While many use the Black Friday sales as an opportunity to get big-ticket items at a bargain price, the style set knows that it is also the perfect chance to bag new season stock at a serious markdown.
And fashion retailers are well aware, with some opening as early as 8:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day so that fans can make the most of the holiday discounts.
This year, sartorially-inclined shoppers will find some of the best deals at Tibi, where fall collections will be 60% off, and J Crew Factory, where already discounted items will have a further 40% off.
For the cheapest bargains, head to H&M, where party dresses will cost from just $5, and Forever 21, which will have some items going for just a dollar.
Earlybirds will most definitely be catching the proverbial worm at Bloomingdales (the sale lasts from just 7 a.m.-1 p.m.) and C Wonder (an extra 50% off between midnight and 8 a.m.) – it’ll be well worth it for bleary-eyed shoppers at Zara on Manhattan’s 34th Street, who will be rewarded for their efforts with free tea and coffee from 5 a.m.
It’s worth getting in line ahead of opening time too, as those at the front will get gift cards at H&M and Topshop – and don’t forget store cards as there will be extra discounts at Saks Fifth Avenue and Target.
Even if the discounts aren’t that impressive, it’ll still be worth hitting some stores for the free giveaways. Victoria’s Secret will be giving away generous beauty goody bags on spends of $60 or more, and at Piperlime’s SoHo store, there will be free hot chocolate and holiday treats for all.
Black Friday 2012: An A to Z of the most stylish sales
AEROPOSTALE
The brand fronted by Chloe Moretz is taking 60% off everything apart from fragrances and beauty on Black Friday.
BANANA REPUBLIC (from 12 a.m. on Friday)
Banana Republic will be offering 40% off everything all day. Stores will also be open on Thanksgiving Day.
Banana Republic Factory Stores will feature 70% off everything from November 16-25.
BLOOMINGDALES (from 7 a.m. Friday)
At the Manhattan flagship, there will be discounts in all departments including 25% off all women’s denim – head down early though, the fun stops at 1 p.m.
C WONDER (from 12 a.m. Friday)
Before 8 a.m., there will be a further 50% off all sale items in store, and throughout the day there will be a 25% discount on everything online.
DIESEL
The denim favorite will be taking 30% off the whole fall collection.
DKNY
A further 30% off sale items, currently discounted by 40%.
FOREVER 21
The Forever 21 sale starts tomorrow, with 30% off sweaters and some items priced between just $1 to $15.
On Black Friday itself, there will be further discounts on denim, pajamas and accessories.
GAP (from 12 a.m. Friday)
Shoppers who arrive before noon can get sweaters for as little as $19, and kids’ T-shirts for $5. The big discounts start well before though, with 60% off everything from Tuesday until Sunday.
H&M (from 12 a.m. Friday)
New season items – including holiday party dresses – on sale from as little as $5. Plus the first 100 people in line at H&M stores will win scratch-off gift vouchers, some with a value up to $300.
Black Friday 2012 A to Z guide of the most stylish sales
JCPENNEY (from 6 a.m. Friday)
There will be discounts across the board, but winter wear looks to be where the strongest discounts are.
Boots will be discounted to $25, $50 puffer jackets at $30, and JCPenney winter jackets, usually $70, will be discounted by up to $30.
J CREW FACTORY
From tomorrow until Monday, J Crew’s outlet is discounting every item by 40%.
KOHL’S (from 12 a.m. Friday)
The first price drops start online at midnight tonight, but on Black Friday itself there will be up to 70% off winter coats and jackets, sweaters for $9.99 and up to 60% off all winter fashion accessories.
Expect $20-30 off most other fashion items, and up to 60% off sterling silver jewelry.
MACY’S (from 12 a.m. Friday)
Discounts of up to 50%. Among the offers will be Charter Club cashmere at $49.99 Nine West and Kenneth Cole coats at 79.99 and boots for just $19.99.
The store has also launched a special Black Friday app to help customers plan their shopping day.
MADEWELL
The J Crew sister chain is offering a 25% discount on all purchases throughout Black Friday.
NORDSTROM and NORDSTROM RACK
There will be extended opening hours on Black Friday (times vary according to region), and Nordstrom Rack shoppers will get a $10 gift card for every $100 spent.
