Back in high school I thought $150 was a reasonable amount to spend on a new dress. As a junior in college I think $30 is too much. Now that we are in college most of us are spending our own money. Unfortunately, a lot of that money does not go toward new dresses and spontaneous shopping sprees. Our money goes toward student loans, heat and electricity bills, textbooks, and food. With limited funds it is difficult to be satisfied with your wardrobe…thanks a lot Pinterest. Fortunately, there are a lot of reasonably priced stores that offer fast fashion or gently used clothing.
1. H&M: This fast-fashion company is the perfect place to buy trendy merchandise. They collaborate with the coolest and edgiest designers in the industry e.g.: Givenchy, Versace, Lanvin, Isabel Marant, and this season: Alexander Wang. While they do have some pieces that can be up to $100, the majority of their merchandise is under $30. It is the perfect store for those of you who love designer brands but are unable to afford their regular merchandise.
2. Forever 21: Similar to H&M, Forever 21 succeeds at selling fast fashion merchandise at affordable prices. Forever 21 is targeted towards the high school and college crowds, whereas H&M you can wear well into your late 20’s. Aside from their bold and trendy clothing they have an amazing accessories department. The only downside is that the quality of the merchandise is not the best; since it is fast fashion it will wear out a lot quicker and only last you a couple months.
3. Goodwill: When I was younger I would not have been caught dead in a Goodwill. Thanks to the emergence of the hipster crowd and their love for ironic clothing, Goodwill is the place to be. While they do offer a lot of ridiculous clothing that is perfect for Halloween, theme parties or ugly sweater days, there are a lot of quality, brand name pieces. I have managed to find vintage Ralph Lauren ballet flats, Lacoste cardigans and plenty of costume-appropriate pieces.
4. Nordstrom Rack: Nordstrom Rack offers designer brand merchandise from Nordstrom’s last season collections. Everything is still high-quality and fashionable; even though a lot of it is from previous seasons. It is the perfect store to pick up authentic designer clothing at a decent price.
5. Savers: Similar to Goodwill, Savers offers secondhand merchandise at super low prices. According to their website it is possible to create an entire outfit there for under $20. With prices like that, need I say more?
Everyone has a different budget and idea of what is considered inexpensive. The key to shopping at discount stores is to pay close attention and looking everywhere; some of the best pieces are hidden. Happy shopping!