Where do you shop more/less at these days? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Shopping

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Where do you shop more/less at these days?

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Yesterday I picked up a couple things at Banana Republic (clearance, additional 40% off, yahoo) and realized I hadn't bought anything there in a while. I used to buy a lot of my workwear there a few years ago. But then I went back to school and then started working from home, gained a little weight and BR stopped carrying 16s in store, and voila, sometimes browse but rarely buy there.

Of course the direction of stores changes as well as the trends and our lifestyles. I'm curious, where do you shop now that you never used to, and where did you use to shop that you don't anymore?

For a while I was getting a lot of stuff at Gap, but I'm not in love with their stuff right now - too flimsy. I loved Janeville while it was around, although some of it was too girly for me - anyone else remember them? And Harolds, I miss Harolds, although it was always more resortwear than I was. I shop more at Nordstrom now - maybe Angie should get credit for that. I haven't shopped much at J Jill in a while; I still like Coldwater Creek even though it's probably too old for me. I am probably forgetting many stores that I will think of once I post.

Shopping

18 replies

Latest reply was from Briar

Kate

Veteran

It really ends up varying based on what colors they have at the moment. I used to shop at Gap all the time, but now they rarely have the colors that I wear (and when they do, something is very off about the item). When I lived in Seattle I got a lot from Nordstrom, now that I'm a 2+ hour drive from the nearest Nordies I rarely get things there (other than my NAS haul from 2010)

For 2011, my purchases so far have been from:

Anthropologie (7)
Ann Taylor (4)
Banana Republic (3)
Etsy (4)
Gap (1)
H&M (2)
J Crew (4)
Limited (1)
Loft (3)
Macy's (1)
Zappos (2)

Anthropologie is really the big new one for me. The Limited and Macy's are also places that I've rarely shopped at before; they certainly haven't become go-to places, but they show that I'm keeping my options open!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

These days I'm 90% eBay or the Beall's Outlet up the street. I do some Amazon and Gap/Old Navy online once in a blue moon. I don't do as much Ross/Target/TJ Maxx because of distance here in FL. Back in Tahoe I imagine this will all shift back the other way to mostly the discount brick and mortar and less of the online. It's all about what's convenient or not, depending on my location.

MsMaven

Veteran

I have bought a lot from BR in the past, but I don't like the current styles. I buy a few things from J. Crew--mostly basics. I now shop more at Nordstrom and Ann Taylor.
I look at stuff in Black Market White House but haven't bought there lately. I don't see anything at Gap for me these days.

A few years ago I bought a lot at Macy's, but they have taken out many of the lines I like. I will still go in there when I'm at Stanford but not Valley Fair. Same with Bloomies--I look but seldom find stuff. I look in NM too, but lately I buy something one or two times a year.

Harolds! I miss Harolds too. I could always find things there and I'm sorry they are gone. I like the color selection and that I could find a skirt or a top that fit and tops weren't so low cut.

I wish there were more boutique type non-chain stores around. It seems that every time I find one it is gone within a few months.

catgirl

Veteran

I am doing less thift shopping, although I still look around. I used to be obsessed with it, but I feel like with needing to be pickier for now, I can't afford to go in and pick up truckloads of "almosts" even for pennies. Oh, the irony.

But I'm shopping way more at Nordstrom online.

Cilleena

Veteran

I shop Gap (locally and online) the most. I know how most of their clothing fits me and since they are local to me, returns are easier. I love shopping Nordstrom, but because we don't have one anywhere near here, I am ending up returning the bulk of what I buy because of fit issues. I hope to eventually figure their fit on their main lines like Halogen. I do a lot of business with Zappos, too. Lastly, I have had some nice successes with Loft.

nancylee

Veteran

Nordstrom
JCrew (button shirts)
Banana Republic (tees...I agree with MsMaven...not much going on at BR these days)
Zappos
Sundance
Neiman Marcus Last Call
Anthropologie
occasionally ebay or etsy

Anonymous

I'm shopping less at thrift and consignment stores and at Macy's, Eddie Bauer and Target. I shop about the same at Dillards and much more at Nordstroms. Norstroms customer service and return policy has made me a loyal customer. I'm also beginning to shop much more online. Many of the places where I once shopped don't carry small enough sizes for me now.

Isabel

Veteran

My top one this year has been the Gap.

Then Banana Republic, ATLoft, and some things at JCPenney.

For a fun spin on a trend, before I commit , I will try Target or Fashion Bug or Sears.

I also bought some things for the first time ever at Lucky Brand.

MsMary

Veteran

For a while I was in Nordstrom Rack every weekend. Fortunately I've been able to moderate that quite a bit.

I used to buy almost all of my work wear at Macy's but I haven't been there in six months. Ditto Talbots -- they used to be the only brand that fit me well but now that I'm smaller I'm branching out.

