What is happening with clothes this season?  Not even the Anthropologie catalog has anything to tempt me. Last week I went to Banana Republic and didn’t see anything worth trying on, let alone buying. The Gap was next. I had a gift card, but did not see a single thing that I would want, even if it were free. I did buy a pair of chinos at J. Crew–they do a nice chino at J. Crew. I’m not into the maternity top look that is out there right now.
I know, it serves me right for shopping at chains and Charlottesville has some great boutiques, but sometimes you want the anonymous chain store experience. I think think the big stores like Gap look at Charlottesville’s population size and stock their store here with last year’s rejects.
Related posts:
- Christian’s
- Fashion World, Hollywood Rocked by Striking Gays
- So, the Fashion Show Happened and We Didn’t Tell You About It
I refuse to buy anything with an empire waist (i.e. seam right under the boobs) on the pure basis that it makes whoever wears it look pregnant, whether they are or not.
I also shun capri pants, but that’s for an entirely different reason.
Jeans are my issue. It’s what I wear to work, but I can’t wear “trendy” jeans because I refuse to show my ass crack to the people I work with should I bend over. Trying to find a decent pair (that I can afford) that hasn’t been teenybopper-ized is a struggle.
Hit up the goodwill, unless you’re one of those people who are all “oh ew, clothes that have already been WORN?!?!?” You’d be surprised what you find hiding there in between all the faded t-shirts and acid wash pleated jeans. I netted myself a cute Nine West purse once.
Besides, I hate the mall.
I second the occasional Good Will scavenger hunt, but the trade-off is time for money.
I do my shopping outside of Charlottesville. (I also don’t shop that much.)
Patience: re: jeans, I think places like the Limited and Banana have the perfect compromise of style and comfort, and I think Sevens come up slightly higher too. Crack jeans? A&F, Joe, Express. Once you find the perfect pair, just buy multiple. I eBay the designer jeans too.
Jeans: I found Lucky Jeans some time ago and refuse to waiver from them. So many companies have joined the jean business and some of them make nice jeans, but I hate the labels or special stitching that broadcasts “I’M WEARING $200 JEANS” to all. Lucky Jeans fit me and their label is low key.
If you want some really reasonable jeans that are well made, check out Nordstrom’s house brand, Caslon. Years ago, Nordstrom had jeans under a different house brand and they were wildly popular. Some foolish person decided to discontinue to line and customers complained. A few years later, they’ve brought back the house band jeans. They’re only $78, which is damn cheap for the quality and cut of these jeans.
I’m a J.Crew fan, especially since BR waded a bit too deep into the trendy pool and I work in a fairly conservative field. Of course, the mark ups can be a little crazy at times. Just the other day, I saw some shirts at Elsie Garden that I loved. Out of curiosity, I looked up the brand online and found the same shirts going for half of what EG was asking for them.
Be careful about buying popular brands like Sevens on Ebay. There’s a thriving black market for fakes and there are plenty of websites where you can buy huge lots of fake Sevens, Rock & Republic, Citizens of Humanity, etc.
I’d say Off Fifth, Nordstrom Rack, and Neiman’s Last Call are the best places to get discounted designer jeans. About a year ago, I got a pair of jeans that retailed for $248 for just $34 at Nordstrom Rack. When I found them, I did one of those look around moves as if there was a mistake on the price tag and I was getting away with something.
By the way, another fashion observation: some the UVa kiddies were dressed to the nines for Mutemath last night. There was definitely a group of young ladies that were channeling the cast of one of the MTV teen shows when they got dressed. Some odd wardrobe decisions for sure.
You can buy fashion, but you cant buy style.
Me, I surf for irregulars and weird test pressings at outlet joints like rugged warehouse. My favorite pair of jeans cost $8.00. But thats how we do in the b’mont son… the phrase “only 78.00″ never crosses our lips. Second on the Lucky’s tho, good stuff. Problem with Goodwill and Salvation Army is that the folks who drop shit off there are also the folks who shop there. Besides, who would go there when the sweet baby jesus saw fit to give us the Green Olive Tree in Crozet? Dollar a grocery bag baby! And the bitches dumpin shit there are the boojie Western Albemarle Yukon McMansion Ken and Barbanians. More money than sense, them. I still remember the feeling of personal triumph as i rolled up a tailored Armani suit, still in the dry cleaner bag, and stuffed it in a paper bag with other bits of retro lunacy, laid my single dollar bill on the counter and walked off, ready for anything.
