SALES GUIDE: WHERE TO FIND WHAT AND WHEN

WHAT SHOPPERS IN OXFORD STREET WILL BE BUYING IN THE SALES

Neville Bower (27)

paper maker from High Wycombe

`I suppose I might go to the sales. If I do it'll be for clothes but I probably won't come into town specially. I might look at stuff to do with computers though' Ravin Ranji (28)

IT Manager from Lewisham

`I'll definitely go to the sales - I need a video. I know what the prices are and I'm looking for a good one, a Sony or JVC. I'll go to John Lewis, most high-street stores and Selfridges. But I won't be there at the crack of dawn.'

Eileen & Charlie Monteith from Pimlico

`We won't be coming up to Oxford Street for the sales - there are too many people. But we do go to the Army & Navy because it's near home. We'll get Christmas cards for next year and perhaps some decorations. But nothing else.'

Linda Shanks ( 44)

literary and TV agent from Islington

`I will be going on the 1st of January - probably for my chap's Christmas presents, which will mainly be clothes. I'll go to Liberty and Paul Smith if it's on. I might see what Nicole Farhi has to offer.'

Lynda Moylan (22)

community artist from Australia

`I'll look for bras, underwear and cosmetics - things that I can't normally afford. I'm usually an Oxfam shopper, but the sales give me an opportunity to get things I can't otherwise have - can you give me any tips on where to go?'

Fred Morgans (52)

secutiry guard from Camberwell

`I don't know that they are real. Aren't they just a gimmick? Originally, these stores inflate the real price, and the sales prices are just what they should have been in the first place. But I'll probably have a look around'

DEPARTMENT STORES

Debenhams

Starts 27 Dec at branches throughout England and Wales. Scottish branches start 26 Dec. 334-348 Oxford Street, London W1 (0171-580 3000). General customer information 0171-408 3333.

Fenwick

Starts 27 Dec at 63 New Bond Street, London W1 (0171-629 9161) and stores in Brent Cross, Windsor, Leicester, York, Canterbury and Tunbridge Wells. Sale at the large Newcastle branch starts 28 Dec. At Bond Street, Mondi collections will be reduced by 30-50 per cent; Fenn Wright & Manson, Betty Barclay collections by up to 50 per cent, and 30 per cent off Weekend Collections. Reductions at Brent Cross include up to 50 per cent off French Connection, Jacques Vert and Bianca; 50 per cent off leather handbags and selected jewellery by Monet, Ciro and Napier.

Fortnum & Mason

Sale starts 28 Dec at 181 Piccadilly, London W1 (0171-734 8040).

Harrods

Smash-and-grab of the year starts 3 Jan at Knightsbridge, London SW1 (0171-730 1234). Reductions of up to half price are offered throughout the store. Account customers receive an additional 10 per cent off their shopping on day one of the sale. The ladies fashion department offers 40 per cent off Harrods Own Label black single-breasted suit, 30 per cent off Frank Usher and 30 per cent off Jasper Conran dress and occasion wear. For men, up to 50 per cent off silk ties, up to 40 per cent off men's knitwear and lambswool and cashmere scarves. Children get 40 per cent off David Charles dresses, 40 per cent off Sally Membery dresses and 30 per cent off Paul Smith. In china and glass, discounts of 50 per cent on Royal Scott `Melrose' hand-cut lead crystal and 55 per cent off Atlantis `Lyric' full-lead crystal. All those Christmas movies you videoed will look larger than life on a Sanyo CTV 28" Nicam telly, down from pounds 1,299 to pounds 999. If you live outside London, or can't bear the crowds, Harrods is also offering discounts through its new sale catalogue. For a copy, ring 0800 730123, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Harvey Nichols

Starts 27 Dec at 109-125 Knightsbridge, London SW1 (0171-235 5000). The sale is expected to last around three weeks. Account customers get an additional 10 per cent off the sale price for the first four days. Specific bargains are a secret, but expect reductions to be up to 50 per cent off selected items throughout the store.

