One essential aspect of creating a wardrobe you love is knowing where to shop. With so many stores out there, it can be difficult to know which places sell clothes within your price range, and which places sell clothing that's your style. Here are my favorites--and my reasons for choosing them.
Important note: I am not sure which of these companies are ethical (or, rather, less unethical, because as far as I know, no clothing is truly ethical unless you sew it yourself.) I encourage you to research the ethics of these stores and make your own decisions, if that is something that matters to you.
1.) Zara
Everyone seems to love Zara these days. If a trend presents itself on the runway, Zara delivers it to the average shopper at crazy-fast speed and at reasonable prices. Zara is not as cheap as H&M, but it's far higher quality and just better overall. You may have to ignore certain overly-trendy pieces, like embellished capes and bizarro flared culottes, but there are excellent trend pieces there too. One way that Zara manages this and still makes money is that it only makes a small amount of each item. If you like something at Zara, chances are it will sell out fairly quickly. Right now, Zara is selling a plethora of on-trend androgynous and '70s inspired items. They're always the first place I look when I want to figure out what's in this season. Plus, Zara's vegan leather is some of the best.
Pros: Cost-effective, trendy, good bang for buck, outstanding vegan leather jackets
Cons: Weird website interface with super-close-up pictures that make no sense, their retail stores are crowded with tourists and their nine kids running around licking everything. Their basics don't hold up particularly well.
2.) Amazon
If you're willing to put in the time to figure out which brands you like that Amazon sells, you're in luck. Amazon sells brands such as Cole Haan, Joie, Rebecca Minkoff, Kate Spade, Kenneth Cole and BCBGMaxazria at seriously marked-down prices. And the best part--these items stay in stock for a long time, plus Amazon offers free shipping and free returns if the order is shipped by them and not by a third party. Shopping at Amazon is, however, a labor-intensive process, so make sure you have adequate time to filter through all the less appealing, cheaper items from sketch-ass brands you've never heard of.
Pros: Great discounts on awesome brands, amazing customer service, shipping and return policies.
Cons: Takes a long time to find what you want. Items rise and fall in price for no apparent reason so you need to check your bag regularly if you are monitoring the price of an item.
3.) NastyGal
NastyGal, as you may guess from the name, is not the place where you go for chic basics. NastyGal is where you go for showstopping clothing that makes a statement. Luckily, NastyGal offers a variety of brands at a wide range of price points, so you know there is always something there within your budget. They tout brands such as Jeffrey Campbell and For Love and Lemons as well as their lower-cost house brand. This is the perfect site for going-out clothes, especially crop tops, sexy lace dresses, and anything that channels grunge, disco, or '70s trends.
Pros: On-trend and exciting clothing at reasonable prices. Awesome sales happen regularly.
Cons: Such a huge inventory that it can be difficult to find what you're looking for. The clothes aren't necessarily all the same level of quality because they're from different brands. Some of the shit here is so ridiculous that you wonder who the hell is buying it.
4.) Saks Off 5th
I used to be all about Nordstrom Rack, but I've switched to Saks off 5th for my discount designer clothing. Saks off 5th has a contemporary area that's far superior to Nordstrom Rack's contemporary section which is basically just for teens. Saks off 5th's contemporary section has brands like Free People, BCBGMaxazria, French Connection, Elizabeth and James, J Brand jeans, and Joie. If you like an item at Saks off 5th, it's your responsibility to buy it before it goes out of stock, because they rarely stock more than a few of each item (either in-store or on their website). This is partially a good thing, however, because it means every time you check them out, they have new stuff.
Pros: Designer clothing at low prices, tons of different brands.
Cons: Return and shipping policy are both just "meh." Stuff runs out of stock really quickly. Every time I'm waiting in line at their store some lady takes about five years to exchange a bag while I wait. Not sure if this is just coincidence or if there's a conspiracy to waste my time going on.
