Summer is the perfect time to splash out on a new outfit or two, with Brits wanting to look their best for booked holidays abroad and the upcoming festival season alike.
But the current climate and cost of living crisis isn't exactly allowing people to go their ends on retail and fashion, having to put money aside for necessities such as energy, food and water.
However, one savvy journalist from the Liverpool Echo just discovered an online shopping site which lets people snap up high-end fashion from the likes of River Island, Topshop, ASOS and Miss Selfridge for as cheap as £10. And what's even better is that you can't get the outfits anywhere else - as retailers are no longer manufacturing them, you'll be sure to avoid any clashes with friends and family members.
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After all, there's nothing worse than hitting the bar to find out your bezzie is sporting the exact same outfit...
Here's what the reporter said of the site.
Secret Sales cropped up on my Facebook ads recently, where a quick scout around and an order for three new dresses deemed it legitimate, and I don’t think I’ll ever pay full price for a new look again. The website is described as a ‘premium non-full-price marketplace for fashion, sportswear and beauty brands’, and has previously been featured on the Money Saving Expert website.
The site is essentially an online version of an outlet village like Cheshire Oakes, selling surplus, end-of-line and outlet stock from well-known brands at a reduced price, often as much as 75% off. In January this year, ASOS announced it would be joining the platform in a bid to clear stock efficiently, with all the selected discounted items no longer being available on ASOS as products will be housed on Secret Sales.
The partnership means visitors to Secret Sales can shop from a selection of up to 1,000 products from ASOS-owned brands, including ASOS Design, Collusion, Reclaimed Vintage, Topshop, Topman, and Miss Selfridge, all listed at a fraction of their original price. But there are also dozens of other high end brands also available to shop from on the site, including Kurt Geiger, Burberry and LK Bennett.
I picked up three dresses with a total value of £154, paying a grand total of £37.39 including postage, meaning I saved £116.61 on my order compared to buying new. Usually I’d think nothing of spending £40 on a new dress on the ASOS website - but at Secret Sales, I’d snagged triple for less.
I picked up a slinky sheer check occasion midi slip dress from Topshop for £11.20, but it was supposed to have been £56, so I saved a whopping 80 per cent. The dress is beautiful although a bit long and has to be worn with heels, but would be gorgeous for a summer wedding.
I also went for an In The Style satin asymmetric ruffle detail maxi dress in ochre-Yellow, which should have been £52, but cost £10.40 at Secret Sales. This dress was another occasion number that had stunning ruffle detailing, and would be amazing for a special event this summer.
But it was the third and final dress that was worth every penny of the entire order, and has immediately become my summer go-to. The ASOS DESIGN Petite open back puff sleeve maxi dress cost me £13.80 instead of £46, and has a fabulous textured pink gingham pattern in a waffle fabric, meaning it never needs to be ironed.
It has an open back detail which is perfect for the warm weather, and it’s lined very well, so you can go braless, too.
My order was shipped the next day and had arrived within a week. The orders are sent directly by the brand or seller themselves - in this case, ASOS - and Secret Salesundertakes quality checks to ensure the best standard for customers. What’s more is that ASOS will be refreshing inventory fortnightly with plans in the pipeline to grow the selection of products available, which means I’ll be able to update my whole wardrobe for every occasion for a lot less.
Jag Weatherley, Corporate Transformation Director at ASOS, said: “We’re pleased to be offering Secret Sales customers access to ASOS products for the first time. It’s been a huge effort from everyone involved to get this partnership up and running in a short space of time. We’re looking forward to seeing how we can develop our relationship with Secret Sales.”
It’s not the only retailer where you can get cut-price clothing and accessories, though. Martin Lewis previously spoke about a site called Everything5Pounds
He explained that they're 'often not branded', so whether or not you get a high-end high street item is a bit of luck.
Shoe lovers can also pick up a range of ex-display shoes from Dr Marten, Timberland and Steve Madden for a snip of the price at Schuh, with dozens of womens, kids and mens styles starting from under £10. Meanwhile, Shoeaholics is an outlet store owned by Kurt Geiger where you can get designer shoes, bags and accessories from £5.
You can shop the whole range of discounted looks on the Secret Sales website here.
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