MY DEARIES, it is time for the ugly truth.
As much as yours truly loves snagging a great deal, the disgusting sight of people clawing away at heaps of bargains is enough to make me swear off sales.
How undignified!
But with the economy still on wobbly legs, every savvy fashionista worth her weight in gold (cards) knows there is no better time than the GSS to cop a few monster bargains.
So I plied my BFFs in the industry — fashion editors, retailers and diehard shopaholics — with bubbly and got them to spill the beans on how they have become masters of the sales.
For starters, why bother joining the scrum at the discount bins?
Simply look under display wagons and behind clothes racks for gems that others may have stashed away.
Apparently, that's where many undecided shoppers hide their shortlisted goodies while they wrestle with their conscience and wallet.
I cannot imagine how anyone could bear to lay down her hard-fought treasures, but as long as you are not snatching stuff out of someone else's hands a la Becky Bloomwood of Confessions Of A Shopaholic, I say it is fair game.
You can also try your luck at the return racks in dressing rooms, which can be a real goldmine especially if you can't find the desired size on the shelves.
Unfortunately, one of the dangers of sale shopping is that you risk running into someone else in the same bargain outfit as you at one point or other.
So, besides hitting the usual high-street labels, make it a point to check out indie boutiques in areas like Club Street and Haji Lane as well to sniff out under-the-radar brands.
To boost your chances of unearthing gems at these places, join their mailing lists or Facebook pages to get sale alerts.
Finally, here's a tip that takes the cake — go shopping before the sale starts.
Most department stores, including Isetan, Robinsons and Tangs, hold sale previews for their card holders.
Savvy shoppers hit the stores the day before the preview to pick out their buys, reserve them and return the next day to lap up the discounts.
Now, is that a smart move or what?