My wardrobe needs help.

Here-am-I · 04-26-2009, 10:59 PM

Rather, my wardrobe needs to be burned.

Here's my plan.

Before college (this fall), I would like to redesign my wardrobe/style. I'm looking for sophisticated chic/something along those lines. I want to look put together and mature, but still young and fresh. Maybe a little bit of a boho feel? I don't know for sure. I can tell you I love a lot of Charlotte Russe's stuff, but don't want to be EXACTLY that style.

Anyway. Here's the catch.

I'm going to have $500 to buy an entirely new wardrobe. There are only a FEW pieces of clothing I want to keep. The rest are so worn/ugly/not-me that they're being banned from my closet forever. So basically, I want to replace almost everything. On $500. Where do I shop? I'm looking for suggestions.... obviously things will need to be cheap, but I don't want them to look cheap!
What I have so far are these:
Ross
Salvation Army/Goodwill
... that's basically it. What other stores have good deals?

I'm also looking for shopping tips... Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to shop.... I think I just don't know how to shop well!! When I shop for clothes, I find myself buying them then getting home and regretting buying them. It seems they just don't fit the way they did in the fitting room! Especially jeans... I think I just don't know how to find the right fit for me. So do you have any tips? What can I do to ensure I buy the right clothes?

Any help you can give me would be great!

***Art*** · 04-26-2009, 11:16 PM

Marshall's, TJ Maxx. Ross is freaking awesome, though.

Pre-Ex-Girlfriend · 04-26-2009, 11:20 PM

One of my favourite stores (other than the ones you have already mentioned) is Buffalo Exchange. I don't know if there is one near you, but the one in Seattle is awesome. You can even take all your old clothes (or just the ones in good shape) and they might give you store credit for them. If they don't want them, then they donate them to charity.

As for shopping tips, my number one is this - While you are in the fitting room, ask yourself if you would wear it that day. If not, don't buy it. And as for fit, don't be afraid to walk around, sit and squat in jeans when you are trying them on. Also, if you normally wear a belt with jeans, then don't forget to bring one when you go shopping.

**beanbag** · 04-26-2009, 11:26 PM

always take a friend when jean shopping. it'll be much easier for her to check you out from all angles than it will be for you.

check and see if you have a susie's deals near you. they carry a lot of overstock stuff for super cheap. I got a couple of delia's shirts from them for like, $5 each. my roommate acquired nearly her entire trip wardrobe for when we went to italy from susie's, and I think all in all it cost her around $65, including accessories and all that great stuff. I am talking about shirts, jackets, pants, etc.

target is another favorite place of mine and my friends. if you shop clearance, you can get some amazing deals.

***Art*** · 04-26-2009, 11:28 PM

Oh wow, there's a Susie's Deals in Roseville. I always thought it looked kind of... lame. I've never been inside, obviously.

Here-am-I · 04-27-2009, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beanbag

always take a friend when jean shopping. it'll be much easier for her to check you out from all angles than it will be for you.

check and see if you have a susie's deals near you. they carry a lot of overstock stuff for super cheap. I got a couple of delia's shirts from them for like, $5 each. my roommate acquired nearly her entire trip wardrobe for when we went to italy from susie's, and I think all in all it cost her around $65, including accessories and all that great stuff. I am talking about shirts, jackets, pants, etc.

target is another favorite place of mine and my friends. if you shop clearance, you can get some amazing deals.

My best friend just moved away this past month! I have two other best friends, but ones in college and the other HATES shopping. I was planning on doing all this by myself.... I can't take my mom - she and I have opposite-end opinions when it comes to style and fashion - and I don't have any sisters or anything. Hm... maybe I can find someone, but it's going to be hard.

(I think it's awesome you went to Italy!! Touring Italy is one of my things-to-do-before-I-die) Checked, and the closest Susie's Deals is 1700 miles away! haha. Just my luck. Looks like a fantastic store though.

I can definitely go to Target, Marshalls, and TJ Maxx. I'll add those to my list. However, Buffalo Exchange isn't anywhere near me.

Would Sears, JCPenny, Macys, Bon Ton, etc. be worth going to or are they just overpriced and such?

Big_al · 04-28-2009, 11:51 PM

I don't know about the style you are going for or whatever, but I get a lot of shirts off of the old navy clearance rack for two or three dollars. Outlet stores as well.

**beanbag** · 04-29-2009, 01:47 AM

macy's is ridiculous. don't even try looking there if you're looking to get good stuff for cheap. I got $100 in gift cards for macy's when I graduated, so obviously I had to spend the money there. I had the most difficult time finding anything. by nature I'm a clearance shopper, and even the clearance racks were overpriced!

penny's is actually pretty good, and they have some cute stuff right now. just be sure to look at their clearance. you can get stuff for way cheap.

Here-am-I · 04-30-2009, 06:40 AM

how much of a budget should I give myself to buy jeans? I want to get at least 3 pairs of quality jeans that will last me a long time.

**beanbag** · 05-01-2009, 09:02 PM

that depends. do you want designer jeans or just regular jeans?

if you want designer jeans...check out truejeans online. they sell them at a "discount" but even just one pair would take a major chunk of your budget. like...20-25% of it.

I think $30 is expensive. I think $20 is expensive. then again, I am an extreme bargain shopper. (it comes with being broke and having lots of loans.

) my best friend says that $30 is good for a pair of jeans.

the only thing you really have to account for is time. you need to take a few days for jean shopping and only jean shopping. be prepared to try on every single pair and style that comes in your size. sounds crazy, I know, but it's true.

Here-am-I · 05-01-2009, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beanbag

that depends. do you want designer jeans or just regular jeans?

if you want designer jeans...check out truejeans online. they sell them at a "discount" but even just one pair would take a major chunk of your budget. like...20-25% of it.

I think $30 is expensive. I think $20 is expensive. then again, I am an extreme bargain shopper. (it comes with being broke and having lots of loans.

) my best friend says that $30 is good for a pair of jeans.

the only thing you really have to account for is time. you need to take a few days for jean shopping and only jean shopping. be prepared to try on every single pair and style that comes in your size. sounds crazy, I know, but it's true.

Good tips, thanks!

I really don't care at all about labels or designers. I think the whole idea is silly!

So "normal" jeans will do perfectly for me.

***Art*** · 05-02-2009, 01:30 AM

If you have a costco membership, check out the Kirkland Signature jeans. I recently heard that they are actually made by Calvin Klein, and I've always heard that they are very good.

Here-am-I · 05-29-2009, 10:50 PM

Ah! I completely f-a-i-l-e-d today.

I went to Peebles. Bought a dress for $40, a swimsuit for $43, and tights for $12. I was able to mentally justify spending so much on all three purchases.... I fell into the "I need it" pit!

By the way, CGR won't let me type the word f-a-i-l without the dashes!!! This baffles me....

**beanbag** · 05-29-2009, 10:51 PM

look at the bright side: you still have $405 to spend. =)

Here-am-I · 07-01-2009, 07:16 PM

I'm going shopping tomorrow!

I'm in the Lexington area right now so I'm gonna hit up all the sweet thrift stores. Ok, maybe not all of them but you get the picture. I will update you all about my shopping success sometime down the road.