I love Boden but always forget about their website when I need something. Currently I've been on a Lands End Canvas kick. The fit is very different from regular Lands End, which is too boxy and short on me. The styling is like casual J Crew, only cheaper.

I've also been getting a lot at 6pm, which is the online outlet version of Zappos. Good shoe bargains but also a great selection of nice name brand clothes too.

I love INC(International Concepts)which is Macy's brand for women as well as petites. The styles are young, but not too young, and fairly well constructed. I also like White House/Black Market, Banana Republic, Cache(when I need something sexy!), and check out TJ Max as well as Steinmart.

Like you BB, i'm as interested in home decorating/gardening as fashion, including shoes and costume jewelry. ;o)

Well girls, if we ever went shopping together we'd have a good time! I love all those places too, and online, have been on 6pm quite a bit, they have handbags too...

Tj Maxxs have a magnetic pull for me.

Rarely shop for clothes but when I do all from Sierra Trading Post online. I have gotten amazing bargains on name brand expensive hiking and camping clothes as well as all my running shoes and clothes...and biking stuff...and all my sleeping bags...and ....LOL. If I need something that they don't have then I hit TJ Maxx or Target...usually Target for sleepwear.

I have a closet of clothes that are up to 20 yrs old and those evening- wear things I use when/if I need something fancy. Glad I still wear the same size . I have never heard of several of the places mentioned above...will check them out...good thread. c

Some great suggestions here! I like clothes but I don't like shopping. When I do go, I like Nordstrom and Steinmart. I liked the Boden website.

Nordstrom, Soft Surroundings.

I run the gamut from Nordstrom and Chico's to TJ Maxx and Marshalls!

Love Soft Surroundings!

This is sooo my style, but way too pricey! :(

Here is a link that might be useful: Top

Love Nordstrom, Patagonia, Ann Taylor, Brooks Bros. (have the best wrinkle free blouses), and LL Bean. When I absolutely have no choice but to shop for something on short notice, I do shop at some local boutiques as well.

Really hate to shop for clothing (trying on, etc.), so I primarily shop online. I usually don't stray from my tried and true go-to stores. I want to know that when I order a size 8, it will be a true size 8 when it arrives! Also, I love stores that have great customer service, and Nordstrom, cannot be beat for that!

Oakley, I agree. SS has some nice pieces, but they're out of my price range.

I have never heard of Soft Surroundings, so had to take a gander. This is.......

Here is a link that might be useful: absolutley gorgeous

These days, almost exclusively Salvation Army. I'm not a fashionista by any means, but I like better clothes than I can afford to buy new. Plus I enjoy "the hunt."

My shoes come from Lands' End (usually overstocks) or department store clearance racks. Underwear from TJ Maxx or Walmart.

I am so sad because my local Talbot's has closed. They have a new style of pants called Curvy that fit me very well. They are for people with wider hips and smaller waists. Now I have to drive about 15 miles to get to a Talbot's. Sometimes their clothes are a little frumpy and it seems like every top and sweater has a ruffle or bow, which I detest. I have always depended on their standard classic slacks and tops. BTW they are having an online sale this weekend.

I like LL Bean but not Lands End. I like Jones NY, or at least I seem to buy a lot of it. Yesterday I took a good look at my clothes and I really need to do a major closet cleaning. Things I think of as my favorites are really looking tired. This is a good and helpful thread. Never heard of soft solutions. I like that top.

Although it's been awhile since I've checked it, the online outlet for Soft Surroundings had great deals. I bought a wonderful pair of pants once for ten dollars and a magnificent jacket for thirty.

I wish our Salvation Army /Good Will had nice clothes for women. They might but not at my odd size. L/Tall
Dh has found some great shirts there- my favorite being a like new Pendelton wool plaid shirt, in the dry cleaning bag.
Pendeleton still carries the exact shirt.

alisande, OH yeah : ) I find better things than I could afford new at the GW in a wealthier area of town. The downside is that you can't go in and shop for something you need next week, say, but if you go regularly and get what works on you, you'll have something nice ready for when you need it.

I love Boden and Sundance but usually end up returning a lot because their clothes seem to be made for tall, thin people!

