It's hard to think about checking out autumn's new styles in the midst of a heat wave! But every year, while you’re still wearing flip-flops and bathing suits, the retail industry is unveiling its fall fashions. Are you starting to shop? A new survey actually found shoppers are still thinking of style savings despite an upswing in the economy.
According to a new CouponCabin survey, 53% of American adults who plan to buy new fall clothes for themselves will spend $100 or less. 92% of those who purchased fall clothes last year are not planning on spending more this year.
To help stretch their budgets surveyed shoppers revealed how they plan to save:
• 71% will only buy sale items
• 52% will use coupons
• 43% will cut back on the number of items they plan to buy
“While the economy has improved, shoppers are still being careful about how they're spending their money on non-necessity items,” said Jackie Warrick, Chief Savings Officer at CouponCabin.com. “What many people don’t realize is that you don’t have to sacrifice style just because you’re on a budget!”
24% of shoppers say while savings is a priority, it’s still important for to stay en vogue and are at least slightly influenced by runway and high fashion trends when shopping for everyday clothes. If you’ve been at the beach this summer and haven’t seen what’s hot for fall, Warrick offers her fall fashion trend forecast:
• Clashing- Think bold patterns in bright colors. Don’t be afraid to rock stripes with polka dots- this season, anything goes.
• Bright colored pants- You don’t have to throw on boring black or denim anymore. Punch up your look with a pair in hot pink, electric blue or orange.
• Plaid- Britney Spears isn’t the only one who can pull off a plaid skirt. Try this versatile pattern in other ways- a fitted shirt, dress or coat can add preppy polish to your look.
To stay on top of style trends on a low budget, Warrick suggests:
• Make one fashion investment per season and fill in the rest of your wardrobe with bargain finds. Your investment doesn’t need to break the bank - retailers like Target and H&M regularly partner with fashion designers on affordable, on-trend collections.
• Shop the sales and outlets for basics to pair with your new fall items.
• Shop your closet! While you might not find this season’s trends, you may find a basic black blazer to wear with your new pink pants for a balanced look.
• Remember, less is more, so focus on one trend at a time.
Survey Methodology:
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of CouponCabin from July 11- 13, 2011, among 2,233 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore, no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
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