Ok, i've had to do some editing- i can't shop the way i used to (going to mall weekly or looking at their sites all the time), looking at boutique sites all the time, going to cool stores all the time, so now i just go to certain places when i'm looking for something, things that i think are decent quality.
Where do you look at when you want something? What are the first sites to go to when someone posts that they are looking for new *something or other*?
I go to:
Kenneth Cole- I like their sales, and i like the shoes, $$ at times, but usually goes on sale, and i like their bags/aesthetic as well, plus i've always had good cs there
Zappos- for shoe searches, its easy and i like doing the color or heel height search
J. Crew- when i want polished basics, cute shoes that i try to get on sale
Zara- work clothes or nicely designed clothes for not too expensive if you limit yourself to a piece or two, am going to try Club Monaco too- I just can't get into Gap and Banana!! I like their stuff, but i feel like everyone knows where my outfit is from when i shop there.
Neimans for luxury products- don't really like the company, but for some reason, they have more on their site that i'm looking for than the saks site
Net-a-porter- when i want to look at really upscale but more indie or internationally acclaimed designers, I like the outfits they put together as well
Anthropologie or Urban- see whats new, look at their accessories
H & M/ Forever 21 (brick and mortar only)- when i'm trying to recreate a certain look, need something cheap for going out, looking for something vague (red shirt for example)
Bluefly- for sweaters and jackets
Ebay of course- when i'm looking for something specific, weird, or vintage
Abercrombie- Can't stand them, but i'm obsessed with their denim minis, i will suck it up and spend $60 on a fraying tube because I know i will wear it everyday, as I did with my bleached out one
I pretty much only shop at JCrew, Urban and Anthro. Nordstrom for jeans and Old Navy for cheap basics. And eBay for the same reasons as you. And if I'm somewhere that has an H&M I'll always stop in and check it out.
Clothes for hanging out but still looking good-Anthropologie
Really summery clothes-J Crew
Clubbing-Bebe or Marciano
Formal dresses-BCBG
Jeans-this boutique called "Guess what's new?" by my house. They always have almost every style of designer jeans. They usually only carry a few of each though so you have to get lucky...well, not really lucky, because they are full price, but lucky enough where you won't have to go on a mad search to find them someplace else.
Workout wear-American Eagle or Aeropostale. It's one of those. I literally can't tell them apart, but I know one of them has some cute comfy pants I can work out in.
girlshop & blaec for inspiration on stuff/styles to hunt down.
goclothing & shopbop for selection, plus they tend to have good sales.
as far as b&m. i usually base my picks on places that have good sales
f21 b/c it's close by and i always find stuff there (which is a good and bad thing)
barney's co-op -- if i'm looking to add something new, but don't really have an idea of what i want i go there. plus they also have good sales (not really the warehouse sale, but in the month or so b/f the sale they have killer deals)
macy's -- herald square for shoes and/or to kill time, and again good sales
intermix -- it's like the b&m version of girlshop for me. i like to go and get inspired by the stuff, then hunt down similar things in my price range
bloomies -- if i'm looking for a higher end basic like a c&c tee or jeans
findoutlet -- i tend to go there to just browse for unique pieces at good price points. i recently got an awesome twinkle sweater from there for a good price
assorted hoochie stores -- after i browse girlshop/barney's/blaec i usually go to these to pick up cheap versions of trendier designer stuff like gauchos.
target/old navy - they are pretty much my go-to stores for casual/work stuff. charlotte russe/wet seal - cheap accessories and trendy stuff
but i'm not really a store kind of shopper. i like to look through mags and find stuff i like, then go through vintage stores finding the original versions of the designs. (because i think everything comes back eventually)
Online the stores I usually like to keep in the know what they are offering are:
Bluefly.com Gap.com Jcrew.com bananarepublic.com overstock.com zappos.com macys.com coach.com ae.com (I am finding I am buying things from them less and less! Not sure if it's them or me)
For clothing: Online: luvcharlie, pinkmascara, girlshop Mall stores: Rampage (love them since they upgraded their quality-they used to be about the same as ArdenB, but now with their new upgrades- which they just did this season- I love everything)- I like their stuff for work and for going out. AE- for casual, bumming around stuff Forever21, Wet Seal, Charlotte Russe- for something cheap, disposable and super trendy Jewelry: alltherageonline if I want a cheap, trendy piece and don't feel like making it myself.
Banana Republic - I love the style and the quality, although not as much anymore as a few years back when I shopped almost exclusively there.
Anthropologie - great fantasy shopping! I love all their quirky pieces and browsing their site is so much fun. I only buy their things on sale, though.
Esprit - my favorite online store thanks to free shipping and free returns. I got my favorite jeans from there.
Free People - very cute stuff to look at, haven't actually bought anything yet.
Mexx - one of my favorite brands when shopping back home in Finland, great pants and blazers. I'm glad they have a store in NYC now.
Macy's - usually my first stop for coats and shoes.
So nothing high end but a pretty good price-quality ratio, I think.
Online: LuvCharlie, Shopbop, Sunwalters, Active Endeavors - I'm really trying to curtail my shopping right now but when I do order, these are my favorite sites and I still like to look.
Work Clothes: Banana Republic, Zara - These two are where I've had the most luck lately. I like BR for Tops/Sweaters/Suits/Shoes and Zara for a little less conservative look. Honorable mention in this category: J. Crew and Ann Taylor - I haven't bought anything at either place recently but at least half of my work wardrobe comes from both. I love AT for trousers and J. Crew for sweaters.
Jeans: Bloomingdales - I really hate shopping for jeans (even more than bathing suits) so once a year, during that Bloomies Private Sale, I go and try on lots of jeans and buy one new pair. I've done this the past few years and I'm developing quite a denim collection.
Shoes: Nordstrom - I buy shoes everywhere but overall this is where I buy the most.
Bathing Suits: J. Crew - I usually buy a new one every year in December when they're on sale. Last year I got a great one for $19.99 (both pieces). I like ordering from them because I know my size and I can just order without having to try anything on.
hmm, I check out the Savvy section at Nordstrom...
and then otherwise I look first at places like Gap, BR, Express, Anthropologie.
In boutiques, I always notice Free People, it's usually somewhat affordable, cute and casual. One of my favorite tops is from Free People, so I am conditioned to always check out their other stuff thinking I will hit gold again.
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"Go either very cheap or very expensive. It's the middle ground that is fashion nowhere." ~ Karl Lagerfeld
For shoes I usually stick w/ Nordstrom. I also like Zappos for their searchability (is that a word?) and I find J.Crew shoes really comfortable. I like to browse Bluefly shoes too.
For skirts and cute tops (my usual work outfit) I usually shop Anthro, both online and brick and mortar.
For other things I usually hit boutiques and vintage shops. Online I like to browse shopbop and girlshop.
BR (trying to break the habit, though...so blah sometimes...)
anthropologie...I'm obsessed but don't usually buy much
nordstrom (makeup, dresses, cute tops), bluefly, zappos, at and at loft, south moon under (never buy anything but gifts there...but they have great gifts for bridal showers etc)
to a lesser extent: ae, gap, sunwalters, free people, virgin threads for accessories, sephora, all about jane (boutique near my house)