House of Fraser

Starts 26 Dec in Scotland; 27 Dec in England and Wales. For store sites, ring 0171-963 2236.

Bargains in the cookshop include 40 per cent off Le Creuset cast iron cookware in American green and burgundy and 50 per cent off Judge satin stainless steel cookware. Over at the homewares department, Drifter goosedown duet duvets (9 tog for spring, autumn and 4.5 tog for summer) are half the recommended retail price at pounds 129. Also half price is Romantique embellished bed linen in cream and white, reduced from pounds 70 to pounds 35.

John Lewis Partnership

Clearance sale starts 28 Dec at 278-306 Oxford Street, London W1 (0171- 629 7711) at the following branches - Peter Jones, Sloane Square, John Lewis, Brent Cross, Bainbridge, Newcastle, John Lewis, Cheadle, John Lewis, High Wycombe, John Lewis, Aberdeen and John Lewis, Edinburgh. The sale starts 29 Jan at all other branches including Bonds, Norwich; Cole Brothers, Sheffield; John Lewis, Bristol. Savings around the store of up to 50 per cent. Many bargains in furnishing fabrics, including John Lewis' own brand Jonelle, and china department. Reductions on Royal Doulton, Royal Albert, Portmeirion and Spode `Blue' Italian ranges.

Liberty

Starts 27 Dec at Regent Street, London W1 (0171-734 1234) and branches nationwide. Join the hordes sniffing out fabric bargains such as printed Armani silk down from pounds 89.95 to pounds 25, Liberty printed silk from pounds 14.95 to pounds 10 and Liberty Veruna wool from pounds 22 to pounds 15. Georgina von Etzdorf velvet scarves are down from pounds 95 to pounds 65, English Eccentrics velvet devore scarves from pounds 159 to pounds 109. Liberty print watches with plain faces are reduced from pounds 29.95 to pounds 14.95 and Jean Paul Gaultier jewellery is half price. Pewter-framed mirrors are half price from pounds 59 to pounds 29.

Marks & Spencer

End-of-season clearance will start 27 Dec at branches nationwide. Inquiries (0171-935 4422).

Selfridges

Starts 27 Dec at Oxford Street, London W1 (0171-629 1234). Armchair browsers can check out sale bargains in Selfridges Selection mail order catalogue, available now (0800 101101). The first week is Selfridges' busiest of the year. If you choose to join the 85,000 due through the doors on the first day, expect to find discounts from designer labels, furniture, china to carpets. Ladieswear discounts include Max Mara suits from pounds 305 to pounds 152, Betty Jackson jackets from pounds 315 to pounds 157 and Moschino T-shirts down from pounds 49 to pounds 34. 50 per cent off handbags by DNKY, Fendi and Osprey. Menswear discounts include up to 50 per cent off Hugo Boss, Nicole Farhi and YSL, CK by Calvin Klein. 30 per cent off Paul Smith, Giorgio Armani coats and Polo Ralph Lauren.

CLOTHES

Amanda Wakely

Starts 5 Jan for about two weeks at 80 Fulham Road, London SW3 (0171- 584 4009). Reductions will be 40-80 per cent off, including samples.

Aquascutum

From 27 Dec at 100 Regent Street, London W1 (0171-734 6090. Reductions of 50-75 per cent of selected items.

Austin Reed *

Starts 27 Dec at Regent Street, London W1 (0171-734 6789) and nationwide. Account customers can take advantage of an extra 5 per cent discount on sale prices on the first three days. Selected merchandise discounted by up to 50 per cent including men's wool coats reduced from pounds 279 to pounds 139, wool jackets from pounds 179 to pounds 129. Women's winter coats down from pounds 279 to pounds 139.

Brora

From 5 January to 27 January. At 344 King's Road, London W3 (0171-352 3697). Good discounts on cashmere and tweed. For example, chunky cable cashmere knits down from pounds 225 to pounds 180, cashmere skinny ribs from pounds 150 to pounds 120, tweed jackets from pounds 195 to pounds 145.

