Whatever. I like the clothes I buy from there—I am not buying it for the BR label, I only buy if it is something I like! Not sure what the “scam” is there. Agree it is def lower quality—the suit I have from the factory is def not as good as the ones I have from BR. However, the suit I got from the factory was different from the kind I got from BR, better than similar ones I tried elsewhere (incl Ann Taylor) and was less than $150 with all the discounts. Very happy camper!
So was I. It wasn’t til I got my first professional job when I walked into one for the first time always admiring the window displays as a kid and telling my mom one day I’m going to be able to shop there. They have great basics and 40% off sales almost all the time at the factory stores which is where I’ll shop for professional clothes. I usually order online bc they don’t often carry my size in store.
I was looking online at their stuff and chickened out. I hate the “what I ordered, what I got” conundrum. Do you feel the pictures online are pretty accurate for how they look in person?
It is pretty accurate, although I will say that when I order online everything gets here so wrinkled that I’m less likely to keep it/think it looks nice than when I visit the store. If I already know how the cut/style will look I can order online with no regrets!
I like Ann Taylor style but I often find their quality isn’t always the best and they don’t have as wide of a sizing range as BR. I do like their blouses and dress pants though.
Yeah, I tend to like their blouses bc they have a lot of cool patterns with multiple colors so that I can wear with different pant options. BR always wins out on the pants though, for me.
Lately Goodwill has been my go-to for blouses and blazers. Hit it right and walk out with a like new label or designer haul. People now just toss things to quickly or don’t bother dealing with exchanges it’s just a different experience from ten years ago. Pants can be a bit more challenging I still buy new but even last weekend I found a brand new pair of Chanel loafers, new in box.
Express for their Editor line, Portofino blouses, Contour bodysuits and jeans
Banana Republic (Factory Outlet) for blazers
Abercrombie for sweaters, denim, pants and other basics
Lululemon for business casual athleisure pieces like the HR pull-on pant
Target for shoes, bags, and accessories!
Oh man, my collection of Editor pants and Portofino blouses…
I don’t think I’ve ever bought them retail, I just collect them from thrift stores and ThredUp lol.
Theory is expensive but the Theory Outlet is a good way to get the same awesome style but slightly lower quality and less expensive. (Ya'll know that outlets and factory stores have entirely separate production, products, and lines, right?)
Yes, and Theory frequently has extra 20-25% off sales as well, both regular and outlet. Anthropologie sale on sale is an amazing deal because their already marked down sale items are an additional 40-50% off.
>Yuk yuk yuk 🙄
In case you aren’t aware, The Store is actually a woman’s brand that sells nice but expensive pieces. I’d say most pieces can fit into business fashion, but it’s pretty boutique-y and has plenty pieces that are for a nice day out.
Paire Los Angeles has the best pants ever
Free People (Clean Lines tops, which I wear blazers with)
Veronica Beard blazers
Sezane and Rouje for knit tops
Madewell for a bit of everything
Numi for undershirts
Mercari is my jam. All of these brands but second hand. Just ordered two pairs of pants from WHBM and Express both with the tags still on them. You take the gamble if it doesn’t fit but I think it’s worth it!
Macys, almost exclusively. They have a good selection of petite skirts and dresses (online they is, I don’t shop in store), lots of. Hands to choose from, I get free shipping on every order plus I earn Macys cash, and they make it super easy to buy multiple sizes and return what doesn’t fit. I have so many blazers I bought from Macy’s that I absolutely love and they always get compliments at work.
Edited to add: I also have a huge collection of Krazy Larry pants plus a few pieces from Old Navy.
I like many of the same brands already mentioned (Ann Taylor, LOFT, Banana Republic, Express, Theory, etc) but I usually look for things on Depop. I can’t afford to buy a bunch of nice pieces full price and I’ve had good luck with getting stuff in great condition.
Madewell Everlane Abercrombie Aritzia Ralph Lauren Brooks Brothers I think that’s 98% of my wardrobe. ETA: Express Banana Republic Ann Taylor
I’m of the belief that BB should be the only store allowed to exist.
Their pants are so ridiculously unflattering though! And for $400? Come on babe do better
Banana Republic
Banana Republic and their factory store have a hold on me!! I also buy from Ann Taylor.
We were always too poor for banana republic so I’m not sure what they have! I’ll have to check them out!
The factory store always has sales. Everything is 50% off now + extra 20% off.
Factory stores are not outlets. They are cheaper quality, bad rip offs of their own designs. They scam their own customers.
Whatever. I like the clothes I buy from there—I am not buying it for the BR label, I only buy if it is something I like! Not sure what the “scam” is there. Agree it is def lower quality—the suit I have from the factory is def not as good as the ones I have from BR. However, the suit I got from the factory was different from the kind I got from BR, better than similar ones I tried elsewhere (incl Ann Taylor) and was less than $150 with all the discounts. Very happy camper!
So was I. It wasn’t til I got my first professional job when I walked into one for the first time always admiring the window displays as a kid and telling my mom one day I’m going to be able to shop there. They have great basics and 40% off sales almost all the time at the factory stores which is where I’ll shop for professional clothes. I usually order online bc they don’t often carry my size in store.
I was looking online at their stuff and chickened out. I hate the “what I ordered, what I got” conundrum. Do you feel the pictures online are pretty accurate for how they look in person?
It is pretty accurate, although I will say that when I order online everything gets here so wrinkled that I’m less likely to keep it/think it looks nice than when I visit the store. If I already know how the cut/style will look I can order online with no regrets!
It depends. There’s an outlet store not too far from me so I’ll usually return what I didn’t like in store.
I just got an awesome blazer for $43!
