| Members-only websites | | | | vintage fair several times a year at the Chelsea |
| These websites offer customers the chance to be | | | | Town Hall, King's Road, Chelsea. Admission is £4, |
| the first at online sales. Once you've signed up you'll | | | | children under 16 go free and students pay just £2. |
| be sent an email alerting you to the start of the sale | | | | You'll find clothes from every era, whether you're |
| so you can get straight there and start grabbing | | | | looking for 1920's flapper dresses, a little eighties |
| those bargains before everyone else. | | | | number or a classic 1960s piece. |
| Join a site that offers registration for free. Also, | | | | Anita's Vintage Fashion Fairs organises vintage fairs |
| these sites do tend to email quite often so if that | | | | throughout the year at Battersea Arts Centre and |
| sort of thing drives you crazy set up a separate | | | | 20th Century Theatre, Notting Hill. Expect around 65 |
| email account. | | | | stands in Battersea and 28 stands in Notting Hill, full |
| Head to designer sample-sale fashion site Cocosa to | | | | to the brim with fashion, textiles and accessories |
| get your hands on designer pieces with up to | | | | dating from the 1800's to 1970's. Entry is £4 or £2 |
| 50-80% off. This fashion club offers members insider | | | | for students. |
| access to premium designer clothes and accessories. | | | | VintageFair - which hosts fairs all over England |
| Each sale is announced to members in advance by | | | | including Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle and Liverpool - is |
| e-mail. Previous collections include Christian Lacroix and | | | | also worth a look. Click on the links to your nearest |
| Jonathan Saunders. | | | | location to find out when and where the next event |
| Koodo is ideal for fashion fans who want big savings | | | | takes place. |
| on designer clobber. The site is really easy to | | | | For online vintage stores Absolutevintage is a good |
| navigate and when you sign up to become a | | | | starting point with lots of accessories, shoes and |
| member you'll get early access to top sales so you | | | | bags on offer as well as a few dresses. There are |
| can grab the best bargains before they go. All you | | | | detailed descriptions of all the items and although you |
| have to do is check the sale calendar, select the | | | | won't find any designer pieces it is pretty cheap and |
| sales you're interested in and Koodos will email you | | | | there are some gorgeous pieces for anyone on a |
| 24hrs before it starts. | | | | budget who is looking for that vintage look. |
| Another great website is Secret Sales where you | | | | Marthascloset also has some affordable pieces from |
| can save between 30% and 80% on lots of designer | | | | the 50s right through to the 80s. The sale section at |
| gear by the likes of Christian Dior and Dolce & | | | | Martha's Closet is particularly good - you can often |
| Gabbana. | | | | find items being offered for under £10. |
| Other good websites to sign up to include Fashion | | | | Pretaportobello sells wares from the ultra trendy |
| Confidential, Catwalk to Closet, Private Outlet and | | | | Portobello Road. There can be some real treasures |
| Dress for Less. | | | | and it's great for finding one-off pieces. |
| Factory outlets | | | | Swap it |
| These offer lots of big label names at cheaper prices. | | | | WhatsMineIsYours was the first British online fashion |
| The Designer Warehouse Sales, for example, are held | | | | swap shop and was founded in 2004 by stylist and |
| over three days, 12 times a year, in Islington, Central | | | | personal shopper, Judy Berger. Visitors can swap, buy |
| London. You could get your hands on catwalk | | | | and sell fashion items making high style affordable |
| one-offs, showroom samples and make savings of | | | | and environmentally friendly. There are also boutiques |
| 60% or more on your favourite labels. Join the mailing | | | | selling the wares of up-and-coming new designers |
| list to find out in advance when the sales are going | | | | and vintage sellers. |
| to take place. | | | | The website now has over 13,000 regular users so |
| Sample Sales | | | | there are plenty of items to choose from. There's |
| There are some amazing bargains to be had in | | | | nothing to stop you swapping your swaps - in fact, |
| sample sales. You can find out before everyone else | | | | you could keep swapping and get yourself a new |
| when the next sample sale is by checking Dailycandy | | | | dress every couple of weeks! |
| which lists the venues and times of upcoming sample | | | | Don't buy - borrow instead! |
| sales in London. | | | | Sites like Girlmeetsdress allow members to rent |
| Other sites such as Samplesaleslondon, Designersales | | | | beautiful designer instead of buying them. All of the |
| and Stylebible have their own sample sales diaries too | | | | items are new or nearly new and with some retailing |
| so keep an eye on all four to make sure you don't | | | | at thousands of pounds it can be a good way to feel |
| miss out. | | | | a million dollars without needing the bank balance to |
| Vintage Savings | | | | match. Handbagsfromheaven works in a similar |
| Vintage fairs are perfect for saving money while not | | | | fashion - opt either for Pay As You Go and hire as |
| compromising on style. From whole outfits to smaller | | | | and when you like with no commitment, or become a |
| accessories, there's almost guaranteed to be | | | | member and get a 15% discount off all prices. |
| something unique for every budget. Frockme! hosts a | | | | |