Trying to upgrade my wardrobe
 

I'm now an official interest for a sorority, and because of that I need to upgrade my wardrobe. The sisters all always look so nice, and while I have some nice(r) clothes, I also bum it a lot, so I need some help. I'm going to go shopping tonight and try to get some things. I was thinking of going to Deb, Forever 21 and H&M. Any other stores I should check out? (I need things that are affordable). Any suggestions of what I should be looking for?

Thanks!

Charlotte Russe is good for cheaper yet fashionable things.

I'm not one for cheap things though. Get a few really quality items and mix them in with whatever you have. If all you have is sweatpants and tees, then obviously you need to get more (and probably less expensive). Go for items that are structured and can be dressed up for nights out or for meetings. Anything loose, low cut, too tight, or strangely cut needs to be saved for going to the club. Pick up some nice blouses and a modest pencil skirt. If you're just looking for stuff to wear to class and want to look better than the girls still in PJ's, get some cute shirts (no words, but simple colors or patterns) and a nice pair of jeans. And find a nice pair of embellished flats. They can dress up anything.

Stay far away from the first two and only go to the career part of H & M.

If you need more business casual-type things, go to Macy's. They are having sales this weekend.

Make sure you know what is expected of you before you go spending tons of money on things that might not be appropriate.

trisigma212: She is interested in a multicultural sorority and what she is asking about may be part of her pledging requirements. It's not just a matter of "I'm going to be in a sorority so I want to dress better."

Also check TJ Maxx, Marshall's, Nordstrom Rack, etc. for higher quality stuff for less money.

Check if there is an Off 5th outlet near you (Saks' outlet). They usually have good prices on high-end clothing, and each week usually has some kind of special, like extra 20% off denim, or sometime extra sale on clearance. I've bought some amazing clothes there for great prices.

The website ideeli is also a good source for discounts on good clothing, but since it's a flash sale site, it can be hit or miss (or they might not have all sizes, colors available, etc.)

This has nothing to do with any requirements, it's all about "I'm trying to be a part of a sorority so I want to look better."

I forgot about Charlotte Russe. I shop there on occasion, but I don't usually find much I like there.

What's wrong with Deb and Forever 21? They have some really cute stuff, especially Forever 21! Deb is where I get a lot of my basics like camis and tees.

I also forgot about TJ Maxx. There is no Marshall's, Sak's, Nordstrom etc. anywhere around here...and Macy's is way too expensive, even when stuff is on sale!

Deb and Forever 21 have SOME cute things, but they take a lot of hunting. Much of their stuff is trashy, both in construction and cut. If you want to "upgrade" your wardrobe, it is not the place to go.

I respectfully disagree. Forever 21 is full of super cute stuff, and a lot of it is actually pretty nice! And I've never had a problem with quality from there either. Also, as I said, I tend to go to Deb for basics.

Well then, why did you ask the question if you weren't going to pay attention to any of the answers?

I am paying attention. But I didn't ask "Should I go to stores X, Y and Z?" I asked if there were any other stores I should check out and what I should look for. You said I shouldn't go to some of the stores I was thinking about going to, but I wasn't asking for opinions on that.

Old Navy, The Limited, Loft, GAP. Start with the sales rack. Great deals.

Ann Taylor Loft?

At those places I would most definitely have to buy off the sale racks! Even a lot of the stuff on sale there is out of my price range.

Why not do an online search and go from there? That'll save you time and aggravation.

ETA: if you know what your style is, what "look" you're going for, what looks best on you, then you can proceed with buying. And only buy what you love, not the "throwaway" or "fad" clothes that are cheap (yes I used that word). Buy quality, not quantity. It'll last and it makes a statement that will carry you far.