Browns

Starts 4 Jan at 23-27 South Molton Street (0171-491 7833). Donna Karan dark camel one-button fitted jacket reduced from pounds 1,180 to pounds 600, matching skirt from pounds 425 to pounds 230. Menswear reductions include Browns Own Label suit pounds 570, reduced to pounds 400.

Chanel

Starts 6 Jan at 26 Old Bond Street, London W1 (0171-493 5040); 31 Sloane Street, London SW1 (0171-235 6631). Reductions on ready-to-wear collections and shoes of about 30 per cent.

Christian Lacroix

Now on at 8a Sloane Street, London SW1 (0171-235 2400) and 29 Old Bond Street, London W1 (0171-409 1994). Discounts of 30 per cent.

Comme des Garcons

Sale now on at 59 Brook Street, London W1 (0171-493 1258).

Reductions of up to 40 per cent off all remaining men's and women's collections including Robes de Chambre, Comme des Garcons Tricot and Junya Watanabe.

French Connection

Now on at 99 Long Acre, London WC2 and branches around the country. General inquiries (0171-580 2507). 30-50 per cent off selected stock.

Herbert Johnson

Starts 4 Jan at 30 New Bond Street, London W1 (0171-408 1174). Reductions of 50 per cent off couture hats, casual hats 25 per cent off and accessories 30 per cent off. Pull-on felt hat down from pounds 105 to pounds 79. Men's hats reduced by up to 60 per cent, a felt trilby is down from pounds 95 to pounds 60.

Hobbs

Now on at Unit 17, The Piazza, Covent Garden, London WC2 (0171-836 9168) and branches nationwide. General customer information 0171-586 5550. Buy your party gear at prices discounted by up to 50 per cent. Strappy stilettoes are reduced from pounds 59.99 to pounds 29.99, ballerina shoes from pounds 28.99 to pounds 19.99, satin cross-over dress from pounds 64.99 to pounds 32.99, boucle flared dress from pounds 49.99 to pounds 29.99 and leopard skirt down from pounds 49.99 to pounds 29.99.

Joseph

Starts 27 Dec. 77 Fulham Road, London SW3 (0171-823 9500) Reductions from 30 per cent off.

Kingshill

This mail-order sale starts 1 Jan. Call 01494 890555. British Designer Collections catalogue pounds 7.50, Diffusion catalogue, pounds 3.50. Phones are staffed from 9am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 6pm Saturday; Sundays 7 and 14 Jan 9.30-4.30pm. Sale of designer fashions by mail order means you don't need to leave your armchair to hunt bargains. Half price on Paul Costelloe, Nicole Farhi, Jasper Conran, Amanda Wakeley.

Laura Ashley

Begins 27 Dec at branches nationwide. Inquiry number 01686 622116. Begins 26 Dec in Scotland. 20-50 per cent off selected items.

Paul Smith

Starts 13 January at 41 Floral Street, WC2 (0171-379 7133). 25 per cent off everything and further reductions on suits.

Racing Green

Starts 27 Dec at 193 Regent Street, London W1 (0171-437 4300), 33 King Street, Manchester (0161-835 2022), Unit F1, Bentall Centre, Kingston- upon-Thames, Surrey (0181-546 2224). Starts 26 Dec at 16 Buchanan Street, Glasgow (0141-226 4114). A sale catalogue can be obtained from 27 Dec on 0345 331177. Reductions on selected men's and women's classic items of 30-60 per cent. Men's corduroy trousers from pounds 39 to pounds 25 (PW605), ladies' wool cashmere hacking jacket down from pounds 115 to pounds 50.

The Scotch House

Starts 27 Dec at 2 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London SW1, 84-86 Regent Street, London W1, and 64 Buchanan Street, Glasgow. Reductions of 30-40 per cent.

on good quality cashmere and wool jumpers, for example a gold buttoned cashmere cardigan reduced from pounds 235 to pounds 169. Enquiries on 0171-581 2151.

