Shopping: Bargain heaven well worth a journey

By FIONA HAWTIN

Last season's stock does not die. It just goes to outlet stores. This is good news if you are reluctant to shell out wads of cash for the very latest stuff. It's like a year-round sale season.

Normal shopping rules apply. Do not buy anything unless you can answer the following with a yes: Does it fit? Would I buy it even if it wasn't reduced? Will I actually wear it? Will it be unfashionable soon, or is it already? Will it be relatively easy to care for?

Onehunga's Dress-Smart Outlet Shopping Centre is the first stop with around 75 stores entirely devoted to disposing of the excess stock and seconds with at least 30 per cent off everything. They include adidas, Andrea Biani Shoes, Country Road, Just Jeans, Keith Matheson, Levi's, Nike, Barkers, Working Style and Canterbury. Wellington has its own Dress-Smart in Tawa.

Silverdale is also an area given over to outlet stores with Bendon, Moontide and Suzanne Gregory all getting rid of their superfluous gear.

Such centres make getting a bargain easy. The shops are in a single space with easy parking, meaning limited legwork. Sometimes, though, there are bargains so legendary that a cross-town drive to a single clearance store is worth the effort.

One-off clearances at temporary outlets are compulsory if the fashion designer or homewares label is a favourite, so make sure you're on a mailing list, as they will often advise customers when and where. It also pays to read the Herald's classifieds for such notices and try to get there for the opening, because the best always goes before the rest and the oddly sized.

Places worth a car trip:

* Lars Mart, 534 Blockhouse Bay Rd, Blockhouse Bay. Does a roaring trade in end-of-lines because it's all so cheap. Stock includes bags, luggage, stationery, hardware and underwear.

* BDM Grange Factory Shop, 93 Hillside Rd, Glenfield. Toiletries, cosmetics and perfume from the likes of La Prairie, Clarins, Innoxa, Gucci, Caboodles, Paco Rabanne, St Ives and many more besides. The on-site shop is an emporium dedicated to beauty products going for a song.

* Acland Holdings, 18 Normanby Rd, Mt Eden. On the second Friday of each month this homewares and furniture importer sells stock at much-reduced prices. Photo frames, bed linen, bags, candles and bowls have all been spotted recently.

* Scotties, 2 Blake St, Ponsonby. Round the back, past the latest Scotties and Marilyn Sainty clothing, is a designer recycle section devoted to the best local and international fashion labels. It is not unusual to come across Zambesi, Gucci, Issey Miyake and Commes des Garcons in a single visit - all at reasonable prices.

* Linen Shop Factory Shop, 274 Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn. A dumping ground for the high-quality Sheridan label.

* The Fabric Room, 20 Bridgewater Rd, Parnell and 132 Hinemoa St, Birkenhead. For a huge selection of top-quality, end-of-line fabrics at knock-down prices.

* Trelise Cooper Outlet, 100 Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn. New Zealand Fashion Week darling Trelise Cooper keeps this permanent outlet going with samples and overruns from her prolific collections.