“You can’t build a stylish wardrobe from the clearance rack”. - YouLookFab Forum

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

“You can’t build a stylish wardrobe from the clearance rack”.

jussie

Veteran

Sooo, I dabble in other style advice sources. And in a podcast published a couple years ago, this was asserted by the stylist.
The idea being, really amazing basics and killer pieces in the right colours and sizes just don’t tend to even make it to the clearance rack at all… so those of us who shop predominantly sale, will never have a super stylish wardrobe at the end of the day, as we are really choosing from second-class items to begin with.
Thoughts??

Shopping

41 replies

Latest reply was from Jen

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I tend to take these sweeping statements with a grain of salt. That sounds a bit extreme. I think there are many people here on the forum who shop sales and thrift sources and build totally fab wardrobes!

I think there is a grain of truth in there, though — sometimes, depending on what you are looking for, the sale racks are not the best source. Sometimes I believe we can settle for less-than-ideal items because of sale goggles, when spending a little more for full price would provide an item with higher quality or better fit, etc. But a higher price tag is no guarantee!

There are a lot of reasons why an item can end up on a sale rack. One person’s fail is another’s success. It’s part of why I enjoy a bit of the hunt for an unexpected treasure, as long as it’s leisurely and I’m not searching for something specific. If I am seeking a specific item, I do tend to check discount sources first, but am very picky — if I don’t find what I want there, it’s off to the full-price sources I go!

Aquamarine

Veteran

I disagree! At least here in the U.S., the clearance “rack” or stores contain many great items just marked down. We have Nordstrom Rack, Saks Off 5th, etc.—plus the sales section of most online retailers are a great source of “at the moment” styles IMO. The seasonal switch is so fast that by the time I’m thinking about purchasing high summer styles, for example, retailers have moved onto fall merchandise and summer items are marked down.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

Well.. I don’t really shop clearance racks. But I do shop thrift, consignment and secondhand online (mainly Poshmark these days), and my wardrobe thrills me every single day! The basics I have, I wear until they fall apart and I’ve never had trouble finding new, or like-new replacements. But it does require patience and searching.

I do believe you can put together a cohesive wardrobe from clearance, but it’s going to require an investment of time, and a lot of planning ahead, so that you have an idea of what it is you’re looking for.

Anonymous

I have found good pieces on clearance at the boutiques mostly, but it's definitely not my regular strategy. If your size or coloring is less common than it works better. For example you can get great deals at Athleta if your XS- cause the bigger sizes sell out quickly. The boutique shoppers here reach for the beachy brights, blues, and whites- but I can swoop in on the dark and warm colors.

I found the best strategy for me (not that I don't still make mistakes) is to not even look at the price until I tried the item on. That said- I know and am ok with paying the general price ranges in the shops near me. I prefer to find out a thing is on sale when I'm actively paying for it!

Brooklyn

Veteran

I disagree because a lot of my favourite and (I think) most unique pieces were bought on clearance. In fact almost everything in my wardrobe was bought on some kind of sale (sometimes a small reduction, sometimes huge). Sales are so common here. I do think shopping on “clearance” is hit and miss, so you have to be patient. And try not to be overly influenced by the size of the reduction.

Liz

Veteran

This statement could very easily be taken as if she was saying that unless a woman can afford to buy clothes at full price, she can't be stylish.

But to be generous to her, I suspect where she was coming from was from having worked with a lot of women who loved a bargain, and bought clothes with sales goggles on. Then they ended up with a packed closet that lacked the basics, didn't work together, and had no clear style.

And yes, if she meant that it's hard to find the right basics in the right color and the right size on a clearance rack, she's right. Unless you have plenty of time to hunt and you're willing to wait to buy until you find what you need. But if you're working with a stylist and she's helping you shop, she's not going to find those items for you on a clearance rack during your shopping trip with her. So coming from her world, she's likely correct.

But outside of her world, nope. As a shopper of low-end clearance racks and thrift stores, I'd say you
can absolutely have style—if you're patient and if you
put items that cost $17 or $27 through the same set of criteria you would put
them through if they cost $127.

Tanya

Veteran

I am with Janet here. Most of the stuff I buy had some kind of discount. However, when I needed some specific core items in my neutrals, I often needed to get them at full price, as my size would never survive until sale/clearance.

anchie

Veteran

I am a sale shopper and most of my wardrobe comes from clearance rack. But sometimes if I want something really specific, it is difficult to find it on sale. Currently I am looking for a pair of high waisted wide leg wool navy pants. I found pair I like at COS and in &Other Stories but they got sold out at full price and never made it to sales. So I have decided to buy full price if I see pair I like again. But most of the time things I like go on sale, or there is a discount code, or I find some unexpected treasure on the clearance rack.

RobinF

Veteran

I agree with all the responses above. I am also a sale shopper but sometimes it is worth it to buy full price. And sometimes I look at the sale rack and say "I understand why no one bought these!" It is part of the thrill of the hunt for me.

Vildy

Veteran

I firmly disagree. I'm very stylish and most of my wardrobe comes from thrift and online thrift. If that's not other folks' rejects, I don't know what is! I don't *want* to wear everyone else's style template.

Anonymous

I am in the minority, but I definitely agree based on my personal experience.

always trying

Veteran

I guess it largely depends on your size. rarely find anything to fit me on sales, especially on line.

Vildy

Veteran

Ah, I do have to admit that my ability to tailor and remodel does give me confidence. My husband likes to say that I remanufacture clothing to my specifications.

Anonymous

Getting into semantics here, but if by “stylish” she means clothing that is “of the moment,” no, the sale rack might not be the place to go. But a person with style can find clothes to suit their taste and look on any rack, anywhere, on sale or not.

