
Navigating the AllSaints Sale: An Insider’s Handbook to East London Cool
There is a specific uniform associated with the cobbled streets of East London. It is a look that manages to be simultaneously dishevelled and impeccably tailored, blending industrial grit with high-end luxury. At the heart of this aesthetic lies AllSaints. Since its inception in the mid-90s, the brand has shifted from a boutique menswear label to a global powerhouse of monochromatic attitude. However, achieving that coveted “off-duty rockstar” look often comes with a steep price tag, particularly when it comes to their signature leather goods. This is why the all saints sale is not merely a retail event; for many British fashion enthusiasts, it is a strategic operation.
Unlike high-street giants that churn out trends weekly, AllSaints operates on a slower, more deliberate frequency. Their pieces are designed to last, to weather, and to look better with age. Consequently, when prices drop, the competition heats up. This isn’t about grabbing a cheap t-shirt you’ll wear once; it’s about acquiring investment pieces—the biker jackets, the heavy military boots, the deconstructed knitwear—at a fraction of the cost. To navigate the sale successfully, one must understand not just what to buy, but when to buy it and how to distinguish between a fleeting trend and a future classic.
The Holy Grail: Leather Investments
Let’s address the elephant in the room—or rather, the ram skull on the wall. The primary reason most people type “all saints sale” into their search bar is leather. The brand has built its reputation on the biker jacket, and for good reason. The leather is buttery, the hardware is substantial, and the cuts are iconic.
The Balfern, The Dalby, and The Cargo

If you are browsing the sale rails (virtual or physical), you need to know your models. The Balfern is the quintessential biker: belted hem, asymmetrical zip, and epaulettes. It is rarely heavily discounted in core colours (black), but seasonal shades often see reductions of up to 40%. The Dalby offers a cleaner, more minimalist silhouette without the belt, often preferred by those who want a jacket that transitions easily from day to night. The Cargo adds a vintage, washed aesthetic that looks like you’ve already owned it for a decade.
During a sale, do not be afraid of colour. While a black jacket is a staple, AllSaints excels in muted, earthy tones—slate greys, deep burgundies, moss greens, and dusty pinks. A slate grey leather jacket purchased at 50% off is a far smarter buy than a full-price black one if it integrates well with your wardrobe. These colours act as neutrals and often age beautifully, developing a unique patina over time.
Sizing Logic
One of the biggest pitfalls of buying sale items—especially online—is sizing. Leather stretches. When you first try on a biker jacket, it should feel snug, almost uncomfortably so, across the shoulders and chest. If you buy a sale jacket that fits perfectly loose the moment you put it on, it will likely be too big within six months of wear. When shopping the sale, stick to your true size or size down if you are between sizes, relying on the natural give of the hide to mould to your body.
Beyond the Biker: The Unsung Heroes of the Sale
While the leather jackets grab the headlines, the veteran AllSaints shopper knows that the real value often lies elsewhere. The brand’s aesthetic extends far beyond outerwear, and the discounts on clothing and accessories can often be deeper than those on leather goods.
Deconstructed Knitwear
The brand’s approach to knitwear is distinctively grunge. We are talking about laddered hems, exposed seams, and asymmetric drapes. These pieces are often priced high initially due to the complexity of the fabrications (merino wools, cashmere blends). In an all saints sale, these jumpers and cardigans become exceptionally good value. Look for their “Ridley” or “Lock” styles. A heavy wool jumper reduced from £160 to £80 is a wardrobe workhorse that survives British winters with style. Beware, however, of the care instructions. Many of these sale steals require hand washing or dry cleaning—factor that maintenance cost into your purchase decision.
The Footwear Edit
Boots are arguably the second most important category. AllSaints military and hiker boots are constructed to withstand the London rain while looking sharp. The “Frankie” or “Sheer” boots often appear in the sale sections. The trick here is to look for the “made in Portugal” stamp on the sole, which often indicates a higher tier of craftsmanship. Unlike the clothing, which can run large or oversized, the footwear tends to run true to size or slightly narrow. Snapping up a pair of leather combat boots at half price is a victory for your autumn/winter rotation.
The Dress Section
For womenswear, the 2-in-1 dresses are a hallmark of the brand. These usually consist of a slip dress paired with a detachable jumper. During sales, these sets offer incredible versatility because you are essentially getting two items for the price of one discounted item. You can wear the jumper with jeans and the slip dress with heels. It is a modular approach to dressing that justifies the expenditure.
Timing the Drop: The UK Sale Calendar
Understanding the rhythm of retail is crucial. AllSaints does not do random flash sales as often as fast-fashion retailers; their price drops are calculated and seasonal.
- The Mid-Season Sale: Usually occurring in spring (March/April) and autumn (October). These are excellent for transitional pieces like lightweight trenches, denim, and cotton shirts. You typically see discounts of 20-30%.
- Black Friday & Cyber Monday: In recent years, AllSaints has been generous during this period, often offering a flat 30% off everything. This is the golden time to buy core items that never usually go on sale, such as the standard black Balfern jacket or core denim styles.
- Boxing Day / January Sales: This is the clearance phase. Discounts can hit 50-60%, but sizes will be fragmented. This is the time to hunt for statement pieces—the shearling coats, the heavily embellished dresses, or the unusual leather colours.
