Zara was founded in 1975 by Amancio Ortega and Rosalia Mera in Arteixo, Galicia, Spain. Originally, it was a single store focused on affordable versions of designer fashions. In 1980, founder Ortega redesigned the company and its processes so it could better keep up with trends as they hit, coining the term "instant fashion". Many credit him with pioneering the fast fashion movement. 

Today, Zara is a worldwide brand, with roughly 2,000 stores in 88 countries around the globe and no sign of slowing down. It's one of our favorite stores of all time and our go-to source for a high-end take on fast fashion.

My Favorite Zara Picks for Summer 2016:

Products: Off-Shoulder Top, Dress, Earrings, Patch Shorts, Flowing Shorts, Clutch, Sweater, Lace Top

Tips for shopping at Zara:

1. Go online on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

New merchandise becomes available on the online shop on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Make sure to visit the website on these days to snag the latest pieces before they sell out!

2. Set some time aside for the Summer and Winter Sales.

Zara holds their biggest sales during the Summer and Winter. Though the exact sale dates vary and aren't announced ahead of time, the summer sale typically begins on or around the last Thursday in June (that's next week) and the winter sale begins around December 26th. Make sure to mark your calendar and take time to look through all the merchandise to get the best deals!

3. Check the Summer and Winter sales every few days.

There are different levels of markdowns that occur during the Summer and Winter sales, so once they're live, make sure to check the website every few days to get the best discounts!

4. Sign up for the newsletter to know about the best trends.

Zara's newsletter is awesome. It offers sneak previews of new merchandise coming soon to the website AND Zara even shares a list of which items they expect to be the top sellers. You may also get a heads up about their summer and winter sales. Get it and plan your shopping ahead of time!

5. Find basics in the sales section.

The sales section is one of my favorite places to find a new white v-neck or black tank, for example. I think Zara's basics are very well-made, so I always try to stock up. You can never have too many staples in your wardrobe! 

What are your tips for shopping at Zara? Do you prefer to shop online or in store?

Let us know in the comments!