Editor’s note: Black Friday is over, which means we’re no longer updating this post. But don’t worry: There are plenty of Cyber Monday deals to be had. Check out our roundup of the best Cyber Monday fashion deals, and sign up for our email newsletter so you never miss a sale again.
Black Friday is the Strategist equivalent to the Super Bowl. Stats are involved; there are a lot of misleading “deals” out there, so the percentage off really matters. And history must be considered: “Wait, wasn’t that cheaper a couple weeks ago?” is a question I ask myself a lot. This will be my third year in a row covering Black Friday for the site, and knowing what’s a good deal (and what’s not) is now second nature.
The baseline discount I look for is usually 20 percent off — that’s what you’ll see at smaller retailers that seldom do sitewide sales. Deals at mass retailers and department stores like Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Nordstrom can vary, and the best sales are often on in-house lines. And whenever a markdown is near (or exceeds) the half-off mark, it’s best not to dillydally.
Since my day-to-day duties include writing about womenswear, I’m especially excited about this year’s Black Friday fashion deals. While deciding which retailers to include on this list, I focused quite a bit on the Strat-approved items and brands that have appeared in our archives time and again. To my delight, I found a great deal on the jeans we’ve written about the most — Levi’s Wedgies — they’re cheaper on Amazon than on the actual Levi’s site. And the Betty boots from Chloé that Strategist junior writer Brenley Goertzen owns (“The rain just beads right off of them. There’s zero water getting into these clompers,” she told me) are a great deal at Ssense. I’ve also unearthed a few exciting wild cards that were too good to pass up, like a houndstooth puffer from Lauren Ralph Lauren priced at just under $150, down from $250.
Read on for all those finds, then check out our full guide to the best Black Friday sales, and sign up for our newsletter to make sure you don’t miss anything throughout Cyber Weekend. And if you need gift ideas to help you start your shopping, take a look through our holiday-gift-guide hub, too.
I’m done checking this post for the night — but you can keep shopping these deals through the weekend (just note that prices might change and stock might sell out in the meantime). Then come back on Cyber Monday, when the entire Strategist staff will be back online with even more discounts to share.
The best Black Friday fashion deals at the megaretailer will be on Amazon brands (especially the Drop), Orolay (maker of the legendary Amazon Coat), and Levi’s (including the Wedgies, our most-written-about pair of jeans; the Ribcages, which we’ve called the “Goldilocks of jeans”; and classic 501’s.)
Sales don’t happen as often as they used to at Anthropologie, and “the only time there’s a blanket percentage off full price is for Black Friday,” a manager told me when I talked to staffers for our “Retail Secrets” series. So the 30 percent off sitewide sale is as good as it gets. Maeve is the in-house label that employees love most — best sellers like the Bennet button-down and the Colette pants are what they use their staff discount on, too. Plus there’s 50 percent off the sale section — making this jacket below just $50.
Athleta doesn’t do sitewide sales all that often, so a blanket 30 percent off everything is a Very Good Deal. You can actually sweat in Athleta’s activewear, and seniors we’ve surveyed even told us they like Athleta better than Lululemon (“Their clothes aren’t cut too narrow like some of Lululemon’s stuff, where you have to be a gym rat for it to look good on you,” one said). The best of the brand’s best sellers might be the Brooklyn Pant — though I’ve heard raves about the Endless Pant and the Stellar Trouser.
Get 20 percent off sitewide at Baggu. The brand’s bags are a big hit with Strategist staffers for being ultralight and ultrapackable for traveling. As for what to get: the puffy laptop case that multiple Strat editors own (and that’s been compared to a sleeping bag for your computer), the crescent-shaped carryall that’s excellent for both everyday use and trips to Rio de Janeiro, and foldable shopping bags to use instead of the plastic kind.
Banana Republic is offering 40 percent off your purchase during its Black Friday Event. The oldest jeans I own are from BR, and I’d recommend shopping through its denim selection first. I’m also eyeing a puffer in the shiniest satin and a silk dress that’s ridiculously elegant.
Catbird is offering 20 percent off almost everything (exceptions include its collaboration with Boygenius and the Vito’s Gems collection). It’s the best deal you’ll see all year. So if there’s something you’ve had on your wish list, or you’re looking at a gift for someone special, now is your chance to check it out. I’ve highlighted three of the pieces that I own myself: the engravable Baby Cygnet Ring, littlest Classic Pearl Stud (available in a single or as a pair), and stackable Toy Bow Ring.
The underwear-maker is offering 25 percent off sitewide. And the style to try, if you’re new to the brand, is the Plunge; it’s a hit with several Strategist staffers as well as Maude founder Éva Goicochea, who wears it as lingerie. You also can’t go wrong with the matching Highwaist panties or the smoothing Scoop.
Like last year, Everlane is offering up to 50 percent off pretty much everything with prices as marked. Highlights include a layerable alpaca crewneck sweater (it’s even cheaper than it was when we featured it as the deal of the day in October) and pull-on work pants that don’t wrinkle.
Those looking to step up their workout game can get 35 percent off sitewide at Girlfriend Collective. The size-inclusive and sustainable label makes some of our favorite fitness gear, including a sports bra that rarely shows sweat and the leggings that Luster author Raven Leilani loves. The brand’s unitard is another good bet (and it’s half off): Strategist writer Dominique Pariso says the stitching along the back outlines her butt in the best way.
