What is your favorite clothing store?

[Tiger]

Mine is Ann Taylor Loft. (causal end to Ann Taylor) The clothes fit nice and wash well. They can be pricey but the large sale racks are great!
The only strange thing is I always have to try on 2 sizes. Sometimes I'm a 8 and sometimes 6. And I mean in the same day! Yesterday I walked out with 3 pairs of shorts. One 8 and two 6's. I think this is weird since it's the same maker and line.
I used to be a big Macy's fan but ours is remodeling right now and it's a mess.
I'm just happy to be out of maternity clothes! It's the first time I've gone shopping and enjoyed it in awhile!!

[wallycat]

I hate shopping so for me it's llbean

[Melman]

Actual stores...Chico's and Coldwater Creek. HOWEVER...I can't remember if I've ever bought anything at a regular Chico's store. I've found all kinds of things at the Chico's Outlet stores though.

"Favorite" doesn't necessarily mean where you've made the most purchases, right?? My absolute favorite store to just walk into is Coldwater Creek. They have the most beautiful clothes!! Unfortunately, I really can't afford it so I usually just go drool. Their catalog is awesome too.

[little_bopeep]

Originally posted by Melman
Actual stores...Chico's and Coldwater Creek. HOWEVER...I can't remember if I've ever bought anything at a regular Chico's store. I've found all kinds of things at the Chico's Outlet stores though.

Melanie, remember when you were here and we were trying to figure out where Chico's on Preston was in relation to Stonebriar Mall? I found it the other day, and it was quite a hike...then I realized that there's one in the mall.

[Robyncz]

But where are the outlets???

[vbak]

I love Chico's. It is so nice to go into that store because they know me by name, help me find sizes, point out sales, etc. Yes, where is the outlet? Vicky

[kwormann]

Ann Taylor Loft!!!!!!!

[Beth H]

I love Ann Taylor Loft too -- it's dangerous for me to go there, in fact! I also have found that sometimes their sizes vary on me too -- can't really figure that out either. But, I find that their clothes fit me a lot better than regular Ann Taylor clothes.

[Holly in KC]

I love Nordstrom for work & casual. The sales support is wonderful. For dressy occasions (weddings, parties, etc.) I usually have better luck at Saks. Sales people there aren't usually as helpful as Nordstrom, though.

[Melman]

Chico's Outlets are in some of the Mills Corporation malls. Discover Mills in Atlanta....Grapevine Mills in Dallas....Potomac Mills outside DC. There are others, but those are the only ones I know on a "been there" basis. Their website lists store locations.

Hey Susan....my mind is rusty...too many cobwebs. I can vaguely remember Stonebriar (which one was that?!??)...but I can't remember looking for one on Preston at all. I was more on a grocery store mission when I was out there. Central Markets and Whole Foods!!

[Peggy]

I love Nordstroms and Coldwater Creek! Don't have either close by so it is catalog shopping for me!!

Peggy

[Kahlico]

Banana Republic, JCrew and Gap. Mostly on sale stuff. I can't justify owning a pair of $70 jeans.

~Emilie

[linsleyd]

J Jill, Gap, Express and Limited.

Love J Crew, but only at the outlets

[lindrusso]

Ann Taylor Loft for me too. I don't know that I buy the majority of my clothes there, but I have gotten some of my favorite pieces there.

I also love the Casual Corner Outlet near my home. I seem to have good luck there. We also have an Ann Taylor outlet which carries regular AT and Loft clothes. But I pretty much hate it when something I bought at the non-outlet store shows up there! I like my Gap Outlet for jeans and other casual wear. And Petite Sophisticate - I don't often have good luck there, but I love having a store that is full of nothing but petites!

[Gina O]

I really like Talbots, but mainly for work clothes. It seems when I go in for something fun, I never seem to find it. But, everytime my SO has purchased clothing for me for a gift, he buys it at Talbots and always gets the cutest outfits that I absolutely love. I really do like the quality of the clothing from Talbots. I don't think I have even had a loose button.

I also like the Petite Sophisticate outlet store. I have found some really great suits from there and their regular store.

My big question is where do I find fun, fashionable, shorter summer skirts that are designed for a 36 year old body instead of a 16 year old body? Gina

[Robyncz]

Originally posted by Melman
Chico's Outlets are in some of the Mills Corporation malls. Discover Mills in Atlanta....Grapevine Mills in Dallas....Potomac Mills outside DC. There are others, but those are the only ones I know on a "been there" basis. Their website lists store locations.

Just checked, and as far as I can tell there are no outlets near me. Boohoo! But next time I'm in Dallas. . .

[Chefzhat]

Ann Taylor, Marshall Fields, Bloomies, J Crew, Banana Republic. I've been disappointed with Eddie Bauer lately, they've gotten kind of frumpy. But then again, it's summer and I like to show some shoulder!

Debie

[linsleyd]

Originally posted by Chefzhat
Ann Taylor, Marshall Fields, Bloomies, J Crew, Banana Republic. I've been disappointed with Eddie Bauer lately, they've gotten kind of frumpy. But then again, it's summer and I like to show some shoulder!

Debie

Have you seen Eddie Bauer's summer line? I have thought in the past they were too frumpy, but their summer line is much nicer. Some cute dresses, pants and nice tank tops. JMHO!

[Angela]

Originally posted by jb
Talbots (during their clearance sales) and L.L. Bean

jb

Me too!!!! I've got a Talbot's charge and the LLBean Visa!

[lhall]

I hate trying clothes. Also, being a petite with HUGE hips I'm relegated to department stores.

Can't wear Liz or Ann Taylor pants. My hips are a good 11 inches bigger than my waist. Sometimes I'm a 6p, others an 8 so I have to try on everything too.

