As a girl who loves to shop, Black Friday is like the Super Bowl to me. There are always so many amazing deals for all the clothes and items that I want to buy, and with all the discounts that get applied, I feel like I’m saving money no matter how much I actually spend. This level of “girl math” always leaves me with less money in my bank account than I expected, but fully prepared for the holiday season and the rest of the school year.
THE HISTORY OF BLACK FRIDAY
In the United States, Black Friday is on the Friday immediately following Thanksgiving, which is November 27th this year. It marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season, with major sales and deals on everything from clothing to home appliances. The name “Black Friday” originated in Philadelphia in the 1950s to describe the day after Thanksgiving. The city was always facing traffic jams and pedestrian crowds, due to people flooding the city to shop and attend the big Army-Navy football game on Saturday. This put a pretty negative spin on the term. However, in the 1980s, Retailers reclaimed the term and rebranded it, turning the narrative towards businesses moving their profits out of the “red” and into the “black” through major holiday sales. Commercialization in the 2000s cemented the tradition of early morning shopping and doorbuster deals into a Thanksgiving weekend staple.
In recent times, Black Friday saw another new transformation through the rise of the digital world. Growing improvements in technology brought about the invention of Cyber Monday, with major technology discounts for holiday shoppers. And now, as people lose the frantic fervor for physical holiday shopping in stores, many Black Friday deals have moved online.
MY RECOMMENDATIONS
I am personally a massive fan of online shopping, and Black Friday is one of my favorite times of year. Black Friday has recently transformed into what is basically “Black November,” with deals that can last all month long, so here are some of my college girl recommendations for what to look out for during your holiday shopping!
FOR THE SPORTY GIRLS
For all the gym girlies out there, there are so many great deals that will be running this month and on Black Friday itself. The biggest to note are 30% off ALO clothing for all members, which is super easy to sign up for with your email! Along with that, Lululemon and Nike are both doing up to 60% off, and Garage has a 50% bogo deal! These are great places to grab new stylish work out clothes for the gym or pilates, or just to wear on the way to class. My favorite sports bras and leggings are from Lululemon and ALO, and Nike and Garage are a great place to shop for your basics like sporty tank tops and sweatpants.
FOR THE BEAUTY INFLUENCERS
So many makeup brands are participating in major sales. The best I’ve seen so far is Huda Beauty, which is doing 80% off sitewide! Similarly, the beauty retailers like Ulta and Sephora are having discounts of 50% off of select items, depending on brand. This can be a great time to restock on any makeup you’re running low on, as well as buy goodies to give to your friends and family. I personally love to stock up on little holiday gifts for family and friends with small items like skin care, lipglosses, and perfumes!
FOR THE BEACH BABES
As a student at UCSB, located right on the ocean, one can never have too many swimsuits. Last year, I got so many amazing bikinis on Black Friday from Dippin’ Daisy’s, which currently has a 30% Early Black Friday, and is starting its 50% off sale in just a few days. While their deals haven’t been released yet, last year Frankie’s Bikinis had a 20% off early access sale, and up to 70% off sale items soon Black Friday itself, and deals will likely be similar this year! Adding a new bikini to your rotation can be so great, especially if you’re planning a Winter or Spring Break trip to somewhere warm!
FOR THE STYLE GURUS
And finally, for those just looking to increase their wardrobe, here are some amazing stylish deals on their way. Princess Polly is 30% off everything for the girls shopping for cute new dresses for the year. Zara and Aritzia are both up to 50% off so you can stock up on clothes and accessories for effortlessly chic looks! Uggs and Skims will both be 30% off. And finally, at Aerie, they are having a major sale of 30-50% their entire store, and if you add your student discount you can get up to 15% off on top of that! All of these stores are a great place to shop for new fall and winter additions to your wardrobe like new sweaters and fluffy boots.
I love Black Friday, and I think it has been overlooked in recent years with the digital shift in American retail and death of the shopping mall experience. Black Friday is undergoing a technological revolution with the rise of online shopping that makes it much more appealing to the younger generation, and I am all for it. There are so many amazing deals to be found if you know where to look, and they can be a great way to add to your wardrobe, restock on makeup you might be running low on, and prepare gifts for family and friends for the holidays!
If you want more help preparing for your Black Friday shopping spree, go read Mia Medina’s article from Montclair State University!