A TRIP to the supermarket used to just mean trudging up and down aisles of fruit and veg and buying the weekly shop, but now the major shops offer so much more.
From exciting homeware, beauty products to this season's must-have clothing and accessories – the likes of Sainsbury's, Asda and Tesco really pull it out of the bag now with their fashion offerings.
Here Lindsay Edwards, 37, owner of Bedfordshire-based personal styling business REIMAGISE, says: "Purchasing clothes from your local supermarket is a really affordable and convenient way to update your wardrobe.
"When I ask my clients which shops they purchase their clothes from they always seem embarrassed when admitting that they buy their clothes from supermarkets but I’m always quick to tell them that I do too!
"It immediately opens a discussion about not writing any brands off – fabulous items of clothing which work for you and your lifestyle don’t just exist on the High Street."
READ MORE FABULOUS FASHION
I’ve got 32GG boobs and I’ve found the best bra EVER – it’s supportive and sexy
I’m a fashion expert… the three items that instantly make you look tacky
Here, Lindsay shares her top tips to bag a bargain on your next supermarket shop…
Something for everyone
Firstly, it's important not to write off a browse in the supermarket fashion aisles, as actually they're so used to catering for such a diverse audience, the chances are there's something for everyone.
Lindsay says: "There can be an assumption that supermarket fashion is frumpy, which is a rather narrow-minded view in my opinion.
"High Street stores have a very specific target audience in mind who they are continually creating their clothing to appeal to.
Most read in Fabulous
I wanted to get a French mani but it’s so bad – my nails look like Squashies
Woman shows off DIY £20 swimming pool she made to survive the heatwave
I’m a size 24 & wear THONG bikinis – people stare but that's the norm
I'm a sex expert – these 11 tell-tale signs reveal how good someone is in bed
5"Supermarkets, on the other hand, have an incredibly broad and diverse audience.
"Therefore, they have the challenging task of trying to design a range of clothes where there’ll be something for everyone – whatever their age, shape and lifestyle.
"Naturally, there will be clothing in their range that isn’t to your taste, but that’s not to say that there isn’t the perfect item for you in their next collection."
Savvy sale tip
Most items are very reasonably priced, but there are some simple hacks to ensure you get the best deal possible.
Lindsay says: "If you’re not in a rush to buy it, why not wait until their sale is on and save yourself some money.
"You can find out predicted sale dates via Money Saving Central, or follow them on social media where they release upcoming sale dates to their followers.
"Tesco 25 per cent off F&F clothing predicted sale dates are Thursday 22nd September until Sunday 25th September 2022 for example.
"Also, don’t forget to pick up Tesco's free magazine in-store as it usually includes a voucher for £5 off a £30 spend on clothing."
Cash in with clothing
Before making a purchase, preparation is key.
Lindsay says: "Always remember to check if you can get cash-back on any online purchases.
"You can do this by using popular cashback sites such as Quidco and Top Cashback to earn you money back on your purchases.
"Supermarket clothing sales are very popular and stock gets low quickly.
"Get ahead of the crowds by shopping the day before the sales goes live, by pre-loading your basket online with all the items you want to purchase – then check out your basket the moment the sale goes live.
"Additionally, if you want to purchase an item of clothing in a supermarket but it’s not available in your size, all is not lost, as most are also available to buy online now too."
Trendsetter
If you want to be the first to buy the best on-trend items, there are particular times you need to keep an eye on the clothing section.
Lindsay says: "If you want to keep up with the latest fashion, you’ll want to purchase the upcoming seasonal trends as soon as they hit the shops.
"Spring styles will begin to hit the supermarkets in January.
"Summer clothing will become available in April and items suitable for Autumn and Winter will be in stores from August."
Best value for money
So which supermarket has the edge over their rivals when it comes to fashion?
Lindsay says: "I would say that Tesco tend to follow the trends more closely than other supermarkets.
"Also, because their clothing is only available in store and not online they usually keep very good stock levels, in a wide variety of sizes.
"Sainsbury's clothing tends to be excellent value for money.
"There are still lots of patterned tea dresses in stores, which have been a huge hit for 2022, but they’re now available in earthy tones which feel perfect as we move into Autumn.
"Ribbed jumpers with collars feature heavily in the supermarkets latest collections, as well as knitted cardigans and quilted puffer coats."
Choose classic clothing
Finally, Lindsay recommends always keeping an eye out for classic, timeless pieces during your next supermarket shop.
She says: "We all know that fashionable trends are fleeting.
Read More on The Sun
I saved £20k in 2 years for house deposit with my clever side hustle
We’ve had no oven for 7 MONTHS as Wickes turned dream kitchen into nightmare
"I’d advise focusing on clothing which is more timeless in style to ensure you get more wear, and more value, from your purchases.
"A Breton t-shirt, a camel coloured trench coat or a black shift dress for example are all classic items worth investing in because they never date."
Source: Read Full Article