Outlet Store - Finding The Best Buys In Footwear - Savings Experiment

No matter what style you're shopping for, shoes are that reliable, pick-me-up purchase. Shopping for footwear can give you an instant lift which is not always true when it comes to buying clothes. (Trying on that cute little black dress after you've put on a few pounds is more torture than fun.)

But with the plethora of shopping choices in stores and online, how can you find the best buys on heels, flats, boots and sporty shoes, too? Here's a guide to help you step into some great footwear deals this summer.

Tap Outlet Stores, Off-Price Chains For Deals

For the big shoe deals in brick-and-mortar stores, scour off-price chains and outlet stores. You'll find a wide selection of brand names and designer shoes for 20% to 60% off department store prices.

While the mix at off-price chains is unpredictable and can be spotty much of the merchandise is department store and supplier overruns the prices can be worth it. A recent trip to a New York City Marshalls , a nationwide off-price chain, turned up a pair of Michael Kors gold sandals for $30, down from its original $90 price tag, as well as dressy pumps from Aerosoles for $29.99, down from $69. (Of all the off-price retailers, Marshalls probably offers the widest shoe assortment.)

You should also tap outlet stores for outsized bargains. If you're a brand loyalist, going to a manufacturer's outlet store , such as Cole Haan or Nine West , is a really smart choice for big discounts, Jody Rohlena, senior editor at Consumer Reports' ShopSmart magazine, told WalletPop. Retail outlets sell merchandise for approximately 25% to 75% below the manufacturers' suggested retail price.

Also check out the outlet divisions of the upscale department stores, such as LastCall , Neiman Marcus's off-price division, and Nordstrom Rack from Nordstrom, a great source for designer shoes at a big discount, Te Smith, vice president of MarkMonitor, a brand protection firm, told WalletPop.

"These outlets have some big markdowns especially for people who are looking for a deal on the high-end brands," Smith says.

And don't forget LastCall.com and NordstromRack.com , pretty much the only department stores that run e-commerce sites for their outlet divisions. A recent visit to LastCall.com turned up a pair of boots for $82.50, "which were originally $330," Smith notes.

"Your shoes have to fit; you can't fudge that," she says. And if you have to return them because they don't, you don't want to get burned by a draconian return policy or exorbitant return shipping charges.