The Best Things To Buy In August

Be an accessory to the bargains.  Annie’s inside scoop on what to snap up in August.

Great accessories can take almost any outfit to a whole new level, and August is the perfect time of year to expand your collection of little extras (thanks for the tip-off, dear data team!).  Belts, scarves and other accessory items will be available at their best discounts of the year, with online sales last year averaging 52% off during August, compared with an average 47% the rest of the year.

You probably won’t want to accessorize some of the other best buys this month: comfy sleepwear ( 49% off vs. 41% off) and athletic shirts (47% vs. an average 42% off). But if you have suggestions on how to do so, please leave me comments below.

So, before you “check out” for your August vacation, check in on some of my August shopping picks below.

Styling Tips:

**Accessories: **Scarves aren’t just for tying around your neck.  Loop it as a belt, add a hint of color to a bag or just plain tie around your hips for a new look.

**Belts: **The easiest and fastest way to flatter your figure, Belts add instant definition to your waist.

Missoni Scarf (35%-off), Marni Necklace (65%-off), Stella McCartney Belt (20%-off)

Athletic/Sleepwear: Not just for gym, sweatshirts are the perfect slouchy cut comfort addition to your everyday wardrobe.  I like the juxtaposition of wearing it with florals.

Madewell Sweatshirt (31%-off), Anthropologie Sweatshirt (75%-off), Alexander Wang Sweatshirt (42%-off)

Blumarine Sleepwear (40%-off), Ralph Lauren nightshirt (31%-off), Calvin Klein sleepwear (31%-off)

***Methodology: Shop It To Me, the free online personal shopper for designer brand clothing, shoes, and accessories analyzed over 11 million women’s markdowns, that were available on sale online between April1, 2010-March 31, 2011. The data below shows the months the markdowns were steepest.