- Ashley Stewart runs sales constantly, but most shoppers still overpay because they don't know the sale calendar or how to stack discounts properly.
- Their loyalty program, clearance racks, and BOGO deals can save you 40-60% on most purchases if you time things right.
- Size guide mistakes and return policy blind spots cost shoppers real money. Here's how to avoid every common pitfall.
Mistake #1: Paying Full Price (Almost Nobody Should)
This is the biggest mistake new Ashley Stewart shoppers make. They see a dress for $55, add it to cart, and check out. Don't do this. Ashley Stewart runs promotions so frequently that paying full price is almost never necessary.
Here's the sale calendar you need to know:
- January: Post-holiday clearance. Winter items drop 50-70%. This is the best time to stock up on coats, sweaters, and long-sleeve tops.
- February-March: Spring preview sales. New arrivals come with introductory 20-30% discounts.
- May: Memorial Day sale. Sitewide discounts of 40-50%, plus extra markdowns on spring inventory they need to move.
- July: Summer clearance starts mid-month. Swim and summer dresses hit rock-bottom prices.
- September: Labor Day sale. One of the best sales of the year. Fall arrivals at 30-40% off, and summer stuff goes final clearance.
- November: Black Friday through Cyber Monday. The single biggest sale event. Expect 50-60% off sitewide with extra discounts on clearance.
- December: Holiday sale leading up to Christmas, then a second wave of markdowns starting December 26.
Between these major events, Ashley Stewart typically runs weekly promotions. BOGO 50% off, “buy 2 get 1 free” on select categories, or flat percentage discounts with codes. Check their homepage before every purchase. If there's no active sale (rare), wait a few days. One will show up.
Mistake #2: Ignoring the Diva Rewards Program
Ashley Stewart's loyalty program is called “Diva” and it's free to join. A lot of shoppers skip it because loyalty programs feel like junk mail factories. But this one is actually worth the two minutes it takes to sign up.
Here's how it works:
- You earn 1 point per dollar spent.
- At 300 points, you get a $10 reward.
- You get a birthday discount (typically 20-25% off) during your birthday month.
- Members get early access to sales and new collections.
- Exclusive member-only promotions pop up throughout the year.
The math: spend $300, get $10 back. That's roughly a 3.3% return, which isn't mind-blowing on its own. But the birthday discount and early sale access are where the real value lives. If you time a big purchase during your birthday month and stack the birthday discount with an active sale, you can save 40-50% easily.
Pro tip: sign up at least a month before your birthday. Some shoppers report that the birthday discount doesn't activate if you just joined. Give the system time to register your birth month.
Mistake #3: Buying Clearance Online Without Knowing the Return Rules
This one burns people all the time. Ashley Stewart's clearance prices are genuinely good. We're talking $60 dresses marked down to $15, $45 jeans for $18. The discounts are steep enough to trigger impulse buying. And that's exactly the trap.
Clearance items are final sale. No returns, no exchanges, no exceptions. If that $12 blouse doesn't fit, it's yours forever. Or it's a donation to Goodwill.
Here's how to shop clearance without getting burned:
- Only buy clearance in-store if possible. Try it on. Check the fabric. Look for defects. Clearance items sometimes end up marked down because they have minor flaws (loose stitching, slight discoloration).
- If you must buy clearance online, stick to sizes you've already bought and confirmed. Don't experiment with a new size on a final-sale item.
- Check the fabric content. Clearance items heavy on polyester will feel cheaper and hold heat more than cotton or rayon blends.
- Read reviews. If other shoppers are flagging sizing issues on a particular item, skip it.
And here's something not everyone knows: sale items (not clearance, but regular sale) can be returned, but only for store credit or exchange. Not a refund to your card. That's a meaningful distinction. “Sale” and “clearance” are different categories with different rules. Pay attention to which label an item carries before you buy.
Mistake #4: Trusting the Size Chart Blindly
Ashley Stewart's online size chart gives you standard body measurements (bust, waist, hips) for each size. It's a reasonable starting point. But it's not the whole story.
The chart tells you what body measurements correspond to each size. What it doesn't tell you is the garment's actual measurements, which can vary significantly by style and fabric. A size 18 bodycon dress fits very differently from a size 18 relaxed-fit tunic, even though both are labeled the same size.
Here's what experienced Ashley Stewart shoppers do instead:
- Read the reviews for sizing info. Real customers will tell you “runs large,” “runs small,” or “true to size” more accurately than any chart. Sort by most recent reviews to get current production info.
