The best time of year to buy clothes

Short answer: Seasonal items are cheapest when the season is ending. Basics have no season, so the price moves less. Buy seasonal by season and basics as needed, and you save the most.

Seasonal items drop in price after the season

Winter items are typically cheapest in February and summer items cheapest in August, when shops need room for the next collection. Wait until just after the season's peak, and you can often find the same items at a notably lower price than when they first arrived.

Basics move less in price

Underwear, socks and t-shirts sell all year and have no real season, so their price changes less over the year. See bamboo clothing for women for an example of a range where basics and seasonal items sit side by side in the same category.

The size range is widest early in the season

Buy late in the season to save money, and the middle sizes are often already gone, because they sell fastest. There is a trade off between price and range, and how much each matters depends on how hard the item is to find in your size.

Sales happen at roughly fixed times

Most shops run sales at roughly fixed points through the year, often tied to the change of season. See bamboo underwear for women for an example of a category that often features in that kind of sale, when stock is cleared for new items.

Good buys need a clear idea of what you need

Without a list of what you actually need, a sale easily turns into buying things you did not need in the first place. Write down a few things before hunting for a sale, so you avoid ending up with items that just sit unused in the wardrobe.

New items usually arrive at the start of a season

The newest styles and colours normally launch at the start of a season, while the older items get marked down along the way. See bamboo t-shirt for women for an example of how new colours arrive while earlier variants drop in price.

Waiting can cost you your size

Wait too long for a purchase hoping for a lower price, and you risk your size selling out by the time the price finally drops. It is a real trade off between saving money and being sure of getting exactly the item you want.

Basics are a safe purchase

Because basics get worn all year, they are rarely a poor choice no matter when you buy them. See bamboo socks for women for an example of an item where it makes sense to buy as needed rather than waiting for a certain time of year.

Planning beats luck most of the time

Knowing the pattern of when seasonal items drop in price, and when basics cost roughly the same all year, makes it easier to plan your purchases sensibly. It takes a little patience, but it almost always pays off better than buying on impulse without a glance at timing.

Frequently asked questions

When is clothing cheapest?

Seasonal items are cheapest when the season ends. Winter items are typically cheapest in February and summer items cheapest in August, when stock is cleared.