Though I’ve already explained how to shop at inexpensive, fast-fashion stores, I stand by my claim that there is life outside Forever 21. You can definitely find some good buys, but you don’t want your entire closet to be from there. In this article, I’ll take you through some of the best stores to shop on a budget.
You may think Kohl’s has seen its heyday and the rest of us have moved on, but for basics it’s actually one of the best places to get a good deal. The secret? Skip the teen section and head to women’s. In general, I find that clothes targeted toward women tend to be higher quality and are more likely to be made with natural fibers. Kohl’s also marks up their prices to account for trillions of “sales” they offer, so it’s best to wait until things go on clearance or to use a coupon. I also don’t buy much outside of Chaps and Croft & Barrow, two brands that I’ve found to have the best quality for its price at Kohl’s. Both of these brands can also be found in the men’s department. I’ve bought quite a few sweaters from there as gifts.
Confession time: almost everything I own is from American Eagle. It’s not unusual for me to walk out of my room in head-to-toe Eagle without even meaning to. AE is a popular store already, but I recommend signing up for their rewards program, which is free and gets you monthly coupons! Like Kohl’s, AE runs constant sales so it isn’t worth it to buy anything that’s not already 30–40% off. If you do, chances are it’ll be on sale next week. They also offer their own brand of shoes, which are pretty nice for the price. You won’t get real leather, but I have a pair of their flats that I’m still wearing after five years.
It’s also worth it to open a card with your favorite department store. Nordstrom or Bloomingdale’s would be great places to score some extra sales for, but my mom has a card for Macy’s, so I have to vouch for the one I have experience with. Almost my entire fall/winter wardrobe is from the Tommy Hilfiger section at Macy’s. With up to 20% or $20 off of $50, Macy’s two most valuable coupons, you can combine these savings with the sales they already offer to get some pretty nice $25–40 sweaters. Every once in a while they send Macy’s cash out, too, which can be used on high-end makeup brands like Mac, Clinique, and Estee Lauder, not to mention their shoes section is to die for. Use those coupons on a pair of Ralph Lauren riding boots or Coach flats!
Another college student favorite is Target. You find many sales at Target, but the original prices on their clothing are pretty low and they keep up with current styles. Many of my friends buy most of their wardrobe from there and their quality usually beats out Forever 21. You still need to be choosy, but I would buy a sweater from Target way before I’d get one at F 21.
For the guys, I would definitely take a look at Uniqlo next time you’re looking to shop. They have a girls’ section as well, but most of the people I hear raving about Uniqlo are men. Inexpensive pricing and quality materials: what I love about this place is that you can shop by material on their online store. You’ll find a ton of cotton and wool basics here.
Most of these stores can be found at Newport Mall, but what about something more local? Truthfully, I avoid many of the boutiques on Washington Street unless there’s a big sale. Most boutique clothing is the quality of any teen fashion store (polyester blends like you’re gonna die) at twice the price. My one weakness? Anthropologie. That place is the holy grail of unique fashion. Luckily for you (and me), they have a really well stocked sale section downstairs and they run sales pretty frequently. Just this past week they had extra 30% off sale and yes, I was there. The best steals at Anthro will cost around $25–40.
With that, I’ll leave you with a few more stores to check for mid range and sale clothing: Saks off 5th Street, Abercrombie, Land’s End, Gap, Banana Republic, J. Crew Factory, and Wilson’s Leather.
