SHOPPING

Hitting the clearance rack is one easy way to save money, but you can save even more by planning ahead and shopping strategically throughout the year. Obviously, items are discounted when they go out of season. For example, winter apparel goes on sale just before spring to make room for new merchandise.

Knowing when other items go on sale may not be as easy to figure out, though.To help shoppers save, Lifehacker put together a chart they dubbed, “The Best Time to Buy Anything in 2013.” For every month of the year, they’ve included a short list of items that are discounted.

January

According to Lifehacker, January is the best time of year to get discounts on clothing, broadway tickets, furniture and linens/bedding, among other items. Broadway tickets go on sale because winter and fall are the slowest months for ticket sales, furniture is discounted because furniture companies release new products in February and linens/bedding go on sale thanks to traditional “white sales.”

February

For February, you’ll still be able to find discounted Broadway tickets since it’s the slow season. In addition, cellphones, televisions and home theaters systems are cheaper than they are the rest of the year. Lifehacker says that cellphones are promoted as Valentine’s Day gifts and, as a result, are part of “buy one get one” sales. Televisions and home theater systems are more likely to go on sale during February as part of pre-Superbowl sales.

March

The month of March is a great time to buy chocolate (post Valentine’s day sales), golf clubs (new models are introduced just before summer, so old models are put on sale) and luggage (March is between travel seasons so demand goes down). Additionally, frozen foods go on sale thanks to “National Frozen Food Month,” so look for coupons and special deals at your local grocery store.

If it’s something you absolutely need right away, then by all means, buy now. For example, perhaps you need new luggage for an international trip you’re taking next week and can’t wait for suitcases to go on sale in March. However, planning your purchases in advance will help you save money in the long run.

By Wendy Rose Gould

There are many facets to Selfridges “No Noise” initiative, some which go beyond the literal interpretation of silence. First, they’ve reintroduced the Silence Room that existed when the store opened in 1909. The Silence Room serves as a refuge for busy shoppers to find peace of mind and re-fuel before heading back out into the frenzy.

In addition to their silence room, Selfridge has planted “Headspace Pods” throughout the store that take listeners through a guided, 10 minute meditation. They’ve also invited the John Cage Orchestra into the store for a live performance and will host a Sunday series of talks by the Idler Academy through February.

If Silent Rooms, medidation, live classical music and weekly discussions weren’t enough, Selfridge’s restaurants will have special menus that utilize raw and organic ingredients and help diners “enjoy the pleasures of simple food”. Diners will also have access to nutrition clinics and can sample organic and bio-dynamic wines.

Cooler yet, though, is Selfridges “Quiet Shop,” which takes the concept of “No Noise” to a revolutionary new way of shopping. Their “Quiet Shop” showcases a thoughtful selection of minimalist apparel from the spring and summer 2013 runways. And, with permission from some of the world’s most recognizable labels (including Creme de la Mer, Levi’s and Beats by Dre), they’ve de-branded merchandise. That means no logos to persuade buyers — truly an innovative step toward reducing “noise.”

CLINIQUE
No Noise Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion

LEVI’S
No Noise 501 straight-leg jeans

Could NYC Handle “No Noise”?

The hustle and bustle of a big city such as NYC is one that’s hard to escape. Even at 2 a.m. on Tuesday night there are boisterous crowds filling up the streets with sound. Not to mention the visual noise city dwellers have so quickly become accustomed to.

We pondered the question, “Could NYC handle no noise?” Some may argue that big city dwellers have become so accustomed to noise (in its many forms), that shopping in silence would not relax them at all. In fact, it may achieve the contrary.

Further, what kind of effect would de-branding have on NYC shoppers? Just how big of a role does an obvious logo play in our shopping habits? For some — and the red carpet question of “Who are you wearing?” demonstrates this — it’s all about wearing and supporting the hottest designers.

The most important question to ask yourself, though, is this: Would shoppers as a whole be able to recognize greatness without the help of a label?

The story of renowned violinist Joshua Bell playing incognito at D.C. metro station comes to mind. With his $3.5 million instrument, Bell — one of the world’s most talented musicians — played six incredibly intricate Bach pieces for 45 minutes. And who stopped to listen? A mere 6 individuals, and for not much more than a few minutes each. Roughly 20 people tipped him a total of $32 as they walked by. And when he finished playing and the sounds of the city took over his space, nobody noticed and nobody clapped.

Maybe passers-by simply didn’t have the time to stop and listen. But if they had known that only two days ago this very performer sold out in a Boston theater where seats averaged $100 a pop, perhaps they would have made the time.

Which leads us to this question: what is your take on Selfridge’s “No Noise” initiative? Do you think it’d be an effective experiment within New York City? Share your opinion in the comments or on our Facebook page.

By Wendy Rose Gould

Two weeks off from sample sale shopping allowed us to pack up our holiday decorations, work off those extra pounds, and replenish our rainy day fund, AKA our shopping allowance. Now that we are well into January, stores and brands are trying to force their winter wear on us, in order to make room for their bright and cheery spring lines. Ah, spring clothing and warm weather, doesn’t that sound heavenly? So this week, let’s assist stores and brands such as Journelle, Mikimoto, Calvin Klein, Theory & Helmut Lang, and Zutto Yellow, in cleaning house. It will provide us with a silver lining and help us to see clearly into our warm weather future.