SHOP

Now on at Basement, 4 Brewer Street, London W1 (0171 437 1259). 30-50 per cent off Hysteric Glamour, Judy Blame and Gimme 5.

Space NK

Starts 28 Dec at 11am. 41 Thomas Neal's, Earlham Street, London WC2 (0171- 379 7030) 30-40 per cent off designer labels and accessories including Clements Ribeiro, Future Ozbek, Alberto Biani, Soap Studio, Liza Bruce and Fenn Wright & Manson.

Warehouse

Starts tomorrow at 19-21 Argyll Street, London W1 (0171-437 7101) and branches nationwide. Just in time for last-minute Christmas shopping.

Wealth of Nations

From 31 January until stocks last. Up to 60 per cent off discontinued stock, for example Irish cord workshirts from pounds 38 to pounds 20. Mail order from Wealth of Nations, Unit 28, The Talina Centre, Bagleys Lane, London SW6 2BW (0171-371 5333).

SHOES

Church's

Starts 27 Dec at branches throughout the country. Central enquiry number is 01323 649408. Some styles reduced by more than 50 per cent. Church Belini men's shoes down from pounds 199 to pounds 99, ladies' lily-style high-heeled boot reduced from pounds 120 to pounds 60

Dr Martens

Starts 4 Jan (midday) at 1-4 King Street, Covent Garden, London WC2 (0171- 497 1460). Discounts of 25 per cent will be available on selected lines of footwear, clothing and accessories, with possibility of further reductions as the sale progresses.

Jones Bootmakers

Sale starts 27 Dec at branches throughout the country. Enquiry number is 01323-649408.

K Shoes

Started on 17 December at branches nationwide, will continue well into January. Substantial bargains include pounds 15 off lots of boots and men's shoes; up to pounds 20 on selected ladies' shoes.

Pied a terre

Starts 27 Dec at 32 Neal Street, London WC2 (0171 240 8148) and branches nationwide. Reductions include court shoes reduced from pounds 79 to pounds 40, pumps pounds 65 to pounds 30 and long boots from pounds 95 to pounds 50.

Ravel

Starts tomorrow at 184-188 Oxford Street, London W1 and branches nationwide. Mail order and enquiries on 0171-631 0224. Up to 33 per cent off this season's boots, bags and stiletto-heeled shoes.

Red or Dead

Starts 27 Dec at 1 & 23 Thomas Neal's, Earlham Street, London WC2 (0171 240 5576) and branches nationwide. General inquiries (0171-937 3137). Selected stock reduced by 50 per cent. Sixties-style knee-length nylon boots in gold, black or rust reduced from pounds 120 to pounds 60.

Small and Tall Shoe Shop

Sale of women's shoes in large or small sizes. Sale for large sizes (8 1/2-111/2) runs from 27 Dec to 6 Jan. Small sizes (121/2-21/2) will be reduced from 10 Jan to 20 Jan. 71 York Street, London W1 (0171-723 5321). All current stock will be reduced.

HOMES & INTERIORS

B & Q

Starts Boxing Day at branches nationwide. Blanket reductions on several product lines, including 20 per cent off lightbulbs, a third off discontinued kitchens, 25 per cent off selected lawnmowers, strimmers and hedge trimmers and 20 per cent off house plants. Other bargains include a Country Cottage bathroom suite reduced from pounds 595 to pounds 395 and a Style 400 Shower Heater down from pounds 99.99 to pounds 69.99.

The Conran Shop

Starts 6 Jan until 21 Jan at 81 Fulham Road, London SW3 (0171-589 7401). The Conran Shop are also holding a two-day warehouse furniture sale 6 Jan (10am-6.30pm) and 7 (10am-4pm); discounts of half price are promised along with even lower priced bargains. There will be courtesy buses running between the shop and the warehouse (Unit 16, Merton Park Estate, Lee Road, London SW16).

