January Sales

January Sales

18 December, 2008
by: Spoonfed Holidays

They might be called the January Sales but as every self respecting shopper knows they actually begin in earnest on Boxing Day, and the buying carnage continues until most shops resemble mini battle grounds, with clothing casualties falling off hangers and littering the floor. Yes, there might be a credit crunch or whatever, but let's face it we all love to buy stuff, especially when there's savings to be made. So here's a potted guide to the best discount shopping in London.

Department Stores – The Big Four

Harrods
27th Dec – 24th Jan
The infamous Knightsbridge store is heralding the beginning of its sale by inviting Katherine Jenkins to perform. Join the throng of tourists at 9am on 27th December for this operatic treat and then enjoy up to 50% off brands like Ralph Lauren, Moschino and Creme de la Mer.

Harvey Nichols
27th Dec – 27th Jan
Whilst for most of the year Harvey-Nicks is the destination of choice for tottering Patsies and Eddies, come sale time the massive discounts mean even the proles can afford to shop here. Look out for big savings on big name labels like Lanvin and Marc Jacobs as well as smaller edgier brands like Aon! Black.

Liberty
27th Dec – 27th Jan
Liberty is our favourite department store in London, and with some great offers this January it should be yours too. The stunning Art Nouveau interior houses all manner of beautiful things, and the collections are always well edited. Stock up on lovely things by Vivienne Westwood, Kilgour and Erdem, and leather goods from own brand Liberty of London.

Selfridges
27th Dec – 14th Jan
Always worth a visit despite the crowds. Last year I bought a DKNY top which was reduced from £115 to £15. That's what I call credit crunch couture. This year expect discounts of up to 75% on Dior, Diesel, Dolce & Gabbana and the like.

Womenswear
Don't fancy joining the professional 'let's camp outside the doors till opening time' crowd? Then hit London's back streets, where plenty of the smaller independent boutiques are offering hefty discounts. Try Victim in Carnaby for 30% off beautiful vampy Victoriana, or Doors by Jas MB for major savings on luxury leather goods. Equally well worth a visit are the Oxfam Boutique shops which already sell designer goods at cut down prices. And in January, they're a steal. For a slightly more relaxed sales experience try the markets in Spitalfields and Portobello, where the reductions continue. You might not have the luxury of a changing room but you won't be queuing up to pay either.

Menswear
Men like to buy fashion that lasts, and the January Sales are a great chance to save big on investment pieces. Chunky brogues from Tricker's are seriously hard-wearing and will be cool for ever. Get some good jeans too, simple and not too skinny: try One True Saxon, Acne or even Prada. But save the big cash for a new coat: we love the chic Parisian simplicity of APC, the Sloaney practicality of Barbour, and Kris van Assche's urban preppy combos (available in Liberty and Harrods).

Interiors
January is also the time to pick up some brilliant bargains for your home. Ikea is holding its annual sale, so up and down the country families can make the pilgrimage to these superstores and stock up on good looking items at bargain prices. If you're looking for something a bit different then head to Beyond the Valley and pick up that one-of-a-kind item, now at a one-of-a kind price. The Conran Shop and Heals are also offering up to 75% off some of their stock.

Electrical Goods
In London there's an easy way to buy electrical goods. Start on South Molton Street with a trip to Danish technical types Bang & Olufsen. From there make your way to Regent Street and the two American giants Bose and Apple. After stocking up on a host of i-Pods, speakers and stuff, head down Oxford Street towards Tottenham Court Road, where there's a whole host of budget electrical stores, which at this time of year are practically giving things away.  This is the place to go for discount digital cameras, stolen tellies, and DivX DVD Players, guaranteed to work on every Knock-Off Nigel DVD.

Booze
After all the over-indulgence of the festive period, booze might be the last thing on your mind. But it's always good to remember the sauce: she'll never let you down. Leading high-street off-licence Oddbins usually do a January Sale and supermarkets like Waitrose and Somerfield are respected for their well-priced and unusual wine selections. Also check out Berry Bros & Rudd. They probably don't bother with a sale, but it's a lovely place to go anyway: where else could you find out how much Napoleon weighed?

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