SAMPLE SALE ALERT: YELLOW

Calvin Klein Clothing & Accessories Sample Sale

Start your shopping week early on Sunday with Calvin Klein. Beginning at 9AM Soiffer Haskin will host the Calvin Klein Sample Sale, which will offer up to 75% off retail prices. The sale, which has in the past been occupied mainly by men’s suiting, will also offer women’s clothing, accessories and handbags.

Theory & Helmut Lang Sample Sale

I’m sorry, but isn’t there a Helmut Lang Sample Sale going on as we speak? Why, yes, yes there is. Until Sunday, Helmut Lang is holding their bi-annual Sample Sale within their usual sale home, 93 Mercer Street. If you plan on visiting the sale this weekend, be sure to “retweet” Helmut Lang’s tweet found here to receive an additional 10% off. For fans of the brand who can’t make the tail end of the sale this weekend, Clothingline will be hosting a Theory & Helmut Lang Sample Sale beginning Monday. Although the sale may simply feature left overs and scraps from sales in the past, there is hope that prices will be more reasonable than what we found at the Theory & Helmut Lang Sample Sale this past summer.

Journelle Designer Lingerie Warehouse Sale

Va-va-voom!  Tuesday brings us Journelle’s Designer Lingerie Warehouse Sale within the spacious 260 5^th Avenue showroom. Featured designers such as Stella McCartney, Lascivious, La Perla, and Elle Macpherson will bring us 50-70% off high-fashion lingerie we won’t mind showing off. Hopefully 260 will allow dressing rooms at this sale otherwise it may be advised to bring an eye shield along.

Zutto Yellow Showroom Jewelry & Accessories Sample Sale

Zutto Yellow’s funky and bohemian collection of jewelry, accessories, and home goodies will be on sale in their West Village showroom. The Zutto Yellow Sample Sale boasts sale items from indie designers such as Necks Tuesday and Prariefunk, assuring from their names alone that this will be the hottest place to pick up some original pieces for you and your home in one shot. Like them on Facebook and receive an additional 5% off.

Mikimoto Jewelry Sample Sale

Close out the week with 50-70% off Mikimoto jewelry at their Sample Sale on 680 Fifth Avenue, between 53^rd and 54^th Streets. Mikimoto offers fine quality cultured pearl jewelry, from classic strands to pearls in motion. Various pearls are featured within Mikimoto’s pieces, such as conch, baroque and akoya.

A calm week in sample sale shopping will help you to get your sea legs, after having been out of the game for what feels like forever. Picking up a piece or two during this week’s roster sample sales will provide you with your shopping dosage, and keep your pockets full and purses heavy in preparation for the continued inundation of stock up sales ahead.

By Caitlin Colford

Even though December 31st and January 1st are only a day apart, there’s something about the beginning of a new year that makes us all feel like we’ve started afresh. Call it a second — or third, fourth or 20th — chance to get it right, call it a clean slate. Whatever you dub it, though, take advantage of the new year’s sense of renewal.

Like many, I do come up with a list of resolutions and goals for myself every year. Most of these goals hover somewhere between the categories of lofty/unobtainable and “things I should be doing anyway.” In the end, I find it’s best to make resolutions that better my body, mind and soul and have the potential to turn into lifestyle changes — not just a 365 day challenge.

Some resolutions are more personalized (such as traveling more or budgeting time more efficiently) while others are lifestyle habits we can all benefit from (exercising more and eating better both qualify, and are two of the most popular new year’s resolutions).

Another new year’s resolution we can all benefit from is better shopping habits. This boils down to money management, but the way we shop also says a lot about our personalities. For example, some people rarely shop around to find a better bargain while others hurriedly shuffle to the discount rack even if they’re not in need of anything.

The shopping habit I’m most guilty of? Online bargain shopping. During my free time, you can catch me perusing deals on designer duds at eBay, sifting through the hundreds of Etsy stores and clicking on any e-advertisement promising a good deal.

I’m also signed up at myriad monthly subscription websites — including JustFab, Birchbox, BeautyFix and JewelMint — and receive about 20 to 30 emails daily from various clothing/jewelry/makeup stores. The worst part is that while many delete these daily emails, I’m guilty of checking out what’s new (and what’s discounted), which only tempts me further.

This year, I’ve made a vow to cancel all my monthly subscriptions (who needs a new pair of shoes every month, really? My husband refuses to look inside my closet for fear of the great shoe avalanche) and will only allow myself purchases when absolutely necessary (e.g. special occasions or a new fitness gear when mine’s ready to be tossed).

Perhaps in the coming years I’ll be able to make goals like some of my other friends, who vow to go an entire 365 days without buying even one new piece of clothing or pair of shoes. For now, though, I’m taking baby steps. After all, new year’s resolutions are about making changes that translate into lifestyle habits.

By Wendy Rose Gould