Sales and the next size up: buying designer clothing for next season

Buying in the sales for next season may be useful when you know the intended use, but future size cannot be guaranteed. Children grow at different rates and measurements vary between brands. This guide helps you assess advance purchases without automatically choosing one size up.

Why size matters when buying children's clothing in the sales

We have previously discussed how to choose designer clothing well in the sales, focusing on the individual garment's quality. Here the focus is the time between purchase and use. A sale purchase may be worn now or next season; in the latter case, future measurements remain uncertain.

There is no universal link between a year of growth and one clothing size. Brand charts and children's builds vary. Buying one size up does not guarantee a good fit twelve months later.

Assessing size for an advance purchase

The age on a label is a guide. Start with current measurements taken according to the brand's instructions and compare them with its chart. Many garments also require waist, chest or length measurements, not height alone.

Use these details to assess the design's room, while distinguishing current measurements from an uncertain forecast.

1. Measure current height in centimetres, without shoes.
2. Consider when the garment will be needed, without automatically adding a fixed number of centimetres or a size.
3. Compare measurements with the size chart for the brand. Intervals and age correspondences are not universal.
4. Check the individual design's fit, because the relationship between measurements and sizes varies between brands.

That final point is easy to overlook. One fashion house's size 8 is not necessarily the same as another's. Shoulder room, sleeve length and fit vary with each brand's patterns. Read our guide to children's clothing sizes, brand by brand when comparing garments from different labels.

Which garments can be considered for an advance purchase?

Buying ahead depends on intended use, price and uncertainty about size. An expensive garment does not become good value merely because it is discounted: it needs to be usable when required.

For coats, padded jackets and parkas, consider the season of use, clothing underneath and the risk of an unsuitable size. Buying in January for the following winter calls for care. In our designer children's outerwear collection, compare cuts and measurements, from jackets to padded coats.

Fit also matters for a ceremony outfit. Knowing the date of a communion or christening helps define its use, but does not guarantee the size needed. In the designer outfits and dresses selection, you can compare designs and measurements.

When to be more cautious about buying ahead

Some garments call for particular care because their window of use or required size may change sooner than expected.

• Bodysuits, baby one-pieces and baby basics. Fit can change quickly in the first months: a purchase made far ahead may not match the right season.
• Everyday tops and T-shirts. Consider how many are needed and when. Buying near the time of use reduces size uncertainty.
• Very seasonal, lightweight clothing. Shorts and beachwear can have a limited window of use: consider the risk that size and season will not coincide.

The criterion is actual use. Weigh savings against the risk of being unable to use the garment when planned, whatever the category.

The purchase calendar and the use calendar

Winter or summer sales may offer opportunities for the following season, but buying many months ahead leaves uncertainty about growth, fit and needs. Check sale dates for the relevant place and year.

For babies, buying far ahead calls for even more care: one size up does not guarantee a good fit at the planned time. In collections for designer babywear, boys, girls and older children, compare measurements for the available designs.

Frequently asked questions

Is buying one size up in children's sales worthwhile?

It can be an option, but is not a rule. Assess intended use, price, measurements and the risk of an unsuitable size when needed. One size up does not automatically equal a year of growth.

How can I know my child's size in a year's time?

You cannot establish it with certainty. Start with current measurements and the brand's chart, but treat any forecast as uncertain. Do not automatically add a fixed number of centimetres.

Which sale items should not be bought in advance?

Care is needed for every category, especially bodysuits and baby one-pieces for the first months and clothing with a short seasonal window. The choice depends on intended use and size uncertainty, rather than an absolute rule.

Does the same approach apply to a baby's wardrobe?

A baby's fit can change quickly. One size up offers no guarantee for later months: assess purchases made far ahead of their use with care.

Planning next season's wardrobe? Explore the selection of designer sale clothing and compare price, measurements and intended use before choosing.

Also read: choosing designer clothing well in the sales and children's clothing sizes, brand by brand.