Crucial Trading

Sale starts 28 December, ends 28 February. Fifty per cent reduction on certain floor coverings, including Old School Group Coir (now pounds 6.38 per sq metre) and Candy Stripe Liquorice Sisal (now pounds 11.15 per sq metre). Twenty five per cent off seagrass floorings and a 20 per cent reduction on everything else. Crucial Trading, 77 Westbourne Park Road, London W2 (0171-221 9000) and 4 St Barnabas Street, Pimlico Green, London SW1 (0171-221 9000).

David Mellor

Sale starts 6 Jan for two weeks at 4 Sloane Square, London SW1 (0171- 730 4259). Discounts range from 10 per cent on all standard kitchen merchandise, including kitchen knives and tools, pottery and porcelain, glassware and coffee-makers. 20 per cent off most of the David Mellor range of cutlery. For real bargain-hunters, up to 90 per cent discount on odds and ends of slightly damaged or soiled merchandise. It's worth noting that David Mellor only has a sale once a year.

Designers Guild

Starts 6 Jan until 20 Jan at 267 Kings Road, London SW3 (0171-351 5775). There will also be a warehouse sale on 13-21 Jan at 6 Relay Road, Ariel Way, off Wood Lane, London W12. Reductions on upholstery, bedlinen, cushions, rugs and tableware. Fabric and wallpaper only at the warehouse sale.

The General Trading Company

Starts 6 Jan until 27 Jan at 144 Sloane Street, London SW1 (0171-730 0411) and 27 Dec at 10 Argyle Street, Bath (01225-461507) and 2-4 Dyer Street, Cirencester (01285-652314). Save up to 30 per cent on this clear- out. Selected cushions reduced from pounds 52.10 to pounds 36.47, quilted cotton bedspreads from pounds 180 to pounds 135 and Kelim stools from pounds 640 to pounds 500.

Heal's

Starts 27 Dec at 196 Tottenham Court Road, London W1 (0171-636 1666), 234 King's Road and Tunsgate, Guildford. Look for greatly reduced one- off pieces of furniture that are either shop-soiled, damaged or buyers' samples, along with little luxuries like a Heal's hand-made Avon bed (5') reduced from pounds 2,495 to pounds 1,870.

IKEA

Starts 26 Dec at 2 Drury Way, North Circular Road, London NW10 (0181- 208 5600) and branches in Croydon, Birmingham, Gateshead, Leeds and Warrington. Up to 50 per cent savings throughout the store including black leather three-seat sofa from pounds 335 to pounds 249. Those with ambitious DIY plans for the new year can save 30 per cent on selected kitchens. The grey high- gloss Abstrakt is down from pounds 1,148 to pounds 804.

Jerry's Home Store

At 163 Fulham Road, SW3; Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge, SW1; The Bentall Centre, Kingston-upon-Thames; 57 Heath Street, Hampstead, NW3. Rather than having a regular sale, Jerry's are promoting particular "Smart Buys" in January and February, reducing the prices of classic American kitchen and home wares. For example, there's 24 per cent off the American Diner "Gibraltar" tumbler (now pounds 2.25), 34 per cent off their white rag rug, now pounds 5.95; 27 per cent off their popcorn popper, now pounds 19.95. Customers are invited to telephone 0171-581 0909 for a catalogue.

Miscellanea

Starts 28 December, ends 13 January. At Crossways, Church, Farnham, Surrey (01428 714014). Sells decorative bathroom and kitchen objects. Some massive discounts, including marble bathroom suits reduced from pounds 2,500 to pounds 800.

Natural Flooring Direct Starts 3 January. Sell flooring by mail order from Natural Flooring Direct, PO Box 8104, London SE16 4ZA (0800 454 721). Ten per cent off all stock, plus free fitting, free underlay and free sight survey. For example, coir natural panama reduced from pounds 16.99 sq metre to pounds 15.30, wool boucle reduced from pounds 20.99 a sq metre to pounds 18.99.

Nice Irma's

Starts 8 Jan at 46 Goodge Street, London W1 (0171-580 6921). Discounts of up to 50 per cent off a large range of iron and brass candlesticks and off selected fabrics. Price of plaid fabric halved to pounds 6.30.

