SKIP o <5>Q @®(l)(l)
Don't be a style dropout! Here's how to find the hottest fashion
By January Gill -
at great stores—without breaking your budget.
Anew semester means it’s time to
refresh your wardrobe.
Style.
Some people have it in great abun
dance. Some spend their lives searching for
it. Others pay
through the nose
for it. Every
semester students
face the same
dilemma: how to
find the hottest
fashions without
failing Economics 101.
Here are a few ways to keep
your wardrobe phat without
having to spend a fortune.
Co online.
Does trying on
clothes in a 3
foot-square dress
ing room under
harsh fluorescent
lights make you
never want to
shop again? Try
shopping at the
online version of
your favorite
retailer. Often,
sites like The
Gap (gap.com)
and Banana
Republic
(www.banana
republic.com)
carry the same store
item, as well as terrific
sale items, discounted up
to 20%-40% over the in
store price.
Look for bargains in
unexpected places.
Shop in the young men’s
or juniors’ sections of major
department stores. Many large stores like
Macy’s (macys.com), Nordstrom
(http://store.nordstrom.com) and
Bloomingdale’s (bloomingdales.com) sell
runway “knock-offs” that look just as good
as famous-maker brands. Also, comb the
discount racks at the very back of the
men’s and women’s departments for
clothes marked for reduction. Purchase
clothes off their sites, which have sale and
clearance sections and are a great place to
find bargains.
Try visiting other neighborhood off
price retailers in your area.
A store in the next town may carry
different merchandise. Ask the store
manager what the best days of
the week are to catch new items
so you can have first pick on
all the latest arrivals. Shop
early in the morning or
late at night because
stores will be less crowd
ed and quieter.
Learn to accessorize.
Sometimes you just need
to add a bit of flair or funk to
your wardrobe. The quality
of clothing and accessories
has improved in discount
stores over the past 10 years.
Check out your local Target
(target.com), Kmart (blue
light.com) and Wal-Mart
(walmart.com) for everything
from sunglasses to shoes.
Speaking of shoes, the Birkenstock
Express (birkenstock
express.com) sells bargain and
discontinued shoes so low
they’re practically giving
them away. The company can
also add you to a mailing list
for announcements of
upcoming specials.
Sure, you can buy hip
clothes for less.
It just takes a little effort.
Visit steamtunnels.net for
more great shopping tips, as well as links
to your favorite online retailers. •
Sites like The Gap and Banana
Republic carry the same store
item, as well as terrific sale
items, discounted up to 20%
40% over the in-store price.
Birkenstock Express
(http://birkenstock
express.com)
Great for purchasing Birkenstocks. Has
featured saies and clearance that you
search by size. Also gives advice on how to
care for the shoes and what size is best.
Nordstrom
(http://store.nordstrom.com)
Nice selection of items. Can return via
mail, exchange at any store, or return only
if purchased with a Nordstrom's card.
Macy's (macys.com)
Easy to navigate, and Macy’s has a huge
selection. The sale section only features
exclusive sales, not marked-down items.
Bloomingdale’s (bloomingdales.com)
Nicely organized with an incredible clear
ance section. Potential to make some
really good buys.
Target (target.com)
Excellent store for buying inexpensive,
quality, stylish items. Has a great clear
ance section.
Kmart (bluelight.com)
Very similar to Target, except Kmart has
its famous BlueLight specials.
The Gap (gap.com)
Excellent site. Can purchase everything
you would at the store, return by sending
it back or by bringing it to any Gap store.
If you can’t find your size at a store, order
it online. Good sale section and size chart.
Banana Republic
(www.bananarepublic.com)
Similar to Gap—these two retailers are
owned by the same company—but with
a more metro style.
Photos courtesy Gap and Birkenstock Express