Things You'll Need:
- Comfy shoes
- A budget for the day
- Enough time (make sure to space out a day so you have time!)
- A shopping buddy to dispense advise
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Step 1
The first tier of inexpensive, trendy stores that fall into a savvy-shopper's radar like Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, Rue 21, Gadzooks, and Aeropostale are very much geared toward the 16-24 year old category, but can also still have loads of great "essential" and "basic" items (solid colored tees/long sleeved shirts, camis, inexpensive jewelry) for those who may not want to dress up like their 16 year-old daughter. These stores also include clearance racks with mounds of out-of-season apparel that can be worn when weather appropriate (or in an extremely cold/hot work setting!) Be prepared to spend time digging, however, because these stores pack the racks and shelves to the max with a vast assortment of items, so it will take some time to find what you're looking for!
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Step 2
The next tier includes your local "super stores" like K-Mart, Wal-Mart, and Target (to a lesser extent). I'm from the Midwest, so other super stores in your area will also be a great resource! Target has had great clothing at great prices for years, and if you are patient, much of the time clothing items go on sale at even better prices. Stores that have caught up with Target' s fashion forward styles and prices are Wal-Mart and K-Mart. In attempts to beat out competitors, both stores have started producing clothing and shoes that are almost exact replicas of more upscale, expensive labels. I recently bought a cute pair of black pumps for $11.99 at Wal-Mart that were near identical to the $70 pair of Steve Maddens my girlfriend bought at a department store.
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Step 3
The web is also an excellent resource for finding great deals on clothing, accessories, shoes, and much more! My favorite sites to buy almost anything are Overstock.com and EBay. While many are still leery about buy on EBay, the site offers feedback options on all transactions and if you receive damaged or incorrect merchandise you are able to file a complaint with the site's administrators and get your money back. Overstock.com provides flat rate $2.95 on almost all products, and often has free shipping or $1 shipping promotions. Great shoe website also include zappos.com and shoebuy.com.
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Step 4
Other great places to scope out recent and inexpensive fashions are second-hand stores like Plato's Closet and area consignment stores. The items sold in these stores are not as inexpensive at what you might see at Goodwill or Salvation Army, but they do require donated items be in gently worn or new condition, recent and in-season fashion, and many stores require only certain brands. Have an abundance of clothes? You can also make money selling clothing and accessories you don't wear anymore!
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Step 5
Shopping at Outlet Malls and suprlus stores like TJ Maxx and Marshalls will also give you the most bang for your buck! While the prices aren't always as inexpensive as the above stores, often times you can find those name brands you absolutely cannot live without- Kate Spade, Coach, Armani, Clinique, Calvin Klein, Gap and many more stores have outlets spread out throughout the nation. These stores offer premier clothing and accessory brands at discounts between 30%-80% so you can splurge on your favorite brands without breaking the bank!
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Step 6
The final, and by far the cheapest, way to save money and shop for trendy fashions is just right down the street from you- Garage Sales! I know some of you cringe at the thought of waking up early on Saturday during the summer and sifting through mounds of clothing, but if you have the time and patience, you can find some great deals! Most garage sale clothing is sold for a minimal amount of money. Craigslist.com is a great resource to find garage sales in your area, and often times the lister will have descriptions of what they are selling. Just look for sales in posh areas of your city and you can't go wrong!