- The Outlet Strategy: If you miss the online windows, the UK is home to several AllSaints outlet locations, such as those in Bicester Village, Gunwharf Quays (Portsmouth), and the Icon Outlet at the O2. These stores carry “made for outlet” stock mixed with genuine past-season clearance. Inspect the labels carefully; main line items are generally of superior weight and finish compared to items manufactured specifically for the outlet.
The Menswear Edit: Tailoring with a Twist
The all saints sale is particularly fruitful for menswear because men’s fashion trends move slower than women’s. A checked shirt or a pair of slim tapered jeans bought in a 2024 sale will still look relevant in 2026.
Focus on the “Cigarette” jeans. These are standard-issue skinny jeans that have a cult following for their durability and fit. When they drop from £99 to £50, stock up. Additionally, look for the Ramskull embroidery polos and shirts. They are subtle status symbols in the UK nightlife scene. However, the hidden gem in the men’s sale is usually the tailoring. AllSaints suits are unstructured and slim, lacking the stuffiness of traditional corporate wear. A blazer reduced to £100 is perfect for smart-casual weddings or creative office environments.
Fabric integrity and Sustainability
An often-overlooked aspect of shopping the sale is the opportunity to buy into better fabrics. AllSaints has been making strides with their “Conscious” collection, utilising recycled yarns, responsible wool standards, and vegetable-tanned leathers.
When scrolling through the sale pages, filter by material. Prioritise 100% cotton, wool, silk, or leather. Avoid heavy polyester blends unless it is a specific technical garment. A sale is only a bargain if the garment lasts, and natural fibres generally have a longer lifespan and hold their value better if you decide to resell them later on platforms like Vinted or Depop. In the UK resale market, AllSaints holds its value surprisingly well, especially leather goods, meaning your net cost of ownership is lower than it appears.
The Art of the “Archive”
Occasionally, AllSaints opens up what they call the “Archive.” This is effectively a digital warehouse sale of stock from several seasons ago. This is where the deepest discounts live, sometimes reaching 70% off. The catch? It is final sale. No returns.
Navigating the Archive requires confidence. You need to know your size in AllSaints specifically, not just your general high street size. If you know you are a Medium in their “Brace” tonic t-shirts, you can buy a bundle of five in the Archive sale without fear. But risking a non-returnable purchase on a fitted leather jacket or a pair of rigid denim jeans is a gamble. Use the Archive for soft goods—knitwear, t-shirts, and scarves—where the fit is more forgiving.
Styling Your Sale Finds
The danger of sale shopping is ending up with a wardrobe of disjointed items that don’t make an outfit. The beauty of AllSaints is that the aesthetic is cohesive. A floral shirt from the 2022 summer collection will still pair perfectly with jeans from the 2024 winter collection because the colour palette remains grounded in those signature East London tones: chalk, ink, petrol, and stone.
When your sale delivery arrives, conduct an immediate styling session. Do not just hang the item in your wardrobe. Try it on with your existing favourites. If you bought a sheer blouse, do you have the right camisole to wear underneath? If you bought cropped trousers, do you have boots that sit at the right height on the ankle? If the answer is no, and acquiring the necessary partners requires spending more money than you saved, return the item. The return window for sale items in the UK is typically shorter (often 14 days for sale items versus 28 for full price), so act quickly.
Spotting Fakes and Third-Party Sellers
Because the demand for the all saints sale is so high, many third-party websites claim to offer stock. Be extremely wary. In the UK, stick to the official website, reputable department stores (like John Lewis, Selfridges, or Harrods), or established fashion aggregators (like ASOS or Zalando).
If you encounter a site offering current season Balfern jackets for £50, it is a scam. The margins on leather do not allow for that pricing. Genuine sale prices on leather rarely drop below £180-£200 unless the item is heavily damaged or an extremely unusual size. If it looks too good to be true, it is. Stick to the official channels to ensure you are getting the quality you are paying for.
Care and Maintenance: Protecting the Investment
Once you have secured your goods from the sale, the relationship shouldn’t end there. If you’ve bought a leather jacket, spend a small fraction of your savings on a good waterproofing spray and leather conditioner. AllSaints leather is often lambskin, which is soft but porous. London rain can stain untreated light-coloured leather.
For the distressed knitwear, fold it; never hang it. Hanging causes the loose weaves to stretch out of shape, ruining the silhouette. Since you bought these items at a discount, treat them with the respect of full-price garments, and they will serve as the backbone of your wardrobe for years.
Conclusion: The thrill of the Hunt
Participating in an all saints sale is a rite of passage for the style-conscious Brit. It is a way to access a level of luxury and attitude that might otherwise be out of reach. It requires patience, knowledge of materials, and a quick clicking finger. But the reward—walking down Shoreditch High Street or your local high street in a jacket that feels like a second skin, knowing you paid half the retail price—is a feeling unmatched in retail.
Whether you are hunting for that perfect shearling gilet, a pair of skinny jeans that actually fit, or just restocking your t-shirt drawer, the strategy remains the same: buy quality, buy classics, and never hesitate when you see your size in the Archive. Happy hunting.



