How I Find New Places To Shop Online

May 24, 2020

All dressed up!

Even while staying home and limiting time outside, my love for fashion and getting dressed up hasn't gone away! True, I've been wearing more T-shirts and leggings than usual, but I've also been donning dresses and playing with makeup to take some fun at-home photos and brighten my mood.
That being said, I've been online shopping more than ever before and wanted to share a few tips I have on how I discover new brands and places to shop online. With literally thousands of e-commerce sites out there (and new ones popping up each day!) online shopping can be an overwhelming experience, but I've found a few ways to discover new clothes and places.

Transparency note: I use affiliate links and may make a commission off of link clicks and purchases.

1. Influencer Recommendations

I follow certain influencers for a reason; their style and creativity inspires me, and I trust their opinions and recommendations when it comes to finding new clothes. I've discovered countless new brands through product tags, brands that I never would have heard of if it weren't for Instagram. With Jean and Lirika Matoshi are two of my recent favorite finds that I discovered through influencers I follow. 

P.S. if you like my style, follow along on Instagram for more!

2. Browsing Online Catalogues + Edits

Some of my favorite sites like Revolve and Shopbop have an overwhelming amount of options to choose from, so I love looking at their curated edits to see the trending items and on-the-rise brands that their buyers love. Beyond your favorite online retailers, there are so many online catalogues you can use to discover new brands and shop online, including buy now pay later online catalogues. These are good options for affordable shopping, since you can split the payment up over time.

3. Pinterest

Pinterest is one of the best discovery tools out there when it comes to finding new places to shop, so don't overlook it if you are in need of new ideas! Not only is the app full of inspirational photos and swoon-worthy style ideas, but they've also stepped up their shopping functionality so you can often browse and shop for items directly on the app. Pinterest can even share "similar items" to photos you bring up, so even browsing an inspirational photo could lead you to discover a new, shoppable style.

4. ShopStyle

If you read my last post on finding the best online deals, you'll know that I love using ShopStyle to compare and price check the same items at different retailers. It is also a super powerful search discovery tool that I use constantly for both work stories and personal life! ShopStyle's search function is best for when I know what I'm looking for (for example, a red dress) but not sure where to go from there. You can simply type in "red dress" and boom, thousands of results will appear! I'll usually set price limits, but you can refine by different categories and subcategories, colors, retailers, and so on. Seriously, it's the best.

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And those are the secrets to my online shopping successes! Leave a comment below and let me know what your favorite tips are for discovering new brands and e-commerce sites online.

The Best Online Sales For Memorial Day Weekend

May 22, 2020


Wearing a Faithfull The Brand dress
Wearing a Faithfull the Brand dress
I write this on the first of many "summer Fridays" although it sure doesn't feel like summer, not really. The sun is shining and my emails are slow, but what fun is it to stop working and head home early when you're already home!? Oh well.

Even though summer 2020 might be a little stranger than usual, some things stay constant no matter the state of the world, and Memorial Day Weekend sales are certainly still a thing. My mom has already texted me about a pair of Madewell sandals that I have to get (these ones, FYI, at a 30% discount) and like, I guess all that money I've saved not going out to bars or Coachella or whatever could go to some cute new pieces that I'll get to wear...eventually.

So whether you are itching to buy some fun summer clothes in the hopes that stay home restrictions will soon start to loosen up, or you just need more sweatsuits to tie dye, here are the best sales out there as well as my favorite on-sale pieces:

Transparency note: I use ShopStyle affiliate links and may earn a commission on link clicks or purchases.

The Best Memorial Day Weekend Deals:

  • URBAN OUTFITTERS: Take an extra 30% off sale items; up to 40% off dresses, shorts, and swimwear. Through 5/25.
  • ANTHROPOLOGIE: 25% off clothes, accessories, and shoes. Valid through 5/25.
  • MADEWELL: 30% off all dresses and sandals using code HAPPYTOGETHER.
  • J. CREW: Up to 60% off your purchase with code HISUMMER.
  • MODCLOTH: 30% off full-price items and extra 40% off sale items with code HOTDOG. Valid through 5/25.
  • NASTYGAL: 60% off sitewide.
  • & OTHER STORIES: Up to 50% off select styles.
  • REVOLVE: Extra 20% off select sale styles. 
  • LOU & GREY: 30% off summer must-haves. Valid through 5/26.
  • FOREVER 21: 20% off purchases over $75, 30% off purchases over $85, and 40% off purchases over $150 with code MEMORIALDAY2020. 
  • TORY BURCH25% off select styles with code TOGETHER. Valid through 5/26.
  • THEORY: 30% off sitewide. Valid through 5/25.
  • COS: 25% off your purchase when you spend $200 or more. Valid through 5/25.
  • SOLID & STRIPED: 25% off sitewide with code MDW25.
  • WAYFAIR: Up to 70% off sitewide. Valid through 5/26.
  • RAY-BAN: 20% off sitewide and free shipping. Valid through 5/31.

