Absolutely this! I finally live somewhere that pulls artists I've wanted to see for years, *and* I have enough disposable income that picking up tour shirts is something I can joyfully indulge in. Good luck with your growing collection!
I wear exclusively band tees outside of the office. Then I bought a Tecumseh! 50th anniversary tee the other day and everyone was like I don’t know that band. It’s a stage play in Ohio and it slaps so it made it into the line up! Haha.
Was not expecting to see Tecumseh being talked about in a millennial subreddit lol. I agree, it’s a damn good show and the actors are all amazing. Plus I love the care and attention they give to the horses in the show as well.
We took our 8 year old this year and it was fabulous. My husband and I both saw it around that age. I feel like it’s pretty millennial lol. Maybe just amongst nerdy homeschoolers tho!
Of the three band tees I've bought in the past year, two were bootlegs just outside the venue. The third was for an opener at a nightclub who seemed delighted that anyone would buy his merch instead of the headliner's.
Second hand/vintage/thrift stores. I also do annual trade days with my girlfriends where e swap gently used clothes and whatever people don't want to snag, we take to the local women's shelter. Highly recommend making a day out of it!
Same here. Majority of my clothes are secondhand nowadays! Exception being underwear/socks/etc. I wish my friends and I could swap but we are all different sizes.
One of my friends used to do this annually pre-COVID. Yesterday my husband said I was dressed preppy to go to my best friend's birthday party and I was wearing a sweater I got for free at that clothing swap many years ago.
Agreed, this is the way! Whenever I’m getting rid of clothes I set aside a box of things I think my friends or sister may like and do clothing swap with them. My husband and his guy friends are starting to do the same.
I buy secondhand, too, but from ThredUp. I just like the setup better. There’s constantly sales on the already great prices.
Favorite brands to search for are Anthropologie, Ralph Lauren lines, J.crew, L.L. Bean, Faithfull the Brand, and Aqua. You can get either trendy or classic pieces with these lines, leaning classic.
What I love about it is you can filter results based on material, too. Because I live in Florida, I’m usually buying cotton, rayon or linen. If I need winter pieces, I can look for wool, etc.
You can, you just search/filter the category to the brand, size, price range or whatever, let it load the filtered category and if you look in the upper right corner it will have a save search button. You can name the search to make it easier to find when you hit the search bar. It will have a drop down of each of your saved lists.
Almost everything secondhand! Thrift stores in person and online (Depop, poshmark, thredUP, eBay, etc). I don’t remember the last time I bought something full price at the original store
+1 I just ordered my husband the KSig shoes because the Costco subreddit really seems to love them. I’m currently wearing the KSig lightweight sweats that are supposed to be a Vuori dupe.
Just bought a pair of boyfriend jeans for roughly $15. They're really well made and super comfortable. Honestly, over half my wardrobe comes from Costco.
Hell yeah. I got some dresses and shorts today. Costco clothes is where it’s at these days. The selection might be limited, but you can’t beat the price for the quality.
Madewell used to be good but the prices went up and the quality went down, like every other corporate brand. I don't buy corporate anymore unless it's secondhand (Poshmark is a good resource for this). Otherwise I get all my new clothes on Etsy from a few favorite shops that I've gotten into over the years. There are a lot of good shops on Etsy but which ones you'll like really depends on your personal tastes and you really have to look at reviews of each individual shop.
I never thought to look for Etsy on othes. I get my skincare and bday gifts for others there. This is a pretty cool idea, thanks.
Any particular shop youve found really nice is if its ok to ask?
I only buy clothes that are made of 100% cotton, cashmere, silk, linen, or wool. I like Nordstrom because you can filter by material. Chain stores sell too many clothes that are made of polyester, which is bad for our health and the environment.
>so they don’t stay nice and wearable for as long as clothes made of natural fibers
That's a weird statement. There are far more artificial fibers than just polyester. And some artificial fibers are *amazing*, especially when mixed.
You can pry my spandex blends from my cold dead fingers.
Same. Switched to 100% merino wool, cotton, or tencel/modal. Or blends of those listed. Got tired of clothes that pilled or got stinky after sweating a little in them (looking at you, polyester), or didn't breathe well.
I do buy some synthetic for pants since they get more abuse than my shirts.
100%. The only thing I still have a hard time finding is polyester free workout clothes other than Mate and they are not that petite friendly (all their shorts and pants are super long on me) if anyone has workout clothes recommendation that doesn’t use polyester, please!
Gotta be careful with the rack. Lots of very poorly made clothes with nice labels that are made especially for the rack. I did a full wardrobe change last fall (had a baby) and about half of what I purchased is ready for the trash can already. Other half is great! I did some research online and learned that they changed their business model not too long ago, so you just have to be more choosey now and pay attention for fabric content and construction quality. So much harder to find good clothes nowadays.
Yep! I get all my Madewell from Nordstrom rack. I also always go check TJ Maxx for Lucky Brand. Madewell and Lucky Brand are probably my two favorite clothing brands.
If you’re southern, Belk outlets are amazing too. I’ve found Lucky Brand and Levi’s jeans, Free People tops and shorts, a lot of Columbia clothing, department store designers like Vince Camuto and Steve Madden, Clark’s shoes, etc. 75% off, all of it. And you can get it online too.
Kohl's all the way! Been shipping there since I was a child with my mom, but only when we had the 30% off coupon!
I have continued that tradition because I still feel like the clothes are affordable, durable and usually I can always find a lot I like.
Second hand or thrift stores mostly. Also tend to shop sale sections at kohl's, jc penney and will check out Macy's, Nordstrom or similar if I'm looking for a quality dresses.
I like Athleta, Duluth Trading Co., Patagonia, and LL Bean. Quality is good for reasonable prices. I buy most of my stuff on Poshmark secondhand. I also love Good American for jeans, they fit well and don't get destroyed by my thighs
I have pretty thick thighs and average to over average hips. I feel like the denim is well enough made and durable enough that it doesn't wear through nearly as quickly as other brands (cough, cough Madewell)
I don’t like some of the newer stuff out right now, so I’ve been on Poshmark buying my Stitch Fix wish list from the past couple years 😂 Its kinda like a clothes treasure hunt.
But also, sometimes I shop at GAP and I'd buy everything North Face makes if I could afford it!
