A $70 summer dress marked down to $18. That’s not hypothetical—it’s what August clearance looks like when retailers stop promoting sales and just start slashing prices to clear shelf space for fall inventory.
Here’s what that means practically: right now is one of the genuinely good moments to buy clothes, not because some marketing team declared it a sale event, but because stores have a real problem. Summer stock is sitting. Fall boxes are arriving at loading docks. Something has to go, and that something is priced to move fast. I’ve spent the past few days clicking through clearance sections so you don’t have to, and the deals are real.
Why August Beats Prime Day
Nobody talks about August as a shopping window. That’s exactly why it works. When retailers run an ‘official’ sale event, they promote it, which drives traffic, which means inventory evaporates within hours and you’re left fighting for a size medium in a color you don’t even want. August clearance is different—quieter, less picked-over, and the discounts can hit 60% or higher because the alternative is boxing everything up and warehousing it for next year. Nordstrom’s women’s section right now has tees starting around $15 and dresses down 50%. Gap is running 50-60% off most categories. Target’s A New Day brand, which people underestimate, is marked down hard and the basics are genuinely solid. The other thing worth saying: you don’t need a membership for any of this. No credit card signup, no subscription tier, no password. You just shop.
Classic denim is always marked down during seasonal transitions—look for straight-leg and high-waist cuts that work year-round
End-of-summer dress clearance is aggressive right now—grab lightweight styles for late-summer weekends and early fall layering
Basics are the unsung heroes of clearance sales—stock up on white tees, tanks, and simple layers that work with everything
Where’s the action right now?
Retailers doing category-specific deals—not just blanket 30% off everything—are where the actual value is hiding this week. Nordstrom is in full clearance mode and the selection is genuinely chaotic, which sounds like a complaint but isn’t; dig around and you’ll find things that didn’t sell simply because they weren’t promoted, not because anything is wrong with them. Gap is where I’d go first for denim and basics—their clearance section specifically, not the main sale page. Old Navy has aggressive discounting on workwear and travel basics that I’d normally overlook, but right now the prices are hard to argue with. Macy’s is running tiered discounts where spending more unlocks a higher percentage off, which is worth knowing if you’re planning to buy several things anyway.
Workwear and blazers are on sale now—grab structured pieces for fall and winter that’ll work for years
Georgette, Women’s Deep Blue Plaid Tailored Blazer Large Georgette $349
Leggings always have stock during clearance—look for high-waist styles and neutral colors that pair with everything
Nikka Place, Women’s Long Stretchy Black Skirt With High Waist And Pockets XXL… $392
Lightweight cardigans are perfect for layering—grab them now before they’re picked over for fall
Brazeau Tricot, Women’s Pima Cotton Cardigan multi US 2 (XS) female $167 (58% OFF — was $398)
Shorts are being cleared to make room for fall items—stock up on styles that work for travel and casual weekends
Calvin Klein, Women’s Linen Blend Relaxed Denim Bermuda Shorts $53.55 (55% OFF — was $119)
The stores people keep sleeping on
Big-name retailers get the traffic, which means they get picked over fastest. There are quieter options worth knowing about.
Everlane runs a rotating ‘choose what you pay’ section on select items—basically a flash sale with no end date announced, so you have to check back. When the good stuff comes up, it goes fast. Banana Republic is doing 60% off their entire sale section right now, which sounds normal until you realize their basics and workwear are genuinely well-constructed; I’ve had Banana Republic blazers outlast things I paid twice as much for at trendier stores. H&M has clearance marked down 70-80% in spots, but you have to filter by ‘sale’ then sort by lowest price or you’ll miss it entirely. Uniqlo rarely does real sales, but they’re clearing seasonal items right now—their full-price basics are hard to justify, but on clearance they make a lot more sense.
Tank tops and basic layering pieces are deeply discounted during clearance—grab multiples for fall layering
Active basic, Women’s Cotton Crochet Crop Tank Top red Large female $28 (12% OFF — was $32)
Summer skirts are being cleared—look for styles that transition to fall with layering and boots
Elan, Linen Summer Maxi Skirt green Medium female $79 (21% OFF — was $100)
Linen pants are perfect for late summer and early fall—grab them now before fall inventory takes over
PCFG, Daydreamers Linen Casual Pant beige Large female $118 (60% OFF — was $295)
Buy summer clothes now, even though summer’s ending?
Yes. Here’s the case for it.
