Guide to Dillard’s Clearance Sections and Hidden Finds
d into the clearance section one random Tuesday, and I swear it felt like discovering a secret outlet hiding in plain sight.
When I tested a few of the tricks I’d heard hardcore sale shoppers whisper about (yellow tickets, 65% off days, last-call markdowns), I walked out with a $248 dress for $34 and a pair of leather boots for less than a fast-food lunch. Since then, I’ve treated Dillard’s clearance almost like a sport.
Here’s exactly how I work the store now, what actually saves you money, and where the hidden deals are buried.
How Dillard’s Clearance System Really Works
Dillard’s isn’t as loud about sales as some chains, but the discount structure is surprisingly methodical once you’ve watched it in action a few times.
In my experience, there are three big pieces to understand:
1. Permanent markdowns vs. promotional markdowns
When I started tracking tags like a nerd (yes, I’ve literally logged prices over a few weeks), I noticed two types of clearance:
- Permanent markdowns – The original price is slashed on the tag, often multiple times, with a final yellow or red sticker. These usually sit on dedicated clearance racks.
- Promotional markdowns – Signs that say things like “Additional 40% off Clearance” for a weekend or holiday. These stack on top of already-marked-down items.
Dillard’s themselves mention seasonal and clearance promotions on their site and in email ads, and analyst commentary on department-store strategies backs this pattern of layered discounting in apparel retail (Forbes has covered this broadly in department store margin strategies).
Why it matters: The real steal is when you catch a permanent markdown plus a temporary promotional markdown. That $80 top already marked down to $27 can suddenly become $16.2. The tag color tells a story
When I tested different locations in the same week (I hit three Dillard’s in the same metro area—call it field research), I noticed consistent patterns:
- White tag – Regular price
- Yellow or red sticker – Clearance, often final markdown
- Extra-stamped stickers – Usually a sign it’s been marked down multiple times and is close to rock bottom
Associates have quietly told me, “If you see multiple stickers stacked, you’re probably not going to see it go much lower unless it hits New Year’s or an extra-percent-off event.” That’s been true in my receipts.
The Best Dillard’s Clearance Sections (Ranked by My Actual Savings)
1. Shoes – The Gold Mine
If you only have 20 minutes, go to shoes.
I recently discovered a pair of Vince Camuto heels on a mixed clearance table: original price $119, down to $41, then an extra 40% off signage at the register. Final: around $25 before tax.
What I’ve learned in the shoe section:
- Clearance tables are often organized by size, not brand, so you have to dig—but that’s where the mispriced gems hide.
- End-of-season shoes (especially boots in late winter and sandals in late summer) drop fast.
- Luxury-adjacent brands—Michael Kors, Coach, sometimes even Frye—show up more often than you’d expect.
Downside? Selection can be chaotic, and if you’re a very common size (women’s 7–8, men’s 10–11), the best stuff disappears fast.
2. Women’s Dresses – Event Wear for Target Prices
This is where Dillard’s quietly demolishes fast fashion on value. I’ve grabbed cocktail and work dresses from brands like Antonio Melani, Calvin Klein, and BCBGeneration at 60–80% off.
One random Thursday, I found a formal dress for a wedding: tagged at $228, reduced to $79.99 with another 30% off clearance promotion. I paid less than $60. The fabric and construction beat most online-budget brands I’ve tried.
Caveats:
- Styles can skew dressy or classic—less streetwear, more “I have a job and a calendar invite.”
- Sizes on deep clearance tend to be very small or very large; middle sizes vanish first.
3. Men’s Dress Shirts and Suits – Quietly Excellent
My partner reluctantly let me drag him through the men’s clearance one Sunday. He walked out with two dress shirts from Van Heusen and Ralph Lauren, both under $25 each, originally tagged around $80.
The sweet spots I’ve noticed:
- Dress shirts and ties after major holidays (Father’s Day, Christmas, Easter) are heavily marked down.
- Suits and sport coats sometimes hit outlet-level prices when they’re clearing a season’s color trends.
Downside: Tailoring is separate, and you’ll need to factor that into the cost.
4. Handbags & Accessories – The Occasional Jackpot
This is more hit-or-miss, but when it hits, it hits.
I’ve seen:
- A Dooney & Bourke bag drop from mid-$200s into the low $100s after layered markdowns.
- Leather wallets under $20 on clearance tables near the register.
Reality check: Designer bags rarely go ultra-cheap, but mid-tier brands become very reasonable, especially during big sale weekends.
When to Shop: Timing Your Dillard’s Trips
I started keeping mental notes and combing through Dillard’s emails and news coverage. A few consistent patterns emerged.
The famous New Year’s Day sale
This is their legendary blowout. Shoppers on Reddit and deal forums treat it like Black Friday in reverse. Historically, Dillard’s runs an extra 50% off clearance on January 1st.
