BEST OF SALE - my tips on what to invest in at the end of season sales

This past Christmas in retail has been an extremely strange one. No sooner are you contemplating what oven mark to put the turkey on, than the pre-Christmas Eve sale of the pre-Christmas Day sale of the pre-Boxing Day sale has started.

You're stood there with your iPad in one hand and sprouts in the other, contemplating why this terribly timed shopping tourment is happening.

I've held off blogging about the sales until mid-January, as I feel it's only now that the industry really releases the true timeless pieces into the end of seaon sales.

The pre-sales and the first couple of weeks see the high street reducing the current best seller trends and flashy pieces, which sell out instantly.

This then clears the way for the more subtle items to come to the fore and these are the key pieces and picks that I'm featuring, as it's really important to understand that sale shopping is no different to current season shopping.

If you go mad in the sales, just because it's discounted, the chances are it will all sit in your wardrobe, lose it's value and the money used could have been better spent on a few full priced key pieces that would last you years and be worn regularly.

COATS:

One of the biggest and much awaited Autumn/Winter pieces is the 'It Coat'. Every year, without fail, we all await the unveiling of a fur-adorned coat that we really hope will keep us warm and not just look good.

The one everyone sees on the runway, the high streets match and 9 times out of 10, it's River Island that come through for this. Yet again, they haven't failed us.

The runway has seen use of shearling and luxe fur trims from the likes of Karl Donoghue, Chloe and Lanvin.

River Island have created their own take on this, in several drape jackets and coats, yet the one that really is the winner for me is this gorgeous beige parka, with a trim so luxurious and thick, when I received it, I had to question whether it was real of faux fur. Incredible quality and I love mine!

River Island. WAS £110. NOW £65.

FOOTWEAR:

The very talented Tabitha Simmons has dominated the Chelsea boot market throughout 2015.

Shown on the left, at £495, going down to £297 in the sale, this is still a somewhat unaffordable market for many and I'd like to put my alternative pick, shown to the right, the 'Spider' boot by Miss KG.

Miss KG at Kurt Geiger. WAS £99. NOW £79.

Although not a massive reduction, this is a wardrobe staple piece and investment. The suede is triple treated and does not mark like ordinary, as well as the overall structure keeping it's shape and wearing so well. These will be in for many seasons to come.

Over the knee boots have also played a massive part in collections by Laurence Dacade, Chloe, Gucci, Michael Kors and Sam Edelman.

They have been retailing between £1440 and £970, going into the sale at around £700. However, I would like to channel the high street equivalent here which I tip to be a MASSIVE style for next year.

Apart from court shoes, next season, points are out. You want almond toe, round or square and this to me is the boot that will keep its value above any other.

Carvela have knocked out the competition with their 'Wish' boot.

Carvela at Kurt Geiger. WAS £210. NOW £79.

2016 says goodbye to killer heels and the re-introduction of 3.5"-4" heels. Classy, wearable and a slightly more rounded almond point.

It would be wise to snap up these classic Jimmy Choo 'Mei' courts in both nude and black, as these are going to be re-issued everywhere with a different style name, be it high street and designer, for double the price next season.

Jimmy Choo Mei Courts at Net-A-Porter. WAS £375. NOW £188.

LEATHER:

Leather jackets are always an interesting one in the sales. The classic biker can be worn with a LBD or a shirt and jeans. It's timeless.

However, as we've seen from IRO, Yves Saint Laurant and Vivienne Westwood, the past season has brought a new take on leather as we know it.

It's no longer distressed or vintage. It's tumble-dried leather that's smooth, slick and falls like it's been starched, even though it's butter soft.

Chanel first did this with their bowling bags, many years ago, and it seems to have taken some time to graduate through to the mainstream couture of clothing for this now to have been a massive theme of 2015.

My top picks for a high end accessible alternative are by All Saints.

A company I love beyond measure and the designers behind it.

I've chosen off-blacks, as black is too harsh for the upcoming season. It's going to be all about grey, light charcoal and graphite shades.

Cropped is out. Longer lines will be feature in both runway and highstreet during 2016.

All Saints. LEFT: Dare Leather Jacket. WAS £358. Now £250.

RIGHT: Laurel leather jacket. WAS £398. Now £278.

FOR A LIMITED TIME, YOU CAN GET 20% EXTRA OFF SALE PRICES BY ENTERING CODE 'NEWYEAR' AT CHECKOUT.

DRESSES:

Dresses have without any doubt been dominated by Jaeger.

The classic dresses that have gone into the sale are so incredibly understated; this is what you want to be spending your wardrobe investment money on. They will never date and the qualities of the seamstresses that make these are as good as the day Jaeger started out.

Jaeger. LEFT TO RIGHT:

1) Black Belted Contrast Dress. WAS £199. NOW £60.

2) Contemporary Tailoring Dress. WAS £250. NOW £99.

3) Grosgrain Lapel Dress. WAS £225. NOW £125.

4) Pocket Detail Dress. WAS 199. NOW £60.

HANDBAGS:

It's so easy to go with the usual designer bag sales and say save for that Mulberry Bayswater or a Gucci Soho but I think this time, it's more about what's going to be a distinctive trend for the upcoming seasons and that to me rests with Vivienne Westwood and the Frilly collection.

I myself have and love my Frilly, so I think it's pretty amazing the sale opportunity has come up on a bag that's only going to get bigger and more legendary, as time goes on. If you are looking for an investment, I would put your money on this and not something as openly cult as Mulberry, Chloe etc.

Once these get discontinued, they will indeed acquire their own retirement inflation as the months pass by.

Vivienne Westood. Large Frilly Bag. WAS £275. NOW £165.

TOPS:

It's not been a great time for tops. 2014 saw Gestuz really take the lead on shirts and use with silk. 2015 hasn't really shown a huge amount, from any designer, that I would call notable, so I'm just going to put in the only one high street recommendation I have is from Wallis.

Double layering on utility. This is going to be such a strong trend during the upcoming S/S season.

Wallis. Oyster Double Layer Shirt. WAS £33. NOW £20.

WATCHES:

The only watch that I feel is a real timeless investment is an exclusvie Michael Kors to Ernest Jones.

If you want something between a Rolex, Gucci and keeps value, this is the perfect combination. It's designer, has the look of a Rolex and the battery lasts like a Gucci.

Michael Kors at Ernest Jones. WAS £379. NOW £185.

That about sums up my end of season sale picks. I think it's fair to say buy timeless, buy neutral and above all else, never spend a huge amount on something that's seasonal.

Spend your investments on Chanel and the classics. Regardless of any sales, go to Primark for the seasonal trends as it's disposeable throw away, the same as you would spend on a couple of Starbucks and that's the smart way to do fashion.

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