I've had really good luck at AT Loft recently.

Lord help me, I have bought FOUR items from Kate Spade this year. Plus a KS dress from the consignment store.

For inexpensive trendy things I love Old Navy, H&M, and Target.

But my faves are the consignment store and the two local thrift stores.

Anonymous

For the last several years I've been in a habit of shopping at J. Crew. In the last year I've branched out and have shopped a little more at Anthropologie, Gap, and Madewell.

I've always gotten shoes, bags, coats, and jeans at Nordstrom.

KeepTheKey

(website)

I used to shop at Anthro, Urban Outfitters and Macy's. Now I'm strictly TJ Maxx and Goodwill. I like having a large, varied wardrobe and I've found some awesome pieces at my local Goodwill for just a few dollars each. It certainly takes time to sift through everything, but I love getting a Michael Kors leopard print skirt for 2 bucks! Plus, I can find some awesome vintage stuff that really suits my figure I thrift every Thursday, and I really should get on the ball with posting some of my finds!

Jonesy

Veteran

This is an interesting question...Several years ago, BR was one of my go-to spots. Now I rarely find anything there. The color palette is sooo washed out, generally speaking, and the clothes just seem to lack pizazz or something. I still check out their sale stuff, and once in a while I find something, but not usually. I am also shopping less at Anthropologie than I used to. I still shop at Gap and find stuff, ditto J. Crew.

New shop spots for me include Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack (usually online, though I'm going to make the pilgrimage to the B & M Nordstrom for the NAS!) and smaller online retailers like Mikkat Market. I sometimes find decent stuff at Urban Outfitters too, which I never shopped at before (they had a bad '80s binge there for a while, and none of it suited me).

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Rickis
Forever 21
Gap
Suzy Shier

Superstore. Seriously. They have nice sweaters.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Good question!

I am shopping AT more than I have in years. I am turning modern classic, slowly but surely. But Nordstrom is my #1 choice and has been for a while. Our Nordstrom is so nice and pleasant that it makes our overcrowded, understaffed and shabby-at-the-seams Macy's look lamer than it is, which is pretty lame.

rosee

Veteran

"Leave no retail stone unturned!" -- I look a lot, almost everywhere, but am pretty picky when buying.

I've bought quite a bit of stuff lately since I am now a larger size and needed new clothes. My breakdown is roughly as follows:

- Value Village and other thrift stores -- majority of stuff, many pieces
- ebay -- 2 crossbody bags, 3 jackets, 3 dresses, top, scarf, skirt, watch, clogs, etc.
- Mexx -- tops, cardigan
- RW&Co -- tops, skirt,
- Superstore / Joe Fresh brand -- tops, pijamas
- Winners (discount) -- tops, skirt, belt, tights,
- Land's End (online) -- trench, sweaters,
- JCrew (online) -- tops, (will buy swimwear)
- Locale -- 3 pairs ballet flats
- Sole Comfort -- Ecco sandals (recent post)
- amazon.com -- shoes
- Cassis -- dress (to wear to wedding)
- Talbots -- 2 dresses (to wear to wedding, but these will likely be returned)
- Ten Thousand Villages -- jewelry

(I think I'm easily at /over $2000 for the past year).

taylor

Veteran

80 % of my wardrobe is Ann Taylor 10 % Burberry the other 10% is LOFT
Shoes , scarfs , outerwear..(trenches etc)and hand bags are everywhere from Michael Kors to Burberry and Nordies

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I don't go to Macy's much anymore either, the merchandise is actually OK but the local stores always look like a bomb hit them, especially during sales. Probably a third of the stuff in my wardrobe is thrifted, but I go in phases with being in the mood to go thrifting- it does take more time and attention than 'regular' shopping. Although where I live, the thrift stores are closer than any other clothes stores besides Target.

I thought of another couple stores - I've bought several things from Dress Barn recently. OK, they still have some of the plasticy stuff, but if you pick carefully you can get some really nice stuff for a great deal. Don't buy much from LL Bean, anymore, and I used to get a lot of my casual and gear stuff there.

MsMaven, we should go shopping together sometime . I rarely get down to Valley Fair (or is it Faire?) just because it's always *packed* whenever I'm there; Stanford and Hillsdale are usually much more manageable for whatever reason. I also love the outlets in San Leandro (Ann Taylor Factory Store!) but most of the other outlet malls around are a hideous explosion of people.

Briar

More: Nordstrom, Etceteranyc trunk shows, Talbots, Steinmart, Anthropologie

Less: Ann Taylor (I keep trying, but the quality has gone downhill IMO, my older AT stuff is nicer quality), Lands End

I miss Lord & Taylor and Harold Powell.