Hey Everyone!!!
New York Fashion Week: Men’s has just ended and Women’s Fashion Week is still a few days away, so I am taking a little break from my schedule to give you guys a very important post. As a college freshman in New York City, I understand the pain of wanting to stay fashionable on a limited budget. So today, I am presenting my top 10 clothing stores to buy inexpensive, fashionable articles for your everyday wardrobe. Here we go:
10. 2020 Ave
2020 Ave is a relatively unknown store due to the fact that it is exclusively an online shopping site. However, it has a gorgeous collection of blouses, skirts, shorts, dresses and shoes that are mostly priced under $50. And just when you thought that things could not get any better, the store also comes with a 10% off coupon for University students, meaning that it is perfect for those on a budget. Enjoy!
9. Boohoo
BooHoo is a fast growing online women’s retailer that is originally based in the UK. Due to its English routes, the clothing in BooHoo seem perfect to those who are a fan of the sexy and somewhat avant garde style found in London. In relation to prices, most of the dresses are anywhere from $30-$50, however, due to consistent sales, you usually won’t need to spend over $30. I personally love the actual quality of clothing from BooHoo, however, I do wish they had a storefront near NYC due to sizing mishaps.
8. Agaci
A’Gaci is a store that is constantly compared to Forever 21. However, while Forever 21’s style is more directed towards a mass market system, A’Gaci’s style is much more graphic and high street. I personally love the collection of patterns, colors and design that the goods at A’Gaci carries. A dress will set you back anywhere from $15 – $45, however, similarly to BooHoo, consistent sales will save you a pretty penny.
7. Wet Seal
Wet Seal is definitely the most casual store to come onto this list. Unlike some of the other stores located on this list, it is relatively easy to find a Wet Seal in the continental USA. While I am not the hugest fan of the dresses found at Wet Seal, I absolutely adore their separates! Whenever I want a cute pair of pastel jeans or a fashionable blouse, I go to Wet Seal. A top or pant at Wet Seal only costs around $10 – $20, so I suggest visiting one near you!
6. Love Culture
I am in love with Love Culture! The only reason that Love Culture did not hit my top three is due to the fact that it is not in a very central location to Manhattan, however, it is the perfect store for a teenage or college fashionista. The clothing is consistently on trend and sale dresses start around $10. I wish that their was either a store in Brooklyn or Manhattan – this way I could come here every day.
5. Charlotte Russe
For the top 5 stores, I chose chains that had a large amount of stores throughout the country in order to make sure that you can actually see the product before you purchase. Charlotte Russe is another “fast fashion” powerhouse that are known for its low prices yet high taste. The dresses cost around $15 – $40, however, Charlotte Russe is consistently having “Buy 1 Get 1 for $X” sales. I suggest going to Charlotte Russe for your next shopping spree.
Favorite Location: Queens Center, 9015 Queens Boulevard, Elmhurst NY 11373
4. H&M
H&M is a global superpower. As one of the largest and most spread out clothing stores in the entire world, H&M has locations throughout the US, Canada, Europe, Asia and etc. H&M is known for its low prices, interesting styles and relationships with big time designers (such as Balmain). H&M has a huge variety of prices, however, most dresses shouldn’t cost over $70.
Favorite Location: 111 5th Avenue, New York NY 10003
3. Rue 21
Rue 21 is by far the most affordable brand on this list. On a good day, a pair of jeans will cost around $2 or $3. Like Wet Seal, I am usually not a huge fan of the dresses at Rue 21, however, every now and then I find something truly spectacular. The blouses and jeans cost around $1 – $15, so it is relatively easy to change your entire wardrobe with just one trip. However, one of the issues with Rue 21 is the quality of some of their clothing leaves much to be desired. With that said, I do recommend it to those looking for a cheap alternative!
Favorite Location: 68 Heather Lane #2, Perryville MD 21903
2. Forever 21
I’m not going to spend too much time with Forever 21 due to the fact that it is so immensely popular, but I am obsessed with this story. While some people complain that the quality of their clothing is not always impressive, the Forever 21 located in Union Square has yet to let me down. With an assortment of dresses, tops and bottoms that rarely cost more than $35, Forever 21 is the motherland for broke teens. However, I had to give the #1 spot to a little unknown beauty:
Favorite Location: 40 East 14th Street, New York NY 10003
1. Mandees
Mandee Shops is a collection of womenswear retailers. Now, I chose Mandees as number one for three reasons: its exceedingly low cost, its high quality and its sizing. Mandees price range is similar to that of Forever 21, while its quality is similar to a mid-price store such as Zara or Express. However, the kicker when it comes to Mandees are that the sizes seem to add more leeway than most other stores on this list. As a young woman with a very unique set of measurements, it can be a struggle to find clothes that fit. However, the sizes at Mandee allow me to properly fit into clothes I could not find anywhere else. If you haven’t tried Mandees yet, I suggest you close your technological device, hop in a car and start shopping!
Favorite Location: 2540 Broadway New York 10025
❤ Naa
Adolescent Chic 