- Know your measurements, not just your “size.” Take your bust, waist, and hip measurements with a tape measure. Compare those numbers to the chart, not just the size number you usually buy at other stores.
- Account for fabric stretch. Items labeled with spandex or elastane (even 2-5%) will have significant give. You can sometimes go down a size in stretchy fabrics.
- Be cautious with sizes 10-14. These were added to the range more recently, and some shoppers find the fit slightly off compared to their core 16-36 range. The patterns were originally built for larger sizes and scaled down, which can create fit issues in the shoulders and bust.
If you're ordering your first time, buy two sizes of the same item (if the return policy allows returns on that item). Try both, return the one that doesn't work. It costs a little extra in shipping but saves you from a closet full of clothes that don't quite fit.
Mistake #5: Missing the BOGO Deals
Ashley Stewart runs BOGO (buy one, get one) promotions regularly, and they're some of the best deals the brand offers. But shoppers mess these up in a few common ways.
Not understanding how BOGO pricing works. When the deal is “BOGO 50% off,” the discount applies to the lower-priced item. So if you buy a $55 dress and a $35 top, you get 50% off the $35 top ($17.50 savings), not 50% off the $55 dress. Always pair items of similar value to maximize the discount.
Forgetting to check which items qualify. Not every BOGO deal covers the entire store. Some are limited to specific categories (dresses only, denim only, tops only). Read the fine print on the promotion banner.
Not combining BOGO with other discounts. This is the real power move. Ashley Stewart sometimes lets you stack a BOGO deal with a coupon code or Diva rewards. Not always, but it happens more often than you'd think. Try adding a promo code at checkout even during BOGO events. Worst case, it won't apply. Best case, you just saved an extra 15-20% on top of the BOGO discount.
The best BOGO events happen around holidays (Memorial Day, Labor Day, Black Friday) and at the start of each new season when they're pushing new inventory. Set a reminder to check the site during these windows.
Mistake #6: Not Using the App for Extra Savings
Ashley Stewart's mobile app isn't just a smaller version of their website. It occasionally offers app-exclusive deals that don't appear on the desktop site. These include flash sales, early access to markdowns, and sometimes unique coupon codes.
The app also sends push notifications for sales, which some people find annoying. But if you're an active Ashley Stewart shopper, those notifications can tip you off to deals before they hit social media or email. More than once, app-exclusive flash sales have offered an extra 10-15% off that wasn't available anywhere else.
A few other app perks:
- Barcode scanning in-store. Scan an item to check online reviews and see if a better price is available.
- Wish list syncing. Save items and get notified when they go on sale.
- Easier Diva rewards tracking. Check your points balance and available rewards without logging into the website.
Is the app perfect? No. It's a bit sluggish and the user interface could use an update. But the potential savings make it worth downloading, especially if you shop with them more than a couple times a year.
Bonus: The Coupon Stacking Strategy
Here's the cheat code that regular Ashley Stewart shoppers use. It doesn't work every single time, but it works often enough to try on every order.
- Step 1: Wait for a sitewide sale (30-50% off).
- Step 2: Add items to your cart during the sale.
- Step 3: Search for active coupon codes. Check the app, your email (if you're on their list), and coupon sites like RetailMeNot or Honey.
- Step 4: Try applying the coupon code on top of the sale prices. Some codes work on already-discounted items.
- Step 5: Hit the $75 threshold for free shipping. Add a small clearance item if you're close.
When this strategy clicks, you can get 50-65% off your total order with free shipping. That $55 dress becomes $22. Those $45 jeans drop to $18. It takes a little patience and timing, but the savings add up fast.
One more thing: sign up for their email list with a dedicated email address (not your main inbox). They send a lot of emails, but buried in the volume are exclusive codes that aren't posted anywhere else. A separate email keeps the clutter out of your primary inbox while still giving you access to the deals.
The Bottom Line
Shopping at Ashley Stewart without a strategy is like leaving money on the table. The brand runs enough sales, promotions, and BOGO deals that paying full price is almost never justified. Combine the Diva rewards program with smart timing, coupon stacking, and a clear understanding of their return policies, and you'll consistently pay 40-60% less than the sticker price.
The biggest takeaway? Know the rules before you shop. Clearance is final sale. Sale items return for store credit only. Shipping is free at $75. BOGO discounts apply to the cheaper item. These details seem minor until they cost you money.
Shop the sales, join Diva, download the app, and never buy clearance online unless you've worn that exact size before. Follow those four rules and Ashley Stewart becomes one of the best values in plus-size fashion.