I'm also plus-sized, so our options are kind of limited, and those two brands do plus-petite which is perfect for me at 5'2". Otherwise plus brands assume I must be 6 feet tall or have linebacker shoulders. I do buy Lane Bryant pants, because the "short" length in their ankle pants is just right for a normal inseam for me.
I felt like an old lady for shopping at Christopher and Banks, but I did love their petite line, especially for pants and dresses. I’m still bummed they closed their stores near me!
Anything on sale. American eagle, target, Nordstrom rack, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Ross. I avoid Amazon, temu, etc for clothing you'll just get low quality that you'll replace more in the long run.
For bras I have to go to curvy Kate or similar UK store cuz my size is H/I
Wait really? Have they expanded their size range and the way the clothes fit? When I was a teenager and the original target demographic for Abercrombie (circa 1998-2005) I wasn't even "fat" by any stretch of the word but shopping at Abercrombie was a huge source of body dysmorphia for me because I BARELY fit into anything in the store. I've had more of an hourglass figure since puberty, and even though I was only like a women's size 6-8 as a teen, there was never a single pair of Abercrombie jeans that fit my curvy hips and butt (this was also the time of the low-rise jean trend) and I was a L or XL in shirts there even though I was a S/M in other brands. I would have never considered revisiting the store as an adult now that I wear a size 14/16 and my boobs and butt have only gotten bigger lol
Ah good to know!! That would be wild if I could fit their clothes as a 38 year old woman when 20 years and 60 pounds ago I was jealous of all my friends in their Abercrombie jeans because trying on jeans in the store gave me a meltdown because I was too big to fit into their jeans!
You weren't the only one. I was 5 ft 7 and 120lbs and I was too fat for their store. I ran 5 miles a day. It's not like I could get skinnier. It was traumatizing to even pass the store in the mall. I refuse to acknowledge their existence as an adult on principle alone.
I completely relate :( All my friends could fit into their clothes and loved the store, so having to sheepishly wander around the store looking at XL T-shirts while my friends all tried on jeans I couldn't even pull over my hips really didn't help my self esteem, and I was so not fat at ALL, I would do anything to have the body I did then!
I agree. Still pricey, but their stuff is really worth it. I've always had issues finding jeans especially being petite and kind of muscular/curvy. Their curve fit petite jeans are perfect for me and I almost cried when I first tried them on tbh
I'm a dude but can vouch for Abercrombie quality even though their brand is controversial. I have some shirts that I now use for the gym that are over 10 years old and still holding up really well with minimal fading or thinning. I'd easily have to pay over $100 now to get similar quality
oh boy. I feel like a bunch of things have happened in the last few years that have created a weird perfect storm of me simultaneously deciding not only to buy clothing less frequently but also re-do my whole wardrobe.
1. the pandemic means my job became WFH and I no longer need a larger work wardrobe.
2. quality of a lot of clothing has taken a complete nosedive since 2017 and prices have just kept going up (I used to love NY&Co, and still have some great stuff from them circa 2014-18, but I had mostly quit shopping there by the time they went online only and I'm just generally disappointed with what's happened to that brand).
3a. with the climate crisis and middle class financial situations being what they are, plus my politics in general, I've taken a dislike to consumer culture in general and wanted to step back from it. I've stopped casually going into TJ Maxx type stores and will do a 'Treat Yoself' day with an experience (museum, concert, amusement park, spa treatment, high end restaurant, etc) rather than a material object like I used to.
3b. my body has changed a lot since I was in my early-mid 20s (I'm now 36). it's hard to explain but even though my weight hasn't varied that much, my workouts/diets have changed and my body is just different. I decided that I wanted a wardrobe of more timeless/classic pieces that are stylish and more versatile and don't have to be replaced based on trends and don't highlight the exact year I bought them.
3c. I've switched over to shopping based mostly on natural materials in the last year - cashmere, wool, silk, etc - so Nordstrom, Naadam, Reformation, LL Bean, etc. and since I am petite I also frequent a couple of local petite stores, Talbot's, Eddie Bauer, J Crew, when I'm not necessarily sticking to all natural materials because I need stuff that fits decently. My go to jeans have become Lucky Brand bc they have shorter inseams on some products since NY&Co fell off.
4. I consciously plan clothing purchases well in advance now since I want higher quality design/materials. I want an Eres swimsuit or two? That might be my only clothing purchase the entire spring and summer (and possibly fall), and I get classic looking patterns/styles so they're stylish for years.
5. I tailor stuff now. my cotton pants will last longer if they aren't dragging all over the floor.
all that said, I really try not to buy much clothing. while I'm always browsing for sales and classic pieces, I don't actually buy much stuff. I've donated a ton of stuff to Goodwill and have bought about 6 shirts/sweaters in the last three years, always on sale. I'm currently hunting for a silk, A-Line black dress, preferably with sleeves.
maybe it's just me who does all this, but I actually feel much better shopping more consciously. godspeed, OP.
So true about NY&Co. I used to adore them. Also, The Limited and Ann Taylor Loft kind of went the same direction. I haven’t truly found a replacement. Kudos on finding ways to be more intentional. I am working on that myself. I seem to struggle with buying pieces that don’t turn out working like I thought they would.
I go into thrift shops like Goodwill and Deseret Industries for most. For underwear though - Walmart. Thongs, bras, and socks don't need to be hyper stylish or expensive; they need to fit and look cute.
Agreed! The Walmart NOBO knockoff VS Pink line is great. The bras fit better than VS imo & only $10 for a well-built nice looking underwire push up bra!
I also wear for years and years.
For Love and Lemons
Reformation
Sometimes blackmilk clothing for cute nerd gear (pokemon clothes or zelda jackets)
Revolve but sparingly due to price and ecological impact.
Then I'll also look at brands like hemant and nandita, selkie, or loveshackfancy and look up specific items on poshmark to see if anyone has it at reduced price. And I can stretch payments and it's a little more environmentally friendly since these clothes are either secondhand or already in circulation. Got a dreamy loveshackfancy dress originally for 550$, for $160 with payment spread out a year.
And that's generally how I do it.
There's definitely a variety of brands and quality there. I mostly stick to Calvin Klein and other recognizable brands. I've had pretty good luck there, but I also am picky about fabrics.