I was in desperate need of new work slacks so I went shopping yesterday. It took 9 stores to find 4 pairs of pants. TJMaxx - nothing, Goody's - nothing, Kohl's - only frumpy old lady clothes, Ross - nothing that I needed but they had 2 pair. Rich's - 1 rack (99.9% capri/casual) got 2 pair. Parisian - nothing under $80, JCPenney's - nothing, Sears - very little and nothing in my size, Macy's - best selection got two pair. The good think is they were all at least 50% off!

Leigh

[boisewinesnob]

I must admit I buy a heck of a lot of clothes at Costco ...jeans, capris, coats, etc.
I like a store at the mall called Christopher and Banks . I have found some really cute things on their sale racks. A lot of embroidered sweaters/shirts and stuff. But I hate going to the mall, so I haven't got anything there in almost a year

Suzy

[RebeccaT]

Totally depends...

For dept. stores, I like Lord & Taylor and Foley's, and I really wish that Houston would hurry up and get a Nordstrom's.

For boutique-y stores, I love Ann Taylor, AT Loft, and Harold Powell. I am lucky in that I don't have to dress up for work, so I get a lot of things at these stores that I can wear more casually, out on weekends, etc.

Then again, I have been known to get t-shirts and workout clothes at Target (I would get more since their prices and styles are pretty cute, but their bottoms rarely fit me correctly).

[slknight]

Originally posted by jb
Talbots (during their clearance sales) and L.L. Bean

Another Talbots/LL Bean person here (along with Angela, too).

If I needed something dressy or work clothes, it was always Talbots. We had one in the small town where I lived where they knew me. Anything more casual was LL Bean.

Now that I work from home, it's almost always LL Bean for everything. I spend so much money there, they send me a Christmas Card. DH is trying to get a part-time job there while he goes back to school. We want the discount.

When I lived in VA, I frequented the Nordstroms at Pentagon City and Tysons. Now the nearest one to me is in Rhode Island, so I've had to give up my Nordies obsession.

[Peggy]

slknight,

FYI - Nordstroms does have a catalog...

Peggy

[Mickey17]

hmmm...... Love Ann Taylor but most of her stuff doesn't fit quite right on my figure. So, the majority of my stuff right now is bought from Lerner although I wish I could find a store that had stuff that fit as well as theirs and had better quality. I have to replace most stuff in about 6 months to a year. Luckily it is fairly inexpensive.

When I used to have to dress up for work I LOVED LOVED LOVED the Nordstrom brand suit pieces. They were WONDERFUL. But now I work in computers and casual clothes are the way to go so knit seperates from Lerner do me fine.

It doesn't help that I am about a 14 and 25 years old, so most stuff that fits me is too old looking.

[slknight]

Originally posted by Peggy
slknight,

FYI - Nordstroms does have a catalog...

Peggy

Yeah, I know. But it's just not quite the same as having those wonderful salespeople helping you. Sigh. I might have to make the trek south to Rhode Island one of these days.

Got a great Nordies story for you. We went down to New Jersey for a wedding last fall. DH forgot his suit. We walked into Nordies at 10:00 on Saturday morning, and bought a suit (and shirt and tie) for him. They had it altered and ready to go by lunchtime. We walked into the wedding at 3:00 impeccably dressed.

[Kristilyn1]

Since I don't work anymore my wardrobe has undergone severe changes--as well as my wallet! Not that I ever bought outrageously expensive clothes but work clothes demand a little more than shorts and t-shirts do.

Rhode Island is the discount store haven--they don't have outlet stores, per se, just great generic cut rate discount stores--my favorite being Catalog Fashion Outlet (it's all department store, specialty store leftovers at outrageously low prices). Otherwise, I've been known to buy a pair of shorts at Sam's Club, Walmart, Target, etc. When I buy for an occasion--I do like Talbot's, Ann Taylor, Macy's, etc. For my kids I almost always shop at Old Navy.

Kristi

[tanastaplo]

I L-O-V-E to go shopping at thrift stores, from Goodwill-type stores to Junior League (usually more upscale). I adore the prices, and I have great luck, though I admit that it takes a lot of time trying on stuff. I think it works well for me (and I really don't think people can guess it's all secondhand when I wear it; lots of it is really good name brand clothing) because I am extremely picky. If the item doesn't look really good, or if it has even a tiny snag or flaw, I don't get it. And I also concentrate really hard on the question, "Why did this wind up at a thrift store?" when I try things on - usually you'll find that the shoulder or neckline (or some such) feels or looks just a bit weird and you can be pretty sure that the little weirdness is what made the original owner decide it wasn't on her "A-list" -- and that will probably happen to you, too, if you bring it home. So I don't (bring it home, that is...).

So, that's where I love to shop. I can get clothes right up through the "business casual" level at thrift stores. Although I have gotten some second hand suits and formal dresses, too, I usually have to resort to Petite Sophisticate, Dillard's, or Ann Taylor for those.

Teddy

[Jewel]

Originally posted by tanastaplo
I L-O-V-E to go shopping at thrift stores. I think it works well for me (and I really don't think people can guess it's all secondhand when I wear it; lots of it is really good name brand clothing) because I am extremely picky. If the item doesn't look really good, or if it has even a tiny snag or flaw, I don't get it.

What she said!

I usually buy my jeans wherever I can find a pair to fit my funky shape. Most tops, blouses, sweats, etc come from a chain of thrift stores around here called 'Value Village'. Nothing better than buying a pair of 100% cotton jammies for $3 that someone else has washed 50 times so they're already sooooooft and comfy!

[1MegMeg]

For work, I get all of my suits from Petite Sophisticate. It is the only store that makes suits small enough for me. I also like Gap, Burdines (department store in Florida), and Nordstrom.