5.) ASOS
I'm shopping at ASOS less than I used to, but it's still a great site. ASOS is 100% online (there is no in-store option) and it's an international fashion retailer that sells many brands, from its own thrifty house brand to UK-based brands like Closet, Chi Chi London, Vesper, and Lipsy. If you've never heard of these brands, I suggest you check them out on the ASOS website, where there is always a page of items up to 70% off, new arrivals daily, great discount codes around the holidays, and clothing in petite, tall and plus sizes. Not to mention free shipping and returns. Plus, little known fact about ASOS- they boast one of the most cost-effective, flattering and adorable swimsuit options for cup sizes above DD (that includes size 30 bands, by the way.)
Pros: Tons of interesting brands, great returns and shipping policies, amazing discounts.
Cons: ASOS house brand is not of the best quality. Sometimes there is so much stuff on the website that it can be overwhelming and I want to cry.
6.) Topshop
Topshop reminds me of ASOS, but overwhelms me slightly less. The price point is similar to the ASOS house brand, but at least in my opinion, the quality is better. Topshop is a very trendy site (and real-life retail store) specializing in young, on-trend and cost-effective clothing. However, many of Topshop's items don't stay in stock long, so if Topshop is selling something you like, it may not be worth it to wait for it to go on sale. This is oddly specific, but I just have to say it: they have an amazing selection of basic, lace-up ribbed tops.
Pros: Great shipping and return policy. On-trend items at great prices.
Cons: Decent, but not amazing, quality. Low stock on almost all items.
7.) Express
Express gets a bad rep for being a warehouse of unfashionable, career-woman clothing from the early 2000s, but that's actually not true at all. Express has gone into '70s revival full-force and has a wide selection of high-quality, low-cost jeans in almost every cut and wash. While Express may not be the #1 store for trend items, they have amazing selections of basic jeans, blouses, blazers and vegan leather jackets. In addition, their site almost always seems to boast a blowout clearance sale with an additional 50% off sale.
Pros: Great sales, great work clothes and basics. Occasionally good trend pieces.
Cons: Quality of blouses and dresses isn't the best, but not the worst either. Everything eventually goes on sale, so if you buy something at full price you'll feel stupid a few months later.
8.) Uniqlo
Uniqlo is another great store for basics. Their leggings jeans, one of their staple items that is always in stock, have held up so well for me that I've worn them almost daily for years and they still look new. Uniqlo is where I get most of my jeggings, casual sweaters, and leggings, at a price point that is more than easy on my wallet. Uniqlo is not the place for trendy or statement making clothes, but it's a fantastic place to stock up on basics.
Pros: High quality, comfortable, basic items at a low price.
Cons: Nothing statement-making, if that's what you're looking for. Rarely does anything go on sale to a point that's worth mentioning.
9.) American Apparel
Another great store for basics (and some trend items) American Apparel delivers decent quality clothing at reasonable prices. Sometimes people complain that American Apparel is overpriced (I don't think it is at all) but if it is, that's partially because all their clothing is made within the USA. When we think of American Apparel, many of us think of tube socks and mesh bodysuits, but they offer a lot more than that--high waisted jeans, pencil skirts, crop tops, two-piece sets, sweaters, even shoes. The American Apparel you knew in 2008 has changed quite a bit.
Pros: Quality, flattering, comfortable clothing. A great mix of trend and basics. If you like an item, it's guaranteed to still be in stock two months from now. They regularly have 30% off discount codes.
Cons: Horrible return/shipping policy and fairly bad customer service too. Not too many interesting new arrivals.
10.) French Connection
French Connection's website is pretty awesome. It's modern, clean, easy to navigate, and almost always offers an extra 40% off of sale items. French Connection clothing is on-trend, interesting, flattering, and young without veering into Forever 21 territory. The clothing may be slightly more expensive than the quality warrants, but that's one reason to buy their stuff when it's on sale. French Connection offers both great basics and amazing cocktail and going-out options, trend pieces, and even shoes.
Pros: Wide selection of stuff, cool styles, good discounts.
Cons: Bad return policy, ever so slightly overpriced.