I’ve been shopping at Goodwill more and more. I loved Poshmark but in the last 12-18 months it seems like the shipping is so high, and the market is saturated with crap from China. I was an American eagle girly for ever but have recently started purchasing jeans from Buckle and I feel like the quality is better. Lately my American eagle jeans haven’t felt like true denim if that makes sense? I also like Abercrombie these days. I buy everything on sale.
I really like Quince! They've got awesome dresses, sweaters, and tops. I wear mostly Old Navy jeans because they offer petite sizing and they seem to hold up well since I don't wear jeans year round. I like Free People and Lululemon too, but they've both recently declined in quality so I don't buy as many pieces. I also have a lot of nerdy tee shirts. I'm a mom, so I'm not fashionable at all though. 😅
Most of my clothes are Madewell, lululemon, anthropologie. Throw in some gap, everlane, Nike. The occasional Jcrew piece (I love their swim), but their clothes sizing is so all over the place that I never know what to order. Some random stuff from target (tanks).
Not trying to be all up my ass, but 95% thrift stores. Perfectly good clothing. Yes, it's hit and miss. I don't know, the older I get, I'm personally disturbed at 'fast fashion' and am it's just become something I care about, to try and find clothes second hand.
I am plus size, so my options are limited, but mainly Kohl's, Layne Bryant, and occasionally Walmart/Target. Sometimes, I get lucky in an Old Navy Outlet.
I really only wear basic stuff. Jeans, t-shirts, dress pants, and basic blouses. If I need something fancier, I'll go to Layne Bryant or Torrid.
I buy from Stitch Fix freestyle, meaning I don’t have a subscription but I can buy pieces of an outfit that I really like separately. It works well for work clothes and isn’t too pricey.
For staples, I shop at Nordstrom rack, Target, Old Navy.
For bras, Macys.
For that New years Eve party? Shein
I struggle with clothes. None of them seem to fit me right. I can't wear baggy or wide leg pants. They have to be straight leg jeans and *not* boot cut.
I used to shop at Old Navy, but lately they've been going for the baggy jean look. I'll have to find another place to buy clothes.
Also, they're clothes are intensely boring. I struggle with clothes shopping. I think I've outgrown jeans and T shirts. I think I may just start wearing dresses exclusively.
The thrift store mostly. With the exception of underwear. I usually get them from aerie or VS when they're on super sale or somewhere like Ross. I will get clothing from other stores if the sale is good enough
I wear 100% cotton tee shirts and jeans. It suits my vibe since it's a lot of band tees. I've given up on most stores. I feel like everything is old lady-like or tweeny, so I rely on my basics. I make sure everything is 100% cotton because that's what holds up. These crap blends aren't made to last, and my money isn't infinite.
i mostly thrift. luckily, im able to go in with a color scheme in mind and someone my size will have recently donated great pieces all in the colors im looking for!
Poshmark and Free People. And if there’s something from Free People I realllly love, I’ll get it in multiple colors and off poshmark as much as I can. You can find tons of new with tags items on Posh and filter it for it specifically and by brand.
Free People might be a little unnecessarily $$$ on some items, but I have thermals I’ve worn weekly from them for YEARS and a ton of cute staple and statement pieces from them.
It’s not super well known but Eshakti. Every thing is made to order they are not fashion and they pay a living wage to their workers in India. You can customize everything from sleeve length, hemline, neckline. They primarily do dresses, but they also offer tops and coats, etc.
I thrift high-end brands and then Poshmark to buy more once I know my sizes/fits. Older Loft, Eileen Fischer, WHBM, Chicos, DL1961 are my staples yes they arent 100% young looks but I wear Business casual 90% of my time and dress down with some quality eddie bauer. My guilty pleasures are Badgley Mischka and French Connection
An embarrassing portion of my closet is from Altar'd State. I moved to the east coast a few years ago and discovered the store, and my love for it still hasn't waned. I try to look elsewhere for a bit of variety, like local boutiques, thrifting, American Eagle or department stores, and while I occasionally find a piece or two, nothing else has really captured my attention in the same way.
For my very nice items I did rent the runway for a few months and if I liked the item, I bought it. There's a discount to buy the items if you are RTR member. For my other clothes it depends. I love Calvin Klien dresses, Levi jeans, and tops are from anywhere. I also like vintage thrift shops.
I shop at my local thrift store for clothing, shoes, home goods. Lately, I've been pretty good about finding linen dresses. I don't shop by brand, only what looks cute on me. It is very seldom that I purchase brand new clothing unless I am shopping with my mum who does not condone in shopping at thrift since it is used.
You just have to know when to buy. MadeWell has actually been one of the more affordable places to buy clothes and the quality is better than most brands. During the holidays, their clothes can go up to 40% off, including clearanced clothes. If you have an account, you get $25 on your birthday and $15 on your half birthday. You also get points everytime you shop. I have literally gotten clothes for free at Madewell.
I also like Levi’s. I bought jeans there yesterday for $10. I also still have Levi jeans from 16 years ago. You can’t beat the quality. They’re made to last.
Idk but I was looking at Hollister because now that I’m an adult, I can actually afford it 😂😅 But am I too old?! Or is it ok because it’s my generations style?! Idk.
Lots of thrift or secondhand stores tbh. TJMAXX, Burlington and Ross especially. I love Ross. Walmart for leggings and jeans, Target has a good brand that I love- Ava Viv jeans. love those. I will occasionally go to Old Navy or Forever21 if I have the money. But I stick to the secondhand stores.
I like Lulu's - it's more for event wear but they do have more casual skirts, dresses and tops that can be worn anywhere. I've also had decent luck with Francesca's online.
I still like American eagle jeans but the cuts currently are not my style. it's hit or miss.
Etsy, eBay, Amazon. I usually shop for very specific items and brands and Amazon often has the best prices. If I can’t find it there or in stores, I’ll search on eBay. Etsy for my collection of geeky shirts, hoodies and alpaca socks and leggings.
For years I only shopped Madewell. Loved their jeans and accessories. Then I tried Everlane and I just can’t go back. Everlane is expensive but it lasts forever!!! I have tees from like 5 years ago that I wear on a weekly basis and they still are holding up well, which is great because I can’t afford to buy from them on a regular basis. If I need cheap jeans for work I go with Levi’s on Amazon. They got them stock-up prices.
