Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend. It was short for some, but 3-day weekends seem to fly by quickest. It was warm and beautiful in Greenville, SC. The bloom of azaleas, dogwoods, and warmer weather are reminders that it is time to update our closets for spring. Luckily, Gaffney Outlet Marketplace reached out to give me a heads up about their incredible “Spring Savings Have Sprung” sales event happening March 23rd through April 8. The outlets always offer 25 to 65 percent savings, but this spring sale will exceed savings of 70%. In addition, shoppers can find sidewalk sales to browse in this sunny weather! There is also an exciting new retailer opening its’ doors this week, Thursday, April 5th, at Gaffney Outlet Marketplace. Continue reading to get those details and read about some of my favorite shops!
Gaffney Outlet Marketplace is easy to find, located right off exit 90 of Interstate 85. The exit is exactly 45 minutes from downtown Greenville, SC and about an hour south of Charlotte, NC. Furthermore, nearly all 360,000 square feet of the outdoor shopping center is accessible through breezeways covered by chic black and white awnings. Growing up, my family shopped for new school clothes at the shops and in recent years, I have loved the outlets’ Black Friday sales. However, as you will see the Spring Savings Have Sprung sales rival those of Black Friday!
Saturday, I stopped in J. Crew Factory, Kate Spade New York, Ann Taylor Factory Store, the Loft, Sunglass Hut Outlet, Pottery Barn Outlet, Adidas, Michael Kors, and Gap Factory. I can spend hours browsing the 75 stores and top retailers. My wishlist is pretty long, but I am hunting for spring denim pieces, shorts, short-sleeve printed blouses, cocktail dresses, and colorful work slacks. Vertical stripes, gingham, florals, cropped pants, denim everything, and scallop detail were notable traits throughout many stores. I found and purchased many items on my wishlist at very happy price points.
J. Crew Factory
My first stop was J. Crew Factory. J. Crew Factory is offering 60% off the entire store and I purchased 5 beautiful items worth $325- for $110.40. J. Crew Factory is a go-to for skirts and slacks, so I targeted the work section first. I bought the lightweight slacks pictured below in both pink and olive. Next, these gold, circular, chandelier earrings caught my eye and are a great addition to my wardrobe. Originally priced at $39.50, I was shocked to only pay $15.80. They are superb quality and have not scratched. I already wore them for Easter and my husband complimented that their clinking reminded him of windchimes, which I love.
Next, I grabbed this shell-fit muscle tank in a flattering shade to try with patterned slacks. Once I realized how well the color accentuated my green eyes, I had to take it home. A denim skirt makes a perfect warm-weather look at any farmers market, concert, or festival this year. I loved how this one was of longer length, perfect stretch, and hugged just right. J. Crew Factory has an array of statement shorts including high-waisted options, bold colors, scallop details, and fun prints. The gingham slides pictured create an excellent casual uniform when paired with denim or a white dress. My husband, Brad, liked a navy suit that was marked to under $300.
Ann Taylor Factory Store
In Ann Taylor Factory Store, coordinated sets, or 2-piece sets, offer the more comfortable look of a dress. In addition, coordinates offer the option to wear together or mixed with other bottom and tops to maximize looks. These sets were available throughout the store. One can add personality to her 9-5 look with the abundant prints offered at Ann Taylor Factory Store. I love the colors in the magnolia-print top that is 50% off.
I fell in love with the black and white windowpane skirt below that was marked to $17, but I needed a size down that was unavailable. Next, the classic grey peplum, square-cut blazer below takes my casual look of the day to an executive level. However, I decided to skip the blazer since I own a similar one at already.
Pottery Barn Outlet
You may have seen on my Instagram stories that we recently invested in new Pottery Barn furniture. I was surprised to see our couch in a different fabric marked to under $1600. We waited months for the “Buy more save more” sale to get this deal while the Pottery Barn Outlet had it priced that low. Many of the outlet pieces are still in store and are simply overstock. The store is so huge that it requires 2 different spaces, so be sure to visit both. I had gift cards from Christmas so my husband and I bought matching white waffle-weave robes. They usually run around $100 each and we bought 2 for $102. The robes are the exact style we have wanted since we went to our first spa together.
Adidas
My husband and I were also both on the hunt for something Adidas, branded with the vintage trefoil flower logo. We purchased matching black logo shirts that are soft and luxurious. Brad stated that he was NOT down to wear them at the same time, but matching is my master plan! All popular styles including Gazelles, Superstars, and trainers were available in many color options. If you do not own a pair of Superstars or Gazelles yet, be sure to grab your favorite version for spring. Finally, the soccer shorts and zip-up pants brought back serious childhood and high school soccer memories.
Kate Spade New York
My last and perhaps most indecisive stop was Kate Spade New York. I purchased a wallet from this store 4 years ago in their opening month. The wallet is still in my purse and in great condition after heavy use and pocketbook abuse. I like to splurge on neutral bags and I turn to Kate Spade New York when I need a pop of color. All bags by the feminine brand are structured and have pretty details. I love this cactus crossbody that releases in about 2 weeks. Check out how I styled my royal blue purse in THIS post from 2017. If you, like me, gravitate toward neutral staples and need to add some color to your closet, I highly recommend Kate Spade New York.
Many people do not know that Kate Spade New York offers apparel. I fell in love with two dresses. I could not decide between the ruffled, floral dress or the indigo denim dress with pockets, both pictured below. Both were marked 70% off the original $350+ cost. Kate Spade New York apparel runs true to size and I wear a 2 in dresses, for reference. I created a poll on my Instagram stories to see which my readers preferred. The poll literally had 48 votes, split 50:50, so my readers are as torn as I am. I plan to make a decision to buy one or the other by Thursday.
H & M
On that note, I am beyond excited to share the latest store opening at Gaffney Outlet Marketplace! H&M has a grand opening set for Thursday, April 5th at 11 AM! I plan to buy several pairs of ripped, distressed jeans in crop and light-wash styles. H&M is well-known internationally for providing fashion-forward trends and quality apparel at affordable prices. When I arrived to a 40-degree rainy Paris on my honeymoon packed with sundresses and a lace cardigan, I was thrilled to find a Barbour-style coat for just 40 Euro (about $50) at H&M. I still carry it in the back of my SUV for surprise chilly days. They have both men and womens’ apparel and some stores offer home decor products.
The brand new H&M is sure to be fully-stocked, be organized, and offer sales on top of their already conscious price-point! Be sure to catch the epic Spring Savings Have Sprung deals extravaganza at Carolina’s main shopping destination before they end Sunday, April 8th. Even after the spring sale ends, Gaffney Outlet Marketplace has 75 popular retailers offering ongoing savings with a convenient location just a hop, skip, and jump from Greenville, Spartanburg, or Charlotte. Finally, follow Gaffney Outlet Marketplace to hear about future sales on their FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or INSTAGRAM.
Retail therapy is an effective way to lift your mood as long as you stick to a budget and consume with intention. With our Pottery Barn gift cards, we spent under $150 and it felt like a shopping spree! The open-air breezeways allowed us to enjoy the beautiful day and soak up some overdue Vitamin D. Comment below or message me on Instagram if you plan to make a trip to the new H&M at Gaffney Outlet Marketplace this weekend. What items are you looking to add to spring up your wardrobe?
With Joy,
Audrey
Thanks to Gaffney Outlet Marketplace for sponsoring today’s post. All opinions are 100% REEL and my own.
Photography is by Tillman Ingram of Tillman Sloan Photography.
