I’m not talking about Wal*Mart, but places like Ross Dress For Less and Marshall’s in Southern California. The commercials always show people in great looking outfits–for instance a man dressed for work in what look like expensive wool slacks, a well fitting dress shirt, and silk tie, or a woman in great jeans. But any time I’ve been to Ross, it’s seemed that the men’s jeans were always in either huge or tiny sizes, often with just one size of any given brand-style combination. Does anyone routinely find good jeans at stores like this? Men’s suits? I’ve certainly never had much luck there.
I don’t know about men’s clothing, but I hardly ever shop anywhere else. Discount clothes are good quality, fashionable, and usually fit – and their underwear is INSANELY cheap. Love 'em!
They never have anything I want in my size (Costco in UK)
Marshall’s and TJ Maxx are great stores that carry name brand stuff for much, much cheaper. Seriously, I am the biggest spendthrift, and I love those stores. And I shop for my boyfriend there too, so I know that the men’s clothes are great, especially dress shirts and slacks, though the jeans skew towards big and baggy.
ZJ
A woman I work with recently told me that she buys most of her clothes at Salvation Army stores and the like. She usually looks pretty modern and stylish. She is really slightly built and buys some kids clothes, both boys and girls. The day she told me her outfit (including a really nice loud jumper) had cost her $8. The pants had been unworn when she bought them - labels still attached.
Not a chance. I’m tiny and generally it’s a giant PITA trying to find anything that I both like and that fits me. I gave up on them years ago as not worth the effort.
I went to Ross for a shirt and couldn’t anything I’d even wear as a joke.
Love it! Ditto Salvation Army, ditto Goodwill. It is necessary to go repeatedly, so probably not the luckiest place for reluctant shoppers. The selection changes overnight. Of course, when I go with some money in hand really wanting something, they don’t have it; when I don’t have any to spare, the cornucopia is full to overflowing. Except purses. They always have fabulous purses…
I buy almost everything I wear at the Salvation Army. You can find good things if you have the time to look. I’ve pulled together several full ensembles that people envy by buying there one item at a time when I see it.
I don’t care for Ross and other stores of that ilk. I feel that I’m paying for new clothes, but low-quality new clothes. I far prefer consignment and thrift stores. For one thing, it’s easier to find my (little) size there than in regular stores, for some reason. And you might find absolutely anything, not just the latest ugly trend. I got a ton of compliments on the dressy dress I wore yesterday, for which I paid ten dollars. Sometimes I do buy things at thrift stores that aren’t so hot…and I toss them out or donate them right back again. When it’s that cheap to begin with, it doesn’t hurt a bit if it doesn’t work out.
It depends on the particular store and day that you go. A friend once bought a tuxedo at one of those places for $50.00.
I’ve had good luck at Filene’s Basement buying jeans.
Discount stores like Marshall’s, Stein Mart, and TJ Maxx are great for socks and underwear. I also found a cashmere sweater at Stein Mart for $15 once. Couldn’t beat that price.
For my suits and other work clothes I usually shop at name-brand stores; however, I’ve recently been going to a Goodwill shop that is about a mile from one of the nicest neighborhoods in the city. I’ve found about a dozen really nice blazers and jackets (Hickey Freeman and Hart, Schafner and Marx) all for $5.00 a piece. They needed a little alteration, but other than that are perfect. I’m guessing someone died and his wife cleaned out the closet.
Yes, I quite often find things I like in discount stores (primarily TK Maxx - it is TK, not TJ in the UK, BTW, OK? LOL), but only if I browse and find something I like - going there looking for something specific is a recipe for frustration.
I found a beautiful *silk * dress at the Salvation Army last year. A gorgeous hunter green, with beading on the bodice, and it pins up the back. The only problem I’ve ever found is all the buttons are missing on the back, and have been replaced by snaps. I love it.
I go to Marshall’s mostly for casual clothes, shorts & t-shirts, etc. You can find some nice separates there.
Target also has some nice stuff. This is the only way to shop. I don’t have enough money where I can just buy something without considering the price!
I buy pretty much all my shirts, sweaters, windbreakers and heavy coats at Goodwill. I’ve never had trouble finding something that fits me and is affordable and appealing.
Pants and suits, however, I always buy new at places like Target or Sears (I won’t shop at Wal-Mart on general principles). I guess I must be an odd size and shape, because I never can seem to find pants or suits at thrift shops that fit me.
In my photo on teemingmillions.com/, I am wearing a leather motorcycle jacket that I bought from the local goodwill on half-off day, back when they had such a thing. It came out to be $7.
It seems I get the most compliments on the clothes I buy at Target and Mervyn’s. But certain things I will pay more for. ACtually, now that I think about it, clothes that are mostly for work I spend more on than and usually shop at nicer stores for them, my more casual clothes I tend to get from the places mentioned.
Oh, and just so I actually have an on topic post, I shop for clothing at Scratch and Dent Liquidators. Great prices on everything, and name brand items. I bought a nice jacket from them.
I like Maxx, prefer thrift stores. For nicer clothes, I like Nordstrom Rack. But it helps being a man, honestly, and one not concerned about fashion. Unless I have a particular reason to wear a suit and tie, the basic slacks and shirt is pretty hard to foul up, and I can get them easily enough at most discount stores.
As I look back on this, it sounds very snotty. I hope no one was offended. When I think back on it, I don’t have a problem with the quality of the clothes themselves. I don’t like the Ross or TJ Maxx in my area because they’re very cluttered. They have the thrift store ambience without the good prices.