Friendly Reminder: Now’s the Time to Find Clearance-Priced Coats

I love outerwear. I admit I have a semi-ridiculous number of jackets and coats — but I love them all! It’s fun to have a variety of colors, fabrics, cuts and weights. Some days call for my heavy-duty, knee-length wool coat from Victoria’s Secret. Others may require a simple lightweight khaki trench. And when an outfit calls for a pop of something different, I pull out my thrift-store, grey leather coat. Needing some of color? I grab my green, satin swing coat, complete with a funky, gold zipper.

If you’re 2005 winter coat is finally reaching its expiration — or if your wardrobe generally needs more variety — now is the PERFECT time to go outerwear hunting.

Around late January and early February, retailers start significantly marking down heavy coats, jackets and other outerwear to make room for spring and summer styles and cuts. So next time you’re in the neighborhood of Old Navy, Ross, TJ Maxx, Target or other, swing by and see what kind of deal you can score.

Coat pictured here: my new Nine West Fuchsia lightweight trench. I found it at Ross in Raleigh, North Carolina, last weekend for $25 (retailed pre-Ross for $200). Ignore the face – my makeup hadn’t yet found its way to my face this morning.