TJ Maax, Burlington Coat Factory and buying off season clearance sales from any and everywhere.

For Canada, I remember when former forum member lyn* was here scoring all sorts of deals at Winners.
For the US, I was pleasantly surprised by JCPenney; though their discounting sale coupon situation is maddening, I did see people that apparently knew how to work the system. Especially the MNG by Mango, I got a really cute denim shirt by them that was well made and inexpensive. But I couldn't find the MNG line in Canada on a quick google search. Not a fan of the shoes at Penney's, but I'm really picky on that part.

ETA I've always been impressed by Sears in Canada. It's whole 'nother thing as compared to the US.

Thanks for starting this thread, Carla. It helps to have some moral support as one who chooses NOT to buy "investment" pieces, as the over-50 websites tell me I ought to. I am hard on my nice clothes, they can be slept in and get dirty and I don't want time consuming cleaning techniques.

I get a surprising amount of good stuff at Joe Fresh. I appreciate the design ethos, and hope they maintain it with Joe Mimram gone. I can find my sizes and a proper fit, in natural fibres, and lots of timeless essential pieces in among the trendy stuff. This is usually where I get pjs and undies too.

I also shop Sears a lot; not so much the store, but I trawl the catalogues for things I covet (some years are better than others...) and then go to the Outlet website (or store, if I'm in Halifax) and snap them up when they're on deep discount. This especially holds true for Clarks shoes and size 11 shoes in general. Sears is the only place I'll order without trying on --because they ship to the shop a block from my workplace and I can make returns there.

I also enjoy thrifting-- the thrill of the chase. It was decades before I ever found clothing for myself that way (I'd go to look for books, or shop for my kids). But recently I've had great success with quality pieces. Maybe I am more confident since YLF that I can properly style a piece that isn't trendy-new? And also recognize more designer or high-end brand names. Oddly enough, I can now find a different pair of ladies' size 11 shoes (often never worn) every time I go to my local Frenchy's (a Maritime chain)--so that I now know I can leave them in the store, there will be another pair next week. I have concluded that other size 11 women are like me--can never turn down a pair of shoes the right size, thus acquiring many that don't fit the actual life, and get passed on unworn.

I sometimes find things at Gap and Cleo, less often Banana Republic or Old Navy. I spend less time looking at the other mall chains unless I'm on a new-season inspiration hunt/browsing with daughters, because they skew younger/trendier, as in, likely don't carry my size, or fall apart too fast (H&M). The higher-end sorts of stores usually carry things that look too old-lady for me, at a higher price that is way out of proportion to the increase in quality imho (The Bay, I'm looking at you).

Old Navy (tees and tanks), Loft (skirts and trousers), Target (variety of casual wear/workout gear). I always wait for 35-40% off at Loft. Uniqlo for merino sweaters and Heattech stuff.

Sierra Trading Post has huge discounts, not only on outdoorsy stuff and gear, but a variety of quality shoe and knitwear brands (among other things). If you sign up on their email list, they will send you 30-35% off coupons constantly. If you want $400 Scottish cashmere sweaters for $130, this is the place to go (though that's still a big, rare splurge for me).

H&M used to be on the list, but their quality and fit is so hit and miss that it's not worth shopping online, and lately I do 90% of my shopping online.

Amazon and 6pm.com can have great deals on pieces released 6+ months ago.

Thank you for reintroducing me to Marks Work Wearhouse, Carla. As a plus sized person, options are limited, so I stalk the sales on the stores offering my size. Also, Old Navy for clothes, Winners for handbags. For shoes, I've had great luck at Globo Canada (globoshoes.com), part of the Aldo Group.

99% of my purchases are bargains. mostly thrifted with a few items thrown in each season from TJ Maxx, Burlington, Target, and now the Rack (opened about a year ago). I have loved some items from Costco. Really, the items I buy off the clearance at the Rack are my splurges! My favorite recent bargains have come from Amazon Warehouse deals for shoes.

I found a fun print dress at a thrift store this summer for 25 cent and I wore for the first time this week. I have never received so many compliments on an outfit!

