Lilly Pulitzer Pants, Off-the-Shoulder Top and Baby Shift (After Party Sale has been scheduled! See below for details.) / Very Troubled Child Nautical Weekender c/oLands’ End Bedding c/o (Also love this duvet, and this one, this one and this one.) / Birch Lane Night Stands (Long dresser and tall dresser also available, which we have. I also love these night stands!) / L.L.Bean Bed and Rug c/o / Target Gingham Sheets (But in love with these, these, these and these.) / Similar Chinoiserie Lamps (And currently obsessed with this one! My friend Mackenzie’s store is my favorite place to score awesome Chinoiserie, by the way!) / Birch Lane Bench

First of all, please excuse the grainy photos featured this post. (Can we just say they’re “artsy” and call it a day?!) We shot them right after the sun when down, and the room was nearly pitch black. I’m constantly amazed at what tripods can accomplish. (Fun fact: I shot these photos in even darker conditions. This is my favorite tripod!)

Secondly, we’ve yet to decorate the master bedroom. When construction was completed last spring, I just didn’t have it in me. But I’m ready! Do you have any suggestions? I know we need to hang art over the bed, place some plants around the room, and get some pillows for the bench. But all other recommendations are welcomed!

Anyway, if you missed it, the Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale is scheduled for tomorrow, January 5th, at 8 a.m. ET and it’ll run until Friday, January 6th at 1 p.m. ET. ARE YOU READY?! Okay, that sounded intense. It’s just a sale. It’s also January, and you really can’t wear Lilly in January unless you’re going on vacation or live in the South. (If you live in the South, will you adopt me? PLEASE?) But this is one of the biggest sales of the season, and it’s the only sale that’ll get you discounted Lilly in time for spring/summer, as the other sale occurs in August. (Plus, there’s usually a lot of cold-weather wear offered during the January sale, too!)

So let’s get right to it:

Kelly’s Tips for Shopping the Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale:

Know how the sale works

Just like last year, the sale will feature a “virtual line,” in an effort to avoid site crashes and to ensure that everyone gets the chance to shop. When you arrive at the site, you’ll receive a number and a wait time, even if you arrive right on time. Once you’re in, you can shop until you check out. Once you check out, though, you’ll be placed at the back of the virtual line again. It’s pretty simple!

Yes: it might sound a little stressful, too. But it’s worked extremely well in the past. And those crazy high “wait time” numbers? They’re not as bad as one might think. The line goes very quickly, and you’re in before you know it, with TONS of merchandise left to shop. I also like that the virtual line prevents shoppers from going crazy and emptying their bank accounts.

Also, keep in mind that all sales are final. Everything does, however, ship free!

Log into (or create) a Lilly account NOW

Create a Lilly account or, if you already have one, look over your billing address, shipping address, and credit card/PayPal information ahead of time, and then double check them. The site will be down from 6:30 am ET until kickoff time for sale preparation, so best to set it all up now. I recommend pre-loading both your credit card and PayPal info, as it’s possible one payment method will work better than the other. (Though last year, both worked excellently!)

Leave the window open, and simply hit “refresh”–over and over again, haha–right before go time. Once you get in, don’t close the browser, or else you’ll lose your spot in line!

Set an alarm

The sale will start at 8 a.m. ET, so if you’re elsewhere in the country like I am, account for that. (Anyone else a monster in the morning? Thank goodness I have Emma. She’s slowly helping me come to kind of like mornings!) I also recommend all the coffee in the world.

Remember that you can use multiple devices

I had zero problems on my laptop last year (all hail the virtual line!), but you can also shop on any internet-capable device. If you can’t be at your computer at the time of the sale, for example, utilize that iPhone! :)

Narrow your search–quickly–by size and price

On the upper right-hand corner of Lilly’s site, you’ll probably see two options: “sort by” and “narrow by.” There’s no use in wasting your time looking at products that aren’t available in your size, so click “narrow by” and select “size” first. During online sales, I tend to then click on “sort by” and select “price – low to high” next. But everyone has her own method.

Know your size

Lilly sizing is pretty consistent, but from time to time, certain pieces–like the brand’s shifts, for example–run large or small. (FYI, I typically go one size down in Lilly shifts.) If you don’t own many Lilly pieces or are at a complete loss, do your research beforehand by reading product reviews and visiting fitting rooms. If you don’t live near a Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store, try department stores–like Nordstrom–that carry the brand. TrueFit is also a GREAT option. Click on an item and select “Find Your True Fit” right above the sizes options. (There’s a little red “T” to the left of it.) It works!