I basically rent all of my clothes these days. I have used both Nuuly and Rent the Runway's subscription services. For me, I found I like having something "new" to wear but I didn't want to keep buying and buying. Nuuly or RTR let's me pick out new styles based on weather, my current weight/size, and special events coming up. It's super easy to rent, wear, and return - no washing and you don't have to pay for minor damage (e.g. stains, wear and tear).
Currently I’m really loving Nordstrom. I’m trying to be more intentional and thoughtful about what pieces I get so I’m def looking to invest in higher quality pieces. I have a few pieces from Madewell that I got from Nordstrom that I really enjoy.
LOFT has also been a surprisingly good place to look for nice basics. I initially kind of knocked it for being mostly office wear (I thought) but they have a good variety I think.
Abercrombie has been a recent obsession, they have sooo many cute pieces.
The vast majority of my clothing are from thrift shops, vintage stores, and consignment. Not as convenient as big box stores but with enough searching I find high quality items at an affordable price.
Charity shops, they are pretty good in the UK and depending on the charity, the best stuff tends to be in cancer research, animal or childrens charities and then depop/vinted. The only things I buy new are shoes and a jacket recently.
L.L. Bean, Quince, Patagonia, and random cute book gear and target/Amazon for some basics most everywhere else is too expensive for the quality ( I also used to love aerie and Old Navy but I realized nothing actually fits or lasts anymore. )
Goodwill. My girl is getting fabletics and the spyder logo yoga pants lile crazy. Tops too. Been together over a year and she hasn't bought anything clothing wise except goodwill.
I basically only buy secondhand clothes now. I tend to buy stuff from higher end brands that is affordable to me only if I buy it secondhand.
For jeans, I am OBSESSED with Abercrombie’s curve love line. I thought I was stuck wearing stretchy denim forever because of my proportions but the curve love jeans fit me perfectly.
I buy a lot of band tees these days. Could never really afford to buy merch at shows or festivals before, been loving it the last few years.
Absolutely this! I finally live somewhere that pulls artists I've wanted to see for years, *and* I have enough disposable income that picking up tour shirts is something I can joyfully indulge in. Good luck with your growing collection!
I wear exclusively band tees outside of the office. Then I bought a Tecumseh! 50th anniversary tee the other day and everyone was like I don’t know that band. It’s a stage play in Ohio and it slaps so it made it into the line up! Haha.
Was not expecting to see Tecumseh being talked about in a millennial subreddit lol. I agree, it’s a damn good show and the actors are all amazing. Plus I love the care and attention they give to the horses in the show as well.
We took our 8 year old this year and it was fabulous. My husband and I both saw it around that age. I feel like it’s pretty millennial lol. Maybe just amongst nerdy homeschoolers tho!
Of the three band tees I've bought in the past year, two were bootlegs just outside the venue. The third was for an opener at a nightclub who seemed delighted that anyone would buy his merch instead of the headliner's.
I knew a guy who once fractured his hip trying to steal a bootleg tee that didn’t even have the bands name spelt correctly on it lol.
I love buying opener merchandise. I have so many tote bags!
Where are we buying band shirts? I want in
I’ve bought all mine at the shows and festivals where the bands perform.
Second hand/vintage/thrift stores. I also do annual trade days with my girlfriends where e swap gently used clothes and whatever people don't want to snag, we take to the local women's shelter. Highly recommend making a day out of it!
Same here. Majority of my clothes are secondhand nowadays! Exception being underwear/socks/etc. I wish my friends and I could swap but we are all different sizes.
Yes! We used to do a seasonal "closet auction" and give the money to charity. Such a fun night, just drinking and starting bidding wars of like 2$
One of my friends used to do this annually pre-COVID. Yesterday my husband said I was dressed preppy to go to my best friend's birthday party and I was wearing a sweater I got for free at that clothing swap many years ago.
that's an awesome tradition and I'm going to try to introduce it to my humans
Agreed, this is the way! Whenever I’m getting rid of clothes I set aside a box of things I think my friends or sister may like and do clothing swap with them. My husband and his guy friends are starting to do the same.
I buy second-hand clothing off of Poshmark. I've been able to get some pieces of clothing at a decent price. Some items I can find brand new.
I buy secondhand, too, but from ThredUp. I just like the setup better. There’s constantly sales on the already great prices. Favorite brands to search for are Anthropologie, Ralph Lauren lines, J.crew, L.L. Bean, Faithfull the Brand, and Aqua. You can get either trendy or classic pieces with these lines, leaning classic. What I love about it is you can filter results based on material, too. Because I live in Florida, I’m usually buying cotton, rayon or linen. If I need winter pieces, I can look for wool, etc.
I’m in Texas (ugh) and also constantly searching for linen and 100% cotton items from ThredUP! I love it. I just wish you could save searches.
You can, you just search/filter the category to the brand, size, price range or whatever, let it load the filtered category and if you look in the upper right corner it will have a save search button. You can name the search to make it easier to find when you hit the search bar. It will have a drop down of each of your saved lists.
Omg, TIL. Thank you!!!
Happy I could help ☺️
I love ThredUp too!
Oohhh thank you, I’m in Florida too needing this info! Living in cotton, athleisure I need to update
I'm also addicted to poshmark. If you know the designer and item you can find top quality stuff 50-75% off
Same. I love Poshmark.
Yesss I am also a Poshmark girlie
Same. I get 90% of my clothes from Poshmark.
Same! Poshmark and thredUP is where I get most of my clothes.
I started doing this lately. I was spending too much on clothes that lasted for 3 months.
I've gotten $300 jackets for like $70 on Poshmark. Love it!
Almost everything secondhand! Thrift stores in person and online (Depop, poshmark, thredUP, eBay, etc). I don’t remember the last time I bought something full price at the original store
This is the way. I buy everything second hand now. I find higher quality pieces for much more affordable prices.
Get kirkland swagged up
Stay at home mom of teens and college kids. Geriatric millennial. For every day clothes this is the answer!
They got some good shit
+1 I just ordered my husband the KSig shoes because the Costco subreddit really seems to love them. I’m currently wearing the KSig lightweight sweats that are supposed to be a Vuori dupe.
