This is my eighth Black Friday covering the sales as a shopping editor, and the one thing that I’ve learned over the years is to never go into the sales blindly; always have a plan. I like to prepare for the shopping holiday like it’s the Olympics, and I spend the entire year gearing up, making sure my wish lists are carefully curated. Don’t worry if you haven’t bookmarked your favorite pieces yet. You can use my cheat sheet below to make sure you don’t end up having buyer’s remorse once your packages arrive in the mail.
Below, I’m sharing exactly how to navigate the Black Friday sales like a fashion editor.
Hit the Big Retailers
This will make your life easier as they’re one-stop shops for pretty much everything, from closet essentials to statement-making party dresses. Remember that wish list I mentioned earlier about prepping beforehand? If you haven’t already, create an account and start saving the pieces that speak to you. Even if they’re out of your budget, you never know when they might end up on sale. And do not, I repeat, do not remove them from your wish list—ever. Even if they sell out, restocks happen often, as well as returns. That’s how I once scored a major markdown on a Loewe dress; someone returned their purchase in my exact size during an end-of-the-season sale. Because it was on my wishlist, I received an email notification that it was back in stock and, yes, it was automatically discounted, too. Here are the best places to start building your wish list now along with the must-have finds already on sale.
Schutz Maryana Boots
Now 50% Off
Loewe Anagram Sunglasses
Now 32% Off
Khaite Melbo Mixed Media Coat
Now 40% Off
Toteme Leather-Trimmed Cotton Jacket
Now 30% Off
The Frankie Shop Solange Knitted Pencil Skirt
Now 30% Off
Nili Lotan Perah Cropped Wool Cardigan
Now 30% Off
Saks Fifth Avenue’s Best Black Friday Deals
Loewe Flow Runner Low-Top Sneaker
Now 40% Off
Favorite Daughter The Favorite Blazer
Now 40% Off
Dries Van Noten Claudio Striped Top
Now 55% Off
Focus on Your Favorite Brands
Next, zero in on the must-have brands on your list, just to make sure you don’t miss any exclusive deals. Not to go all business school on you, but your favorite brands can offer steeper discounts because there are no wholesale markups baked into the price of products—a.k.a. there’s no middle man. That means you could find even better deals on their websites. Here are some of the not-to-miss sales happening directly on our favorite websites.
Glossier Glossier You
Now 20% Off
Glossier Balm Dotcom
Now 19% Off
Glossier Stretch Fluid Foundation
Now 21% Off
Solawave’s Best Black Friday Deals
Solawave 4-in-1 Skincare Wand Kit
Solawave Eye Recovery Pro Kit
Solawave Wrinkle Retreat Face Mask & LightBoost Kit
Now 6% Off
DeMellier’s Best Black Friday Deals
Use code BF20 for 20% off
DeMellier The Midi New York
Use code BF20 for 20% off
DeMellier The Vancouver Bag
Use code BF20 for 20% off
DeMellier The Midi Paris
Madewell’s Best Black Friday Deals
40% off with code MADEBETTER
Madewell The Essential Medium Bucket Tote
40% off with code MADEBETTER
Madewell Merino Wool Pullover Sweater
40% off with code MADEBETTER
Madewell The Perfect Vintage Wide-Leg Jean
Dôen’s Best Black Friday Deals
Dôen Charleston Dress
Dôen Ingrid Top
Dôen Katarina Dress
Mejuri’s Best Black Friday Deals
25% off order $150+
Mejuri Charlotte Bold Hoops
25% off order $150+
Mejuri Dôme Huggies
25% off order $150+
Mejuri Round Topaz Hoops
J.Crew’s Best Black Friday Deals
J.Crew Fair Isle Sweater
Now 41% Off
J.Crew Cashmere Wrap
Now 44% Off
J.Crew Dreamy Pajama Pant
Now 53% Off
The Time for Splurges Is Now
Last but certainly not least, save all of your big-ticket items for this moment. Rare deals on furniture, home décor, and tech gadgets typically happen on Black Friday. If you have items that you were going to splurge on anyway, you might as well get them now while they’re on sale. For example, I’ve had the Samsung Frame TV on my mind for a long time, and it’s on super-sale this year. Plus, if you don’t already have a Dyson Supersonic dryer, you’re really missing out. It’s been my secret to getting salon-worthy blowouts at home, so this is the time to snag it while it’s on sale.
Amazon’s Best Black Friday Deals
Samsung 75” Class The Frame QLED 4K LS03D
Now 40% Off
Apple AirPods Pro 2
Now 38% Off
Dyson Supersonic™ Hair Dryer
Now 23% Off
Shop More Black Friday Sales on ELLE Fashion
Alexis Bennett Parker is the Commerce Content Lead at ELLE.com. In this newly created role, she oversees all shopping-related stories online, from fashion-forward trend pieces to the most coveted beauty buys on the market right now. Alexis has worked in the publishing space for 11 years, and seven of those years have been dedicated to helping shoppers make informed purchases—no buyer’s remorse here! Before joining the team at ELLE.com, she worked in the editorial departments of Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and InStyle, to name a few magazines. Not only has Alexis worked closely with several brands and tested hundreds of products over the course of her career, but she’s also won awards for her work as a shopping journalist. Namely, she was an honoree at the Pynk Magazine Gala in 2023, received the Condé Nast Commerce Content Award for Best Article by a New Hire in 2021, and was included on the Top 40 Under 40 Heir’s List in 2018.
