STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

I feel the same way - haven't found anything that made me feel like spring has sprung. I have attributed it to the fact that I'm not a spring person, but I've been able to find cute clothes in the past spring seasons! I don't see anything really inspiring out there.

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Originally posted by: shopchicago33
"Is it just me, or is anyone else having trouble finding cute spring clothes?  I'm just not really impressed w/what I've seen out so far.  I typically shop at stores like Express, Limited, Gap, Banana, Ann Taylor Loft, American Eagle...and I just haven't been blown away by anything.  I'm really struggling to find great spring clothes. Am I the only one w/this problem If anyone has found cute stuff that I'm missing or has any suggestions, please let me know."

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Maybe you should try going to stores you don't usually go to.  When you go to the same stores every season, everything starts to look the same.  You start to realize that a lot of the spring clothes are just a spinoff of what they were selling in the fall.  Nothing really seems new and exciting.

I feel the same way you do a lot at the beginning of a season.  When I started shopping for spring clothes this year, I couldn't find anything.  My two staple stores are BCBG (for going out clothes and for tops that I can either wear out or with a cardi or blazer over them for work) and Banana Republic (for work and more conservative things).  Then I will pick up random pieces to supplement these at Anthropologie, J Crew, Arden B, and Nordstrom.  I went to ALL of these places and nothing blew me away (well, except for at BCBG, but I have to seriously limit myself when I'm there because it really is out of my price range).

Anyway, I ended up being blown away by an unexpected store.  I found tons of stuff at Express, and I don't usually like Express.  I was just at the mall for lunch with a friend and we had some extra time and went in there.  I saw so much stuff I liked that I had to go back after work so I could try it all on.  However, I know that next season, I won't like Express again.  I'm weird like that.  Anytime I am blown away by a store outside of my usual favorites, it never lasts more than a season.

i agree with Andrea Julia, if you shop at the same stores all the time, the items do start looking the same, and getting old.  i might get banned from this forum for this comment, but to me, anthropologie is looking like that for me (i know there's a lot of loyal anthropologie shoppers on here).  i have decided to take a break from it, cuz it used to be one of my favorite stores, and then go back to it. 

if you live in chicago, you should try places that you don't shop.  try the boutiques, anthropologie, filene's basement, etc...maybe take a break from express, banana, etc...for a while.

good luck!

there is one on state street by rush (by gibsons).

maybe try urban outfitters too.  i like the boutiques because i find one of a kind items.  i tend to buy more expensive clothing just not as much of it.  when i used to shop at express, etc..i would buy like three or four shirts that were kinda ok, instead i buy one that i love (since most boutiques are more expensive than express, etc...).  but that's just me.

It's not just you.  It's hard to be unique these days, what with internet shopping and the media, especially if you live in a big city where you and it seems like everyone else is already pretty hip to fashion. 

I am disappointed today because I tried to shop at this little virtually unknown boutique in my suburb community the other day and it has gone out of business.  Most of the stuff was too whimsical for me, but I had purchased a few pretty and unique (possibly local designer) tops from this boutique, when I wore them, people would constantly ask where I got them.  Now I have to find another little unique place to make my own.

Meanwhile, I keep hitting Gap, Banana, outlets, Nordies, Express, Arden B, Guess and hoping something will catch my eye that I missed last time.