 The art of bargain hunting is not reserved for coupon clippers hellbent on drastically reducing their grocery bills. Bargain hunting is not just for the running of the brides for gowns at Filene's Basement. And no, bargain hunting is not necessarily about playing hardball with vendors at the marketplace or with salespeople at the used car lot.
Bargain hunting for clothes, unlike the competitive nature of the scenarios mentioned above, requires more patience than money. That might sound hard to believe. Let me explain. My first summer job was bagging groceries at a supermarket after finishing high school nearly 25 years ago. The minimum wage back then was around $4.25 an hour. I knew that I would not be able to afford a suit on that wage, but Dickies and Lee jeans weren't out of reach, and were better suited to the job I had at the time. By following sale trends at retail stores over time through newspaper ads, I was able to assemble outfits for work without breaking the bank (or asking my father for cash). Having the freedom to choose my wardrobe on a limited budget has shaped my approach to finding quality garments on sale as often as possible. Plus, I reasoned that as I worked harder to earn more money, I could build my wardrobe accordingly and still save money.
Fast forward to today's uncertain economy, with rising gas and food prices, and tighter consumer credit. The pursuit of getting stuff on sale becomes more important. For me, following the ads in the paper for markdowns has given way somewhat to shopping online. It's so much easier to find what you want, and quickly. Many stores in the U.S. have a "sale" section on their Web sites, including mall staples like Dillard's, Macy's, Mervyn's, Nordstrom's, Nieman Marcus, JC Penney, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Sears. The sale section is the first place I start when I'm surfing the 'Net for bargains. (However, I still encourage shoppers to go to malls and factory outlets for the exercise and human interaction if nothing else.) Before you release the hounds in search of bigger and better deals, here are some Style Points for effective shopping online:
What's in your closet? Taking stock of your existing wardrobe will put into better perspective what you would like to add to it, or upgrade to replace garments that have been worn out. Measure up. Once you've identified the types of clothes you're looking for, go to a tailor or someone who can take your measurements. Try on clothes at your favorite store; sizes vary among designers. This will minimize any guesswork about ordering an item that doesn't quite fit and then has to be shipped back. Browse first. Patience is definitely a virtue here. Let's say, for example, that you're looking for rugby shirts and you've determined your size is medium. You go to the mall and make the rounds in stores that have rugby shirts. There may be one you like, but you hold off until you take a look at what all the stores you wish to browse have to offer. Now you're more fully informed about what's out there, which designers fit you best, and how much you're willing to pay. Connect with online retailers. More information is better. Get on retailers' e-mail lists that will inform you what deals are happening.
A caveat here: Online deals happen more frequently than in stores, which usually begin discounting items after the Fourth of July and after Christmas each year. It is easy to go broke having chased too many discounts online. That is why knowing what's in your wardrobe is important. It shapes your priorities when you're shopping.
This year, I have been concentrating on shoes. Some of the sites where I’ve experienced consistent satisfaction in getting discounts include Sierra Trading Post, which sells a wide range of closeout models; Zappos offers free shipping; and ShoeBuy, which has free shipping and no sales tax.
About a month ago at Sierra Trading Post, for instance, I found an Allen-Edmonds loafer in my size that retailed for $225 for less than $100 before tax and shipping.  This isn't to say that finding deals online can replace visiting stores from time to time. I also heard about seasonal deals that were going on at Orvis, but was less familiar with this retailer's jacket sizes. There was a suede model I saw online that looked really stylish, so I went into an Orvis store and tried it on. Once I identified the size, I went back online to order the jacket, whose regular price of $595 was knocked down to $234. Problem was, the size wasn't available online. So I scrambled back to the store to purchase it. The online price was honored there. For best results on bargain hunting, be vigilant about what's on sale, how much you're willing to spend, and make sure it fits. Finding deals is not a sprint; your look is something that is carefully crafted over time. Saving money while you're at it isn't a bad thing, either. David Yarbrough is a freelance writer based in Houston, TX. His blog, Style Points, focuses on men's fashion and style.
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