Act fast

Just because a product is in your cart doesn’t mean it’s yours. Sizes go quickly during the sale, and products sell out fast. If you’re over-the-moon in love with a particular item and you have to have it, check out immediately. Shipping is free, so you can place multiple orders guilt-free. (BUT REMEMBER: Once you check out, you’re placed at the back of the virtual line. So that particular item needs to be really awesome.)

Check other major sites for deals

This is a big one! Other retailers, like Nordstrom, Zappos, 6pm.com, and Amazon, will put a lot of their Lilly stuff on major sale tomorrow, too. I’ve found some of the best deals on those sites, so be sure to check ’em on sale day! (This is also a great thing to do while you wait to be let into the sale.)

Realize that certain parts of the ordering process might run slowly

In the past, this is how it’s worked: After you order, you should receive a confirmation e-mail within a few hours. (Not immediately!) Next, your order will appear as “processing” as it’s being selected and packed up. After that, the order is marked as “shipped.” While this process normally takes two to three days, it might be completed faster or much slower during the sale. Some people receive order confirmation emails immediately, while others see them a few hours later… and some people receive their products within a day or two, while others see their orders two or three weeks later. It’s normal! You can check your order status here.

Be understanding if the site experiences problems

Like I said, Lilly will likely be working to prepare the site ahead of time, and this virtual line thing helps a LOT. But stuff happens. If you see the cute “Oh Shift” message or a notification that you’re “in line,” it’s probable that a good deal of other people are seeing that, too. An influx of traffic can do that to any site. Last year, I didn’t see any problems, but if something happens, be patient and understanding. No need to get ugly and send nasty Tweets or post mean comments on Lilly’s Facebook… it’s super nice that the company is doing this in the first place! :)

Know what you’re looking for and set a budget

It’s pretty easy to get caught up in the excitement of a really good sale, but it’s also important that you don’t empty your bank account and buy things you don’t need. For example, I personally just invested in a new work tote/baby bag, so I’m trying to be good. Maybe a couple of things, but nothing crazy! Need a dress for an upcoming event, and that’s it? Then stick to that. Would you have serious regret if you spent over a certain amount of money? Then know what that number is, and don’t go over it.

Follow Lilly’s Facebook and Twitter accounts for “Fan-Only Flash Sales,” and check the site regularly for new products

Lilly usually adds a few new products throughout the sale, and provides a link to them–along with updates about the sale–through the brand’s social media accounts. Use ’em!

Check Lilly Pulitzer Signature Stores for products

They’re allowed to participate in the sale as well, but Lilly fans often forget to check in with them. Because of this, they often have some of the best stuff, long after products sell out online! Signature Stores open at 10 a.m.

See Lilly’s tips for shopping the sale

They’re pretty good, too. ;)

Do the right thing

I’m not a huge fan of people buying up a ton of stuff during these sales just to turn around and sell it all on eBay for a profit. If something doesn’t fit you, fine. Sell or trade it. (Re-Lilly is a great option.) But it kind of takes the fun out of the sale when people use it simply to make money. Just think of the joy you got out of your first Lilly dress. Don’t you want some girl out there to have that same magical experience?

Don’t be crazy

If you can’t be at your computer or on a mobile device at the start time, it’s not the end of the world. (I’ve actually scored some great pieces toward the end of the sale!) I’m certainly not going to judge if you feel compelled to call out of work so that you can have first pick or employ your family members and friends to “divide and conquer,” but remember to stay grounded. ;) It’s just a sale. While they’re rare, this one won’t be the last. Like I mentioned before, there’s typically another one that occurs in August. Plus, there are other ways to find deals on Lilly! RueLaLa will likely have a sale shortly after the After Party Sale, too.

GOOD LUCK!

Anything I missed? Weigh in below!

Shop the post:

Lilly Pulitzer Pants, Off-the-Shoulder Top and Baby Shift / Very Troubled Child Nautical Weekender c/oLands’ End Bedding c/o (Also love this duvet, and this one, this one and this one.) / Birch Lane Night Stands (Long dresser and tall dresser also available, which we have. I also love these night stands!) / L.L.Bean Bed and Rug c/o / Target Gingham Sheets (But in love with these, these, these and these.) / Similar Chinoiserie Lamps (And currently obsessed with this one! My friend Mackenzie’s store is my favorite place to score awesome Chinoiserie, by the way!) / Birch Lane Bench

Current Lilly faves: