Sales]: Looking for a bargain? Start the search here

From smash-and-grab raids in the Harrods china department to the refined account customer preview at Jaeger, the January sales are still somehow special. Most of them start in December and - great news for last-minute Christmas shoppers - a few are already on. So check out our sales guide and pick the best shops for bargains.

ALLY CAPELLINO Starts 30 December. 95 Wardour Street, London W1 (071-494 0768). Reductions will be in the 25-50 per cent range.

AQUASCUTUM Starts 27 December at 100 Regent Street, London W1 (071-734 6090). Bargains for men: cashmere overcoats down from pounds 1,220 to pounds 795, classic trench coats down from pounds 395 to pounds 295, and cotton shirts from pounds 52 to pounds 29.50. Women's: classic trench coats down from pounds 395 to pounds 295, pure wool trousers from pounds 139 to pounds 89, pleated wool skirts from pounds 159 to pounds 99.

BALLY Starts 27 December in all branches (071-287 2266). Up to a third off men's and women's shoes, and handbags. Women's clothing reductions restricted to certain shops. Men's Swiss black leather lace-ups will be down from pounds 139 to pounds 99, ladies' leather loafers from pounds 69.95 to pounds 39.

BURBERRYS Starts 27 December. Branches include 18/22 Haymarket, London SW1, 39 Princes Street, Edinburgh, 64 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, and 454-456 Union Street, Aberdeen. Womenswear bargains include classic raincoats down from pounds 360 to pounds 195, trench coats from pounds 450 to pounds 250 and waxed jackets from pounds 255 to pounds 125. Menswear reductions include black or navy double-breasted blazers down from pounds 295 to pounds 150.

CONRAN SHOP from 8 to 16 January. Michelin House, 81 Fulham Road, London SW1 (071-589 7401). 30 per cent off ex-shop floor upholstery. Varying discounts from 10 per cent on ex-display goods, damaged or sample goods.

DAVID MELLOR From 8 to 22 January. 4 Sloane Square, London SW1 (071-730 4259). 10 per cent discount on all standard merchandise, 20 per cent on most ranges of DM cutlery. Up to 90 per cent discount on odds and ends of slightly damaged or shop- soiled merchandise.

DEBENHAMS Starts 27 December (26 December in Scottish branches). 'Early bird specials' with huge discounts promised on the first day between 8.30 and 10am, Scotland 10am and 11.30am. 20-50 per cent off other selected items.

ESPRIT Now on. Branches include 6 Sloane Street, London SW1 (071-245 9139), the Glades, Bromley, Kent, and the Bentall Centre, Kingston, Surrey. 50 per cent off autumn/winter stock from a range of casual separates, outdoor jackets, knitwear and accessories.

FENWICK Starts 27 December (28 December, Newcastle branch). 63 New Bond Street, London W1 (071-629 9161). Discounts at the Bond Street branch include Nicole Farhi pure wool long swing coats edged with fake fur, down from pounds 519 to pounds 345, Paul Costelloe wool/silk fleck jackets down from pounds 229 to pounds 99, all French Connection separates 30 per cent off.

HARRODS From 5 to 29 January. Knightsbridge, London SW1 (071-730 1234). Half-price collections including Rifat Ozbek, Jean Muir, Betty Jackson, Escada; 40 per cent off Kenzo, Nicole Farhi, Ally Capellino, Joseph and Junior Gaultier. Half-price lingerie by La Perla, Lejaby and Warners. Reductions on household appliances include Neff 5145 microwave down from pounds 338 to pounds 169 and Whirlpool top-loading washing machine, down from pounds 999 to pounds 699. There will be a third off designer skiwear; half-price leather riding boots and half-price sets of Dunlop Theory and Pro-Kennex golf clubs.

HARVEY NICHOLS Starts 29 December. 109-125 Knightsbridge, London SW1. (071-235 5000). Discounts of up to 50 per cent on selected merchandise (with an extra 10 per cent off for existing account customers over the first four days).

HEALS Starts 28 December and runs for four weeks. Branches at 196 Tottenham Court Road, London W1 (071-636 1666) and Tunsgate, Guildford (0483 576715). Bargains throughout all departments including up to 50 per cent off selected fabrics and linens. Jaipur rattan sofa with green cushions down from pounds 925 to pounds 695, Asmara nickel and opal table lights from pounds 49.95 to pounds 29.95. Up to 20 per cent off selected Michael Tyler upholstery, 40 per cent off selected ceramic lamp bases.

HELEN STOREY Starts 28 December at 57 Kings Road, London SW3, 29 December at 12 Newburgh Street, London W1. 50 per cent off everything.

HOBBS Now on. Branches around the country - general inquiries 071-586 5550. Reductions include leather Bloomsbury boots down from pounds 129 to pounds 79.99, unfringed silk/wool mix polo jumper from pounds 89.99 to pounds 49.99, luxury gaberdine Edwardian jacket from pounds 184.99 to pounds 97.99, and cashmere herringbone slit riding skirt from pounds 139 to pounds 97.99.

HOUSE OF FRASER Starts 27 December (26 December in Scotland). Customer enquiries 071-834 1515. Stores in England and Wales, including all branches of Army & Navy, Barkers, Binns, D H Evans, Dickins & Jones, Dingles, Hammonds and Rackhams, David Evans and Howells. Frasercard members get an extra 10 per cent off on the first day of the sale. Reductions include half-price Snuggledown duvets, Drifter duvets, Osman towels and Bohemia fine-cut lead crystal glasses. Discounts on designer labels include 50 per cent off Paul Costelloe and Nicole Farhi; one-third off Maxmara selected items.

