The sales have already started - with more to come on Saturday. Deirdre McQuillan, Fashion Editor, presents a selective guide.

Airwave

Sale starts Saturday, 11 a.m.

Up to 50 per cent off everything.

Wicklow Street, Dublin; Bloomfield Shopping Centre, Stillorgan and Swords, Co Dublin (01-6707976)

Arnotts

Sale starts Saturday, 1 p.m.

Reductions of 25 to 50 per cent. Aideen Bodkin clothes at half-price, Barker men's shoes down to €100 from €180 and a three-seater sofa with two chairs for €1,750, down from €2,170.

Henry Street, Dublin 1 (01-8050400)

Aura

Sale starts Monday

More than 50 per cent off some labels, including Cacharel, Plein Sud and Missoni.

Sandymount Road, Dublin 4 (01-6672377)

Avoca

Sale starts January 3rd, 9.30 a.m.

At least 15 per cent off all stock, with additional discounts of up to 50 per cent on knitwear and other items.

Suffolk Street, Dublin; Kilmacanogue and Powerscourt, Co Wicklow; Bunratty, Co Clare (01-6774215, 01-2867466)

A-Wear

Sale starts Saturday, 9 a.m.

Discounts of 40-50 per cent. Quin & Donnelly leather biker jackets were €280, now €100. Tweed coats €60.

Nationwide (01-6717200)

Beth's

Sale on now

Continues until spring stock arrives in third week of January. Discounts of 30-70 per cent.

Douglas, Cork (021-4891155)

Brown Thomas

Sale starts Saturday, 9 a.m.

Reductions of 10-70 per cent.

Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway (01-6056666)

Carl Scarpa

Sale starts Saturday, 9 a.m.

Reductions of 40 per cent.

All branches, including Grafton Street, Dublin (091-753684)

Clerys

Sale starts Saturday, 9 a.m.

Full Irish breakfast for the first 100 customers in the queue. Up to 50 per cent reductions in ladieswear.

O'Connell Street, Dublin 1 (01-8786000)

Clothes Peg

Sale on now

Reductions of 10-50 per cent in wedding, occasion-wear and shoes, including those by Lulu Guinness. A Georges Rech vintage velvet jacket for €1,000, now €400.

Sutton Cross, Dublin 13 (01-8321130)

Cobou

Sale starts Saturday

Reductions of 25 per cent off all stock, with 50 per cent off selected items.

Ballina, Co Mayo (096-739390)

Costume

Sale starts Saturday, noon

Reductions of 30 per cent, with some coats at half-price.

Castle Market, Dublin 2 (01-6794188)

Curves

Sale starts Monday

For sizes 14-28. Reductions of 20-60 per cent and a half-price bargain rail.

Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin (01-2803984)

Debenhams

Sale on now

Markdowns of 20, 30 and 50 per cent have already appeared, with further reductions after Christmas and good bargains in shoes and homeware.

Jervis Shopping Centre, Dublin 1 (01-8781222)

Design Centre

Sale on now

Up to 50 per cent off all design labels. Powerscourt Townhouse, Dublin 2 (01-6795718)

Diffusion

Sale starts Saturday, 10 a.m.

Reductions of 35-60 per cent. Bargains in sheepskin and leather coats; 40 per cent off Betty Jackson.

Clontarf Road, Dublin 3 (01-8331592)

Dublin Woollen Mills

Sale starts Saturday, 11 a.m.

About 50 per cent off designer knitwear labels such as Liz Barr and Margaret Ryan, with 10 per cent off smaller items and 20-30 per cent off other products.

Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin 1 (01-6775014)

Dunnes Stores

There is a January sale, but no information forthcoming.

Nationwide (01-6112100)

Escada

Sale on now

Reductions of 30-50 per cent.

Grafton Street, Dublin 2 (01-6168906)

Fitzpatricks

Sale on now

Up to 50 per cent off Gucci, Charles Jourdan and Sergio Rossi footwear.

Grafton Street, Dublin 2 (01-6772333)

Havana

Sale starts Saturday, 10 a.m.

Between 30 and 50 per cent off.

Donnybrook, Dublin 4 (01-2602707)

Jigsaw

Sale starts in January

Prices usually come down in the second week in January, with three days' notice; 20 per cent off.

Grafton Street, Dublin 2 (01-6713546)

Khan

Sale starts Saturday, 9.30 a.m.