My Top Picks:

5 Ways To Find The Best Online Shopping Deals

May 9, 2020


I don't know about you, but I've been doing quite a lot of online shopping lately, given that it's my only option! When quarantining started, I found myself with a severe lack of comfortable loungewear (after all, I'm the type of girl who wears fancy dresses on intercontinental flights) so I took advantage of the many sales going on and stocked up on T-shirts and leggings and cozy shorts. Now that summer is approaching and tentative talks of decreasing guidelines are starting, I'm fantasizing about all the cute new summer clothes I could potentially wear. So I thought it might be a good time to share how I shop online and how I use a few different tools to make sure I'm getting the best deals possible. 

*Heads up: some of the links I'm sharing here are referral links*


1. Download An Apps Like Honey To Find Discount Codes


I can't remember how I first heard about Honey, but I cannot imagine living life without it. It's a Chrome extension that automatically finds and applies discount codes to the sites you are shopping, so if there's an extra discount code you don't know about, it will apply it for you! And even if there aren't any codes that work, you can get credits toward cash back rewards whenever you make purchases. 

You can download Honey here.

2. Use ShopStyle to Compare Retailers and Track Sales


Most people know ShopStyle as a way for bloggers like myself to create custom affiliate links and make a commission when readers purchase products, but I also love using ShopStyle as a way to research and compare different styles and shops. These days, most brands are sold at a few different online retailers, so the same item might go on sale at one store while staying full price at the other. Say I find a cute dress from Alice + Olivia; I'll usually search the product name in ShopStyle's search tool so I can see where else the item is sold and if it is available for a cheaper price somewhere else.

Additionally, you can toggle "sale alerts" for items you like so that you receive an email notification when that item gets marked down. With so many surprise sales happening right now, you never know when a favorite item is going to drop in price, so the alerts will keep you informed.

Sign up for ShopStyle here.

3. Subscribe to Newsletters For Your Favorite Brands


I know it sounds straightforward, but so many people don't take advantage of special offers that brands will advertise through newsletters and social media. Constant email campaigns can be annoying, but it helps to occasionally check out alerts from your favorite brands so you can stay updated on sales and promotions that are running. A lot of brands will host special sales or share exclusive discount codes that are only available to newsletter subscribers, so sign up to your favorite ones so you can stay in the know.

4. Follow Sample Sales


The last time I was in New York, my coworker and I stumbled upon the greatest discovery of all time: a Reformation sample sale. Gorgeous printed midi dresses and chic tops at a fraction of the original prices? Sign me up! I walked away with two midi dresses for less than the price of one full-price piece. While shopping, I realized that the sample sale was run by a company called 260, and they organized sample sales for all sorts of brands in LA and NYC, so I started following them on Instagram to stay updated on upcoming sales in LA.

With the beginning of quarantine, you'd think that sample sales would be on hold, but actually, 260 has started hosting online sample sales so now you can shop them from wherever you live!

You can view their list of online sale events here

5. Take Advantage of Cash Back Programs


Getting paid to shop? It sounds too good to be true, and yet, cash back programs exist! I've started using Rakuten religiously, and love how many brands are on it. With all the online shopping I've been doing while staying home, the rewards are already starting to add up. Urban Outfitters, Nike, Shopbop, and even Postmates are all partnered with Rakuten, and the site also shares special offers all the time. You can install a Chrome plugin so Rakuten can automatically remind you if a site you are shopping is eligible for cash back, too.

I also highly recommend checking out any offers available through your credit card or debit card company. I've gotten cash back from purchases at Rite Aid, Domino's, and Amazon Fresh through my credit card, some with up to 10% back, so take a look at your card's current offers for additional ways to get rewarded for purchases you are making anyway.

You can sign up for Rakuten here

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What secret tips do you have to find the best deals?