We are back in the present again for Style File Friday this week! I know that Black Friday deals are all the rage in the US (and they are spreading across the world). However, for many of us, Boxing Day/Boxing Week sales are when big discounts drop. And for the last few years, Boxing Day sales are starting a week or more before Christmas Day. It can be tempting to purchase clothing and accessories, as they are often on very deep discount. These are the questions to ask myself if Boxing Day sales are worth it!
Do I Like It or Is It Just On Sale?
I have fallen into this trap many, many times. A shirt or a dress is 75% off, and I think, “at that price, of course it is a great deal!”. And yes, you are not paying as much money as you potentially could have. However, more often than not, I didn’t actually wear whatever super-cheap garment I purchased. I looked past patterns, colours, or fits I didn’t like for the price. Or I ignored that it already had seams coming apart that couldn’t be repaired. In any case, a good sale price in theory did not actually translate into a good price for me when I didn’t get any use out of it. (There are entire books written about how fast fashion is priced to draw you in; Boxing Day prices are similar.)
Why Am I Buying This?
Not to get too psychological, but I find a lot of the time, I need to ask myself why I am actually out looking for things on Boxing Day. At least here in Canada, there can be a feeling of “It is Boxing Day, I am supposed to be going to buy cheap things, it is what we do”. Nevermind that I might not actually need or even want anything, that feeling overrides it.
I find that making a list before all of the Boxing Day/Week sales start can help me figure out what items I am actually looking for, a supposed to what seems like a good deal when the sales pop up. When I’m making my list, I can decide if there are any holes in my wardrobe or anything that I want to add. It puts me in control of my purchases rather than the sale prices! Don’t just buy things to buy things.
Check the Quality Before Purchasing
A lot of times, damaged and left-over clothing and accessories are put out for Boxing Day sales. There might be missing buttons or ripped seams. It might be a summer item from two years ago. Or it’s made of a lesser quality material than regular items. Whenever possible, check the item in person before purchasing. Yes, I know that with Covid, many of us are limited in where and how we can safely shop. But that might be a sign that we could buy less things.
And I know, a lot of people are going to say, “I can only buy online/prefer buying online but will return things”. However, there has been a lot of marketplace research showing that a lot of returned goods are not being resold. Yes, you physically aren’t throwing out the garments yourself, but in many cases, you are handing them back to the company to do it for you. And returning even to be resold can still add to the strains on the global postal system.
I know that Boxing Day sales seem like a fantastic way to add to your wardrobe, but think before buying!
Cheers,
The Historian
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