We all love a good bargain — but a good bargain on beautiful designer clothes? Now we’re talking! There’s a reason why, year after year, the famed SSENSE Sale dominates the hearts and minds of every fashionista across the country. We’re all clamoring for cool clothes at even cooler price points.
Now, what exactly is the SSENSE Sale? SSENSE (pronounced like “essence”) is an online retailer that sells just about every hot new designer’s collections. It’s one of the only places where you’ll find Ann Demeulemeester mules AND Sandy Liang blouses AND Puppets and Puppets dresses (RIP). Like any good online store, they do have a permanent “Sale” section on their website, but throughout most of the year, it’s pretty stale. That is, of course, until the big bi-annual sale: a beautiful, treasured, time-honored time of a fashionista’s year when they re-up their stock and start slashing prices. I’m talking 50%, 60%, and even 70% off Tabi heels, Vivienne Westwood bags, Ottolinger jeans. It’s heaven.
There are some tricks of the trade to make sure you get the most bang for your buck — and that’s where we come in.
Wishlist, Wishlist, Wishlist
You need to have a wishlist — we can’t recommend it enough. SSENSE is a site, much like The RealReal, that is stuffed to the brim with products. It can be overwhelming, frustrating, and ultimately paralyzing to sift through the virtual mountain of garments, searching for things you like and praying that you find them before your size sells out. If you keep a wishlist of your favorite items, you can always refer back to them and track the pricing to find the best deal. Reddit user Mevarek says: “Yeah, this one rewards endurance if you’re patient and willing to build a wishlist. Usually, the way I approach SSENSE is by maintaining a wishlist and then looking at that during sales. I doom-scroll between sales for fun just to look at cool clothes because the sticker shock usually stops impulse buys. Then, if you can wait it out, the deals usually increase.”
Play the SSENSE Sale Waiting Game
The SSENSE Sale doesn’t happen all at once. They cut prices and add new stock slowly over weeks. So, if you’re looking for a really good deal on a pair of Simone Rocha Ballerina Treks, you’re going to have to wait for it.
In a recent article for The Cut, TikTok creator Shenea Walker recommends keeping tabs on your most wanted items before they start running out: “If there are enough items in stock (as in, it doesn’t show ‘three remaining sizes in stock’), don’t purchase immediately, but add it to your SSENSE wishlist and check back daily throughout the sale — the percentage off can increase and you save even more.”
Sign Up For Email Notifications
It’s just about impossible to say when the SSENSE Sale starts and ends. It’s a totally random process dictated by stock, revenue, and quarterly goals — all information that we as consumers are not privy to.
However, if you create an account and sign up for their email notifications, they’ll send you an alert before they start slashing prices. That way you can be one of the first to comb through the stock.
Looking for More Sales Like the SSENSE Sale?
If that’s not enough for you, there are plenty of incredible sales out there to scratch your discount designer itch.
Moda Operandi has consistent sales on their website. They also offer VIP Early Access to members of their email listserv and have trunk show-style exclusive collections from brands like Coperni, Erdem, and Oscar de la Renta.
The RealReal is also a great place to find discount designer. All of their garments are secondhand — you can get some truly incredible vintage pieces at truly incredible price points. However, buyers beware: TRR has come under fire for some less-than-savory business practices, unreliable listings, and counterfeit goods. Always shop with caution and keep quality in mind.
Becoming a Master Bargain Hunter
The main takeaway is, ABS: Always Be Shopping. You’re only going to find the best deals if you keep your eyes peeled. Just be persistent — keep the store tab open on your browser, check periodically over a week or two, then strike while the iron is hot. The second your favorite item hits a price you love, snag it. You don’t want to waste weeks of your time watching the stock dwindle to zero with nothing to show for it. Don’t live in regret!
But, most of all, have fun! Shopping can be an exhilarating experience if you let it. Explore different styles, let yourself be surprised by new designers, cuts, and colors. After all, that’s the beauty of the sale section — you’re exposed to new garments you otherwise wouldn’t have stumbled upon.
Happy shopping!