I have better luck at J. Jill, some Lands End, some Garnet Hill, occasionally Gap and Banana Republic, and a few local boutiques. I get all my jeans from Lucky Brand online (Easy Riders). I found a pair of dress pants at Gap last spring and quickly bought 3 pairs before they could discontinue them! Still looking for casual pants that aren't jeans...

I am going back to work, at the ripe old age of 61, and while I want to look nice, I don't want to spend a fortune. I know I can't wear capris and sandals, as I have for the last 10 years in my leisure life - ha. I love the hunt and a good bargain as well, so I make regular trips to Ross Dress for Less. You really can find great deals, and they often have name brands such as Jones New York, Liz Claiborne, etc. The other day I bought 11 pieces of clothing for $170, including a pair of shoes. There's a TJ Maxx in the same mall, so I hit both at the same time, but Ross's prices can't be beat. (Except I did find a navy blue long sleeved blouse yesterday at K Mart for $2.99!

The best-dressed woman I know buys ALL of her clothes from Goodwill and SA. She buys men's small suit and sport coats and rolls up the sleeves if necessary. If she likes the pants, she has them altered for far less than the cost of new. She dresses up every day for work, and when she is at home she is just as chic in her gw and sa jeans, etc.

She amazes me. And inspired me....when I was working I started doing the same thing, but only for jackets. My favorite cost me $10 and I still wear it.

Don't laugh, but every now and then I buy the brand "Denim and Company" sold on QVC. Very nice clothes, well-priced too. The name makes you think they only sell denim, but far from it.

I got two sweatshirts this week, and they're the style I've been looking for for years.

Shipping is kind of high, but for me it doesn't matter because I'd have to drive 30 minutes to a Mall anyway and spend it on gas.

One word of caution when buying at GW or any used clothing. Take them directly to the cleaners. Do not take them in the house or especially directly into your closet. It is quite common for certain clothes to be carrying moths. If they didn't have them when donated, there is a good chance they picked them up along the way. The same goes for wool carpeting. It seems oriental rugs are especially susceptible to moths.

Probably an unpopular treatment, but years ago, I got moths in my closet and resorted to a drastic step.

I had many woolen work clothes and couldn't afford to dry clean everything. I took everything outside, kept on the hangers and sprayed everything with Raid, my bug spray of choice at the time- twenty years ago. I sprayed it so it was a mist and not a direct spray on the clothing. Then I put it all in big garbage bags for a few days. And sprayed the closet.
No side effects of any kind that I know of, no stains and the smell dissipated in a few hours after airing out. Totally got rid of the moths- which had put a few holes in some things that I either discarded or sewed up.

Maybe most people wouldn't want to do that but I did it several times over a ten year period although now, I might not do it.

But back to Boden, they have a fun outfit maker that's easy to use and amusing. I wish I could do that with all my real clothes!

I'm more concerned about bedbugs than moths. My thrift-shop finds go directly into the washing machine (or dry cleaners), and these days I'm no longer using the cold-water cycle like I used to. But moths are certainly to be avoided, too.

I often like Territory Ahead for interesting fabrics but I always pay careful attention to cut, etc as many pieces do not have as much shape.

I am all for unique, so I like little boutiques, etc. I do like Steinmart. I used to find things in TJ Maxx or Marshalls but not so much anymore. I do NOT like shopping though!! I do buy a bit on-line - tried and true vendors and brands. I am opposite of what someone else answered - I don't like LL Bean - but DO like Lands End. Our winters are quite mild, so sweater weather is short lived here. However, I do like cardigans, etc. and find quite a few light weight ones, 3/4 sleeve ones, etc. at Lands End. Rarely buy pants there though. I am very much an accessory person. I was lucky enough a few weeks ago to find a great scarf at Steinmart that worked great with a cardigan from Lands End (that I had ORDERED and NOT YET RECEIVED). I also like bright colors and and picky about pants colors. I have many pairs of black pants. Different styles, some dressy, some work wear, some casual, etc. even a velvet pair. LOL. I lean toward classic seperates and throw in some great accessories and jackets.

tina

I tend to buy ahead of seasons in order to get better selection ; I usually add on what I already own, and I can't resist yet another pair of black pants, the few times I've bought other colors, I end up not wearing them often. I also like to always have a good fitting pair of jeans or 2 or 3.......

