Prices at the Banana Republic Factory are so low that you might even ... yep, you guessed it, go bananas. Score savings on linen pants, gorgeous dresses and more. (Banana Republic Factory)(Banana Republic Factory)More
It's hard for me to resist a good deal. Seriously, last week I told myself I would do a "no shopping for one month" challenge, and I failed within one day. As a shopping editor, it's tough not to want all the great stuff we write about — it's even harder when the stuff's on sale. But there are a few ways I get my shopping fix without spending my whole paycheck, and that's by shopping at online outlets.
Many stores have one — think Banana Republic, J.Crew, Coach and others — so you can score deals up to 70% off without even leaving home. Also good? A lot offer free shipping and some even do free returns. (Pro tip, though: Keep an eye out to see if anything is marked as "final sale," because those won't offer any return option.)
I scroll through these online outlets regularly, and they're almost always having sales. That means that the price on the page isn't usually the lowest price. For example, I just bought these SuperSoft Wide-Leg Jeans at Gap Factory, and once I added them to my cart, the retailer took off an extra 10%.
If you have a hankering to shop but want to save yourself some big bucks, check out this list of some of the best online outlets for fashion, shoes, handbags, accessories and more.
If you like the classy and smart casual style of Banana Republic, you'll love BR Factory. It has its own line of clothing and accessories that's much more affordable than the main store. It often has sales too, so you'll likely never pay the original price. Right now, the brand is offering a lot of breezy, summer-appropriate neutrals, from wide-leg linen pants to cotton dresses. Oh yeah, and if you join its rewards program, you can get free shipping and returns on orders of $50 or more.
As a teen, I remember my mom driving me a little over an hour away to shop at the nearest Coach Outlet store. These days, you can skip the drive and shop online for the best deals on handbags, shoes, sunglasses, clothing and more. The Coach Outlet sells a selection of last season's styles and outlet-exclusive products. In addition to comparably lower prices, it also has a lot more sales than the standard Coach line.
The Gap Factory's styles include casual basics, pretty dresses and — yep, still — plenty of denim. In addition to its great prices, expect to find a lot of sales going on here. Right now, for instance, you can get up to 75% off at the website. The Gap Factory has some old-fashioned brick-and-mortar stores too. But when you shop online, you'll get free shipping and returns on orders over $50, as long as you're a Gap Rewards member.
Gilt is the place to find designer duds at a discount. One small caveat: To access its clothes, shoes and accessories, you'll have to sign up for a free membership. Once that's done, you can login to shop high-end designers like Bottega Veneta, Gucci and Saint Laurent, as well as more accessible brands like Rag & Bone, Free People and Vince. The site releases flash sales regularly, but there's limited stock, so you'll want to pounce on those deals fast.
That said, if you see something you like but it's out of stock in your size, you can choose the "Must Have It" option. If Gilt can find it, it'll charge your card and send it to you before a set date. If it can't, the request expires and you won't be charged. You can review or cancel pending "Must Have It" requests at any time too.
J.Crew Factory is a lot like Banana Republic and Gap's outlets in that it's a separate store with its own collection for women, men and kids. But like its regular store, you'll find tons of neutral and colorful basics for the office, the beach and everywhere in between. You'll have to spend at least $99 to get free shipping here, and at that price, with all the sales its constantly having, you could seriously upgrade your closet.
I almost can't believe that Kate Spade has an online outlet with deals as good as it does. You can shop handbags — classic and quirkier styles — up to 70% off. You can also score shoes, jewelry, clothing and select home and tech items on sale too. If you're in the market for a designer bag that's less than 100 bucks, this is an especially good place to look. Shipping is free on orders over $50, but keep in mind that many of the big markdowns are also labeled final sale.
If you already knew about any of these outlets, it's likely Nordstrom Rack. The retailer's more affordable sister store features many of the same brands, but also some you won't find at a regular Nordstrom. It's known for its Flash Events, with sales up to 70% off, and a wide selection of fashion, accessories, beauty items and home goods at a discount. While the prices are usually pretty good, keep an eye out for its Clear The Rack sales, which offer an extra 25% off select items that are already deeply marked down. Shipping here is free on orders over $89. Returns will cost you, but you can return anything not marked "final sale" to a Nordstrom Rack or regular Nordstrom brick-and-mortar store too.
If you're more the outdoorsy type, make sure you check out the REI Outlet. You can save on hiking and camping gear, clothes, shoes, travel bags and backpacks, sports gear and more. There's discounts on top brands too, including Hoka, Osprey, Teva, The North Face and more. The REI Outlet is really just part of the store's sale section on its website, but it's a mix of end-of-season closeouts and last season's goods (and none of it is made especially for the outlet).
This is Saks Fifth Avenue's outlet, and you can shop designer goods, diamond jewelry, handbags, home goods and more for up to 70% off. Sift through popular brands like A.L.C., Mother, Ulla Johnson, Cinq á Sept, Veronica Beard, Sam Edelman and more. You'll get free shipping on orders over $89, but returns will cost you. One final note: Items purchased at this outlet cannot be returned at a regular Saks store, but they can be brought to one of the outlet's physical stores — there are about 100 locations across the U.S.
