Guide
How outlet pricing works
"Outlet" sounds like last season's collection at a lower price. Sometimes it is. Often it is something else.
Where outlet stock comes from
An outlet store is a shop where a manufacturer sells its own goods directly, usually at a discount. The goods are typically overstock, closeouts, returns or factory seconds [1].
The idea is older than it looks. Factories in the eastern United States sold damaged or excess goods to their own staff in the 1930s; in 1936 Anderson-Little opened an outlet store for the public, and in 1970 Vanity Fair opened the first multi-store factory outlet centre in Reading, Pennsylvania [1]. The number of US outlet centres grew from 113 in 1988 to 325 in 1997 [1]. In Europe, Bicester Village in England is the best-known example [1].
Made for the outlet
The part most shoppers don't know: a majority of clothing and accessories sold in outlet stores are made specifically for outlets, often with cheaper materials and processes than the main line [1]. That is not a scam, but it means an outlet price is not always a discount on the item you saw in the flagship store.
| Type | What it is | Worth it? |
|---|---|---|
| Overstock / past season | Main-line product that didn't sell | Usually the best value |
| Returns and seconds | Returned or slightly flawed items | Check the flaw first |
| Made for outlet | Separate, cheaper line | Compare with the main line, not its price |
Checklist before you buy
- Buy from the brand, an authorised retailer or a well-known department store where possible.
- Compare the item code or style name with the brand's own site: is it a main-line style?
- Check the labels inside: care label, size label and country of origin should match the brand's usual format.
- Look at hardware and stitching; these are where fakes save money.
- Be wary of current-season items at 70% off.
- For pre-owned bags, use a seller that authenticates.
- Keep the receipt and packaging; they matter if you resell.
- Know the return policy: final-sale outlet items often can't be returned.
Brand notes: Off-White, Eterna, Moncler, Bottega Veneta, Stone Island, Kenzo, Versace.