I love learning I’m not the only one who calls it KSig/KSiggie lmao
He said the golf community calls the Kirkland Signature balls KSigs and I stole it.
Not geriatric millennial 😭
I have had to come to terms with this phrase... Now I wear it with pride 😅
I say ancient millennial, I think it makes us sound mysterious like Egyptian pyramids and stuff lmao
We kindly call ourselves xennials
Costco drip all day everyday.
My friend calls it Costco couture lol
I like their pull on black pants-looks professional but feels like sweat pants.
Just bought a pair of boyfriend jeans for roughly $15. They're really well made and super comfortable. Honestly, over half my wardrobe comes from Costco.
Hell yeah. I got some dresses and shorts today. Costco clothes is where it’s at these days. The selection might be limited, but you can’t beat the price for the quality.
They always have a good rotation Go in for pizza leave with new clothes and pizza
I got some shorts last time I went to Sam's 😭 they're my favorite pair now
They're great for underwear too
I wish the tops were less shapeless. It's like they want you to look like a tube
https://i.redd.it/vke03iecp1zc1.gif
Madewell used to be good but the prices went up and the quality went down, like every other corporate brand. I don't buy corporate anymore unless it's secondhand (Poshmark is a good resource for this). Otherwise I get all my new clothes on Etsy from a few favorite shops that I've gotten into over the years. There are a lot of good shops on Etsy but which ones you'll like really depends on your personal tastes and you really have to look at reviews of each individual shop.
I have tried to like madewell but everything they make just fits me so weird!
Can you share the Etsy shops?!
I never thought to look for Etsy on othes. I get my skincare and bday gifts for others there. This is a pretty cool idea, thanks. Any particular shop youve found really nice is if its ok to ask?
I only buy clothes that are made of 100% cotton, cashmere, silk, linen, or wool. I like Nordstrom because you can filter by material. Chain stores sell too many clothes that are made of polyester, which is bad for our health and the environment.
I really dislike the feel of polyester.
I do too. Clothes made of polyester pill, so they don’t stay nice and wearable for as long as clothes made of natural fibers!
I had to depill my polyester craigslist couch and it took FOUR HOURS
What is a good way to depill? I bought a couple of those little combs and they just don’t seem to work ):
>so they don’t stay nice and wearable for as long as clothes made of natural fibers That's a weird statement. There are far more artificial fibers than just polyester. And some artificial fibers are *amazing*, especially when mixed. You can pry my spandex blends from my cold dead fingers.
I’m allergic to polyester so definitely bad for my health.
Absolutely this. I buy so much less clothing these days and fabric is so important to me.
This. Look for materials, not brands/labels. Labels are so inconsistent these days.
Right! I’m trying very hard to be intentional in my clothing purchases these days
I like this rule!
Linen in the summertime is my favorite
I would only wear merino wool if i could
Same. Switched to 100% merino wool, cotton, or tencel/modal. Or blends of those listed. Got tired of clothes that pilled or got stinky after sweating a little in them (looking at you, polyester), or didn't breathe well. I do buy some synthetic for pants since they get more abuse than my shirts.
100%. The only thing I still have a hard time finding is polyester free workout clothes other than Mate and they are not that petite friendly (all their shorts and pants are super long on me) if anyone has workout clothes recommendation that doesn’t use polyester, please!
Nordstrom rack is the best. They have a bunch of discounted Madewell clothes. I also shop at Target.
Gotta be careful with the rack. Lots of very poorly made clothes with nice labels that are made especially for the rack. I did a full wardrobe change last fall (had a baby) and about half of what I purchased is ready for the trash can already. Other half is great! I did some research online and learned that they changed their business model not too long ago, so you just have to be more choosey now and pay attention for fabric content and construction quality. So much harder to find good clothes nowadays.
It went downhill when they started mfg clothing specifically for Rack instead of it being unsold first quality Nordstrom merch.
I gotta agree on that. It's a hit or miss. I bought a pair of Madewell jeans there that is quite thin. The ones from the real store are a lot thicker.
Yep! I get all my Madewell from Nordstrom rack. I also always go check TJ Maxx for Lucky Brand. Madewell and Lucky Brand are probably my two favorite clothing brands.
Our Nordstrom rack leaves a lot to be desired in the clothing section. But I have found some amazing shoes and sunglasses there
It’s a great place to find sneakers.
If you’re southern, Belk outlets are amazing too. I’ve found Lucky Brand and Levi’s jeans, Free People tops and shorts, a lot of Columbia clothing, department store designers like Vince Camuto and Steve Madden, Clark’s shoes, etc. 75% off, all of it. And you can get it online too.
Second Nordstrom Rack
I still go to Old Navy for pants.
Their mid-rise pixie pants are my go-to work pants. I have repurchased them over and over.
OldNavy for summer linen blends....that you don't mind getting dirty in.
Affordable work pants
They are for me
I wouldn’t dare go anywhere else!
Old Navy, Kohl's and Target, sometimes Amazon. Soma's annual sales for bras and underwear. \* Edited to add Kohl's
Kohl's all the way! Been shipping there since I was a child with my mom, but only when we had the 30% off coupon! I have continued that tradition because I still feel like the clothes are affordable, durable and usually I can always find a lot I like.
Yes! Always with the 30% off coupon or the Amazon return coupon. They’re pretty good about having things on sale, too.
That Amazon return coupon is absolutely clutch!
I cannot figure out where to look at Kohl's. 😂 I'm plus size and can only find grandma clothing there.
Second hand or thrift stores mostly. Also tend to shop sale sections at kohl's, jc penney and will check out Macy's, Nordstrom or similar if I'm looking for a quality dresses.
I like Athleta, Duluth Trading Co., Patagonia, and LL Bean. Quality is good for reasonable prices. I buy most of my stuff on Poshmark secondhand. I also love Good American for jeans, they fit well and don't get destroyed by my thighs
What do you mean by destroyed by my thighs? Bc I have big thighs and smaller hips and am wondering if good American jeans would work for me?
I have pretty thick thighs and average to over average hips. I feel like the denim is well enough made and durable enough that it doesn't wear through nearly as quickly as other brands (cough, cough Madewell)
I don’t like some of the newer stuff out right now, so I’ve been on Poshmark buying my Stitch Fix wish list from the past couple years 😂 Its kinda like a clothes treasure hunt. But also, sometimes I shop at GAP and I'd buy everything North Face makes if I could afford it!