DUDE. We ALL buy off the sale racks. Chill out. People have been all over this thread to offer advice. Say thank you, and do with it what you will and be done with it. Maybe try actually going in these stores to check them out and see if anything catches your fancy. You can spend a little more money on an item that will have some longevity and maybe hold off on others. I'm pretty sure you aren't going to school naked right now and have some staples. You asked about a wardrobe UPGRADE. Upgrade slowly with a few nice pieces. You don't need to spend $500 at Nordstrom. But take $50-$100 to buy a few nice things, rather than a bunch of stuff that will fall apart after a few washes. Your choice.

And yes, Ann Taylor Loft. I bought a cute dress there recently for under $20.

I wasn't trying to cause any trouble. I was just saying that yes, I will be shopping the sale racks.

I'm going to the mall tonight to check out what I can find.

I do have staples, but a lot of what I wear is just your run of the mill jeans and hoodies, and I'm trying to get away from that.

Okay. I wasn't sure if you meant Ann Taylor Loft or if there was another Loft you were talking about. There isn't one of those where I go to school (or live for that matter), but I could certainly look online.

ETA: I want to get some cuter/nicer shirts, and probably some more cardigans (I have a couple and I wear them all the time because they keep me warm and look better than hoodies). Maybe get some more pants, or a couple skirts...

Macys and Bloomingdales have good websites that includes their sales.

Zappos.com is good.

Some people swear by 6pm.com

You should also look around for high end consignment shops in your area, and hunt around there. If you know where the good thrift stores are, that can also help.

You can also find new stuff on Ebay at a discount.

Zappos sells clothes? I didn't know that! I thought they only had shoes! I'll have to check that out!

I really want to buy stuff in person though because I always like to try stuff on before I buy it because I'm in-between sizes and my body has changed a lot in the past year or so, so styles that used to look good on me don't anymore.

What ever you buy, wherever you buy it, make sure it fits! If you are between sizes, go up. Expensive clothes can still look awful if shirts gape between the buttons and waistbands create muffintop. Conversely, inexpensive clothes can be elevated with a good fit. NY&Co. sometimes has good prices on basics, too.

Not sure if you have a NY&Co around (they are also online), but they often have really cute "basic" skirts and dresses. If you sign up for their emails, they will send you coupons and alert you to sales like BOGO. I've bought $300 worth of clothes for about $100. I love sheath style dresses because they are so easy to wear. Just add a few accessories and you're good to go! They also always carry neutral-colored pencil skirts, which can be dressed up or down, some pretty, striped, button-down "business-y" shirts and patterned shells which look good with their jackets/blazers.

If you are looking for Cardigans, Old Navy has some nice ones that have a little bit of spandex in them - they are a bit more fitted but not tight: http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/produc...scid=476877062

Also try the women's section of Kohl's. They have great stuff and you won't spend a ton of money. If you are looking for classic and tasteful, look at stuff other than the juniors section. Try brands like apt. 9, Vera Wang, Dana Buchman, Elle, jennifer Lopez, etc.

I went shopping tonight and had some success. I got a plain, black skirt from H&M along with a couple tunics, one in black, and the other in one of the sorority's colors, and a navy blue cardigan from Papaya. In total I only spent about $25. There was a dress that I thought about buying but didn't end up getting, but I'll probably go back for it. I think I did well.

No, no, no, no, no. I wouldn't walk around telling people that you bought a shirt in a sorority's colors, no matter which type of organization you wish to join. It comes across as presumptuous.

I don't know how this particular GLO does their recruitment, but the OP has said she is an "official interest," so wearing the colors might be considered more acceptable, or even encouraged for someone of that status. It seems like her situation would be viewed differently as, say, a girl wearing a green and pink dress to prefs at DZ in an NPC recruitment, but I could be wrong.

Try Banana Republic too. I know they have a reputation for being pricier, but their sales are unbelievable. Yesterday they were running 30% additional off anything marked down. I got four dresses, two sweaters, and four tops for under $250 total. All stylish but appropriate for work or chapter wear - but several that I'd also change up shoes or accessories and feel comfortable wearing out for an evening with the girls!

