7 Tips to Shop for Cute and Affordable Clothes

Stylishserenityblog
by Stylishserenityblog
7 Tips to shop for cute and affordable clothes


“Where did you get that?” is my favorite sound. What is yours?


So many options out there, how do you choose? I mean, walk into Macy’s and you are immediately overwhelmed with the abundance of clothing choices. And those choices, by the way, will need to be tried on and will require “friends” to be styled with. So, as far as I know most people avoid clothes shopping for this very reason.


It is just too much work! Am I right? I have many friends who dread clothes shopping. You add the the time spent at a store and the cost of your new cute outfits, and you want to erase that trip to the mall from your prefrontal cortex.


But.. let me tell you something. Stylish clothes do not have to break the bank, friends. I mean they certainly can, but what if they don’t have to?


To help some of my friends and perhaps other people out there, I have complied a list of tips on how to shop for cute and affordable fashion. Some of them will be easy tips, but others will require a little of bit of mental work and patience.


#1 Sales and email notifications

Duh. Who doesn’t know that?


Wait, listen. What is your favorite store? Is it Free People? Loft? Ann Taylor? Nordstrom?


There is nothing wrong about being loyal to particular store(s). I won’t be persuading you to change your shopping preferences. However, I do recommend trying a variety of brands and pick 3-5. My favorite part about sticking with a certain brand is that I never have to wonder what size I should order. Who is with me on this one?? I mean, seriously, brands, can all of you get together for a playdate and decide what dimensions is a Small, Medium, Large, etc.? It shouldn’t be that hard, right?


Anyway, stick to your beloved stores if you want but you need to ensure you’ve signed up for their email notifications. You need to know what time of the year they are running major sales. For example, Nordstrom Anniversary sale that happens in August every year is the one sale that you must prepare for if you are a Nordstrom fan, because this sale is like nothing else out there.


The sale items will go out of stock before you have a chance to blink. But if you know when the sale is happening, you can enjoy the comfort of your own couch and place those orders. You can even get several sizes of the same garment and return the rest to ensure you get a perfect fit and a perfect deal.


Another example is end-of-the-season or a warehouse sale. For instance, Loft sales are up to 80% off towards the end of each season. This dress down below was originally $79.50 and the belt was $49.50, I got both for $21. Granted, some absolute killer deals also mean the items are not returnable, but that’s where you need to know the sizing of that particular brand.

Her are some of my favorite stores where I shop often for cute and affordable clothes: Forever21, Target, Nordstrom Rack, Nordstrom, Walmart, Amazon, Pinklily, H&M, Chicwish, Loft.


#2 Discount Designer Websites


Consider signing up for discount designer websites like Gilt, Rue la la, and BlueFly. Get “members only”, insider access on designer apparel, shoes and accessories. They carry brands like Gucci, Prada, Kate Spade New York, Valentino, Chanel, etc. at up to 70% off. New items show up on the websites daily and most are usually gone within 3 days. So if you see something you like, you better grab it right away. BlueFly also sells certified authentic pre-owned pieces.


Some other discount websites that carry cute and affordable clothes are 6pm and Zulily. They offers designer and other brands at up to 70% off retail prices through flash sales. Their inventory changes often (sometimes daily), so if you see something you like, don’t wait! They won’t have the absolute latest freshest collections, but you can certainly find pieces that are in style for a fraction of the original price.


#3 Look for a similar a.k.a dupe item


If you love designer looks but you just can’t bring yourself to dropping a fortune on a new outfit, why not finding an items that looks similar? Amazon would be my first choice for dupes, but you don’t have to stop there. And I don’t mean it has to come from across the world and look nothing like the picture. There are plenty of shops that sell clothes that look very similar to some that big brand names sell. Look at pictures and read reviews. Please note, I do not recommend or advocate for knock-off designer pieces.


The faux leather leggings I found on Amazon for about $20 which is a great price compared to the well-known Spanx, and the quality is great.

#4 Follow Fashion Bloggers


You knew this was coming, didn’t you? 🙂 Of course at some point in this narration I was going to put a plug in. Find fashion bloggers you like and follow them, like myself, for example. Here is my Instagram where I share outfits and sales. Fashion bloggers literally do nothing but spend hours each day looking for the best deals for you. (They have no life, even though it might look like they have a perfect one, lol) They purchase and try on clothes, share their reviews, so you can preview and decide what you want to get. Bloggers save items and when they go on sale, you will be the first one to know! You might know even before the store sends you their newsletter (which you will probably miss because you already get 1,000 emails per day).


Where can you follow fashion bloggers you may ask?


If you are looking for strictly shoppable outfits, and home décor inspo, download a LikeToKnow.it app. Trust me, it will be A. Life. Changer. Once you download the app and register, go ahead and do me a small favor, search for my profile there by typing “StylishSerenity” and tap “follow”. Under “suggestions” tab you can browse and follow more influencers like myself for style inspiration and for tips on how to shop for cute and affordable clothing. LikeToKnowIt allows you to search for just about anything. If you want moto jacket inspiration, all you have to do is type “moto jacket” in the search bar and you instantly get hundreds of looks worn by real people with shoppable links.


Shopping for cute and affordable clothing has never been easier.

LikeToKnow.it – An iPhone and Android Application


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#5 Check out eBay


Ebay. Yes, you heard that right. There is a plethora of stores on eBay that sell cute and affordable clothes for a dime. Not to mention authentic designer clothes, shoes and accessories.


#6 Consider clothes shopping at Walmart


No, don’t frown at me. I am being serious. Walmart has changed their game and their stuff is IN. Remember tip I am not giving you any more hints. Go to Walmart’s website now and check out their redesigned fashion department. You will be blown away by the style and the price. I will caution you to ensure when you shop for the clothes that you add a filter “sold by Walmart only,” as Walmart is now operating like Amazon and selling third-party products.


I got this entire outfit at Walmart for less than $60!

#7 Outlet Stores


Shop Outlet stores for brands like Gap, Old Navy, Loft. Nordstrom has an outlet store called Nordstrom Rack and let me tell you, it is by far one of my favorite stores. Not only are the items there dramatically discounted, but if you catch their quarterly sales and get items with a red price tag, you may get yourself an expensive brand piece for a few bucks. This is how I’ve ended up with a few Vince Camuto skirts, blouses and sweaters for under $20.


I hope you’ve enjoyed my 7 tips on how to shop for cute and affordable clothes. I hope I’ve inspired you to change your shopping habits, get out of your comfort zone and start building your new wardrobe.

The author may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page.

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