One thing about moving to NJ is that in about every 20-30 miles you can encounter an outlet mall and there is no sales tax. Some time ago, one would think that the outlets was filled with "B-Grade" items or miss-cut clothing. However this is no longer the case. One can find that these outlets carry items that are first rate.
Everyone loves a bargain, or what one thinks is a bargin..heehee, especially if it involves shopping for name brand clothes, such as Polo, Nike, and even Gucci. I tend to frequent the Nike Outlet the most since one can actually find "rare/limited" sneakers. And my all time favorite outlet is the Barney's outlet. So, when the wallet doesn't allow for shopping in SoHo, LES, or 5th Ave. I head straight to the outlets to feed the hunger...ha.
Here is an example of some finds that I got while at Woodbury Commons
Barney's New York Velour (made in Italy) Driving Mocs Retail - $300.00
Outlet Price - $149.00
Adidas ZXZ Felt by Kuraishi Kazuki of fragement design
Retail $180.00 Outlet - $118.00
(I got these for $59.00 since the Barney's New York Outlet was having a "Buy 1, Get another 1/2 off)
Rugby Bow-Tie
Retail - $35.00
Outlet - $10.00 (Clearance)
Rugby Socks
Retail - $19.50
Outlet - $5.00 (Clearance)
Happy Socks (2-pack) for Barneys NY COOP
Retail - $30.00
Outlet - $12.00
Here is a few points from
Put This On
They came up with a great summary of what one can expect from outlet shopping. And I've included a few of my thoughts after each bullet
- Ralph Lauren has both “Polo” and “Ralph Lauren” outlets. The Ralph Lauren outlets are pricier, but carry only actual Polo overstocks and Purple Label stuff. Some, we’ve heard, have recently switched to women’s wear only. Discounts at these outlets are good but not great. The Polo outlets are primarily “planned overstock” made for the outlet stores. The quality is not amazing, though probably not much worse than other Polo items in their categories. The tailored clothes are mostly Lauren, which is a low-quality line. There are usually one to three racks, however, which have Polo, RRL and even Purple Label. Learn to spot these racks, and you can do very, very well. (Mike notes that the Polo outlets are a great source of cheap bedding.)
- Very true! I have come across many nice pieces but the price is a little higher than expected from outlets. However, if you head to the clearance sections, which are way in the back, you can come across some great finds. Especially if you are looking for new accessories such as ties, socks, and belts. I found some great "Rugby" items while digging through the clearance section.
- Brooks Brothers outlets are similar. Three quarters or more of their stock is from the “346” line, which is made specifically for the outlets. There are often bargains hidden amongst the 346, however. Some stores have shoes, including the high-end Peal & Co. line. Some have Black Fleece, the fashion-forward line designed by Thom Browne, and some have Golden Fleece, the fuddy-duddy but very high quality line. Check the labels.
- Allen Edmonds outlets mostly have discontinued shoes and seconds. The prices aren’t a huge reduction from retail, with the exception of seconds.
- Gap, Banana Republic and J. Crew sell exclusively clothes made for the outlets. Not even worth a visit.
- Gap and Banana Republic are not worth the trip, as far as Men's clothing goes, unless you really need to find some cheap pants for work.
- J.Crew isn't that bad though, especially since in the last few years J. Crew has revamped their Men's line.
- Department store outlets are typically a mix. Neiman Marcus Last Call has the most very-high-end merchandise, and sometimes it can come at a very deep discount. Their normal prices, though, are reduced but not a crazy bargain. Saks Off 5th has a lot more baloney (read: tattoo t-shirts) to sift through, but again, there can sometimes be wheat amongst the chaff. They run frequent specials and sales, and sometimes you can score. The Barney’s Outlets have a lot of store-brand stuff, but sometimes there is something great amongst the sportswear.
- Again, here they mention Barney's! One can find everything from Band of Outsiders, Gant, and Steven Alan button-ups
- Ferragamo, Gucci, Chloe outlets sometimes have decent selection, but markdowns aren’t huge.
- Unfortunately, even with a mild discount, I can't afford anything in here..haha
- Levi’s outlets infrequently stock LVC (Levi’s Vintage Clothing) and other higher-end merchandise.
- If you're looking for some 501 shrink to fits or the regular denim truckers jacket go here!
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