I mostly frequent a small boutique ; the woman has the most wonderful seamstress who performs small miracles, alterations are free so she'll make a piece work for you. I don't particularly like shopping for clothes, I do like to shop for shoes, purses, accessories so once I have my basics, I'm done for a while.

Guess I've either been lucky or the GW in our area is very effective when they wash/dry clean the donated clothes before putting them out. I know for a fact they launder every garment before it's put for sale. Some still have their drycleaning tags. Which is not to say I don't wash them first before wearing, but it's more a matter of policy than need, I think.

I couldn't shop there if this were not the case. I have a low tolerance for yuck. : )

I'm so not trendy or a fashionista, but I love reading anything Bumblebeez has to say about clothes! (Mitch too!)

I wear a "uniform" of jeans (Levis 512) or black pants, with nicely cut t-shirts (no slogans, etc., "real" tops) in vivid or soft colors. Like v-necks or scoops (no crews.) In winter, the v's and scoops change to turtles.

Love my ribbed or cable turtlenecks! I can usually rely on Talbots or/and Penney's for them every Fall. By now I've usually picked up several new colors, but neither store is carrying them this year!

Penney's St.John's Bay line usually makes a nice ribbed one. For over a decade, have been buying Talbot's ribbed turtles.

Guess the classic turtleneck is not in style this year? Oh, have also bought a few from Eddie Bauer, but didn't see them there either.

I don't like those flat knit ones, just ribbed or with cable detail. I always prefer some textural interest and pretty colors for tops!

I like to buy clothes in Ann Taylor, White House / Black Market, Banana Republic, J. Crew, Nordstrom, Lord and Taylor.

Where I actually buy clothes......Target, b/c I am there at least once a week buying Milk, bread, eggs or a birthday present or school supplies or any other thing that presents itself. And while I'm there, I say....ohh I really could use a new sweater, yoga pants, slippers, or whatever I see on my way to the milk.

(yes, I have 3 kids, and a full time job, and I have very little time or money for ME these days)

I'm concerned about bedbugs too, alisande but probably more with furniture.
Stinky, I wish it were cold enough here for turtlenecks, not that they look great on me, but I long for coat weather and we usually only have a few weeks at most of cold weather.
I do like ribbed turtlenecks a lot and used to wear them all the time. Then it got hot, or maybe I got hot or something like that!

Tish, I love territory ahead although I've never bought anything from them. Remember Isabella something?
I like that whole look and am much more conscious of shape/fit than I used to be, can't stand boxy clothes.

I am not a clothing snob! If I like it and it fits and I can afford it, I buy it wherever I find it!! I love nice Ralph Lauren cotton when it fits or I can make do just fine with a pair of George slacks from Walmart. It's all about the cut and fit.

I am probably the only 60 year old (in 3 months) who shops at Old Navy, but of course, it is always a hit or miss there for me. I love their Perfect Khakies in slacks and bermudas! I am a small waisted, hippy size 14 (or a good 12) and they fit perfect. Scored yesterday - they were on sale for $19.50. Also their Sweetheart, boot cut jeans were $19.50. First time that I can remember that I have tried on 4 pairs of slacks and they all fit. Also scored a couple of light weight 3/4 cotton fall sweaters - on the 75% off rack for $8.38 each.

Love JC Penney Worthington dress slacks, usually a poly or blend, wash and dry nicely, no iron. Can usually catch them on sale for $24.99. JCP is also a good source for me for petite tops. It blows my mind the stores that carry limited petite tops - if you are short in the leg, you are usually short all over.

I like Walmart George dress slacks - if they fit, they are perfect - you just never know.

Tuesday

Wodka - Im with you! Ross is my and my DD's favorite store. She's in WI now (went for grad school, then married a classmate who ended up getting a job as a prof at UMW after graduation) and there are no Ross's there, so one of her 'every time she comes home' things is a Ross trip or two. They've got everything, if you're willing to hunt out the diamonds from the roughs.

Most of my business suits and more than half of my kitchen gadgets came from Ross (really, who needs an avocado slicer or a cherry pitter, but I've got one of each because they were such a good deal! ;-) ) Loooove that store.....

I'm not someone who enjoys shopping for clothes. I tend to buy good quality, classic-style clothes and then wear them until they fall apart on me ;^D

My favorite tee shirt was bought back in 1986 and I still wear it many times each summer. My kids shake their heads about that one, as there's actually a pic of me in it while holding DS as a toddler, and he's 27 y/o now (LOL!). I have a good Winter jacket that I bought back in 1992 that I still wear. Same with some of my better sweaters.