Cardholders can claim double points on Nordstrom Rack purchases over the weekend and Twitter users can follow clues to find 25 green “Dots”, each worth for a $50 gift card.
OLD NAVY (opens at 12 a.m. Friday)
Everything is discounted with deals on coats, denim and tees. Shoppers can expect fleece tops and jeans from $15 and women’s boots for $12. Sales will continue into Saturday.
PIPERLIME
In celebration of Piperlime’s first holiday with a physical location, the SoHo store will open its doors an hour early on Black Friday and offer a hot chocolate and holiday treats.
SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
Winter clothing will be discounted by up to 50per cent, with a further 50% off sale items.
Spend over $100 on beauty and get a $25 gift card. Make purchases on your Saks credit card after midday, and you’ll get another 10% off sale stock.
SCOOP NYC
Get 25% off everything (with select exclusions) on purchases made in store.
SEARS (from 8 p.m. Thursday)
On the fashion front, Sears is offering discounts of 60% on handbags and 75% off on jewelry, as well as boots for as little as $19.99.
SEPHORA
Ten items, from brands including Stila and Korres, will be on sale for $10 each.
There will also be generous discounts on many other items including Urban Decay eyeshadow for $6 and the Prada Candy Gift Set for $82 (usually $104).
The biggest discount will be on the Sephora Collection Color Daze Blockbuster, available for $49.50 instead of the usual $370.
TARGET (from Thursday at 9 p.m.)
There will be special discounts across the board, including clothing from as little as $10.
Those paying on the stores’s REDcard get an extra 5% off.
TIBI
Pieces from the fall and pre-fall collections will be discounted by an impressive 60%.
TOMMY HILFIGER
There will be 40per cent off all stock, plus a 25% discount on spends of over $200 before 10 a.m.
TOPSHOP
The chain is offering $10 off $30 spends, $20 off $50 spends and those spending over $100 get $50 off and a pair of mittens (NY and Chicago) or a glitter nail polish and scarf, while stocks last.
There will be 30% off selected merchandise, spree prizes of $100, $200 and $500, and the first 200 in line at the New York and Chicago stores will get Early Bird gift cards.
The Las Vegas flagship will be open from midnight, and the first 500 will be eligible for gift cards.
URBAN OUTFITTERS (from 12 a.m. Friday)
The holiday sale has already kicked off at Urban Outfitters, but on Black Friday there will be an extra 50per cent off before 10 a.m. on all sale items.
VICTORIA’S SECRET
Shoppers spending over $65 on Black Friday will get a limited edition tote filled with “Beauty Must-Haves” from the lingerie giant’s range.
ZARA
The New York stores will be open from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m., with the exception of the 34th Street store, which will be open from 4am (with free tea and coffee from 5-8 a.m. for those early birds).
There will be discounts of 50% off selected items in all New York locations.
Victoria’s Secret’s latest bra promises to add two cup sizes to a wearer’s bust.
However, a photo on Victoria’s Secret’s site suggests that the product may only be effective for one breast.
The multi-way version of the bra appears to have given supermodel Candice Swanepoel a lopsided chest in the image published on its product page.
While the apparent difference in the Angel’s breast sizes could be down to the camera angle and simply the effect of perspective, the Huffington Post points out that Victoria’s Secret has a history of Photoshop fails.
Victoria's Secret's latest bra promises to add two cup sizes to a wearer's bust
In the past its retouchers have been accused of slicing entire limbs from models’ bodies, and carved thighs to impossible proportions.
One might hope that in this case, they have left Candice Swanepoel’s sensational body alone, and simply let the bra to boost her bust.
Indeed, they have thankfully stopped short of removing the crease in the model’s side where her body bends.
The “Add 2 Cups Multi-Way Bra”, which costs from $55, has light padding and underwired cups. The adjustable straps allow the wearer to wear it as a halterneck, cross-back or even as a bandeau.
A description on the Victoria’s Secret website reads: “There’s more than one way to be a bombshell. The ultimate lift-loving push-up instantly adds 2 full cup sizes for maximum cleavage and fullness, any way you wear it.
“Specially designed to create an hourglass silhouette, while keeping the lightweight padding your sexy little secret.”
