I haven’t purchased anything from Coach recently because I have found a new (more expensive) obsession — Hermes scarves. However, I recently found myself at an outlet mall so I had to pop in to Coach for a quick look. I immediately saw this adorable TurnLock Walk Coat, marked down to $111 from $498. I tried it on (it fit like a dream) but then promptly returned it to the rack and walked out of the store. The reason for my hesitation was that, for the past three years, I have been looking for a good deal on a Burberry trench coat. I really wasn’t sure if I would get very much use out of the Walk Coat; a trench coat seemed more useful to me.

I’ve always wanted a Burberry trench coat and, back in 2005, I found one. It was gorgeous: tan, mid-length, and marked down to $300 from $1,500! For reasons I still don’t understand, I didn’t buy the coat at that moment because I wasn’t sure the length would work for me. I hesitantly left it on the rack, not convinced that it was exactly what I was looking for (I know, not my smartest moment!). That evening I realized that I would never again find such a great bargain, so I rushed back to the store the very next morning. Needless to say, the coat was gone. Some other lucky (and much smarter) woman had purchased it.

Back to that day at the outlet mall: I went into a few more stores before the sad memory of the Burberry trench coat finally convinced me to go back and buy the Walk Coat. No, it’s not the same as a Burberry trench, but it’s very cute and I will get a lot of use out of it. Hopefully someday the bargain-shopping fairies will take pity on me and throw another $300 Burberry trench coat in my path. But until then, this coat will do quite nicely.

Up until last October, I had not stepped into a Nordstom Rack store for almost 9 years simply because I had forgotten what amazing deals could be found there. During that October visit, I found a stunning ballgown for $150, marked down from over $600. Since then, I’ve made regular trips to the store and I’ve seen some amazing deals like Coach sunglasses for $60 and a Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress for $99 (sadly, not in my size).

During my last Nordstom Rack shopping trip, I scored this cute little dress from Suzi Chin (just $13, marked down from $118). I can wear it with sandals or dress it up a bit with low heels. I normally dress a bit more conservatively, but I thought this would be fun and perfect for summertime.

If you haven’t visited Marshalls lately, I highly recommend making a trip soon. I recently spotted several pairs of designer sunglasses at my local Marshalls for $69.99 (compare at $300+). I saw brands like Yves Saint Laurent, Armani, and Gucci, to name a few. None of the sunglasses come with a case but you can always buy a generic case to carry them in. Remember, all stores receive different stock so you may want to call the store before making a special trip. They should be able to tell you if they’ve received any shipments of designer sunglasses recently. Good luck and happy shopping!

I just had to share this find with you — an exquisite wrap dress from Escada! This dress is definitely one of the better bargains I’ve found. Made from 100% silk, this dress is truly a piece of artwork. The colors are a bit bolder than I normally wear, but I knew it would be perfect for summertime. The original price on this dress was $1,070. Can you believe I paid just $30 at an Escada outlet store?!

Like any normal girl, I love shoes! While I don’t snub my nose at cheaper shoes, I have to admit that I prefer wearing luxury brands. One day while browsing in the shoe department of my local Off Fifth (Sak’s Fifth Avenue’s outlet store), my knees buckled when I saw these little beauties sitting on the shelf. They were the only pair of Jimmy Choo’s in the whole shoe department (trust me, I checked). Amazingly, they were my size – 38 – and I absolutely needed a pair of black dressy sandals, so I headed to the checkout counter before anyone else could snatch them up.

Marked down to $199, they cost a lot more than what I normally pay for a pair of shoes. However, I knew I was getting an incredible bargain so I didn’t think twice about it. As I pulled out my debit card, I happily chatted away with the cashier:

Cashier: These are gorgeous! Were there anymore back there?

Me: No, unfortunately. I didn’t even see a box; they were just sitting on the shelf, all by themselves.

Cashier: Well, you lucked out! $100 for a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes? You don’t come across bargains like that everyday!

Me (choking): Did you say $100? But, they’re marked $199! [Note to self: Don't argue when a salesperson wants to charge you less!]

Cashier: Didn’t you see the sale sign? These are an additional 50% off!

Everything else is a blur. I paid the cashier, she handed me my bag and receipt, I treated myself to a Mocha Frappaccino from Starbuck’s to celebrate my good fortune, and I floated all the way home.

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