six of the best bargains

THE SALES

1 The Kingshill Collection: Paddy Campbell suit, down from pounds 411 to pounds 205 This fuchsia tweed suit is a bargain indeed. Kingshill sells designer clothes mail-order, and is selling various things at 50 per cent off in their sale. For example, an ice-blue merino/angora Amanda Wakeley cowl neck tunic down from pounds 297 to pounds 148.50 or a Four Seasons parka reduced from pounds 145 to pounds 72.50. For details see below

2 Crucial Trading: seagrass matting down 25 per cent Carpet looking shabby? Fancy started the new year with a new floor covering? Crucial Trading has made substantial reductions on its coir, jute and sisal floorings. Trendy seagrass is down 25 per cent, but others have 50 per cent off, including Barley Twist Sisal (now pounds 11.15 per sq m) and Old School Group Coir (now pounds 6.38).

3 The Conran Shop: Fenice sofa, from pounds 1555.70 to pounds 775 Not only is The Conran Shop having a regular sale, it is having a two- day warehouse furniture sale on 6 and 7 January, where there will be discounts of 50 per cent and even lower. The store is laying on courtesy buses from the shop to the warehouse in SW16

4 Racing Green: men's jacket down from pounds 125 to pounds 50 Racing Green, the classic casuals people, are offering discounts of 30 to 60 per cent on much of their stock. This men's wool/cashmere Doncaster jacket is a particularly good find; women's hacking jackets are also reduced from pounds 115 to pounds 50. Men's brightly coloured corduroy trousers are being reduced from pounds 39 to pounds 25

5 Harrods: ostrich tote bag, from pounds 135 to pounds 80, and zip-top bag, from pounds 115 to pounds 69 They say "There Is Only One Sale", and they do have a point: Harrods has some terrific bargains. For example: 40 per cent off a Harrods Own Label black single-breasted women's suit; men's single-breasted cashmere coats reduced from pounds 675 to pounds 375; 50 per cent off Harrods silver photo frames. But can you bear the crush?

6 David Mellor, 20 per cent off cutlery The smart person's kitchen shop only has one sale a year, and there are some substantial reductions. Up to 90 per cent on assorted slightly damaged kitchen equipment, 20 per cent off most cutlery and 10 per cent off most other tools, crockery and gadgets. Worth a visit by serious bargain hunters and those who were planning to buy some new spaghetti tongs anyway.