It's 80 degrees out, and already one of my favorite stores has sold all but one size of an adorable gray wool dress that just hit the racks.

Crazy? Maybe, but our Old Port fashionistas all agree the best fall designs arrive early.

July is a tough time to keep the clothing budget in check. If you love fall fashions and are fawning over the latest mags, it's hard to resist those early offerings. And then you see the sale sign ...

What to do? I asked my fashionable friends for advice, and we compiled our 10 commandments for shopping sales:

#1: Don't buy anything on sale you wouldn't have bought for full price. This is a tough one to follow, but I'm tempted to paste it to my wallet. I love that little yellow silk skirt I bought on a lunchtime shopping spree, but it doesn't work with anything in my closet. Next stop: Ebay.

#2: Do invest in basics - tees, jeans, underwear, bathing suits (if you're brave and can stomach another hour in the fitting room...). Every spring I scour the sale racks for my favorite opaque stockings. Come fall, I'll have a ready supply at half the price.

#3: Don’t buy trends on sale. Yes, that little trapeze dress is so cute, but will its silhouette see another summer? Probably not.

#4: Do consider buying holiday clothes from the sale rack. The sequined top or little black evening dress you spied on the half-price rack probably will fit right in this winter.

#5: Do invest in classics - cashmere, white shirts, black pants and skirts. You may find higher-quality wardrobe staples that will look better and last longer at more affordable prices. And if you lusted after something at full price and couldn't afford it, this may be the time to jump.

#6: Do remember to check the store's sale policy - is it a final sale or is there room for regret?

#7: Do take advantage of workout gear sales - the styles don't change much and you'll appreciate those extra leggings or tank tops when you’re a day behind on the laundry.

#8: Don’t hesitate to buy something you really love on sale even if you already bought the same thing full price. You’ll be glad you did.

#9: Do check to make sure your potential purchase is still in good condition after weeks on the rack.

#10: Don’t despair if you’ve made a mistake - somebody else may wish they found it first. Get out your digital camera and post your item on ebay – you might even make a profit.

Have you found a great sale lately? Share the wealth and add a note in my blog comment box!

Trunk show

Does Fido need a little mid-summer fashion pick-me-up? Betsys on Exchange Street will have a trunk show Thursday-Saturday, July 19-21, featuring George pet products - collars, tags, leads, beds, bowls, toys and more. Planet Dog will pitch in a free gift (while supplies last) with any George purchase. Check out these adorable dog coats!

Could you be the ultimate bagaholic?

Bag Borrow or Steal, the online purse loan retailer, is searching for America's ultimate bagaholic. One winner will get her dream job as Bag Borrow or Steal's Chief Bag Officer, and will be the first to carry and critique six of the fall's hottest must-have bags; document her experience in her own dedicated blog on the Bag Borrow or Steal website; and receive free handbag rentals for a year.

So what do you have to do? Just submit a creative video that shows your passion for handbags and explain why you should win. Even if you don't win, it might be worth a try - all contest entrants will receive 20 percent off any luxury handbag they borrow at bagborroworsteal.com. Take a look at the contest rules and act fast - the deadline is Aug. 10.

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