What is Your Overlooked Store? - YouLookFab Forum

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What is Your Overlooked Store?

Gretchen

Veteran

RunCarla's comment on my tank top post reminded me that I keep forgetting to look at Lands End, even though every time I shop there I'm happy with the result.

That got me started thinking about other stores I might be overlooking, where I may not buy often, but when I do, I keep the clothes long-term. Looking through my current wardrobe, I found a couple overlooked stores:
Peruvian Connection
Sundance
Modcloth

All 3 are places I shop online only, but don't visit very often. Any other hidden gems, or stores you tend to forget to check?

Shopping

30 replies

Latest reply was from Laura (rhubarbgirl)

Joy

Veteran

I forget our local tractor supply store and White House-Black Market. I am sized out of so many store that I have stopped looking. Too big. Lands End is one of those.

rachylou

Veteran

I just remembered Bloomingdales this year (!)

cjh

(website)

Veteran

Loft. It’s a bit off my beaten track, but still B&M in my town, and doesn’t always have something that appeals to me, but when I do get something there, it lasts well and becomes a favorite in my wardrobe. That said, the items aren’t my essentials - more like smart casual occasion pieces. Maybe that’s why I skip over it many times.

DonnaF

Veteran

White House Black Market. They sell Petites but I don’t think I have ever stepped inside although I think they are reasonably convenient to where I make my many Nordstrom returns. Probably 95% of my purchases are Nordstrom online, and I am too lazy to look elsewhere. If I had a MOTB dress to buy, however, I would leave no retail stone unturned.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Hmm, I don’t know — I guess I’m overlooking it!

ChristelJ

Veteran

Although it's not really a match to my aesthetic overall, Eddie Bauer has been the source of some of my most well made and loved cotton cardigans. Also used to have great cotton tank tops. Not sure if they still do...

Alicewonderland

Veteran

lL bean for t shirts, striped Breton type shirts and striped dresses. Boring stuff that you are tempted to just pick up at any store. Quality is great, fabric very substantial.

Gigi

Veteran

I'm with Joy...I'm sized out so much of the time that most stores are off my radar permanently.

But there are a few places that I have found gems at that I don't normally shop: Macy's and Loft come to mind. I found a really great wrap dress at Loft last year that was a workhorse. And I've gotten some nice coats and shoes at Macy's.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I rarely enter a Gap outlet store, but the few items from there have been workhorses: workout gear, denim overalls, sleepwear.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Joking aside, I think Boden and WH/BM might be mine. I don’t often connect with the offerings in WH/BM, but I got some fab dresses from them and a great pair of pants. And Boden’s styles are a bit too preppy for me and their colors and prints are generally not my thing, but I love the two sweaters (same cut, two different colors) I got from them, so they are now on my radar for knitwear.

Bijou

Veteran

We have two department stores in Australia, David Jones and Myer. Unfortunately the Myer stores seem run down and not well staffed, so if I need to go to a department store, it is always David Jones for me. It is a shame, because when I was a university student, I had a part time job at Myer, so my loyalty for many years was to Myer. Over time, Myer stores and service has deteriorated and they wonder why their sales have fallen....

Christina F.

Veteran

Macy's, until recently I went off them after a couple of shipping problems that they resolved but only in a rude manner. I've tried again recently with some success. I usually want to use them if they have a good deal on a specific item I'm looking for. That said, I hate going to my "local" Macy's, the Herald Square flagship, for returns.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Great question, Gretchen. I'm with Rachy - Bloomies, because of Nordies, and I'm a Seattle local.

I also overlook Massimo Dutti - but the colours are soooooo neutral, which puts me off a lot of the time.

Anonymous

I have found some good scores at Macys, and can return irl, but I wish theyd show the available colors like Nordstroms does online-instead of having to click each potential item!

kkards

Veteran

actually Amazon....i just never think of it because honestly i think its sooo hard to shop that i only go there if i have a very specific something or have found something thru another source or google shop

Diana

Veteran

I agree with Macys. I've found some solid stuff there and they have good deals, but unfortunately the shopping experience leaves a lot to be desired. Both online and B&M Macys are unpleasant for me to shop at!

Runcarla

Veteran

Simon's - a Canadian department store. I've shopped the Ottawa store and been impressed (and spend $). Though not quite as upscale as Nordstroms, much better than The Bay. However, there isn't a B+M near me, and I forget them when looking online.