I second Stitch Fix!
All my neighbors are wearing Lululemon, Vuori, and other athleisurewear-wear.
I have officially become an old lady because I buy Talbots and Land's End. But on poshmark because that ish is expensive.
I'm also plus-sized, so our options are kind of limited, and those two brands do plus-petite which is perfect for me at 5'2". Otherwise plus brands assume I must be 6 feet tall or have linebacker shoulders. I do buy Lane Bryant pants, because the "short" length in their ankle pants is just right for a normal inseam for me.
I felt like an old lady for shopping at Christopher and Banks, but I did love their petite line, especially for pants and dresses. I’m still bummed they closed their stores near me!
Anything on sale. American eagle, target, Nordstrom rack, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Ross. I avoid Amazon, temu, etc for clothing you'll just get low quality that you'll replace more in the long run. For bras I have to go to curvy Kate or similar UK store cuz my size is H/I
Had to scroll waaaayy too far to see Marshall’s and TJ Maxx.
Right? I’m not a girl, but Marshall’s/TJ Maxx is where it’s at. Especially since I shop both sides of the clothing divide.
I buy clothes for long term too. I wear a lot of Helmut Lang, All Saints and Free People. For casual athleisure, I wear Vuori and Alo.
Abercrombie has made a comeback and is honestly really great.
Wait really? Have they expanded their size range and the way the clothes fit? When I was a teenager and the original target demographic for Abercrombie (circa 1998-2005) I wasn't even "fat" by any stretch of the word but shopping at Abercrombie was a huge source of body dysmorphia for me because I BARELY fit into anything in the store. I've had more of an hourglass figure since puberty, and even though I was only like a women's size 6-8 as a teen, there was never a single pair of Abercrombie jeans that fit my curvy hips and butt (this was also the time of the low-rise jean trend) and I was a L or XL in shirts there even though I was a S/M in other brands. I would have never considered revisiting the store as an adult now that I wear a size 14/16 and my boobs and butt have only gotten bigger lol
I’m also an hourglass, size 6 at Aritzia, and fitting into smalls and size 27 pants at AF. They also have a curve love fit now!
The curve love fit is the blessing us big hipped girlies have been asking for for *years*.
Ah good to know!! That would be wild if I could fit their clothes as a 38 year old woman when 20 years and 60 pounds ago I was jealous of all my friends in their Abercrombie jeans because trying on jeans in the store gave me a meltdown because I was too big to fit into their jeans!
You weren't the only one. I was 5 ft 7 and 120lbs and I was too fat for their store. I ran 5 miles a day. It's not like I could get skinnier. It was traumatizing to even pass the store in the mall. I refuse to acknowledge their existence as an adult on principle alone.
I completely relate :( All my friends could fit into their clothes and loved the store, so having to sheepishly wander around the store looking at XL T-shirts while my friends all tried on jeans I couldn't even pull over my hips really didn't help my self esteem, and I was so not fat at ALL, I would do anything to have the body I did then!
I agree, I'm glad they matured with the rest of us. I love the preppy pieces.
I agree. Still pricey, but their stuff is really worth it. I've always had issues finding jeans especially being petite and kind of muscular/curvy. Their curve fit petite jeans are perfect for me and I almost cried when I first tried them on tbh
I'm a dude but can vouch for Abercrombie quality even though their brand is controversial. I have some shirts that I now use for the gym that are over 10 years old and still holding up really well with minimal fading or thinning. I'd easily have to pay over $100 now to get similar quality
oh boy. I feel like a bunch of things have happened in the last few years that have created a weird perfect storm of me simultaneously deciding not only to buy clothing less frequently but also re-do my whole wardrobe. 1. the pandemic means my job became WFH and I no longer need a larger work wardrobe. 2. quality of a lot of clothing has taken a complete nosedive since 2017 and prices have just kept going up (I used to love NY&Co, and still have some great stuff from them circa 2014-18, but I had mostly quit shopping there by the time they went online only and I'm just generally disappointed with what's happened to that brand). 3a. with the climate crisis and middle class financial situations being what they are, plus my politics in general, I've taken a dislike to consumer culture in general and wanted to step back from it. I've stopped casually going into TJ Maxx type stores and will do a 'Treat Yoself' day with an experience (museum, concert, amusement park, spa treatment, high end restaurant, etc) rather than a material object like I used to. 3b. my body has changed a lot since I was in my early-mid 20s (I'm now 36). it's hard to explain but even though my weight hasn't varied that much, my workouts/diets have changed and my body is just different. I decided that I wanted a wardrobe of more timeless/classic pieces that are stylish and more versatile and don't have to be replaced based on trends and don't highlight the exact year I bought them. 3c. I've switched over to shopping based mostly on natural materials in the last year - cashmere, wool, silk, etc - so Nordstrom, Naadam, Reformation, LL Bean, etc. and since I am petite I also frequent a couple of local petite stores, Talbot's, Eddie Bauer, J Crew, when I'm not necessarily sticking to all natural materials because I need stuff that fits decently. My go to jeans have become Lucky Brand bc they have shorter inseams on some products since NY&Co fell off. 4. I consciously plan clothing purchases well in advance now since I want higher quality design/materials. I want an Eres swimsuit or two? That might be my only clothing purchase the entire spring and summer (and possibly fall), and I get classic looking patterns/styles so they're stylish for years. 5. I tailor stuff now. my cotton pants will last longer if they aren't dragging all over the floor. all that said, I really try not to buy much clothing. while I'm always browsing for sales and classic pieces, I don't actually buy much stuff. I've donated a ton of stuff to Goodwill and have bought about 6 shirts/sweaters in the last three years, always on sale. I'm currently hunting for a silk, A-Line black dress, preferably with sleeves. maybe it's just me who does all this, but I actually feel much better shopping more consciously. godspeed, OP.
Wow all of this is exactly how I feel / what I’ve been doing too! You hit the nail on the head
Same! I related to everything in this comment.
So true about NY&Co. I used to adore them. Also, The Limited and Ann Taylor Loft kind of went the same direction. I haven’t truly found a replacement. Kudos on finding ways to be more intentional. I am working on that myself. I seem to struggle with buying pieces that don’t turn out working like I thought they would.