I like Dillards, LL Bean, Coldwater Creek, Territory Ahead,and Eddie Bauer. But, I also shop Marshalls, TJ Maxx and Kohls. I've purchased a few things thru Soft Surroundings, but find that they're prices don't equal the quality of the items I've bought. They're over-priced IMO. I also have a couple of boutiques in Santa Fe that I like for special occasion clothes.
Lynn

I shop at a couple of boutique's in town, along with some online. JCrew is one of my faves, and Sundance. I did order some turtlenecks from LL Bean and some ratty-looking jeans from Eddie Bauer recently for the winter a couple of weeks ago.

I tend to wear a lot of classic black and black turtlenecks that are good quality and last a long time for the winter and change up the coat and scarves, also have scarves that go on my purses to kind of match, so I spend money on purses and accessories, as much as clothes.

Ah lynn, I'm with you on the 'vintage all by myself' clothing : ) -- I have things I've bought new back in the early 80s that I still wear. Tops/jackets only, though -- unfortunately pants don't still fit! And just so people don't worry: no, I never went in for the shoulder pad thing so I'm not rockin' the Working Girl look : )

I am jealous of folks who can wear turtlenecks -- they really emphasize my nascent jowls, so I've had to give them up. Maybe if I lose about 20 pounds? What happens to the little saggy things on the sides of your face if you lose weight? I'm not officially overweight by any means, just heavier than I had been when I first started wearing turtlenecks. Congrats to all who can still wear them!

I just got home from shopping for some pants. I tried on the same brand, same size, but different colors and the variations in length and fit were amazing. There was about 3 inches difference in length, which is nice because if you keep searching you might find the pair that doesn't need hemming but it's also annoying since now you have to try on multiple pairs. Also annoying is how one pair fit well but were too long, the next was snug but the right length, the next was loose. What the heck?

I was also hoping to replace a pair of jeans that I wore to the store. I've lost weight since buying them. Oddly, if I wanted to buy a new pair I had to go UP in size. And have them hemmed. I guess the pair I was wearing was some freak pair that I was lucky enough to stumble upon last year. Maybe that's the secret, don't go shopping with anything specific in mind and see what the universe reveals to you.

Don't you just hate when you find the perfect whatever - pair of jeans, shoes, dress pants - but by the time you realize they are the perfect whatever they are no longer available. Maybe I should buy 2 of anything that I think has the potential to be perfect.

The only thing I did buy was another pair of black pants that I already own & like, so I can have one hemmed for flats and keep one for higher shoes.

Of course, this doesn't help me for this weekend when I wanted to wear the black pants with lower shoes. Back to the closet to see what else might work.

hh, I finally learned the lesson you speak of -- buying multiples of items that work before they stop making them! Last spring I found dress pants at the Gap that fit me well, so I bought three pairs! Two in black and one in gray. I found the best fitting pair of black linen pants a couple of years ago and I'm still kicking myself for not buying more when they were available.

Tomorrow I'm "going shopping" at the annual rummage sale at a fancy private school nearby. I always find great t-shirts there for exercising, and occasionally something fabulous like a sweater or a dress! I get great t-shirts for my sons there, too. Fortunately, they don't care where their clothes come from.

hhireno -- somebody told me once that when clothes are cut at the factory, they cut the fabric for several items at once - they stack the fabric 10 or 12 layers deep and then a cutting machine comes down like a stamper and cuts out the pieces. Because of the way the fabric is stacked and then cut straight down, the fabric layers on the top can differ quite a bit from the layers on the bottom (because they kind of stretch and are pulled on by the machine during the cutting process). That is why several of the same garment in the same size can vary significantly in actual size. I notice this all the time at Target -- I buy their exercise/yoga pants and I will usually grab all the pairs in my size and try them all on - some are 2-3 inches longer than others, some are so tight I can barely pull them on, and others are falling down on me. It's definitely annoying, but like you said, if you keep trying them on, you eventually find the one that fits!

I have shopped at T.J.Maxx since 1985 and I love Marshalls too. I love to shop for clothes and I know I need to lose weight, I say I will, but I won't.