Helena

Veteran

As mentioned by others, I take what I think her point is (avoiding sales goggles and buying items simply because they are cheap) but disagree with her wording ... I've bought some terrific pieces on deep discount and some duds at full price!

Vildy

Veteran

You know, actually, if someone is looking for the very latest styles, in many cases these may be on the sale rack exactly because many people are trend averse or outright timid and don't want to consider what the folks around them aren't already wearing..

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

First, I disagree.

Second, I echo Janet and Tanya!

Third, in the US, we have GREAT SALES. If you are lucky and sleuthing - you can nab a lot on sale. I never buy from J.Crew, Boden, or BR full price, for example.

cat2

Veteran

That’s silly. You can be a good or bad shopper at any price point.

Irina

Veteran

I love a bargain. There are some brands I can only afford on sale. But I also will say that it pays off to buy key pieces @ the full price. So, I’d say a combination works the best, imo.

I also smile when I hear a “stylish wardrobe “. Who is a judge? What is a stylish wardrobe?

LaPed

Veteran

Nodding along with what others have said! It's rare for me to pay full price when it seems there's always a sale or promotion around the corner. My mentality, for better or worse, is that 10-15% off is the true sticker price, and that full price these days includes a convenience fee that I'm only willing to pay if I really can't wait. "The "wait until it goes on sale" mentality also builds in a cooling off period, which I find helps me make better decisions in the long run.

It's been a long time since I shopped a literal clearance rack in a physical store, but I do love end-of-season sales, whether online or in person. It often takes me the full season to deduce what my real needs are, and filling those holes at a discount is gratifying.

Thrifting is sort of the ultimate clearance rack, and secondhand is really the only way I can afford (and justify, from a consumption/waste perspective) a lot of the things that catch my eye. I wonder what this podcaster would have to say about buying secondhand clothing...

nuancedream

Veteran

What LaPed said.

Roberta

Veteran

"Tosh" is what comes to mind! But like all sweeping statements (as Janet says), there is a kernel of truth in it. I had a friend many years ago who bought all her clothes from the clearance racks at Bonwit Teller. Everything was beautiful and nothing went together. Her ONLY criteria was a sale price.

On the other hand, I have a friend who not only will not buy sale items, but usually has a store order an item for her so she is not wearing something other folks have even tried on. This isn't a germ thing, she just likes everything fresh and new. Years ago, when I told her I had bought a used coat on eBay, she gave me a look as if I had dug up a grave to get the clothes off the body. She dresses beautifully, by the way.

ANYWAY, we should be a mix of all of these attitudes, so we find exciting clothes, have a coherent and shoppable closet, and don't have to be named Rockefeller to do so. Very few of my clothes are purchased at full price, but I know how to pull the trigger when needed.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Roberta, what fascinating stories! SO interesting!

I have nothing to add of value but I'll echo Janet and Mary Beth and others who've said, of course your can build a stylish wardrobe from the sales racks and discount or consignment! But it does take time, patience, knowledge of one's own style and a refusal to wear sales goggles.

slim cat

Veteran

I mostly shop sales, clearance and good deals in general. Some items may get away from me however lots of fun, stylish pieces will be mine with patience and time .

phoebe

Especially because stylish is not the same as on trend perhaps completely false.

I have participated in fashion eras when the greatest inspiration was from people who had the least to spend and their creativity and imagination was imitated by those who had the most.

*edited for clarity, sorry about that!

judy

Veteran

I noticed the quote is "build a stylish wardrobe" and not "have style", so the statement is about the clothes and not how one wears it...which I think is what style is! One can have very nice things and wear them with little style. Or buy mostly thrifted items and look incredibly stylish. It's how we carry it off, isn't it?...how we feel about ourselves in it that determines stylishness to me.

But back to wardrobe and her statement, I disagree with the quote because of course it depends how discerning one's eye is at any price point. And depends on what size we are, meaning what is available on those sales racks, and what stores we are shopping in. I think she is probably just advocating for not settling, which is a good thing to keep in mind when I come across something on a clearance sale, not just buying it because it's only x amount of dollars. But I have scouted some things online that have been marked down from their original price, from brands I love, or even on ebay occasionally, hardly worn at all. It can be way to have very good items...and build a stylish wardrobe!... on a limited income.

kkards

Veteran

So, I believe that you can get a huge percentage of your closet on the sale rack or 2nd hand and it can be fabulous. but I totally agree that if your goal is a fabulous, off the rack, wardrobe, you will need to look else where. Which is not to say that you must pay full price. (Just a little disclaimer here-I don’t equate take 40% off all sweaters etc with clearance, and I’m assuming this influencer didn’t either. Clearance happens when a retailer has basically given up on an item and is in the process of making it go away. Semantic maybe, but I think it’s important to understanding this statement).

rachylou

Veteran

This is a big no way! Fashion designers get their inspo from the street. The most creative comb the discount racks. Plus, the mother of invention is necessity.

jussie

Veteran

Rachylou: “necessity is the mother of invention” would have to sum it up perfectly! I can certainly relate to that quote in a lot of areas of my life at the moment!
Just got an email from one of my favorite stores, gorman, saying they’re having 20% off store wide right now. Though I guess that’s not what the stylist meant by clearance rack…. I think she meant things at the bottom of the barrel kind of thing.
I think a mixed approach is good. I know my favorite puffer jacket that is a big building block in my wardrobe because it’s a great shape and fit, never, ever, comes on sale. But it’s fundamentally important for me so I buy one every year at full price,
However much of my “fun” stuff is sale.,
And probably about a third of my building block stuff too.

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