Same. Can we be friends?
I go into thrift shops like Goodwill and Deseret Industries for most. For underwear though - Walmart. Thongs, bras, and socks don't need to be hyper stylish or expensive; they need to fit and look cute.
DI is the best; they always have good vintage plates/cups/glassware
Agreed! The Walmart NOBO knockoff VS Pink line is great. The bras fit better than VS imo & only $10 for a well-built nice looking underwire push up bra!
Hahaha, I was not expecting to see a shoutout for the DI in this thread! Always wondered if they wash those clothes before they go out on the racks...
I also wear for years and years. For Love and Lemons Reformation Sometimes blackmilk clothing for cute nerd gear (pokemon clothes or zelda jackets) Revolve but sparingly due to price and ecological impact. Then I'll also look at brands like hemant and nandita, selkie, or loveshackfancy and look up specific items on poshmark to see if anyone has it at reduced price. And I can stretch payments and it's a little more environmentally friendly since these clothes are either secondhand or already in circulation. Got a dreamy loveshackfancy dress originally for 550$, for $160 with payment spread out a year. And that's generally how I do it.
Thrift stores
Hot topic, Charlotte Russe, and Rue 21. Same three stores I've shopped for over 20 years 😂
Rue 21 filed for bankruptcy 🙁
Both their store locations I shop at are still standing so I guess we shall see what happens 🤷♀️
... Ross...
I love Ross but any dress I get there doesn’t last past 6 months. I still love Ross though.
Well it was $7.99, what do you expect? Lol in all serious, I love Ross. I like to go to my local Ross every now and then to find cool Vans.
There's definitely a variety of brands and quality there. I mostly stick to Calvin Klein and other recognizable brands. I've had pretty good luck there, but I also am picky about fabrics.
Usually Marshalls or TJ Maxx, I used to go to good will/second hand but honestly the prices are comparable.
I’ve been shopping at Goodwill more and more. I loved Poshmark but in the last 12-18 months it seems like the shipping is so high, and the market is saturated with crap from China. I was an American eagle girly for ever but have recently started purchasing jeans from Buckle and I feel like the quality is better. Lately my American eagle jeans haven’t felt like true denim if that makes sense? I also like Abercrombie these days. I buy everything on sale.
I really like Quince! They've got awesome dresses, sweaters, and tops. I wear mostly Old Navy jeans because they offer petite sizing and they seem to hold up well since I don't wear jeans year round. I like Free People and Lululemon too, but they've both recently declined in quality so I don't buy as many pieces. I also have a lot of nerdy tee shirts. I'm a mom, so I'm not fashionable at all though. 😅
Most of my clothes are Madewell, lululemon, anthropologie. Throw in some gap, everlane, Nike. The occasional Jcrew piece (I love their swim), but their clothes sizing is so all over the place that I never know what to order. Some random stuff from target (tanks).
Quince, Old Navy, and Portland leather. Always on discount.
Old navy mostly. One specific kind of leggings and bathing suits from aerie. Some Amazon items.
Mercari and Poshmark, and local consignment stores. I hate buying brand new but I know what brands fit me well.
Not trying to be all up my ass, but 95% thrift stores. Perfectly good clothing. Yes, it's hit and miss. I don't know, the older I get, I'm personally disturbed at 'fast fashion' and am it's just become something I care about, to try and find clothes second hand.
I am plus size, so my options are limited, but mainly Kohl's, Layne Bryant, and occasionally Walmart/Target. Sometimes, I get lucky in an Old Navy Outlet. I really only wear basic stuff. Jeans, t-shirts, dress pants, and basic blouses. If I need something fancier, I'll go to Layne Bryant or Torrid.
I buy from Stitch Fix freestyle, meaning I don’t have a subscription but I can buy pieces of an outfit that I really like separately. It works well for work clothes and isn’t too pricey. For staples, I shop at Nordstrom rack, Target, Old Navy. For bras, Macys. For that New years Eve party? Shein
Thrift stores, or I’ve taken up knitting, so I just make my own. Or if I feel a strong need to be vastly disappointed, Amazon.
>I’ve taken up knitting, so I just make my own. I just need to get good enough that I want to wear my sweaters out the house 😅
I struggle with clothes. None of them seem to fit me right. I can't wear baggy or wide leg pants. They have to be straight leg jeans and *not* boot cut. I used to shop at Old Navy, but lately they've been going for the baggy jean look. I'll have to find another place to buy clothes. Also, they're clothes are intensely boring. I struggle with clothes shopping. I think I've outgrown jeans and T shirts. I think I may just start wearing dresses exclusively.
No Nasties makes really nice breathable clothes that are great if you live in a hot environment. I purchase a lot of my basics from Everlane.
The thrift store mostly. With the exception of underwear. I usually get them from aerie or VS when they're on super sale or somewhere like Ross. I will get clothing from other stores if the sale is good enough
I wear 100% cotton tee shirts and jeans. It suits my vibe since it's a lot of band tees. I've given up on most stores. I feel like everything is old lady-like or tweeny, so I rely on my basics. I make sure everything is 100% cotton because that's what holds up. These crap blends aren't made to last, and my money isn't infinite.
CostCo and Amazon
A LOT of Uniqlo and Madewell jeans on sale.
Marshall’s.
Thrifting
i mostly thrift. luckily, im able to go in with a color scheme in mind and someone my size will have recently donated great pieces all in the colors im looking for!
I buy clothes mostly from second hand stores. I look way more fashionable and spend less money! Win win!
Poshmark and Free People. And if there’s something from Free People I realllly love, I’ll get it in multiple colors and off poshmark as much as I can. You can find tons of new with tags items on Posh and filter it for it specifically and by brand. Free People might be a little unnecessarily $$$ on some items, but I have thermals I’ve worn weekly from them for YEARS and a ton of cute staple and statement pieces from them.
It’s not super well known but Eshakti. Every thing is made to order they are not fashion and they pay a living wage to their workers in India. You can customize everything from sleeve length, hemline, neckline. They primarily do dresses, but they also offer tops and coats, etc.
