These outlet stores dotted around Auckland could see you saving money when you are on your next shopping trip. Photo / Chris Gorman
These outlet stores dotted around Auckland could see you saving money when you are on your next shopping trip. Photo / Chris Gorman
Why pay retail for fashion when you can pick up everything from underwear to shoes, bags and designer clothing at a fraction of the price? Factory and outlet shops are dotted all over Auckland, not just at the big DressSmart Mall in Onehunga. Nicky Pellegrino hunts out some of the best bargains.
A leather iPhone case for $10 is the best buy right now at Briarwood outlet store. A small space, attached to the company's warehouse, it's stocked with a range of New Zealand-designed handbags, shoes, wallets and a few clothes. Staff put out fresh items regularly and there tends to be more on offer when new season styles go into high street stores. Beautifully crafted bags in a range of sizes and colours go from $120 to $300, wallets sell for around $100 and you can pick up espadrille-style sandals for just $40.
Sole Survivor's mission is to find you a pair of pants that fit. It stocks a wide range of curve-embracing NYDJ (Not Your Daughter's Jeans) in sizes up to a US 18 that are priced under $200 and you'll find men's jeans for as little as $50 a pair. There's an eclectic range of fashion here, aimed at the more mature end of the market, with New Zealand labels such as MacJays and Vassalli joined by European and Canadian brands. Smaller items include costume jewellery for under $30 and scarves for $25.
Silence Was & Co
Unit 9, 7 Triton Drive, Albany Open: Monday to Saturday 9.30am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm
Silence Was belongs to New Zealand designer Yujia Wang, who has set up this store for her own samples and stock surplus as well as some from other small New Zealand designers such as State of Grace, Pardon My French, X-Plain and Brooke Tyson. With its concrete floors and well-spaced rails, this is more stylish than the usual outlet shop and it's the go-to place for edgier, on-trend clothing at affordable prices. A reversible fake fur jacket from Pardon My French is down from $630 to $290, for instance. Swedish brand WeSC is also stocked for men who like skateboarder style.
Lingerie Outlet
26 Triton Drive, Albany Open: Monday to Friday 10am-4pm
No bra costs more than $20 in this store and some samples and seconds retail for a rock-bottom $5. Labels include Girls Room which does fun first bras as well as Caprice Intimates and The Underwear Club. It stocks everything from push-ups to full-coverage E cups and silicone-enhanced bras to give bustlines a boost. There are lots of vivid colours and fancy frillies but you can find plainer T-shirt bras in neutral shades. Underpants and camisoles feature, but bras are the big thing here.
Icebreaker
Unit H, 7 Triton Drive, Albany Open: Monday to Saturday 9.30am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm
Quality merino outdoor clothing at cheaper prices is on offer at this well-stocked store. You'll make the largest savings on the big-ticket items such as the hooded wool jackets that are down from $549 to $359. There are some seconds but mostly this is end-of-range and surplus stock and, although the discounts aren't huge, often sales bring prices down 50-80 per cent. Pick up a pair of men's undies for $35, a merino sweater for $135 and look for the small selection of kids' clothes at the back of the store. There's another Icebreaker outlet shop near the airport on Montgomerie Rd.
DeVine Clothing
335 Main Rd, SH16, Huapai Open: Monday to Wednesday 10am-4pm, Thursday-Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday 10am-2.30pm
Give yourself plenty of time to rummage in this treasure trove of women's designer labels. It's packed with one-off pieces, over-runs and seconds at the front and a recycle section at the back of the store. Most items are one-offs and, fortunately, the rails are arranged according to size or it would be impossible to know where to start. Owned by Trelise Cooper's sister, Dellwyn, this is where to come if you need an outfit for a special occasion such as a wedding or a day at the races. They reckon if you can't find something here then you're in trouble. The store is stocked with designs by Verge, Sabatini, Trelise Cooper plus much more and you'll pick up a top for as little as $30 or a pair of jeans for $99. There's costume jewellery for $10 and leather bags for $60. New stock arrives daily.
14oz Jeans
6 Western Springs Rd, Kingsland Open: Monday to Friday 10am-5.30pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 10.30am-4.30pm
Nicky Pellegrino at 14oz Jeans. Photo / Fiona Goodall
It's worth keeping an eye on the Facebook page of 14oz Jeans because, although there are everyday denim bargains in this large shop attached to a distributor's warehouse, it's the crazy specials that will really save you cash. Recently, it had a "Fill a Bag for $50" deal and a promotion in which you got a discount if you took in a pair of your old jeans for donating to the City Mission.
Brands include Neuw, Lee, Wrangler, Deus Ex Machina and Rollas and there is knitwear and a selection of T-shirts plus trestle tables loaded with jeans, a pre-loved rail, a $10 section, and a small footwear offering. A pair of Vans can be snapped up for $40 to $100. Just one thing: if you're on the curvier side you won't find much here in the jean department. Women's go up just to a size 14 and men's to a 38.
High Society
155 Lincoln Rd, Henderson Open: Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 10am-4pm
This factory shop is hidden at the end of a right-of-way behind the Lincoln Rd Burger King. High Society is a New Zealand company that produces the labels Obi, Chocolat and Catalyst. Styles tend to be flowing and draped so they're ideal for pear-shaped or rounder women. Prices are indicated by a dot system.
A black dot means an item is $30 while a gold one makes it $250. There are amazing bargains to be found with garments on the $30 rail marked down from an original price of $299.
NZ Sale
Westgate Outlet Centre, Westgate Drive, Massey North Open: Monday to Sunday 10am-5pm
Online shopping club NZ Sale has been opening outlet stores to sell off extra stock and they are bargain-hunter heaven whether you're searching for a fleece onesie (only $20!) or a new suit (a pinstriped man's Van Heusen suit with two pairs of trousers is $250). Fashions from UK chain stores such as BHS and Tesco sit alongside shoes, handbags and children's clothes. International sizes aren't always the same as ours so the big advantage the stores have over the website is that you can try on garments. Great buys here include Dreamland party frocks for little girls and True Religion sneakers for guys, both at just $30.
Bendon
Westgate Outlet Centre, Westgate Drive, Massey North Open: Monday to Sunday 10am-5pm
Whether you're looking for a new sports bra or something sexy from the Heidi Klum Intimates range, you can make a decent saving here. There is loads of stock and plenty of choice, and that includes men's and women's underwear as well as some nightwear. Pick up a pack of four Davenport men's briefs for $40 or two Bendon Body Basics bras for $30. Full-cupped Fayreform bras are also on offer. There are several Bendon outlet stores and they tend to be pleasant environments to shop in.
Amber Pearson wearing items from the Trelise Cooper outlet store. Photo / Michael Craig
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Coat Coating Out In Style: $350 Saving of $349
Dress Cooper Rhyme Nor Sequin colour floral melon: $389 Saving of $260
This store is double the size it used to be and walking into it is a dazzling experience, with racks packed full of New Zealand designer Trelise Cooper's colourful, boldly patterned and even blingy garments. Most affordable is the Holy Chic label, one-size clothing in loose, flowing styles, and you'll get a dress for about $150 from the smart/casual Cooper range. For the rest, we're not talking super-cheap. A Trelise Cooper coat will set you back $400 but that's still 50 per cent off the original price.
For curvier women, there's a separate rail with sizes 14 to 18. There are also great costume jewellery buys with chunky cuffs for just $40. And, if you're shopping for a tropical holiday, this is the place to look for summery off-season outfits.
New stock of samples, prototypes and last season's designs comes in fortnightly.