Reductions of 30-50 per cent.

Rock Hill, Blackrock, Co Dublin (01-2781646)

Kilkenny

Sale starts Saturday, 10 a.m.

Reductions in clothing (30-50 per cent) and pottery; 20 per cent off everything. Nassau Street, Dublin 2 (01-6777066)

Les Jumelles

Sale starts Saturday

Big reductions on Betty Jackson, Róisín Gartland, Sonia Speciale and others.

Upper Abbeygate Street, Galway (091-564540)

Louise Kennedy

See Brown Thomas sale. Kennedy's shop reopens January 5th.

Merrion Square, Dublin 2 (01-6620056)

Marks & Spencer

Sale starts Saturday

About 20 per cent off men's and women's clothing.

Grafton & Henry Streets, Dublin; Liffey Valley, Co Dublin; Patrick Street, Cork (1850-353585)

Monica John

Sale starts Saturday, 10 a.m.

Up to 50 per cent off everything.

South Anne Street, Dublin 2 (01-6790045) and Cork

Next

Sale starts Saturday, 5 a.m.

Approximately a third off everything. Grafton Street, Dublin 2 (01-6793300)

Oasis

Sale starts today, 8 a.m.

Reductions of 50 per cent.

St Stephen's Green and branches (01-6714477)

Pia Bang

Sale starts Saturday, 11 a.m.

Reductions of 20-50 per cent on

clothes and shoes. Some interiors

items also reduced.

Grafton Street, Dublin 2

(01-6715065)

Reiss

Sale starts Saturday, 9 a.m.

Reductions of 20-50 per cent on

selected ladieswear and menswear.

St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2

(01-6712588)

Sasha

Sale starts Saturday, 8 a.m.

Reductions of 20-50 per cent. Nationwide (01-6602878)

Stephanie Lynch

Sale starts Saturday, 9.30 a.m.

Up to 50 per cent off all stock.

Eyre Square, Galway

(091-566383)

Thomas Patrick

Sale starts Saturday, 9.30 a.m.

Approximately 30 per cent off women's footwear lines, including Bruno Magli, and up to 30 per cent off men's shoes and boots.

Grafton Street, Dublin 2

(01-6713866)

Urbana

Sale on now

Up to 50 per cent off all autumn and winter collections from D&G, Kathleen Madden and others.

Greystones, Co Wicklow; Blackrock, Co Dublin (01-2871333)

Vivien Walsh

Sale starts Saturday, 11 a.m.

Approximately 30 per cent off.

Lower Stephen Street, Dublin 2 (01-4755031)

Zara

Sale starts Tuesday, 9 a.m.

Reductions of 30-60 per cent on selected items.

Roches Stores, Henry Street, Dublin 1 (01-8045900)

Where to go if you want more than clothes

Boots

Sale starts Saturday, 8.30 a.m.

Discounts on selected lines.

Nationwide

Dixons

Sale starts Saturday, 9 a.m.

Reductions on selected items.

Jervis Shopping Centre, Dublin 1 (01-8781515) and branches

Eason

Sale starts Saturday, 9 a.m.

Up to 50 per cent off CDs, DVDs and books.

O'Connell Street, Dublin 1 (01-8583800)

Elvery Sports

Sale starts Saturday, noon

Reductions of 10-50 per cent.

Nationwide (01-6791555)

Habitat

Sale starts Saturday, 11 a.m.

Up to 50 per cent off selected items.

St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2 (01-6771433)

HMV

Sale starts today, 9 a.m.

Up to 50 per cent off selected CDs and DVDs.

Nationwide (01-6795334)

Hodges Figgis

Sale starts Saturday, 9 a.m.

Discounted stock throughout the store.

Dawson Street, Dublin 2 (01-6774754)

Lifestyle Sports

Sale starts Saturday, 9 a.m.

Up to €20 off selected lines.

Nationwide (01-8163100)

PC World

Sale starts St Stephen's Day, 11 a.m.

Money off computers for early customers.

Liffey Valley (01-6305800) and Blanchardstown (01-8025555), Co Dublin

Sony Centre

Sale starts Saturday, 9.30 a.m.

Reductions on selected goods.

Nationwide (01-8731512)

Waterstone's

Sale starts Saturday, 9 a.m.

Reductions on selected titles.

Dublin and Cork (01-6791415)