Anecdotally, that’s where I scored the best ratio of quality-to-price on a single trip: I spent around $150 and took home over $700 worth of merchandise at original price.
Downsides:
- Stores can be packed.
- Sizes get picked over fast.
- Lines at fitting rooms and registers are long.
End-of-season transitions
In my experience, late January–February and late July–August are golden, because they’re cycling out winter and summer inventory.
You’ll see:
- Coats, boots, and sweaters heavily marked in late winter.
- Swimwear, sandals, and summer dresses on steep clearance at summer’s end.
Industry-wide, apparel retailers rely on seasonal clearance for inventory turnover and cash flow, and Dillard’s follows that same retail calendar pattern highlighted in financial coverage of department stores.
Weekdays vs. weekends
Whenever I compared my Thursday trips to Saturday trips, two things were clear:
- Weekdays had better selection and fewer crowds.
- Weekend visits sometimes had better promotional deals, but more competition.
My personal strategy now: scout on a weekday, then return early in the day if I know a big promo weekend is coming.
Hidden Finds Most Shoppers Skip
The “back wall” and corner racks
Over and over, I’ve discovered that the most aggressively discounted items get pushed to:
- Back walls of departments
- Low, center-floor racks near fitting rooms
- Odd corners near escalators or restrooms
When I tested this theory intentionally—walking straight to the back before touching the pretty front displays—I consistently found the steepest markdowns there.
Home and bedding clearance
This one surprised me. A Dillard’s associate once told me, “No one checks the home clearance unless they’re already redecorating.” Challenge accepted.
Results from a single trip:
- Hotel-quality queen sheet set, originally $139, paid around $49.
- Decorative pillow that had been sitting so long it went through three markdown stickers.
It’s not as thrilling as shoes, but for big-ticket items, the savings can be bigger.
Kids’ clothing for future seasons
If you’ve got kids (or nieces/nephews), check the kids’ clearance at the end of each season and size up.
I bought my niece a winter coat two sizes up for about 70% off in March. By the time cold weather rolled back around, it fit her perfectly and looked pricier than what I actually paid.
Pros and Cons of Hunting Dillard’s Clearance
I love a good sale, but I also like being honest about the trade-offs.
What works well:- Quality vs. price: Mid-range and premium brands at fast-fashion prices when you stack markdowns.
- Fabric and construction: In my hands-on comparison, many Dillard’s private label and designer pieces simply feel sturdier than ultra-budget online brands.
- One-stop variety: Shoes, dresses, suits, home, and beauty in the same run.
- Time cost: You need patience and a bit of digging. If you hate browsing racks, this will test you.
- Inconsistent sizing: Clearance is all about leftovers, so full size runs are rare.
- Return policies on clearance can be stricter: Some items are final sale—always check your receipt and signage.
Consumer-rights agencies (like the U.S. Federal Trade Commission) also remind shoppers to pay attention to return policies and compare prices, even when something looks like a massive discount. I’ve walked away from “deals” that still weren’t as good as online outlets for the same brand.
Smart Strategies to Maximize Your Savings
Here’s what’s worked consistently for me after too many Dillard’s runs to admit:
- Start at clearance, not the front of the store. Front displays are designed to derail you.
- Do a quick online price check for brands you recognize. Sometimes outlets or brand sites undercut Dillard’s on the same item.
- Ask an associate if there’s an extra percent-off promo on clearance that day. More than once, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the register.
- Inspect quality, not just the price. I always check seams, zippers, and fabric content. A $20 dress that falls apart after one wash isn’t a deal.
- Try things on. Fit varies wildly across brands, and clearance items may be older size runs.
- Sign up for emails, then filter ruthlessly. I keep Dillard’s emails in a separate folder so I can scan just for “clearance” or “extra % off” subject lines.
When I actually slowed down and followed my own rules—especially the “check quality and price elsewhere” rule—I found my regret purchases dropped sharply.
If you treat Dillard’s clearance sections like a treasure hunt instead of a quick errand, the experience changes. You start to understand the rhythm of markdowns, where they hide the real deals, and when to pounce.
I’ve had misses (yes, I’ve bought a dress I never wore), but I’ve also built half my work wardrobe off their clearance racks for a fraction of the original price.
And the best part? When someone compliments an outfit and asks where it’s from, saying “Dillard’s clearance” feels almost smug.
Sources
- Dillard’s Official Website – Sales & Promotions - Official store information on current sales, departments, and policies.
- Forbes – How Department Stores Are Reinventing Themselves - Context on department-store business models and discounting strategies.
- U.S. Federal Trade Commission – Shopping Online: Tips for Buying Safely - Guidance on comparing prices and understanding sale claims and return policies.
- Harvard Business Review – Retail Markdown Optimization - Explains how retailers manage markdowns and inventory.
- National Retail Federation – Seasonal Sales Trends - Industry data on seasonal sales patterns and consumer shopping behavior.
