Who doesn’t like a good sale? That’s the idea behind Toronto’s Frugal Fashion Week, which kicks off its third year July 21 and continues throughout the weekend. Over the four day festival, Toronto frugalistas will bring their slimmed-down wallets and fashionable selves to partake in a variety of fabulous fashion and beauty events across the city, which include – what else? – amazing sales that won’t break the bank.
The idea behind Frugal Fashion Week came to its founder, Gillian Downes, back in 2009, in an effort to boost sales to local fashion retailers suffering from the recession. As a former owner of a Toronto skincare boutique that fell victim to the faltering economy, Downes felt a need to help out her fellow beauty sellers, and as a self-proclaimed frugal fashionista, she was also compelled to “teach people how to shop.”
So how does one become a frugal shopper anyway? Here are some of Downes’ top tips.
1. Scour stores first and make notes. With a solid plan in place, you can budget accordingly.
2. Always bring cash to make your purchases. You’re probably more likely to impulse buy while using a credit card.
3. Go shopping during the off-season. That means buying your winter coat in July and picking up that summer bikini in October.
4. Look for at least 80 per cent off on a sale. A sale is only considered “good” when items are at least 80 per cent off the original price because “most stores have clearances every two weeks anyway.”
All proceeds from the Frugal Fashion Week will go towards the Stiletto Project, a new social initiative that partners with women’s organizations and not-for-profits to improve the lives of at-risk women and girls.
Frugal Fashion Week, July 21-24