Important note: I am not sure which of these companies are ethical (or, rather, less unethical, because as far as I know, no clothing is truly ethical unless you sew it yourself.) I encourage you to research the ethics of these stores and make your own decisions, if that is something that matters to you.
1.) Zara
 |
| Source |
Everyone seems to love Zara these days. If a trend presents itself on the runway, Zara delivers it to the average shopper at crazy-fast speed and at reasonable prices. Zara is not as cheap as H&M, but it's far higher quality and just better overall. You may have to ignore certain overly-trendy pieces, like embellished capes and bizarro flared culottes, but there are excellent trend pieces there too. One way that Zara manages this and still makes money is that it only makes a small amount of each item. If you like something at Zara, chances are it will sell out fairly quickly. Right now, Zara is selling a plethora of on-trend androgynous and '70s inspired items. They're always the first place I look when I want to figure out what's in this season. Plus, Zara's vegan leather is some of the best.
Pros: Cost-effective, trendy, good bang for buck, outstanding vegan leather jackets
Cons: Weird website interface with super-close-up pictures that make no sense, their retail stores are crowded with tourists and their nine kids running around licking everything. Their basics don't hold up particularly well.
2.) Amazon
 |
| Source |
If you're willing to put in the time to figure out which brands you like that Amazon sells, you're in luck. Amazon sells brands such as Cole Haan, Joie, Rebecca Minkoff, Kate Spade, Kenneth Cole and BCBGMaxazria at seriously marked-down prices. And the best part--these items stay in stock for a long time, plus Amazon offers free shipping and free returns if the order is shipped by them and not by a third party. Shopping at Amazon is, however, a labor-intensive process, so make sure you have adequate time to filter through all the less appealing, cheaper items from sketch-ass brands you've never heard of.
Pros: Great discounts on awesome brands, amazing customer service, shipping and return policies.
Cons: Takes a long time to find what you want. Items rise and fall in price for no apparent reason so you need to check your bag regularly if you are monitoring the price of an item.
3.) NastyGal
 |
| Source |
NastyGal, as you may guess from the name, is not the place where you go for chic basics. NastyGal is where you go for showstopping clothing that makes a statement. Luckily, NastyGal offers a variety of brands at a wide range of price points, so you know there is always something there within your budget. They tout brands such as Jeffrey Campbell and For Love and Lemons as well as their lower-cost house brand. This is the perfect site for going-out clothes, especially crop tops, sexy lace dresses, and anything that channels grunge, disco, or '70s trends.
Pros: On-trend and exciting clothing at reasonable prices. Awesome sales happen regularly.
Cons: Such a huge inventory that it can be difficult to find what you're looking for. The clothes aren't necessarily all the same level of quality because they're from different brands. Some of the shit here is so ridiculous that you wonder who the hell is buying it.
4.) Saks Off 5th
 |
| Source |
I used to be all about Nordstrom Rack, but I've switched to Saks off 5th for my discount designer clothing. Saks off 5th has a contemporary area that's far superior to Nordstrom Rack's contemporary section which is basically just for teens. Saks off 5th's contemporary section has brands like Free People, BCBGMaxazria, French Connection, Elizabeth and James, J Brand jeans, and Joie. If you like an item at Saks off 5th, it's your responsibility to buy it before it goes out of stock, because they rarely stock more than a few of each item (either in-store or on their website). This is partially a good thing, however, because it means every time you check them out, they have new stuff.
Pros: Designer clothing at low prices, tons of different brands.
Cons: Return and shipping policy are both just "meh." Stuff runs out of stock really quickly. Every time I'm waiting in line at their store some lady takes about five years to exchange a bag while I wait. Not sure if this is just coincidence or if there's a conspiracy to waste my time going on.