INCA Starts 4 January. 45 Elizabeth Street, London SW1 (071-730 7941). 20 per cent off clothes and accessories.

JAEGER Starts 27 December. 200-206 Regent Street, London W1 (071-734 8211) and branches.

JANE CHURCHILL Starts 30 December. Branches include 151 Sloane Street, SW1, Liberty, Regent Street, 3a St Christopher Place, W1, and 13 Fitzroy Street, Cambridge. Reductions include 30 per cent off discontinued fabrics, up to 40 per cent off selected home accessories and 20 per cent off wallpaper and borders.

JOHN LEWIS From 29 December to 8 January. Oxford Street, London W1 (071-629 7711) and stores nationwide. Reductions in the china department include Wedgewood Colorado Kingsbridge range (seconds) at 40 per cent off, and Spode blue Italian seconds at 30 per cent off.

JONES Starts 1 January. 13 Floral Street, London WC2 (071-240 8312). Reductions up to a third off at start of sale.

JOSEPH Starts 28 December. 77 Fulham Road, London SW3 (071-823 9500), 26 Sloane Street, SW1, 16 Sloane Street, SW1, 28 Brook Street, W1. Reductions from 25 per cent.

KOOKAI Starts Boxing Day. 123 Kensington High Street, London W8, 66 King Street, Manchester, and branches around London (071-937 4411). Up to 50 per cent off most items, and rails of even bigger bargains.

LAURA ASHLEY Starts 27 December at 256-258 Regent Street, London W1 and branches nationwide. General inquiries 0628 770345. Reductions vary.

LIBERTY starts 28 December, Regent Street, London W1 (071-734 1234). Reductions range from 10 per cent off in departments such as British Crafts and Furniture; Bath House, up to 50 per cent off Givenchy and Kenzo towels and Liberty print bedlinen.

LILLYWHITES Starts 27 December. Piccadilly, London SW1 (071-915 4000). Sale in all departments except skiing.

MALCOLM LEVENE Starts 11 January at 13-15 Chiltern Street, London W1 (071-487 4383). Suits down from pounds 449 to pounds 298, trousers from pounds 139 to pounds 79, jackets and blazers from pounds 398 to pounds 199.

MARKS & SPENCER End of season clearance starts 27 December. Reductions kept secret until the last moment.

MAXMARA Starts 4 January. 32 Sloane Street, London SW1, 153 New Bond Street, W1. Reductions of up to 40 per cent.

MONSOON Starts 28 December nationwide (27 December at selected London branches).

NEXT Starts 27 December for two weeks (Customer services, 0533 849424). Reductions of up to 50 per cent.

NICOLE FARHI Now on. 11 Floral Street, London WC2 (071-497 8713), 25-26 St Christopher's Place, London W1, 27 Hampstead High Street, NW3, 193 Sloane Street, SW1. Reductions of 20-30 per cent.

OASIS from 27 December at 292 Regent Street, London W1, Covent Garden and branches nationwide (071-377 5335). Up to 50 per cent off selected items.

PAUL SMITH Starts mid- January. 41-44 Floral Street, London WC2 (071-379 7133).

PRINCIPLES starts 27 December in Barkers Arcade, Kensington High Street, W8, and branches nationwide. Reductions from 30 per cent.

RUSSELL & BROMLEY Started yesterday at 24-25 New Bond Street, London W1 (071- 629 6903) and branches nationwide. Reductions include women's lace-up wedge-heeled black leather or suede shoes, down from pounds 79.99 to pounds 29.99.

SELFRIDGES Starts 27 December, Oxford Street, London W1 (071-629 1234). Reductions of up to 50 per cent, including half-price selected lines of Betty Jackson womenswear; 30 per cent off Calvin Klein and Jasper Conran. Half-price costume jewellery from Butler & Wilson and Pierre Cardin. Half- price Persian handmade wool carpets.

SMALL AND TALL SHOE SHOP Starts 6 January for three days for small sizes (13-2 1/2 ); 13 January for three days for large sizes (8 1/2-11 1/2 ), at 71 York Street, London W1 (071- 723 5321). Reductions on all shoes including latest arrivals, some lines half price or less.

SNOW + ROCK From 27 December until 16 January, 188 Kensington High Street, London W8 (071-937 0872), 150 Holborn, London EC1, 14 Priory Queensway, Birmingham B4, Hemel Ski Centre, St Albans Hill, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. Sale of ski and binding packages from pounds 99 and ski boots from pounds 49.

V & A MUSEUM SHOP Starts 27 December, Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 (071-938 8434). Up to 50 per cent off all books, posters, ceramics and jewellery.

WHISTLES Now on. Branches include 27 Sloane Square, London SW1 (071-730 9819), 12 St Christopher's Place, W1. Reductions of up to 50 per cent.

YVES SAINT LAURENT Starts 29 December for two weeks. Women's, 137 New Bond Street, London W1; men's, 135 New Bond Street, W1; men and women, 33 Sloane Street, London SW1 (071-235 5839.) Discounts of 40 per cent on accessories. Bargains include panther- print wool dresses down from pounds 640 to pounds 320, long evening smoking dresses down from pounds 1,495 to pounds 745 and military- style whipcord suits (jackets and skirts) from pounds 1,650 to pounds 875.

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