How to dress trendy on the cheap!

Sweater dresses cinched with wide belts. Stripes over skinny jeans. Big sunglasses, metallic clutches, oh my! If you love the glamor of Prada, Chloe, Chanel, but not the price tags for looks that will be out of style in a heartbeat, you can still dress the part without sacrificing your entire paycheck. There are many stores that sell designer looks at a significantly lower price. Remember, as they say, "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• cash or credit card
• time to try things on (you'll want to, trust me!)

1. 
    
   H&M

   First stop: H&M. With stores across the globe and spreading across the USA like wildfire, you can't go wrong with H&M. This is stores caters to both men and women, as well as children, and carries not only clothes but also extras like accessories and lingerie. Famous for attracting well-known celebrities to design lines like Stella McCartney and Madonna, H&M featured a recent collection by animal-print-loving Roberto Cavalli-- of course, at a much lower price! With sweater dresses around $20 (and you can also pick up tights, jackets, scarfs and gloves to go with them), you can't go wrong here. I've found that with their many different styles can range in fittings-- for instance, a size 2 dress in a tight, tank-style fit like a glove while a sweater dress in XS fit much bigger. Also remember their cotton styles shrink in the wash, so keep that in mind while trying things on!

2. 
    
   Urban Outfitters

   A slightly more expensive choice is Urban Outfitters. While it has a reputation as the go-to for interior design for incoming college freshman (think candles, big pillows and patterned sheets), this store also carries trendy clothes that won't break the bank. Catering to women and men, the online site (www.urbanoutfitters.com) also has a "Boutique" section under its "Collection" feature. This section is filled with designers such as Betsy Johnson and much higher prices (for instance, dresses in the $150-$250 range). In their own line, I bought a "Lux" dress with sequins for about $70, and was rather pleased with the quality. They have GREAT sales. Again, the sizes range, depending on the item of clothing.

3. 
    
   Forever 21

   If you really want to save money, try Forever 21! They bust out new styles quite often, and once I really cleaned up there: a skirt, an A-line dress and a tunic all for under $80. In some stores, they also feature Men's clothing, but the range of items for women in astounding: casual wear, business wear, day, night and formal dresses, denim, footwear, lingerie and jewelry. Dresses are around $30, and on their website (www.forever21.com), they feature "21 Daily Specials," in which they choose 21 items on sale and change it every day. Also, don't be deterred by the name: I've seen women of all ages shopping at the one here in New York. There is something for everyone!

4. 
    
   Wet Seal

   Lastly, check out Wet Seal. Though you'll see a much younger crowd here, they have a great selection of styles for women and offer membership to a club called "Seal Deal" where, for $20, you are given a discount card that also features promotional bonuses. Like Forever 21, they sell everything from clothes to shoes to jewelry to suit jackets. I've found the sizes here overall tend to run small, so if you are petite, this is a great store for you to check out.

Tips & Warnings

• Also try on clothes! Even if you choose the same sweater in three different colors, try them all on. Sizes tend to not be so exact.
• Even though the prices are good, keep track of your spending.
• If buying a gift, be sure to ask about return policies and if gift receipts are offered.
• Be aware that some materials, like cotton, tend to shrink. If you're not sure, ask a salesperson for help.

Resources

• H&M
• Forever21
• Urban Outfitters
• Wet Seal

[AbbyNormal]

on 8/7/2008 Also try Kohl's ------- they are inexpensive to begin with and then have SUPER sales!

[favefive]

on 12/17/2007 Great tips on where to find trendy items for a cheaper price! I also wrote an article about 2 weeks ago on "How to Dress Fashionably on a Budget".