Where are you shopping, and who’s getting your shopping $$’s?

Runcarla

Though I buck the trend and am more a B&M shopper, I do order in and will return what doesn’t work. I’ll also return items purchased in B&M stores that don’t work once I’ve got them home and determined if they belong in my closet or not.

This year most of my purchases having been made in person. I don’t have a count for returns of online or in person returns, but items purchased and living in my closet break down as follows:

Winners - 9 items (in person)
Eddie Bauer - 3 items (1 in person, 2 on line)
Thrift - 2 items (in person)
Naturalizer.ca - 2 (online)
Converse.ca - 1 (online)
Ecco.ca - 1 (online)
Shooz - 1 (in person)
Uniqlo - 1 (in person)
Joe Fresh - 1 (on line)
Hudson’s Bay - 2 (1 in person, 1 online)
H&M - 1 (in person)
MWWH - 1 (in person)

I live in a small community (pop. 17,000) and a Winners store is the closest thing to a department store we have. There are now at least 6 thrift or curated second hand clothing shops in town as well as 2 independent women’s wear shops and an independent shoe shop. Big malls and Big City shops are an hour away.

Last year MWWH got most of my wardrobe budget, along with indi shoe store Shooz and Uniqlo. Nordstroms, Lululemon, Bikini Village, Mango, and the charity shops also got a piece.

Where are you doing your shopping?

9 months ago

Shopping

49 replies

Latest reply was from annabelle

DonnaF

Veteran

Nordstrom.com pretty much 100% with returns at the store 100%. I picked up a couple of things when I thrifted with my daughter in Chicago, but that was basically something to do with her while we were visiting. I have yet to wear those things after nearly a month but I don’t regret buying them.

9 months ago

slim cat

Veteran

More in person but some things need to be ordered. Marshall's became a good place to get summer tops/shirts, Macy's, Rack and BR were the usual on line orders ( low level of success though ).

9 months ago

ChristelJ

Veteran

Interesting to think about. It's mostly brick and mortar for me,
too, because I like to experience the fabrics in order to decide, and I
dislike online returns. My small town only has Marshall's, 2 thrift
stores, a small boutique, and a rather sad Belk. Close to half my
wardrobe is thrifted locally or from when I travel. I find a lot from our local Marshall's because quite often they have some of the only sandal brands I can wear at a huge discount, as well as casual tops and linen items that suit me.

My guess at a rough breakdown:

Thrift: 40%

Marshall's: 30%

Loft: 10%

Belk: 5%

Macy's: 5%

Nordstrom: 3%

Boutique (local or when traveling): 2%

Random chains when traveling (such as Dillards or WhiteHouseBlackMarket) 5%

What is MWWH?

9 months ago

Dee

Veteran

Almost all my purchases are done in person, I predominantly shop at:
Simons
The Bay
Uniqlo
Old Navy
Taylors
Winners/Marshalls

I live in a big city so these are all accessible to me for any returns if I change my mind.

I’m not a big online shopper, but I will peruse their websites online to check if an item I might want is available at local store near me and then go check it out in person. Very often it doesn’t live up to what I imagined it would be like due to quality or fit. Thus I am very reluctant to bother with the hassle of online shopping and its returns.

ETA: I do a bit of thrift and consignment shopping too.

9 months ago

LaPed

Veteran

3/7 from ShopBop
2/7 from Everlane
1/7 from a local thrift store
1/7 from Purple Rain Adventure Skirts

In January, I added three deeply discounted items from shopbop.com (two Madewell tops and an Alex Mill sweater vest). In February, I added a pair of thrifted Madewell khakis (my only brick-and-mortar purchase so far). Nothing in March or April, and one item in May: a hiking dress from a cottage gear producer running a Mother’s Day promo. Two items in July from Everlane’s sale section — hoodie and sports bra.

https://youlookfab.com/finds/c.....tion=12376

I have a few other new-to-me things that have come into my wardrobe this year that I haven’t added to Finds yet. They’ve all been trades made through a couple different social media groups. No money changed hands except for shipping fees at the post office.

I haven’t bought anything full price this year. I think the Shop Bop order is the first successful one I’ve had from them. I’ve tried things before but ended up returning. Not surprised that Madewell and Everlane are the labels with the most representation. They are pretty reliable for me. Not everything works, but something usually does!

Less thrift/consignment than usual, but that’s because I’ve shifted to trades (five “keepers” this year: two merino tops, a pair of fleece tights, a handprinted scarf, and a linen shirt). If I factor those in, then 50% of my additions this year are secondhand. I’ll try to revisit these questions at the end of the year and see what my numbers look like then. I need to do a footwear refresh and that will skew towards new and online.

9 months ago

BlueJay

Veteran

I am impressed you found 9 items at Winners! I like hunting and I do hunt, but for some reason I don't have the patience for Winners. Also, there aren't any Winners conveniently located. I also stalk consignment items online.

I really enjoy touching and feeling items and looking at the colours in person. I "paw" the merchandise! OTOH, being able to filter items online saves a lot of time (that is later lost if the item has to be returned). I am keeping track of items and budget this year!

Items purchased and living in my closet:
Old Navy - 4 items (online)
RW & Co - 4 items (1 in person, 3 online but 2 were tried in store had to order my size online because they didn't have it in stock)

Gap - 2 items (online)

Joe Fresh - 1 item (again, saw in person, but had to order different size online because they didn't have the colour in my size)

Asics - 2 items (online)
Naturalizer - 1 item (online)
Marks & Spencer UK - 1 item (online)
Monica Vinader UK - 1 item (online)
Power of my People - 1 item (online)

Uniqlo - 1 item (in person)

After listing everything above, I am reminded of other times shopping B&M but cannot get the item at that moment and I need to go home to order it for size, colour, stock, or price discount. I have specifically asked SA for something and showed them the item on my phone and they don't have the stock, so they're pushing customers online. (Looking at you RW & Co!)

Also, I play the game of buying more to save on shipping charges then returning the items I don't want and keeping my original intended item. It still costs me money and time to return, but I don't like having excess things when I don't really want/need them.

9 months ago

Helena

Veteran

Interesting question, and I am all over the map; mostly mall stores, certainly nothing high end which suits me fine.

Dynamite is my winner so far this year with 5 purchases. Everything else is either 1 or 2 pieces and includes: Target, Uniqlo, RW&Co, Amazon (I know but sometimes it's the best choice), Costco (lol - just a lounge sweatshirt), Frank & Oak, Kotn, SoftMoc (for Birkes), Zara, The Bay, Gap, and Blondo (online). I also got one birthday gift (sweatshirt) from Aritzia. Finally, I have one purchase from a little independent boutique.

This is a lot of stores for someone who shopped at Gap and BR almost exclusively for several years!

9 months ago

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

What a fun thread, Carla! The VAST majority of my purchases this year have been online:

Online Purchases:
Eileen Fisher (3 items) - I did go to the EF store to try pieces on, but they didn't have the sizes I wanted, so I ended up ordering one piece through the store to be delivered to my home. The other two purchases were solely online.
Known Supply - 1 item
Ministry of Supply - 1 item
Jamie and the Jones - 1 item
Rothy's - 1 item
Universal Standard - 1 item
Vans - 1 item
Patagonia - 1 item
AS98 - 1 item
Gudrun Sjoden - 1 item (with a few more on the way)

In-Person Purchases:
Disney Parks - 2 items
Louvre Museum - 1 item

So basically, I only purchase souvenirs in person!

Some other observations: I generally purchase directly from the manufacturer instead of from department store or boutiques. I go back to my same stable of sustainable brands over and over again, but often only for one or two items a year.

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