Standing in a sea of summer sales racks, do you:

a) Grab a cut-price bikini.

b) Figure it???s about time to try the off-the-shoulder trend.

c) Pick up a black-tie gown, just in case (no idea when you???ll wear it, but who can resist at 70 per cent off?).

There are so many ways a sales-shopping expedition could go.So many, in fact, that it???s easy to get into a muddle and forget that the place we dress for most often isn???t the beach or a wedding.It???s the office.

The sales, then, are the ideal chance to: d) Build your workwear wardrobe with smart, office-ready buys.

The best designer things to buy in the summer sale

You???ve got to be strategic.If you???re someone who mostly wears skirts, then why buy those black trousers, however flattering?If you already have a desk drawer full of too-high-for-real-life pointy-toed stilettos that you rarely wear, then don???t be seduced by another pairof four-inch heels.

Use the sales to buy pieces that are similar to the items you already own and want to wear and re-wear on workdays.Or use them as a chance to try trends you weren???t sure you wanted to commit to at full price.Whatever your approach, our cheat sheet is a good place to start ??? though you will have to put that gown back on the rail first.

The season-hopping tea dress

The features that take a tea dress from picnic-wear to office-wear are a more substantial fabric and sleeves.You can waft between meetings in any number of prints ??? though a smaller-scale floral on a darker background, as in theMaje beauty above, will translate to autumn better than bigger blooms on white.

Wild garden print dress, ??25.20, Warehouse.Isabel Marantfloral-print silk-habotai dress, ??333, MatchesFashion.Jigsaw dress, ??49.99, T.K.Maxx.

Not-so-shouty statement earrings

For days that call for something more interesting than tiny gold hoops, try these earrings.They???re interesting but not distracting, with (in most cases) a touch of tasteful colour.Point is, these guys won???t overwhelm the message.Or the messenger.

Katerina Makriyianni earrings, ??94, Browns.Fun circle earrings, ??10, J.Crew.Mismatch earrings, ??2.10, Accessorize

Theoffice-proof sandal

Flip-flops belong by the pool, not the printer.When it comes to showing toes in the workplace, look for sandals that cover more than they reveal.A chunky heel goes a long way towards countering most sandals??? flimsy, weekendy vibes.And yes, you can wear these well into autumn ??? just add socks.

Leather sandals, ??198, Stuart Weitzman.KG by Kurt Geiger heeled sandals, ??39, John Lewis.Tabitha Simmonslace-up suede sandals, ??170, Net-a-Porter

High street hits:The best things to buy now in the summer sale