Authors: Star Jones Reynolds
8200 Vineland Avenue
Orlando, FL 32821
(407) 238-7787
www.premiumoutlets.com/orlando
Mon–Sat 10–10, Sun 10–9
Brands:
110 stores, including Anne Klein, Burberry, Fendi, Giorgio Armani, Kenneth Cole, Salvatore Ferragamo, Theory, and Versace.
Star tips:
The quality of this outlet is superb. It carries some of the finest designer labels and has a great selection of sizes and styles. Leave the kids at Disney World and go find your version of the “Happiest Place on Earth.”
3939 IH-35 South #900
San Marcos, TX 78666
(800) 628-9465
www.primeoutlets.com
Mon–Sat 10–9, Sun 11–6
Brands:
Adrienne Vittadini, Coach, Cole Haan, Dooney & Bourke, Furla, Neiman Marcus Last Call, Off 5th Saks Fifth Avenue, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Tumi.
Star tips:
You’ll have to do some searching, but you can find great deals here, especially on Dooney & Bourke handbags.
20 Enterprise Avenue North
Secaucus, NJ 07094
(201) 348-4780
www.harmonmeadow.com
Mon, Tue, Wed 10–6; Thurs 10–8;
Fri, Sat 10–7; Sun 11–6
Brands:
Over 100 stores, including Century 21, Jil Sander, Tahari, Tommy Hilfiger, and Yves Saint Laurent.
Star tips:
Century 21 is a great store for finding wonderful designer pieces. You can find Lagerfeld winter coats for a fraction of their retail prices. Century 21 also has a store in New York City.
1770 West Main Street
Riverhead, NY 11901
(800) 407-4894
www.tangeroutlet.com
Mon–Sat 9–9, Sun 10–8
Brands:
168 stores, including ABC Carpet & Home, Barneys New York, Coach, Calvin Klein, Kenneth Cole, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Tumi.
Star tips:
There are multiple locations nationwide. Log onto their Web site for the location closest to you. In the summer, I make several trips here.
498 Red Apple Court
Central Valley, NY 10917
(845) 928-4000
www.premiumoutlets.com/woodburycommon
Daily 10–9
Brands:
220 stores, including Celine, Dolce & Gabbana, Escada, Fendi, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Tod’s, and Versace.
Star tips:
The best of the best! This is my favorite outlet in the country. I’ve found $4,000 Armani evening dresses here for $169! Don’t go into St. John because I have already bought everything in my size that is on sale!
Okay, now remember…
Outlet Rules
When you come home laden with great buys (don’t spend more than you can afford, whatever the temptation!), you’re going to dazzle the man of your dreams—whenever he shows up. In the meantime, you can wear your new treasure to next week’s party, where true love may just be waiting.
Here’s Another Tip: Have You Ever Tried an Online Discount Store?
The Internet offers instant access to high-end, this-season merchandise at greatly lowered prices, takes your money right then and there, and then delivers the goods. Here’s how it works. Know what you want before you even go online. (Canvass the department stores and jot down items and retail prices—e.g., Kenneth Jay Lane purse, $170; Delman shoes, $195; etc.) Then, go online and type in the name of the online discount store. My favorite is
Bluefly.com,
but you can try
Overstock.com, CoolStuffCheap.com, Ashford.com,
and any one of a hundred online discount stores. Enter the item you’re looking for, and if it’s in stock, you can order it right then and save yourself the hassle of on-site shopping (although I personally adore on-site shopping). Often the company picks up postage and delivery fees. If the particular item is not available, you’ll see photographs of hundreds of alternatives—all at hefty discounts. At one such online store, for example, I purchased Gucci sunglasses for $139—which was 56 percent off the retail price.
Star tip:
When you locate an item online, jot down the style, name, manufacturer or designer, and basically anything that specifies it. Then put these search words into a search engine (yahoo.com or google.com for example) and compare the prices. Check out the different stores, their ratings and reviews and choose the best deal. It takes time but it will save you lots of money.
Full-Figure Fashion Finds
Okay, now remember the goal isn’t to be skinny, it’s to be healthy, and for some of us, healthy is a size 16 or 18. Like me, you might need a few resources with
chic clothing sized for the full-figured, healthy body. First, let me address the fact that the average American woman is a size 12 or better. Many retailers have seen this demographic as their potential customer and have upped their existing product size ranges to include 16–22.
But what about making a truly positive commitment to American women by offering an outstanding and more complete line of apparel and accessories?
Women with Rubenesque curves usually don’t have a destination shop in their neighborhoods that caters to the fun-loving, bold, and beautiful women we really are. We need a place to shop where we can get head-to-toe fashion for work, play, and those Sundays when we just want to take it easy. You know I’m working on it, sisters, so keep a look out for my next big move, but in the meantime, here’s what I’ve found:
Shopping Abroad
I wish someone had hooked me up the way I’m about to hook you up.
Outlets abound almost everywhere. Before you leave for foreign shores, you
can check out any country or city on the Internet (for example, just type in London—outlet shopping) and write down the information. In fact, wherever you are, pull out the language dictionary of the region and look up “outlet shopping” or “bargain shopping” and, in the native language, ask your concierge to write down the address and point you in the right direction.