5.) ASOS
 |
| Source |
I'm shopping at ASOS less than I used to, but it's still a great site. ASOS is 100% online (there is no in-store option) and it's an international fashion retailer that sells many brands, from its own thrifty house brand to UK-based brands like Closet, Chi Chi London, Vesper, and Lipsy. If you've never heard of these brands, I suggest you check them out on the ASOS website, where there is always a page of items up to 70% off, new arrivals daily, great discount codes around the holidays, and clothing in petite, tall and plus sizes. Not to mention free shipping and returns. Plus, little known fact about ASOS- they boast one of the most cost-effective, flattering and adorable swimsuit options for cup sizes above DD (that includes size 30 bands, by the way.)
Pros: Tons of interesting brands, great returns and shipping policies, amazing discounts.
Cons: ASOS house brand is not of the best quality. Sometimes there is so much stuff on the website that it can be overwhelming and I want to cry.
6.) Topshop
 |
| Source |
Topshop reminds me of ASOS, but overwhelms me slightly less. The price point is similar to the ASOS house brand, but at least in my opinion, the quality is better. Topshop is a very trendy site (and real-life retail store) specializing in young, on-trend and cost-effective clothing. However, many of Topshop's items don't stay in stock long, so if Topshop is selling something you like, it may not be worth it to wait for it to go on sale. This is oddly specific, but I just have to say it: they have an amazing selection of basic, lace-up ribbed tops.
Pros: Great shipping and return policy. On-trend items at great prices.
Cons: Decent, but not amazing, quality. Low stock on almost all items.
7.) Express
 |
| Source |
Express gets a bad rep for being a warehouse of unfashionable, career-woman clothing from the early 2000s, but that's actually not true at all. Express has gone into '70s revival full-force and has a wide selection of high-quality, low-cost jeans in almost every cut and wash. While Express may not be the #1 store for trend items, they have amazing selections of basic jeans, blouses, blazers and vegan leather jackets. In addition, their site almost always seems to boast a blowout clearance sale with an additional 50% off sale.
Pros: Great sales, great work clothes and basics. Occasionally good trend pieces.
Cons: Quality of blouses and dresses isn't the best, but not the worst either. Everything eventually goes on sale, so if you buy something at full price you'll feel stupid a few months later.
8.) Uniqlo
 |
| Source |
Uniqlo is another great store for basics. Their leggings jeans, one of their staple items that is always in stock, have held up so well for me that I've worn them almost daily for years and they still look new. Uniqlo is where I get most of my jeggings, casual sweaters, and leggings, at a price point that is more than easy on my wallet. Uniqlo is not the place for trendy or statement making clothes, but it's a fantastic place to stock up on basics.
Pros: High quality, comfortable, basic items at a low price.
Cons: Nothing statement-making, if that's what you're looking for. Rarely does anything go on sale to a point that's worth mentioning.
9.) American Apparel
 |
| Source |
Another great store for basics (and some trend items) American Apparel delivers decent quality clothing at reasonable prices. Sometimes people complain that American Apparel is overpriced (I don't think it is at all) but if it is, that's partially because all their clothing is made within the USA. When we think of American Apparel, many of us think of tube socks and mesh bodysuits, but they offer a lot more than that--high waisted jeans, pencil skirts, crop tops, two-piece sets, sweaters, even shoes. The American Apparel you knew in 2008 has changed quite a bit.
Pros: Quality, flattering, comfortable clothing. A great mix of trend and basics. If you like an item, it's guaranteed to still be in stock two months from now. They regularly have 30% off discount codes.
Cons: Horrible return/shipping policy and fairly bad customer service too. Not too many interesting new arrivals.
10.) French Connection
 |
| Source |
French Connection's website is pretty awesome. It's modern, clean, easy to navigate, and almost always offers an extra 40% off of sale items. French Connection clothing is on-trend, interesting, flattering, and young without veering into Forever 21 territory. The clothing may be slightly more expensive than the quality warrants, but that's one reason to buy their stuff when it's on sale. French Connection offers both great basics and amazing cocktail and going-out options, trend pieces, and even shoes.
Pros: Wide selection of stuff, cool styles, good discounts.
Cons: Bad return policy, ever so slightly overpriced.
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