Hot tip o’ the day from the yo: Whenever I fly out to San Fran to visit the fam, I hit the bag sales at Olive Tree and stock up on Hip Retro Trendy Efemera. Pack a whole extra bag of it. Then in “the big city”, I hit the “Thrift Stores” in the trendy neighborhoods, who absolutely drool over this stuff. Take cash or store credit, I have yet to net under $250.00. During the “trucker hat years”, i considered quitting my day job… heh. Im sure this will work in other big cities as well.
Now act like you know.
belmontyo is my new favorite poster.
Say what you will about hipsters, at least their fashions are cheap. Hit the thrift stores and for a dollar you can walk out looking as hip as Kimora (different fashion genre though.) Don’t wanna spend $100 for a hipster haircut? Go to the thrift store and buy the hat some widow just dropped off along with the rest of her recently-dead husband’s clothing.
I also like to hit the Rugged, A&N, WalMart, etc. Unless you’re walking down the carpet at the Vanity Fair party, no one except middle-school bullies gives a funk where you got your clothes as long as you look half-decent. Mom was always right…who knew?
Oh…side issue…what’s up with people around here not knowing what hipsters are? I see hipsters here, but I guess they haven’t reached the critical mass to broach the awareness barrier of Kanye-klones, Hills-Heads and soccer moms with denim sundresses.
What’s a hipster?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAO4EVMlpwM
Okay, so they definitely aren’t cheap ($150-$200), but if you’re looking for designer jeans you can actually wear to work I’ve become a huge fan of the Red Engine jeans at Georgie. They have a higher rise and usually a less flashy back pocket design (but not always). Of course, if you wait until January Judy B., Georgie, Eloise, EG and Chloe all have huge sales and all carry designer jeans. You just have to go early or the only stuff left will be skinny jeans – so not work appropriate.
And yes, anyone over 22 looks completely pregnant in an empire waist top – although it does make me completely envious of anyone who actually is preggers this season. I’m sure when my day comes belly shirts will be all the rage or something equally impossible.
Yo: No. Fucking. Doubt. I definately hit up the Olive Tree a couple of months ago for the bag sale. Snagged a few sport coats(might do the hoodie with sport coat[a la TV on the Radio] look this year) and a bad ass helmet.
Where I’ve found sweet shit:
SPCA Rummage Store – none of my friends have had good experiences with this place, perhaps it’s because I get all the good shit…
Antics – not too many dude clothes, but I’ve definately found a few gems.
Atlas Comics – The place next to Tokyo Rose now sells vintage clothing as well. Mostly women’s clothes, but they’ve got a great honky tonk section. I found one of the greatest shirts ever created, but unfortunately did not have thirty bucks on me to purchase it.
Everytime I walk by that European store accross from Antics I LOL. *sigh* It’s my favorite when a couple of the douches stand outside of the store with their hair gel and their screen prints. It doesn’t get much douchier…
Dijonbray – is there OONCE OONCE OONCING in the background?
Thor – You know it. A store of that calibur of douch would not be complete without a little “four-on-the-floor”.
yo: irregulars and weird test pressings at outlet joints like rugged warehouse
My favorite shorts are some strange AE test pressing from Rugged Wearhouse (I wouldn’t be caught dead in AE). Been wearing them for over 10 years, holes all over the ass, but I won’t give them up.
Everyone else: great tips, this is one of the best cVillain posts I’ve read. Oh yeah, and don’t forget H&M. I never find anything on my first pass, but I keep digging and usually walk out an hour later with pure gold for brass prices.
Green Olive? I have never heard of it, but it sounds like it’s worth a trip out to Crozet.
Its called the “olive tree”, directly across the street from the Library downtown crozet. Its up to its armpits in jesus, but Im not hating, cause they walk the walk. Stuff that doesn’t sell there gets sent to third world countries, so they can keep things ‘fresh’, although that is not the word that will pop into mind when you first go there. Its chaotic, and wierd and slow… but you can get over on the funky fresh duds, especially if you wear girl’s clothes. You cant go there expecting to score, you just have to pop in when you’re out there, roll the dice and hope to get lucky (jeans).