I've never shopped Old Navy, and find Gap, JCrew, Massimo Dutti generally run too narrow/slender for me. I used to shop Club Monocco, but when they went to a black/grey/blush palate - I stopped popping in.

I do love a big 'ole department store like Nordstroms and The Bay for B+M shopping. Used to shop Sears regularly. Does JCPenny's still exist in the US?

Shout out for thrifting, too!

elpgal

Veteran

A word of warning about Lands End. Their quality on several items has deteriorated quite a bit and with so many Sears closing, it is hard to do B&M returns.

Irina

Veteran

Ann Taylor- they carry too many synthetic fabrics. Loft - quality is not great. But mostly because it is not my style.
I find Nordstrom is too expensive for me, i’m there often for my alterations but unable to find anything I’d like in my price range.
I overlooked Uniqlo, reminded myself early in January to go and buy t-shirts. But sadly it is not petite friendly.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I'm with Carla. I completely overlook Simon's. I've shopped in person in Montreal and Quebec City but feel nervous about online purchasing since I don't know the sizing of the house brands and didn't have nearby brick and mortar. But now I have one closer (in West Van) so I might try it out. Uh...if I remember.

There are stores I tend not to shop because of sizing, style, or quality issues, and others I don't bother with because I can't manage returns easily.

nemosmom

Veteran

Another recent convert and big fan of LLbean’s Tees. They are great weight and wash/wear well.

I found a few trendy, fun pieces of decent quality at Abercrombie during a mall stroll. And, with all the folks jumping on the Kon Mari bandwagon, there’s been a wave of good stuff at local thrift shops.

Gail

Veteran

I overlook Bloomingdales as I don't have one close by, I don't have a Nordies either but I shop on line with them not sure why I don't do the same with Bloomies:(

April

Veteran

Club Monaco is one I often forget to check.

Melissa

Member

Ann Taylor is great for professional clothes when you look on the sale rack! I also like Nordstrom Rack because it's quality and you can get a lot of $20 and $30 items that are great.

Christina F.

Veteran

Angie’s reply reminds me that I overlook Madewell because of the colors. I’ve gotten a couple of things I like from there, though. But their usual color story puts me to sleep.

WitchyD

Macy's.
I just went into a Macy's for the first time in like 12 years. I think I just can't find things in there and/or I have another more regional department store with better prices I typically hit.

unfrumped

Veteran

Well, there are tons of brand that are on- line only for me and I don’t cruise them regularly.

But there is s local boutique here that carries a few items in each of multiple brands/ designers, a very curated store, most of which does not work for my lifestyle BUT occasionally there is something really fun and interesting— have gotten maybe 3 - 4 items over the years. Some are things I can’t even find online so I think are from small boutique lines also. There’s not a log of depth in sizes and I balk at some of the full prices, but need to look there seasonally or maybe every couple months when their inventory changes and not be “ sale rack” oriented, but see if something is just super good that doesn’t cross my path normally. Also sons of the style spark my outfit creativity or, “ this is a direction I’d like to go in”.

Gretchen

Veteran

Wow, fabulous responses.

Funny to see so many people saying they overlook Macy's, or Bloomies... maybe because we've found our "preferred" department store and stick to it? (In my world, Bloomies is where you shop for MAJOR dresses, so not someplace I check for a regular shopping experience).

Suz and Carla - good to hear about Canadian brands as well.

Christina and Angie - I agree on Madewell. It's a sea of bland. But now that beige is trending, maybe it's worth another visit?

kkards - I'm with you on Amazon. It's a lot of work to browse.

Thanks also for the shout outs for thrifting! Definitely an area that I overlook often!

Greyscale

Veteran

Not exactly an overlooked store, but I forget that Nordstrom is a great place to find Madewell clothes that are sold out in my size at Madewell itself. And the Nordstrom web experience is easier - I can find my size, my color, and even see if they have it at my local store.

I stop by the shoe section of our Nordstrom pretty regularly, and sometimes I go up one floor to browse the designer things that are out of my price range. But I rarely go up another floor to the jeans + younger people brands (I think this is the tbd department?). I did that today and I found all sorts of things I wouldn't have noticed online!

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