The arrival of summer doesn't just mean nicer weather, but a whole host of special occasions that you will need a new outfit for - whether that be for a holiday or a wedding.
However, with the current cost of living crisis, many of us are still sticking to a budget in a bid to keep back some money for the soaring price of essentials, such as energy and food.
Luckily, one savvy journalist from WalesOnline has come to the rescue of fashion fans by sharing an outlet website that lets you snap up affordable outfits from major brands that include Topshop, ASOS, Miss Selfridges, River Island and more - with some as low as £10.
The website in question is Secret Sales and, after it cropped up in a Facebook ad, the journalist has said that she doesn't think she "will pay full price for a new look ever again." Described as a ‘premium non-full-price marketplace for fashion, sportswear and beauty brands’, the website has also been featured on the Money Saving Expert website.
Secret Sales essentially works similar to an online version of major outlets, such as McArthur Glen or Cheshire Oaks, as it sells surplus, end-of-line and outlet stock from well-known brands without the price-tag.
One of the latest brands to join the website was ASOS, after it announced in January that it would be joining the platform in a bid to shift some more stock. It meant that discounted items that you could no longer find on the ASOS website.
The partnership between the two brands means that 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.
To show just how affordable the website is, the reporter purchased three dresses, worth a grand total of £154, for just £37.39 - and that included postage. It meant that she had saved an overall £116.61 when compared to purchasing the dresses new. Speaking of her purchase, she wrote: "Usually I’d think nothing of spending £40 on a new dress on the ASOS website - but at Secret Sales, I’d snagged triple the dresses for less money."
She wrote: "I picked up a midi slip dress from Topshop for £11.20, down from £56, saving a whopping 80 per cent. 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.
However, it was her third and final dress, the ASOS DESIGN Petite open back puff sleeve maxi dress that immediately became the favourite purchase. Priced at £13.80, compared to its usual £46, the dress 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.
And the shipping arrived fairly quickly as well, as the reporter's order was shipped the next day and arrived within a week. All orders are sent directly by the brand or seller themselves - in this case, ASOS - and Secret Sales undertakes quality checks to ensure the best standard for customers.
Shoppers can head to the Secret Sales website to find a full range of discounted items now.
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