There is absolutely no reason to settle for full price for anything. Need a fancy couch? The best athleisure outfit ever? A dreamy pair of shoes? We discovered surprising outlet stores for just about every coveted brand, and we’re here to spill the tea about shipping, damage and everything you need to know. We’re skipping over common outlet stores such as The Gap or Ann Taylor and all those outlets that seem to appear in every outlet mall. We’re going straight to the unpredictable stuff.
Anthropologie Home Outlet
We’re launching with this one because we’re beyond obsessed. Where else can you score the infamous Gleaming Primrose Mirror for up to 40 percent off? Nowhere. Seriously. We scoured Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and the RealReal for months before learning about this gem of an outlet. They opened their doors in October 2019 in Pittsburgh, and it’s 40,000 square feet of dreamy shabby chic, bohemian furniture. They offer a mix of floor models, discontinued pieces, returned goods and photo-shoot samples — essentially everything you see on the Anthropologie website can be found in this outlet.
The rules: They have active Facebook and Instagram pages detailing the latest finds and new sales. You can also contact the outlet (they are incredibly receptive) to ask about specific items. If you don’t live close to the outlet, you can arrange to have a piece shipped, but they don’t work with a specific shipping vendor. Request a video consultation before getting the item shipped, as the condition of each piece varies greatly.
Need to know: Pittsburgh; Anthropologie.com
Lululemon
Yes, this fitness-focused clothing company has a great sale section on their site and in-store called “We Made Too Much.” But if you’re looking for an even better discount (we’re here for it), head to the outlet, where you can save 40 percent off their fantastic exercise clothing and accessories. There are 19 outlets in the United States and one in Canada, and they carry current and past seasons’ clothing. The selection tends to be amazing, with cropped leggings for just $39 — usually, these are at least $60; tennis skirts for $29; and sports bras for $24. They even have accessories like hats, bags, yoga mats and socks. Whenever we visit, we see tons of items that are size 2, 4, 10 and 12 — but the more popular sizes (6 and 8) aren’t as easy to find.
The rules: They don’t ship at all, so you’ll have to actually go here in person to snag a bargain. If you have a Sweat Collective (the Lululemon trainer discount, which also applies to anyone who leads a running club or teaches a group fitness class), you’ll save 25 percent more. Military discounts, police, fire and EMTs also receive an additional 25 percent discount.
Need to know: 19 locations in the United States; Lululemonlocator.com
Restoration Hardware
You can snag a significant discount off Restoration Hardware’s high prices at their outlets — as long as you aren’t particularly picky. Their outlets are massive (some are up to 140,000 square feet) and they carry clearance items, discontinued items, damaged items and returned items that are 20–60 percent off regular prices. For example, on a recent day they were offering a dining room table that retails for $1,495. They discounted the table by 60 percent, bringing the price to $598 — and then offered an additional 30 percent off that day, making the final price $419.
The rules: You can sign up for promotional emails so you know what’s coming to the outlets ahead of time here. While Restoration Hardware does have a members program that gives shoppers 25 percent off, this can’t be used at the outlets. All sales are final. They offer delivery for an additional fee, but customers have to go to the store to purchase the item first. They don’t hold anything.
Need to know: Go to Rh.com
ModCloth
Are you obsessed with 1950s and ’60s outfits? Need some killer sunglasses to go with a fabulous frilly blouse and boyfriend jeans? Look no further than the ModCloth online outlet, which launched in 2019. You don’t even need to leave the house for this one. The prices are insanely good, with dresses marked down from $59 to $20, jumpers down from $79 to $20, and additional discounts on the reg. On a recent April day, they were offering “buy one get one free” for everything — plus 25 percent off your first app order in addition to the already discounted prices. The discounts per item vary but are significant, with some up to 90 percent off.
The rules: It’s a final sale for just about everything, so read the reviews and the size charts carefully before purchasing.
Need to know: This is online only at Modcloth.com/shop/outlet
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