STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

AbsolutPrep1981 · BCBG

Factory Outlets

sfcaligirl · Dooney & Bourke

i used to work at a j.crew factory store and we sold overstock of j. crew merchandise. i worked there more than 5 years ago, though - so i'm not sure if that's still the case...

bloomie · Marc Jacobs

I was recently in a Nine West Factory Outlet store and they seemed to have a mix of Nine West and then Nine West shoes made specifically for them.

Cortney1982 · Chanel

I know Gap outlet has mostly made for outlet stuff. Obviously since it will say Gap Outlet on the tag. J Crew I have seen things greatly discounted that they are selling for full price on their web site.

Chic · Marc Jacobs

I was just at our outlets and J.Crew, Polo, BR, Gap, BCBG, and Ann Taylor mainly had stuff made for the outlet.
There were maybe 5 pieces that were on clearance that were from the B&M stores.

kenzie · Chanel

My JCrew outlet normally has stuff from the catalog or stores, but usually it's a season (year) late.

boobaby · Kate Spade

Ever since I read the unauthorized biography of Ralph Lauren, I have been turned off by outlet shopping. Before reading it, I assumed outlets were a mixed bag. But the book points out that not only do many retailers make low quality clothes for outlets, they also make varying qualities depending what store its going to. So, the Ralph Lauren pants you get at Sears will be lesser quality than the ones you get at Nordstroms, etc.

Of all the affairs and other salacious things in the book, the outlet/quality insights stick out the most. I'm a woman obsessed with shopping!

sarah3 · Nine West

I have never been an outlet shopper (never seem to have any near me), so all of this is surprising to me. My question is, then what do retailers do with all of their unsold clothes at the end of a season? I always assumed they just went to outlets. From there, I was never really sure, but have always been curious.

Tell me they don't just throw them away...

cahabo · Kate Spade

sarah3 wrote:

I have never been an outlet shopper (never seem to have any near me), so all of this is surprising to me. My question is, then what do retailers do with all of their unsold clothes at the end of a season? I always assumed they just went to outlets. From there, I was never really sure, but have always been curious.

Tell me they don't just throw them away...

Doesn't that stuff go to stores like TJ Maxx, Ross, and Burlington Coat Factory?

carmenb513 · Coach

Many retailers have things made just for the outlet, Gap, Saks and Coach come to mind. I've never had a problem with quality though. Many places mark things down sooooooo low (Gap for example) that they never have to worry about where it will go. It goes so low, somebody buys the crap.

AllieGurl · Marc Jacobs

Other than nordstrom rack, I rarely shop outlets. Nordstrom rack will def get the regular stock from nordies. They do also have some private label rack brands, but most people can easily identify them.

As for the remainder of the outlets, I once in awhile will find something at saks or barneys. But even that has become rare. Besides I dont always see a huge price difference.

ALthough there is a prada outlet semi near me and my SIL found the most amazing prada heels there for only $300. SO I guess it depends on what outlet store your talking about.

littlelatina · BCBG

I live very close to a major outlet mall, and have found the deals of the century there. I am a big shopper, and def look for quality! I have found so many great quality items at a great price, that I when I go the regular mall, I am often disappointed.

But I do agree that some stores make just for factory clothing (Gap, BR, ON) , but for the most part stores such as:
Nine west
BCBG
Bebe
J Crew
Kenneth Cole
Polo
Off 5th
Last Call
Puma
Guess
Bath & Body Works

All have original merchandise, just a lower price...Either discontinued, odd sizes, etc.

A lot of times I wil see a bunch of stuff in one size like nothing but size 7 shoes at nine west, or size 12 at KC...

My faves are BCBG & Nine west. THey will have the same exact stuff that regular store has for much cheaper. It's crazy!!!

honey · Gucci

cahabo wrote:

sarah3 wrote:

I have never been an outlet shopper (never seem to have any near me), so all of this is surprising to me. My question is, then what do retailers do with all of their unsold clothes at the end of a season? I always assumed they just went to outlets. From there, I was never really sure, but have always been curious.

Tell me they don't just throw them away...
Doesn't that stuff go to stores like TJ Maxx, Ross, and Burlington Coat Factory?

depends on the store...as others have pointed out a lot of companies make stuff just for the outlets. i think when the idea of outlet malls first started, it was more dead stock. but nowadays with the increased popularity of outlet malls it just another way to price discriminate.

imo the best place to find stuff is last call, which actually has last season merchandise from neimans. i've never been to a nordstrom rack. so i don't know their policy. off 5th used to have good stuff, but in my last couple of trips i noticed more private label stuff, and less designer stuff. i also wouldn't be surprised if individual designers had deals with the outlets too, like sevens made specifically for off 5th, that will never see the inside of a saks store.