Ahhh RIF and I didn't read that correctly. I was going by the username. I fail at reading comprehension today.

If I am incorrect, I apologize!! Thanks for pointing it out, GG!

If you need suits or business-formal attire, you can get pretty good deals on tailor-made clothing at Tom James. You'll have to find a salesman in your city. They come to you, you pick the fabric and what you want made, 6 weeks later, you have a new suit. They cost around half what you'd pay for the same clothing at a department store and it's tailor-made so the fit is always perfect.

I can see why my username might confuse you. I didn't want it to be something like HopefulSister because that in my mind seemed too in your face, if you know what I'm saying. Maybe something like SororityInterest would be better...is there a way I can change my username?

From what I know of the org, it is completely appropriate for me to wear their colors. I have a dress that has their colors (I've had it for years -- long before I even knew this org existed...I just really liked the dress and it was on sale so I bought it), and even when I was an unofficial interest, the president and VP of the chapter encouraged me to wear that dress to events.

This org does recruitment much differently than other orgs I've looked into. I'm not going to go into details, but I think the way they do things is pretty unique.

I totally forgot about Banana Republic. I had a limited amount of time to shop last night because my ride didn't want to be at the mall for very long, but I can definitely go some other time.

They do girl-stuff too? I did not know that.

I may need business attire in the future, but for now I'm all set.

I will agree with going to Kohl's! They have amazing deals, and I don't think I've ever paid full price for any article of clothing I've bought there. You also get bigger discounts if you open and use the Kohl's credit card, and it seems I'm always walking out of there with $10 in 'Kohl's cash'.

I'm 28, and I do still shop in the juniors section at Kohl's for certain items.. jeans, basic tees, and shrugs. The brand SO fits me PERFECTLY, so I get some of my more casual clothes there. I won't even go near the juniors section in other stores. Once I hit up that section, I move over into the women's section.

I also shop at Express, The Limited, H&M, etc. The trick is to wait for deals. I get coupons in the mail from Express all the time. Two weekends ago, I walked into the Limited not knowing if they had any deals, and the woman at the door handed me this card and said, "Open it, and today only, you get that percentage off of your entire purchase." 30%. When I got up to the register, the person in front of me said she wasn't going to use hers and gave it to me.. bumped it up to 40% off.

Most of these stores also have an email signup where they send you coupons and keep you apprised of upcoming sales. Sign up for these!

I've found that it's very difficult to shop in your 20s. In most department stores, the juniors section can be too young, and the women's section can be too old. The stores with everything in between are expensive. Just look out for deals.

I don't like the women's section at Kohl's (or most places for that matter). The stuff there is too old for me, and even if it's not, it doesn't fit me right. I'm small, and not very curvy...so juniors clothes fit me much better!

I get many staples at Target. The Merona line has well structured cardigans and tops/ dresses. Unfortunately I can't wear their pants anymore, but they were SO comfy!

DUDE. Don't be a bitch. We were all excited young newbies once upon a time.

If you are size 12+, Torrid has a lot of cute clothes. They are on the pricey side but not as pricey as Lane Bryant or Ashley Stewart. Plus they always have cute things on clearance. My whole professional wardrobe is from Lane Bryant and Torrid.

I do buy at Kohls, I love Lauren Conrad's designs. Classy, not too young or girl-like more for young women. Very affordable as well. (and on sale online right now!)

Being an excited newbie is not the same as, "I want advice!" "Advice." "No, I don't want that advice." Thanks. Appreciate the name calling.

Just because I said I would have to shop on the sale racks doesn't mean I wasn't taking your advice. I was simply saying that I don't have the means to shop at stores like that without checking out the sales.

Yes they do. You can't beat a tailored suit..or pantsuit as the case may be.

Quit asking for advice on every little thing and then arguing with every suggestion. Are you going to start a thread asking for advice on how to wipe?

I haven't argued with anything...

Fixed your post. Seriously, it almost makes me want to turn 80 just so I won't care any more.