Late August and September are warm in most of the country—shorts weather, sundress weather, linen-shirt weather. That alone makes buying summer clearance reasonable. But beyond the next six weeks, there’s a longer play: a linen dress at $18 lives in your closet until next June, and you’ll wear it then having paid $18 instead of $60. I do this every year with basics. A few summers ago I grabbed four cotton tees from Madewell’s August clearance for under $10 each, and I’m still wearing two of them. Actually, that’s not quite right—I’m wearing three of them, the fourth eventually became a painting shirt, which is maybe its own kind of win. Shorts are worth grabbing too, especially if you travel anywhere warm over the winter or live somewhere that doesn’t really have a cold season.
Linen shorts are perfect for late-summer transitions—grab lightweight styles in neutral tones
Calvin Klein, Women’s Linen Blend Short Sleeve Classic Shirt $59.4 (40% OFF — was $99)
Sundresses are heavily discounted—buy them now for late summer and pack them for winter travel
Helly Hansen, Women’s Adore Lightweight Puffy Parka Navy XS $345
Crop tops and summer tops are being cleared—grab them for layering and late-summer weekends
Aora Athletics, Brown Miho Eco-Friendly Half Zip Sweater For Women $84 (19% OFF — was $104)
Linen shirts transition beautifully to fall—grab them now at summer clearance prices
PrettyLittleThing, Dark Chocolate Linen Look Drop Shoulder Beach Shirt $28.5
Squeeze more out of every purchase
Stack discounts when the retailer lets you. Gap, Target, and Nordstrom all frequently allow a promo code on top of an existing clearance price—check the fine print, but a 15% email-signup code on top of 40% off is real money saved, not a rounding error. Price history tools like Honey and CamelCamelCamel (the latter is mostly for Amazon) let you confirm whether an ‘original price’ is genuine or inflated; during clearance season this matters less, but it’s a good habit. Sign up for retailer emails if you’re planning to spend more than $50 anywhere—the exclusive codes they send to subscribers are actually worth something right now, unlike most of the year when they’re just noise. Shop Tuesday or Wednesday, not the weekend; clearance inventory refreshes mid-week at most retailers, and by Saturday the good sizes in popular colors are already gone. Finally, check return policies before you buy, not after, because something can look great on a product page and fit completely wrong, and you want to know your options before you’re stuck with it.
Lightweight jackets bridge summer and fall—grab them on clearance for year-round layering
Lightweight sweaters are transitional pieces—buy them now and wear them immediately through fall
Oui, Crew Neck Pullover Sweater multi US 12 (L) female $163 (45% OFF — was $295)
Black jeans are a year-round staple—grab multiple fits while clearance prices are this low
KanCan, Judith High Rise Faux Leather Skinny Straight Leg Jeans black 27″… $52 (22% OFF — was $67)
Casual button-ups work for work and weekends—stock up on neutral colors and versatile styles
Inventory moves. The specific dress or pair of jeans that’s marked down today might genuinely be gone by Thursday—not because I’m trying to pressure you, but because that’s how clearance works when stock is finite and prices are low enough to actually move product. Shop when you see something you want, not when you’ve talked yourself into it three days later.
My honest take: August clearance is better than most ‘official’ sale events, and the fact that nobody markets it that way is exactly what makes it worth paying attention to. Skip the hype, go straight to the clearance sections, shop mid-week, and buy things you’d actually wear at full price—just not at full price.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are clothing sales after Prime Day actually worth shopping?
Yes, and arguably more so than Prime Day itself. August is when retailers quietly slash prices to move summer inventory before fall stock arrives—no membership required, no competing with flash-sale crowds.
Which retailers have the best clothing clearance right now?
Nordstrom, Gap, and Target are running the deepest discounts this week. Banana Republic’s clearance section is underrated—60% off and the quality holds up. H&M updates its sale section constantly, so check back every few days.
Should I buy summer clothes on clearance even if summer is almost over?
Absolutely. A linen dress at $18 lives in your closet until next June. Late August and September are still warm across most of the country, and if you’re planning any winter travel somewhere sunny, summer clearance is exactly where to shop.
What’s the best day of the week to shop clothing sales?
Tuesday or Wednesday. Most retailers refresh clearance inventory mid-week. By Saturday, the good sizes in popular colors are gone. Shopping early in the week gives you first pick.
Can I stack coupon codes with clearance prices?
Often, yes. Gap, Target, and Nordstrom frequently allow a promo code on top of an existing sale price. Check the fine print, but a 15% email-signup code combined with 40% off clearance adds up fast.
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