Buy Your Summer Things Now!

Fall is just around the bend. We will be able to tell when it actually arrives because Facebook and Instagram will be exploding in an atomic mushroom cloud of pictures uploaded by people before/during/after buying their first pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks. Most people mark that first sip of overpriced harvest java as the true beginning to the best of the four seasons.

But for those of you who, like me, don't drink coffee, fall can be marked by the ceremonial putting away of shorts, tank tops, and bathing suits, and pulling out those warm cardigans, jeans, and thick sweaters from the back of the closet. For football fans, fall means its time to break out the game jerseys, and kids realize that fall is only days away when they buy their new backpacks and "first day of school" outfits. While fall is a time of change for nearly everyone, it is also a time to take advantage of sales. You may think that summer (and summer shopping) is in the rear-view mirror, but its not. The best summer deals are right here waiting for you, and they start at the beginning of fall.



A while ago I posted about change of season sales. If you haven't read it, you can find it here.

Ok, now that we're on the same page, one of these change of season sales is happening right now. All of the summer merchandise needs to go, so the stores slash prices drastically in order to make room on the shelves. I was shopping around the other day, and I snapped a few pictures of these change of season sale racks (in Urban Outfitters if you couldn't guess).

So here are a few things to look out for while rummaging through the sale racks. It might not make sense at the time, but once next summer rolls around, you'll be glad you thought ahead:

1. Swimsuits
For the past couple years, I've bought a swimsuit at the end of summer. Most of the time I forget that I even bought one, and when the late spring bathing suit paranoia sets in (you know, when you panic because you don't have a new bathing suit for the summer and you have to go to your friend's pool party the next day), I frantically raid my drawers and discover the swimsuit I bought for $5 at H&M the previous September. Crisis averted.

2. Shorts
Last September I bought five pairs of denim shorts of various colors for $5 each at Urban Outfitters. I tried them on to make sure they fit, and put them away. Come spring break time, I already had a full array of new, never-been-worn shorts to wear during my trip. For $5 each, you can't beat it.

3. Other Beachwear
Im talking about tank tops, those button down short sleeve shirts, towels, and sandals. All these things will be marked way down right now, and it is the perfect time to buy. This way, when you plan your spring break trip in February like I always did in college, you will have everything you need to look good at the beach, rather than having to shop online for beachwear because it is the middle of winter.

So get to your nearest store soon, because these change of season sales don't last forever. In another week or two these racks will be cleared of all things summer in order to make room for more fall and even winter clothing. Like I said, the best summer deals are waiting for you, right at the beginning of fall.