If you’re a clothes horse – or even if you’re not – you may have noticed that the shirts, pants, sweaters, and dresses you want probably cost more than they did a year ago. In fact, the Consumer Price Index report released last month showed a 2.7% increase in apparel from last September to this one. With the Christmas shopping season right around the corner, that’s bad news — but  there are optimal times to buy clothing. Follow these guidelines and you can save a lot of money. The best day of the week to buy clothing online The answer depends on what you are looking for. ShopItToMe.com, a San Francisco company that analyzes more than 750,000 sales items a year from more than 200 online retailers. By running averages, the company found the following patterns: ■ Mondays: Shoppers can save nearly 50% on men’s and women’s dress pants, and about 55% on sunglasses. ■ Tuesdays: Expect to save more than 40% on men’s apparel. ■ Wednesdays: Shoppers save about 40% on shoes and children’s clothes. ■ Thursdays: Save 36% on handbags. ■ Fridays: Pay 42% less for jewelry, belts and scarves. ■ Saturdays: Lingerie (37% off) and jackets/outerwear (51% off). ■ Sundays: Swimsuits (52% off). The best day of the year to buy clothing Dec. 26. The day after Christmas is the first day of the best sales week of the year for clothes. If you’re willing to fight through the hoards of shoppers who are returning unwanted gifts, you can find the best deals and the best selection. Wait until Dec. 27 or Dec. 28, and the clothes will have been picked through. (MORE: Time It Right: Sweet Spot Emerges for Snagging Best Holiday Gift Deals) During other seasons, Thursday evenings are the best time and day of the week to buy clothing — especially about six weeks after items arrive in stores. If clothes haven’t sold about six weeks after they arrive in stores, managers start lowering the prices. These sales often occur as part of weekend sales, which often … Continue reading The Best Times to Buy Clothing