Bargain-hunters lined frontage roads and parked in muddy fields Friday to snare the best deals at DuPage County-area outlet malls and shopping centers.

Meanwhile, several downtown shopping districts, including those in Naperville and Wheaton, appeared quiet during the afternoon with little hustle and no bustle during what is traditionally one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

Shoppers weren't necessarily just crossings names off their gift lists, retailers said.

"We've found so far that shoppers are coming in to purchase gifts but are finding such great deals that they're leaving with things for themselves as well," said Lindsey Burke, spokeswoman for Yorktown Center in Lombard.

Here's a sample of some of the best bargains shoppers said they found:

Kim Grey of Gary, Ind.

Store: Coach at Chicago Premium Outlets, Aurora

Item: Leather laptop case

Regular Price: $800

Sale price: $260

"I've come here every year for the last four or five years and it's always been worth the drive in," said Grey, who purchased the bag for herself. "I'm a working woman and I need a nice bag so I'm very happy with my purchase."

Paul Lee and Sally Yu of Champaign-Urbana

Store: Giorgio Armani at Chicago Premium Outlets, Aurora

Item: Necktie

Regular price: $175

Sale price: $50

"They are beautiful ties for a great price," Yu said. "We got some for us and many other family gifts that we'll be taking to Korea for the holidays."

Dan and Melva Rodriguez of Romeoville

Store: Kohl's, Bolingbrook

Item: Bed comforter

Regular price: $160

Sale price: $25

"We're shopping for our children and family and for ourselves," Dan Rodriguez said. "Why not? Right?"

Kim Taylor of Bellwood

Store: Wet Seal at Yorktown Center, Lombard

Item: Fashion T-shirts

Regular price $30

Sale price $1

"Shirts for a dollar? You can't walk away from T-shirts for a dollar," Taylor said. "And at Forever 21 I also got three shirts and a pair of jeans for a total of $30."

Kara Scott of Wheaton

Store: Brookstone at Yorktown Center, Lombard

Item: Fleece blankets

Regular price: $50

Sale price: Buy one, get one free

"I've been out since 9 a.m. so I'm almost done," Scott said just before 1 p.m. Friday. "I was able to get most of my gifts."

Amanda Byczynski of Cicero

Store: Aeropostale at Yorktown Center, Lombard

Item: Sweaters

Regular price: $45

Sale price: $22.50

"It's a lot easier to get two when they're half off," Byczynski said.