Everyday Penn students become inclusive insiders to the season’s hottest sample sales. And yet, how do we accomplish this feat on a daily basis while sitting in class or grabbing lunch? With the ever-changing and daily flash sale websites that have taken the world by storm! But what is the best part about being an insider? Your wallet doesn’t need to deplete into a state of nonexistence because of your fetish for Fendi or love of Louboutin. Websites like Ideeli.com, RueLaLa, Gilt Groupe, and surprisingly, Groupon, give everyone a chance to buy their dream outfit for a night on the town in Philly for a cheap, and affordable price!
1) Ideeli
Everyday at 12 pm EST, Ideeli releases its array of fabulous designers’ items for the day. It was started in 2007 and features everything from apparel to travel. You can buy your swimsuit, wedges, and trip to Mexico, all in one place. Ideeli also features Red Sales and Happy Hour Sales every so often and items are marked down to an even lower price. Double your happy hour by grabbing a margarita at Mad Mex and simultaneously update your closet!
2) RueLaLa
RueLaLa, although similar in theory, offers a broader experience. In addition to great daily sales it also has its own style blog called the “Style Guide.” They update content everyday and talk about anything from trends to Do It Yourself projects. Not to mention, RueLaLa also offers a daily local deal. These range in everything from visiting the Philadelphia Zoo, to getting a haircut in Center City.
3) Gilt Groupe
Priding itself on providing the top designer labels, Gilt Groupe was started in 2007 by two friends and has stayed classy ever since. Like Ideeli and RueLaLa, it is founded on a first come, first serve basis so don’t waste a single minute getting the best items on super sale! They also offer travel packages and a block of products they call “Wardrobe Essentials.” Every so often, these essentials change but they are always items we can never have enough of: flats, scarves, nude dresses, the list is endless.
4) Groupon
A little surprising, I know, that this has made the list but Groupon is a great way to get a heads up on sales happening at Philadelphia boutiques and salons. Groupon Now! deals are a personal favorite of mine because if you’ve got the time and the need, Groupon Now! has the place. If you need a haircut, chances are they’ll have a great coupon for you that you usually need to use in a certain time frame. These deals work outside of Groupon’s usual daily deals. So if you walking around downtown and decide to use your Groupon on a great dinner at Fuji Mountain and decide to pop in and get a haircut at Studio CL, Groupon is the site for you.
Let’s face it, we all love sales. But getting great deals on the items we love is definitely the best part of a good buy. So why not dive into the daily unknown of websites like Ideeli, RueLaLa, Gilt Groupe, and Groupon, and walk away with a victory…and a bigger closet…but not a thinner wallet. Open your laptops, invite your friends, and start shopping…just don’t let your professors catch you shopping at 12 pm when the sales start!