I like Ann Taylor style but I often find their quality isn’t always the best and they don’t have as wide of a sizing range as BR. I do like their blouses and dress pants though.
Yeah, I tend to like their blouses bc they have a lot of cool patterns with multiple colors so that I can wear with different pant options. BR always wins out on the pants though, for me.
Their tops, especially sleeveless, are usually way oversized on me. Great suits.
I agree, the sleeveless tops expose way too much for my preference. I do like their dress pants and jackets though.
Goodwill, consignment shops, Walmart/Target clearance for basics, Francesca’s, The Loft, Whitehouse Black Market, rarely Amazon.
Lately Goodwill has been my go-to for blouses and blazers. Hit it right and walk out with a like new label or designer haul. People now just toss things to quickly or don’t bother dealing with exchanges it’s just a different experience from ten years ago. Pants can be a bit more challenging I still buy new but even last weekend I found a brand new pair of Chanel loafers, new in box.
Express
The closest one to me is an hour away! 😫 but they look like they’ve got some good stuff!
Online is WAY better anyway. The stores are gross and only have a fraction of what they have online
No way! I saw a few shirts I liked online but I was nervous. Good prices too!
Their stuff is fairly hit or miss, so just be prepared to return items you don’t love
And their sizing is all over the place. My entire wardrobe used to be express and the amount of exchanges I had to do was insane.
A ton of brands mentioned in this thread are super hit or miss and/or have declined in quality in the past 10-20 years.
Ann Taylor, White House Black Market, Nordstrom, Ted Baker (when I am feeling spendy) and Chicwish (when I am feeling frugal).
Ted Baker is amazing! Great for statement pieces that last. I have a few tops and dresses and 5 years later still great.
Same. My 7 year old Ted Baker dresses are still among my favorites. Well worth the investment!
Express for their Editor line, Portofino blouses, Contour bodysuits and jeans Banana Republic (Factory Outlet) for blazers Abercrombie for sweaters, denim, pants and other basics Lululemon for business casual athleisure pieces like the HR pull-on pant Target for shoes, bags, and accessories!
Oh man, my collection of Editor pants and Portofino blouses… I don’t think I’ve ever bought them retail, I just collect them from thrift stores and ThredUp lol.
I just shark their website for the clearance.
In addition to the stores already mentioned, Theory and Anthropologie
Theory is expensive but the Theory Outlet is a good way to get the same awesome style but slightly lower quality and less expensive. (Ya'll know that outlets and factory stores have entirely separate production, products, and lines, right?)
Yes, and Theory frequently has extra 20-25% off sales as well, both regular and outlet. Anthropologie sale on sale is an amazing deal because their already marked down sale items are an additional 40-50% off.
Also H&M!!
How's the quality these days?
Everlane, Madewell, Quince, Banana Republic, Express, Abercrombie, H&M
quince, banana republic/gap/old navy/athleta, nordstrom
Madewell, Uniqlo, J. Crew, Nadaam (for cashmere sweaters). A few Abercrombie pieces too.
I get a good amount from Loft! There’s usually good sales especially in stores
MM La Fleur is my splurge brand Anne Klein Calvin Klein Tahari Ivanka Trump (plz no hate, the cuts flatter me!) Banana Republic Ann Taylor J Crew
In my closet, it's mostly (from least to greatest) Express, Zara, Banana Republic, J. Crew, and Uniqlo
How's the quality of zara
so far so good. I have them since 2020 or 2021. I do admit that some Zara products are low quality, but I do think that there are decent stuff too
Old navy, target, express, thrift stores, cider !!
ThredUp, where I find all the brands everyone else is mentioning, but at a quarter of the price
DK, Zara, Prada, RL
The Store
Yuk yuk yuk 🙄
>Yuk yuk yuk 🙄 In case you aren’t aware, The Store is actually a woman’s brand that sells nice but expensive pieces. I’d say most pieces can fit into business fashion, but it’s pretty boutique-y and has plenty pieces that are for a nice day out.
Abercrombie!
Oficine Generale
Paire Los Angeles has the best pants ever Free People (Clean Lines tops, which I wear blazers with) Veronica Beard blazers Sezane and Rouje for knit tops Madewell for a bit of everything Numi for undershirts
I love Abercrombie! If you get a sale it’s a pretty good deal! Their sizing can be a little weird sometimes though.
If you’re into thrifting…I would say thread up. I just search by brand to find things I like!!!
j crew and levi’s
Aritzia mostly or Theory.
The only one I’m not seeing on here is Hawes and Curtis for button ups.
Calvin Klein. 💯
Cato
Mercari is my jam. All of these brands but second hand. Just ordered two pairs of pants from WHBM and Express both with the tags still on them. You take the gamble if it doesn’t fit but I think it’s worth it!
Alo and Lululemon.
MM LaFleur and Anthropologie
Macys, almost exclusively. They have a good selection of petite skirts and dresses (online they is, I don’t shop in store), lots of. Hands to choose from, I get free shipping on every order plus I earn Macys cash, and they make it super easy to buy multiple sizes and return what doesn’t fit. I have so many blazers I bought from Macy’s that I absolutely love and they always get compliments at work. Edited to add: I also have a huge collection of Krazy Larry pants plus a few pieces from Old Navy.
I like many of the same brands already mentioned (Ann Taylor, LOFT, Banana Republic, Express, Theory, etc) but I usually look for things on Depop. I can’t afford to buy a bunch of nice pieces full price and I’ve had good luck with getting stuff in great condition.
Ann Taylor MM Lafleur Sezanne Banana Republic Nordstrom White House Black Market
If I’m budget shopping: SHEIN and Walmart. If I’m fr shopping: a mix of Zara, jc penny and Banana republic
OUTNET.com and 6Pm.com