Always
telephone before heading off to a foreign outlet to make sure it’s still in business and still at the address you have. You might also ask what special merchandise is available. If the outlets listed below don’t have a telephone number, none was available at press time. The concierge in your hotel will help you (or try the telephone book). Then, give the concierge a tip. It’s worth it.
If you happen to go on a trip abroad and you want to do a little shopping Star’s way, here are my special finds.
You can tip me later.
Star’s Guide to the Best International Outlet Shopping
England
See Web site for locations
+44 (0) 207 535 2300
www.mcarthurglen.com
Brands:
These outlets feature a variety of designers like Armani, Ben Sherman, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Paul Smith, Polo Ralph Lauren, Ted Baker, and Yves Saint Laurent.
Star tips:
McArthurGlen is an excellent designer outlet chain with locations throughout Europe (several in the United Kingdom, others in France, Italy, Holland, and Austria) where you can find discounts of up to 50 percent. My two favorite ones are listed under Italy: Castel Romano and Serravalle.
London
London has a great range of shopping. Here are some of my favorite outlets:
29-53 Chatham Place
Hackney, London
+44 20 8985 3344
Mon–Fri 11–6, Sat 10–5, Sun 11–5
Brands:
Burberry.
Star tips:
Located on the outskirts of East London in Bethnal Green, this outlet is worth the trip. Burberry is always a great investment, as their styles are classic, classy, and timeless. Here you’ll find their pieces for 50 percent off the retail price.
45 Balfe Street
London
+44 020 7837 3322
www.designerwarehousesales.com
Check Web site for days and hours
Brands:
Vary according to season, but always an outstanding collection of high-end designers. Past designer labels have included Jil Sander, Dolce & Gabbana, Nigel Preston, as well as new designers like Hussein Chalayan.
Star tips:
Named The Best Designer Discount outlet in London by the
Independent,
by
Time Out London
as one of the Ten Best Reasons for living in London, and by
Elle
as a Top Twenty favorite shopping spot. There’s usually a nominal entrance fee, but once inside it’s worth it for one-of-a-kinds from designer shows, showroom samples, and canceled orders from the season’s collections. Sales are held twelve times a year for three days at a time. Please don’t miss these sales…it will greatly disturb me.
Italy
Florence
Florence’s outskirts (about forty-five minutes from the city center) are full of factory outlets where you can get up to 50 percent discount on their goods.
Via Europa 8
50060 Leccio, Reggello—Firenze
+39 055 865 77 75
+39 055 865 78 01
Mon–Sat 10–7, Sun 3–7
Brands:
Sergio Rossi, Prada, D&G, Fendi, Loro Piana, Bottega Veneta, Emanuel Ungaro, Ermenegildo Zegna, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Hogan, La Perla, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tod’s, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent, MaxMara, and Miu Miu.
Star tips:
It’s worth the trip outside of Florence (you’ll have to either sign up for a tour bus, hire a taxi to take you out there, or take the train and then a taxi), but the selection, quality, and discounts found at these stores are unbeatable anywhere else in the world. If you’re anywhere even remotely near Florence, take the time to visit these outlets. I rode right past the Leaning Tower of Pisa and got the best bargains of my shopping life. I literally lost my mind here one summer!
Località Levanella
52025 Montevarchi
+39 055 919 01
+39 055 978 94 81
Usually open daily, but call to check
Brands:
Prada, Miu Miu, Jil Sander, Helmut Lang, Church shoes.
Star tips:
Arrive early at this store, as tourist buses start arriving at about 11 a.m., and the best pieces go early. Also, if you arrive later, you’ll most likely have to wait in line, as only a certain number of people are allowed into the store at one time. If you come on the weekends, holidays, and peak sale periods, prepare to be annoyed and frustrated. But it still may be worth it because you can hit Space and The Mall (above) in the same day.
403/D Via Aretina
+39 055 690013
Brands:
This small shoe factory is just outside of Florence. It produces beautifully crafted shoes that are sold at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. There is a small selection for sale in the outlet shop above the factory.
Star tips:
Call first to be sure there are items currently for sale.
Via Pian dell’Isola 66/33
Rignano Sull’Arno
+39 055 834 981
Mon–Sat 9:30–6:30, Sun 2:20–6:20
Brands:
Fendi, Celine, and Loewe.
Star tips:
Call ahead to check opening hours as they are subject to sudden changes. It’s hit or miss at this outlet, but the hits got me three baguette purses at less than $300 apiece when they were originally over $1,200 each!
Località S. Maria Maddalena, 49
Pian dell’Isola
Incisa in Val d’Arno
+39 055 833 1300
fax +39 055 833 1301
Mon–Sat 9–7, Sun 3–7
Brands:
Dolce & Gabbana.
Star tips:
Dolce & Gabbana and Fendi are on the same street despite the different ways of describing the location. So don’t miss it…you never know.
Milan
“The fashion capital of the world” is no lie. Finding great deals, however, requires a little detective work here. The best discount shopping is found outside the city. Read on.