Where should you go shopping if you want to find the best deals? While most of us might not have the budget to buy everything in Gucci or Lanvin, we still want to dress well and look polished. To make sure that your style spending doesn’t put you into debt, we asked fashion insiders from across the country to help us find the best places to shop at every price point, whether you’re buying an $80 H&M blazer or a $5,000 gown from Vera Wang (hey, we said every price point). Here are their picks.
Nordstrom
Do you have a special item you want? Need something fancy for a wedding or other event? Nordstrom is there. It’s like an extension of every woman’s closet—if your idea of heaven on earth is being surrounded by thousands of products that will make you look and feel good. It also carries brands that are affordable enough to be worth buying without breaking the bank. And Nordstrom’s amazing customer service doesn’t hurt its appeal one bit. Whether you need advice on sizing, help getting shoes on over swelling feet, or some kind words when you purchase your first pair of Spanx (it happens), employees are always happy to lend a hand in any way they can.
Saks Fifth Avenue
You may have heard of Saks. The brand has a long history in fashion, dating back to its New York roots in 1924. As New York’s most famous luxury department store, Saks Fifth Avenue was once a celebrity playground where stars flocked to do their Christmas shopping; an ad from 1955 read: Dress by Dior … Jewels by Van Cleef & Arpels … Furs by Chanel. Like that would be an incentive or something! Today, Saks is still all about luxury and high-end designers—you can find brands like Christian Louboutin and Valentino here—but you’ll also find stores like Off 5th and Last Call.
Zappos
Their shoe department is constantly expanding its massive selection. They’re also dedicated to shoe philanthropy: For every pair of shoes sold, they donate a pair of new shoes to children in need. They also run shoe bazaars where customers can buy gently used shoes at a discounted price and then Zappos will donate a second pair of new shoes to someone in need. The best part: Your purchase benefits an entire community. Plus, you can get 365 days of free shipping on all orders and returns are free too! Sign up for Zappos emails and you’ll receive special sales and discounts—and know when any shoe sale is happening! It’s worth checking out!
Amazon
Buying on Amazon might seem daunting if you’re not a frequent shopper—the website is famously huge. But it doesn’t have to be. I tell people if you buy everything you need from Amazon Prime, it really does save you money because of all of their discount programs like Subscribe & Save, says James Altucher, founder of Formula Capital and author of Choose Yourself. When he orders batteries from Amazon, he also เที่ยวไหนดี makes sure to stock up on fabric softener sheets and dryer balls (both available through Subscribe & Save) so that he doesn’t have to make a separate trip during laundry week.
Anthropologie (and Other Independent Shops)
Do you know those beautiful boutiques with vintage home goods and foreign imports? That’s Anthropologie. (For real—Anthropologie was originally an independent store before getting scooped up by Urban Outfitters in 2008.) These independent shops can be found all over major cities (take a look at Rivette in San Francisco or The Webster in Miami). For fashion advice from local trendsetters, it doesn’t get better than these spots. Sure, you may have to wait a month or two until your favorite item comes back into stock but that’s okay. This place is worth it. #FashionGoals!
J.Crew
The much-loved J.Crew offers feminine but durable clothing that can work in a variety of workplace environments. Their sweaters are classics and their jeans are some of our favorites (they come in petite sizing). They feel modern but not trendy, said Tanya Menendez, VP of Operations at Next Level Talent Solutions. And they’re really versatile. If you want to know where to buy J. Crew’s dresses and skirts—and how they look on real women with diverse body types— we’ve done that research for you so you can shop with confidence!
Forever 21
If you’re looking for a deal on trendy clothes, Forever 21 is a good place to start. This global fast-fashion retailer is known for its signature striped clothing and on-trend apparel at affordable prices. However, some clothing made in China contains toxic ingredients that could cause skin irritation or other adverse health effects. It may be cheap, but you pay a price when it comes to your health. I personally won’t shop there anymore because they will not disclose their full list of chemicals used in production and make it very difficult to track down every single component they use in their products, says fashion designer Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart of Limoncello77 USA Corp., who has worked with Forever 21 in years past.