Hanna Andersson
Everything is 50 percent off everything at the children’s clothing-maker — which is a favorite of parents for its pajamas. You can also get matching holiday designs for the whole family.
Several J.Crew employees have told us to “never pay full price” at the retailer, making Black Friday a good time to shop as the brand is taking up to 50 percent off everything. Consider stocking up on turtlenecks, cashmere, and chinos, which those same employees called out as their favorite J.Crew staples. (Skip the merino wool.) I’m also eyeing the pajamas that changed author Ottessa Moshfegh’s outlook on pajamas (and made her a convert to wearing a matching set).
You can stock up on Madewell’s non-boring basics, which are now 50 percent off. The most-enthused-about essentials we’ve recommended through the years — some are even immortalized in the Strategist Womenswear 100 — include the loose-fitting wide-legs that actress Victoria Justice owns in multiples, the flares that come in tall (and taller) lengths, and a best-in-class work bag.
A true steal alert: Naadam’s cashmere is 40 percent off with code BLACKFRIDAY. Note that the label’s Original sweater — which we named the best for women and men, and which already has an affordable regular price for cashmere at $98 — isn’t included in the sale. But a shoulder-baring boatneck sweater, warm-looking gloves, and a supersoft zip-up hoodie that feels like something Succession’s Kendall Roy would wear (though his would cost $1,000) are.
Those with designer tastes should shop the Net-a-Porter sale with up to 50 percent off labels like Isabel Marant and Loewe. As far as what’s worth buying, I’d suggest Chelsea boots from Ganni, a.k.a the “Danish Mansur Gavriel” (they’re a higher-shafted version of ones that fashion content creator Tilly Macalister-Smith wears for gardening adventures). There’s also a corseted mini from Staud, now half off, and a silk-charmeuse Reformation dress at a 40 percent discount. I’m personally considering a colorful crochet Farm Rio cardigan, a feather-trimmed sweater from Sleeper, and a printed turtleneck from La DoubleJ (all of which get an extra 15 percent off at checkout).
Nordstrom never does sitewide sales where the same discount applies to everything — instead, the store issues markdowns on select products that range from 25 percent to almost 70 percent off. There are close to 2,000 discounts for Black Friday, so I had to do some real digging to find the best of the best. Behold: the famous Natori Feathers Bra, the “unicorn of undergarments,” for 55 percent off; a three-pack of the briefs that are beloved by the woman who literally wrote the book on underwear for 25 percent off; a Nordstrom-branded sweater for 33 percent off (anytime you can get cashmere for less than $100, I say do it); and Ugg slippers that would be a welcome gift for, say, a plucky mother-in-law for 30 percent off.
Another excellent activewear deal comes from Outdoor Voices: 40 percent off sitewide. You can stock up on the softest sweatpants, which Great Jones founder (and former Grub Street senior editor) Sierra Tishgart calls a “revelation” if “you’ve only ever worn college sweatpants with ketchup stains,” and the gym shorts thats Strategist writer Jeremy Rellosa wears on short runs. Its athleisure is worthwhile as well — the Zephyr Pants are what Strategist managing editor Kelsie Schrader commutes to work in.
You can get up to 40 percent off everything at the children’s clothing brand, which is wonderfully gender-neutral and logo free. So the already affordable essentials are even cheaper at the moment — including a recess-ready puffer for just $37 (originally $58), pajamas that are just as comfy as Hanna Andersson’s, a sweet fleece, and some of our favorite kids’ T-shirts and swimwear.
The “nightgown doyenne of Brooklyn Heights” is having her first-ever sleepwear sale. Through Monday, you can get 20 percent off Salter House’s nice-looking nightgowns — including a reproduction of one that owner Sandeep Salter was gifted on her thirteenth birthday. The Lamb and Sisters housedresses make me feel like a Jane Austen heroine.
Ssense is the place to find newer independent designers (like Collina Strada and Cecilie Bahnsen) alongside the established houses (Ferragamo, Dries Van Noten). Predictably, Maison Margiela’s Tabis are going quickly — unpredictably, there’s a robust Vejas selection and Agolde jeans for sale along with Marni kids’ totes (that adults can wear, too).
Target is offering 30 percent off clothing, shoes, and accessories during Black Friday. You can find Levi’s jeans on sale for the same price they’re selling for at Amazon right now, along with cute pants from the kid-friendly Cat & Jack line (its joggers are a favorite of Strategist writer Erin Schwartz). And I’m happy to report that one of our best-in-class pajamas is currently just $15 for a set.
Universal Standard is offering great deals on some of its best-selling basics, like the Seine skinnies, which freelance film writer Maggie Fremont describes as “jeans that make you feel good.” The unitard that Strategist contributor Francine Maroukian wears as an underlayer is almost 50 percent off at the moment. Or go for the Stephanie pants — an old boss of mine would sport them in the office practically weekly. New customers can also get an additional $100 off orders of $200 or more with code STRATEGIST-EXTRA100.
Uniqlo has a whole section dedicated to Black Friday deals — and one of the best bargains is on the wide-leg jeans actress Ayo Edebiri wore at Fenway Park, which are now half off.
The deepest discounts in Zappos’s Black Friday section are on shoes (no real notable clothes deals to report). Your best bet might be to go the off-season route and shop sandals owing to the sheer inventory — a pair of platform Docs are fully stocked in every size and more than 30 percent off at the moment. The in-season boot selection isn’t as good, though I did spot Mary Janes from Free People at a whopping 70 percent off (wear them with some tights.)
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
