How to Navigate Black Friday + Cyber Weekend Sales

Currently writing this from my parents’ kitchen table. It’s Thanksgiving, which means I haven’t gone an hour without sampling some sort of food or discussing how the U.S. affects Taiwanese/Chinese dynamics. Much will be consumed this holiday—politics, Dad’s home cooking, and in a few hours, all the things to be purchased once the sales *officially* begins.

While the rest of Instagram seems to be avoiding drama or fielding a firing squad of concerned (read: nosy) aunts and uncles, I’m lucky that holiday dinners are just dinners, sans judgement. The most formal thing about Thanksgiving is the setting (we actually eat in the Formal Dining Room); otherwise it’s just Mom, Dad, Brother, and I, lounging in sweats to maximize comfort and food intake. Pre-Internet, we’d stuff our faces then walk it off while shopping the Black Friday sales. Now we just lie on the couch and click Add to Cart in a comatose state.

A sluggish state, however, is no excuse for mindless shopping. The trick to emerging (from a spree, not a food coma; I’m still figuring the latter out) without regret is to strategize. A few ground rules must be established before you immerse yourself in cyber sales:

• Never buy anything you wouldn’t purchase at full price. Seems self-explanatory, but between targeted email blasts and your Instagram feed, it’s easy to fall for every sale. Stay strong. Do. Not. Give. In.
• Make a list of what you want and stick to it. I have a running checklist in my Notes app of things I want. Its purpose is twofold: to make sure I don’t stray, and to ensure I get everything I need.
• Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales aren’t what they used to be. Don’t feel pressured to get everything this weekend. Twenty percent off sales are a norm for major retailers these days, so if that’s what a store is offering, thank you, next. Don’t settle: look for 30% off or steeper. (Exceptions can be made for independent stores/sites.)

Ready? These are the sites worth shopping:

• Alo Yoga. I can’t resist deliciously soft Lycra—and I’m hoping that a new ‘fit will inspire me to actually workout after years of laziness.
• Manduka. Their sale section is sick. If there’s a time to upgrade your mat, it’s now.
• Sorel. I bought my first pair of *real* snow boots last year; game. changer. I now need an in-between pair that is more practical than a pair of Uggs, but not as intense as a classic Sorel.
• Wildflower Phone Cases. I already own one (mine is in red leopard, which is the most “me” pattern in existence) and can’t rave enough about it. The cases are nearly indestructible; plus, Wildflower is a family-owned brand with a cute start-up story. Shop small, people.
• Ssense. Ssense hosts one of the best luxury sales every year—especially in the bag department. Do stalk their selection of Givenchy or Saint Laurent.
• The Line by K. For clothes that make you feel woman. TLK is easily my favorite clothing line and the only place I’ve purchased without a discount—a testament to the designs, since I’m inherently incapable of buying anything full price.
• Reformation. Sweet dresses, sustainably made, at 30% off. Yes, please.
• Réalisation Par. When it comes billow-y dresses, Realisation Par reigns in making the prettiest. The silhouettes borderline ladylike and inappropriate, which makes them all the more appealing.

.   .   .

xx