Great thread Carla. I go to Marks for pjs. If my feet were not so fussy I would buy footwear there. I have seen lots of nice shoes and boots when I have gone in to MWWH but not for my feet. I also love their sales.
We don't have a lot of stores where I live but there is a nice boutique that sells Free People, Sandwich, Velvet, etc. At the end of the season she marks down to 80%. I buy then. I have picked up some great things from that store.
Occasionally I have lucked out at a consignment store.
I am still mourning the loss of Jacobs.

Oh, Jacobs used to have some good stuff, Style Fan, And I also really miss Cassis.

Another one here who wants to put in a good word for Target! That store is a goldmine of fun, fabulous, inexpensive stuff! Whenever I go there I get lost in all the "stuff" that they have - everything from groceries to bedsheets to necklaces to electronics to shoes and on and on it goes . . very fun!

Suz I also lucked out at Cassis. My dressy skirt is from Cassis as well as a few other items.

I have to say my biggest scores overall have been at Saks Off Fifth and Neiman Marcus Last Call but that is spotty at best. I will pop into a Marshall's or TJ Maxx if I am in the vicinity and have the time. Nordstrom Rack requires a special trip so I rarely make it there. But more and more I'm shopping online and have gotten a few incredible deals at 6pm.com.

Recently I found a wool/cashmere poncho at Costco, a clothing resource I hadn't tapped in the past, but will be keeping on eye on in the future. Shout out to Gaylene for the heads up on Costco's Kirkland brand women's wool socks, (I have cold feet all the time and love Smartwool socks), I'll be hunting for them on my next trip.

I almost forgot, the Lord & Taylor sale racks. They always have some additional percent off and there are some great steals to be had. My Mom and I always pop in when we are shopping. She has especially good luck there.

Oh, I do love a bargain! But I am also very fussy about exactly what I want to buy, which usually means I'm seeking high-end design sensibility that I can't generally afford. Here are my favorite haunts for the kind of stuff I love:

• Design collaborations at H&M. I still wear some of what I bought from that original Karl Lagerfeld collection, a good 10 years ago. That one had very high-quality, sharply-cut worsted wool twill suiting and wonderful, timeless black dresses. The next year, Stella McCartney's collection was great, too (and still wearable now). Victor & Rolf was also fantastic. And I adore my Isabel Marant tuxedo jacket (also very nicely made) from there. Love that I got that piece online, so I didn't have to be the oldest person in line, waiting to rush the racks at the store when they opened the doors. No, I have no connection to H&M, and I find their regular lines very junky.
• I got some nice Missoni and Liberty stuff when Target did those collabs. Obviously not as high quality as the real thing, but still cool design.
• Kohl's sometimes does something good, too. Scored cool tops by Catherine Malandrino a couple of years ago, and looking forward to Thakoon next week.
• Zara is perfect for au courant. Just wished they made clothing slightly larger.... I'm at the very top of their size range, and some items I lust after max out at a size medium.
• Topshop online is a great place to get "different" shoes than what's in every reasonably priced store.
• For a great bargain on real designer clothes, Century21 has some amazing finds, but I can't stand sifting through that giant store to locate the one thing that would work for me.
• The Neiman Marcus outlet has supplied me with a super Giorgio Armani Collection jacket and an astounding pair of Chanel shoes (in silver and black patent), each for <$200, if I remember correctly. I've had them for years, too. Also, I found wonderful tropical wool pants by Nicolas Ghesquière for Balenciaga (obviously, a few years ago) on amazing sale at the regular Neiman's store. Usually, I am too afraid to venture onto the top floor there, though.

Most of what I buy is from Nordstrom.com at 40% off or more. I put what I like on my Wish List and check daily for markdowns. Of course, a fair amount is sold out or sold out in my size before I can buy it. If I were a big time shopper, I would then check the Rack for the same item because the markdown sometimes means it has been shuttled to the Rack. I find that delivery to my home where I can evaluate the item and try it with what I already own and take my time about making a final decision leads to fewer mistakes than when I thrifted or shopped at any of the discount stores or other brick'n'mortar places. I am a Petite, so that tends to limit where I can shop successfully.

I have hard to fit fussy feet, so I will shop wherever there are free returns. I just ordered Angie's Matisse Nugents from Nordstrom (on sale), but I've been thinking that a different colorway (not offered by Nordstrom) will work better for me. My quandary if the fit is right is whether to bite the bullet and pay nearly full $price$ or to play Russian roulette and wait since booties that fit are such a struggle for me to find.