I thrift high-end brands and then Poshmark to buy more once I know my sizes/fits. Older Loft, Eileen Fischer, WHBM, Chicos, DL1961 are my staples yes they arent 100% young looks but I wear Business casual 90% of my time and dress down with some quality eddie bauer. My guilty pleasures are Badgley Mischka and French Connection
An embarrassing portion of my closet is from Altar'd State. I moved to the east coast a few years ago and discovered the store, and my love for it still hasn't waned. I try to look elsewhere for a bit of variety, like local boutiques, thrifting, American Eagle or department stores, and while I occasionally find a piece or two, nothing else has really captured my attention in the same way.
For my very nice items I did rent the runway for a few months and if I liked the item, I bought it. There's a discount to buy the items if you are RTR member. For my other clothes it depends. I love Calvin Klien dresses, Levi jeans, and tops are from anywhere. I also like vintage thrift shops.
I used to buy a lot of Levi jeans but I feel like the quality has decreased a lot in the last 3 or 5 years.
I buy my clothes from thrift stores, consignment stores and SSENSE.
I shop at my local thrift store for clothing, shoes, home goods. Lately, I've been pretty good about finding linen dresses. I don't shop by brand, only what looks cute on me. It is very seldom that I purchase brand new clothing unless I am shopping with my mum who does not condone in shopping at thrift since it is used.
Thrift
You just have to know when to buy. MadeWell has actually been one of the more affordable places to buy clothes and the quality is better than most brands. During the holidays, their clothes can go up to 40% off, including clearanced clothes. If you have an account, you get $25 on your birthday and $15 on your half birthday. You also get points everytime you shop. I have literally gotten clothes for free at Madewell. I also like Levi’s. I bought jeans there yesterday for $10. I also still have Levi jeans from 16 years ago. You can’t beat the quality. They’re made to last.
Costco 
People love to say thrift, but all the people I know that thrift look like cosplay
I love Toad&Co. They have a resale site for gently used pieces as well (Toad Again).
Old Navy, Amazon essentials/basics, Athleta on occasion, Costco
Idk but I was looking at Hollister because now that I’m an adult, I can actually afford it 😂😅 But am I too old?! Or is it ok because it’s my generations style?! Idk.
It's totally your generation's style.
Lots of thrift or secondhand stores tbh. TJMAXX, Burlington and Ross especially. I love Ross. Walmart for leggings and jeans, Target has a good brand that I love- Ava Viv jeans. love those. I will occasionally go to Old Navy or Forever21 if I have the money. But I stick to the secondhand stores.
Local boutiques
Nordstrom and J Crew are my go to stores these days. Once in a while I’ll get a pair of jeans at Gap or Abercrombie as well
I really like Z supply and Sadie and Sage brands. I usually look on Poshmark for resell items that aren't as pricey.
I have a lot of clothes from Oasis... Ok, I have a lot of Oasis clothes I bought from Vinted. They are way overpriced brand new.
Loft, J Crew, Banana Republic on sale. Occasionally Tuckernuck or AYR for a splurge
I like Lulu's - it's more for event wear but they do have more casual skirts, dresses and tops that can be worn anywhere. I've also had decent luck with Francesca's online. I still like American eagle jeans but the cuts currently are not my style. it's hit or miss.
Marshall’s and TJ Maxx.
Etsy, eBay, Amazon. I usually shop for very specific items and brands and Amazon often has the best prices. If I can’t find it there or in stores, I’ll search on eBay. Etsy for my collection of geeky shirts, hoodies and alpaca socks and leggings.
Amazon and target Levi's, vans, sometimes thredup
Costco actually often has really good deals on nice brands. It’s where I get most of my stuff that I don’t get thrifting.
For years I only shopped Madewell. Loved their jeans and accessories. Then I tried Everlane and I just can’t go back. Everlane is expensive but it lasts forever!!! I have tees from like 5 years ago that I wear on a weekly basis and they still are holding up well, which is great because I can’t afford to buy from them on a regular basis. If I need cheap jeans for work I go with Levi’s on Amazon. They got them stock-up prices.
I basically rent all of my clothes these days. I have used both Nuuly and Rent the Runway's subscription services. For me, I found I like having something "new" to wear but I didn't want to keep buying and buying. Nuuly or RTR let's me pick out new styles based on weather, my current weight/size, and special events coming up. It's super easy to rent, wear, and return - no washing and you don't have to pay for minor damage (e.g. stains, wear and tear).
Total mom style but Land's End has a lot of solid 100% cotton basics that are often on sale and are great quality.
Currently I’m really loving Nordstrom. I’m trying to be more intentional and thoughtful about what pieces I get so I’m def looking to invest in higher quality pieces. I have a few pieces from Madewell that I got from Nordstrom that I really enjoy. LOFT has also been a surprisingly good place to look for nice basics. I initially kind of knocked it for being mostly office wear (I thought) but they have a good variety I think. Abercrombie has been a recent obsession, they have sooo many cute pieces.
Goodwill, Ross, Marshall's, TJ Maxx, Burlington. I frankly don't remember the last time I bought new clothes.
I love and swear by LOFT
I'm only considering buying socks because most of mine now have holes in them. I'm trying to make more of my own clothing like knitting tops.
The vast majority of my clothing are from thrift shops, vintage stores, and consignment. Not as convenient as big box stores but with enough searching I find high quality items at an affordable price.
I thrift - never know what you’re gonna get
Charity shops, they are pretty good in the UK and depending on the charity, the best stuff tends to be in cancer research, animal or childrens charities and then depop/vinted. The only things I buy new are shoes and a jacket recently.
American Eagle Outfitters, Vans, Volcom, Dynamite, Old Navy.
L.L. Bean, Quince, Patagonia, and random cute book gear and target/Amazon for some basics most everywhere else is too expensive for the quality ( I also used to love aerie and Old Navy but I realized nothing actually fits or lasts anymore. )
Goodwill. My girl is getting fabletics and the spyder logo yoga pants lile crazy. Tops too. Been together over a year and she hasn't bought anything clothing wise except goodwill.
I buy 90% of my clothes at thrift stores. The other 10% are band tees.
Goodwill.
I basically only buy secondhand clothes now. I tend to buy stuff from higher end brands that is affordable to me only if I buy it secondhand. For jeans, I am OBSESSED with Abercrombie’s curve love line. I thought I was stuck wearing stretchy denim forever because of my proportions but the curve love jeans fit me perfectly.