <p>I did a writeup on the forum some time ago when I was shopping for my Fossil purse. I compared the outlet version with the retail version:&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" href="https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/outlet-vs-retail-my-experience-with-a-fossil-handbag-long">https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....ndbag-long</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2062370 Thu, 19 Sep 2019 20:38:05 +0000 Style Fan 2062370@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you for sharing this.&nbsp; Outlet malls seem to be the thing these days.&nbsp; They are everywhere.&nbsp; I don`t go to them very often but I have noticed the labels are different. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2062363 Thu, 19 Sep 2019 19:44:44 +0000 Sal 2062363@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The whole shopping/price/discount aspect is so interesting isn't it.&nbsp; What you pay compared to the discount, where you buy it, what the label says on it.&nbsp;</p> <p>I think we all know the feeling of snagging a bargain..... and that thrill.</p> <p>I do sales shop but rarely outlet shop......just not my thing even though there is a mall close (15 min drive) by I haven't been inside in about 6-7 years.</p> <p>I can fall victim to the discount in the supermarket though, and what the RRP is even though they probably never charge it... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2062337 Thu, 19 Sep 2019 17:45:07 +0000 Julie 2062337@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>yes to all of this- and just to second what Christina said, I found a few Boden dresses at my local Nordstrom Rack, and they were definitely the real deal! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2062285 Thu, 19 Sep 2019 15:07:07 +0000 Angie 2062285@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Exactly what<b> Rachy </b>and&nbsp;<b>Christina </b>said.&nbsp;<b></b> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2062267 Thu, 19 Sep 2019 13:57:22 +0000 Christina F. 2062267@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>molly221 - no inside info, but I have observed items from regular Nordstrom eventually ending up at the Rack. That doesn't mean they don't also have stuff made specifically for the Rack, though. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2062262 Thu, 19 Sep 2019 12:53:24 +0000 molly221 2062262@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What about Nordstrom rack?<br /> I shop in the store and not online? Any inside information </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2062242 Thu, 19 Sep 2019 10:10:42 +0000 Anonymous 2062242@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you for sharing. &nbsp;Articles like this are always interesting and informative. &nbsp;I don't have time to shop outlet stores, but many of friends practically live there. &nbsp;I won't share this article with them because they are so pleased when they find their treasures. &nbsp;I don't want to be the one to burst their bubble. &nbsp;They will probably catch on in their time. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-truth-about-outlet-and-discount-clothing#post-2062240 Thu, 19 Sep 2019 10:07:23 +0000 kkards 2062240@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>yes....the outlet piece has been true for a long time....i worked for an outlet division of a major retailer 25 years ago and that was the truth then...but honestly the outlets are generally very open about this, with different labels in the clothing made for them, and the racks with actual "mother brand" clothing is typically signed and called out...so i'm always suprised that people are suprised....as for the marshalls/tjmaxx/ross's of the world, since there are now more of them then there are department stores, simple math will tell you that most of what they are selling is being made to be sold in these stores...that may or may not imply different quality, but implies that you should think about the "savings" differently. and if you have seen any of the marshall's ads recently they no long call out the savings, they now just call out great prices.... </p>