The Pier

Runs from 28 Dec until 21 Jan at stores around the country. Customer inquiries 0171-351 7100. Christmas merchandise is reduced to clear. Other merchandise at half price or less includes china ranges, marble kitchen ware, selected terracotta and a range of vases.

The Pukka Palace

Sale starts 28 December, ends 28 January. Twenty per cent off their Anglo- Indian furniture and accessories, such as leather safari suitcases, solar topis and iron candlesticks. Pukka Palace, 174 Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 (0171-234 0000).

Purves & Purves

Starts 27 Dec at 80-81 and 83 Tottenham Court Road, London W1 (0171-580 8223). Up to 40 per cent off ex-display and discontinued lines. Special orders will be reduced by 10 per cent on items over pounds 500. Rhode Design

Starts 23 December at 65 Cross Street, London N1 (0171-354 9933). Ten per cent of all ranges of mdf kitchen furniture, eg. 60cm wall cupboard reduced from pounds 195 to pounds 175.50.

SCP

From 6 to 27 January. At 135-139 Curtain Road, London EC2 (0171-739 1869). Designer furniture and accessories by Jasper Morrison, Matthew Hilton, Le Corbusier, Mies Van Der Rohe ... Discounts of up to 50 per cent on shop floor models, and 15 per cent off any other furniture ordered during the sale.

Victoria & Albert Museum Shop

Starts 8 January at Cromwell Road, London SW7 (0171-938 8468). Up to 75 per cent off selected lines of replica glasses, plates, cups and saucers, platters, goblet and contemporary-style vases. Also 50 per cent off selected items of V&A jewellery and fashion accessories including earrings, brooches, cufflinks, silk waistcoats and ties.

MISCELLANEOUS

The Body Shop

Lasts from 26 Dec until 13 Jan at branches nationwide. Customer services 01903-731500.

Buyers & Sellers

120-122 Ladbroke Grove, London W10 (0171-229 1947) Dial-a-bargain sale of domestic appliances runs from 27 Dec until 31 Jan. The idea is that you name the item - brand, model number and ring up for a sale price quotation. Special offers include Neff table dishwashers pounds 189, De Dietrich stainless steel gas hobs pounds 117.

The Charleston Shop and Gallery

Sale 6 and 7 Jan, 12-5pm. Charleston Gallery/shop, Charleston, near Firle, Lewes, East Sussex (01323-811626). Everything will be reduced by 25-50 per cent. Some seconds of Quentin Bell's ceramics will be available to purchase.

Mulberry Hall

Runs 4 Jan until 3 Feb at Stonegate, York (01904-620736). Splash out on famous names such as Wedgwood, Spode and Royal Worcester at discounts of 30 per cent while seconds in Royal Doulton, Minton and Royal Crown Derby are half the normal price. A dinner service for 10 in Spode's `Chancellor Cobalt' design is reduced from pounds 2,395 to pounds 1,595. A tea set for 10 in the same design is reduced from pounds 1,235 to pounds 825.

Olympus

Now on at 301 Oxford Street, London W1 (0171-409 2619) and at stores nationwide. Discounted goods include the Kastle bike Degree 3.5 - was pounds 299.99, now pounds 240. Nike ladies' air total body trainers are down from pounds 59.99 to pounds 44.99.

Snow + Rock

Starts 27 Dec through to the end of Jan at 188 Kensingon High Street, London W8 (0171-937 0872) and branches nationwide. Savings of 10 per cent off all accessories and ski boots with selected items substantially reduced.

Tridias

From 1 January to 14 February. At 124 Walcot Street, Bath (01255 469455) and OTHER SHOPS??. Up to 50 per cent off good quality toys. Fro example, puppet theatre reduced from pounds 17.99 to pounds 12.99, wooden Timba game from pounds 9.95 to pounds 6.99, crystal radio from pounds 6.95 to pounds 5.95. Postage & packing for mail- order sale items will be reduced to pounds 1.95.