Who isn’t feeling the pinch of this economic downturn we have going on? Even the most fancypants fashionistas among us are scaling back, which means us working girls have got to find cheaper ways to look fabulous. Good thing there are a plethora of discount retailers stepping up their game right now! Check out some of the things I found at stores you may have brushed off previously:
Ann Taylor Loft- what is going on here? It looks like J.Crew! I love the fresh spring styles they’ve come out with- slightly trendy, but not SO trendy that next spring you’ll be giving them away to the Salvation Army.
And how CUTE is this little ikat floral umbrella for warding off spring showers?
For the label whores among us, the new Matthew Williamson line for H&M is pretty baller. Bold, bright and quintessentially Matthew, these pieces are a bit pricier, but pack one hell of a punch!
JCPenney. Yup, you read that right. JCP has partnered with Nicole Miller, Allen Schwartz, Bisou Bisou and Charlotte Ronson to bring a breath of fresh air to their clothing selections…. loving the bohemian Nicole Miller stuff specifically!
Target’s been going strong with it’s designer lines- but these looks I found in their private label Go International brand…. pretty edgy for Target!
Now for Walmart. I can’t believe I would ever suggest Walmart for clothing, but Norma Kamali has done a line of basic, cool items for them that really look cute! For a real penny pincher check out the “all in one” top here that turns into 8 different looks!
I’d totally rock the sweatshirt dresss with a navya nd white nautical tank underneath ALL SUMMER. :)
Why not pick up one fo these $5 tie dye tanks while you are there to add some hippie cheer to your spring wardrobe? With a bunch of long necklaces and white jeans it would look fantastic!
Until the economy boucnes back (it has to, right?) we can all still have some fun with clothing!
it’s so funny- i got an LL Bean Women catalog in the mail yesterday and similar wtf-ness is going on there! they’ve got a whole new line that looks very j. crew meets lilly pulitzer. they say it’s part of their new ‘contemporary fit’ ie, non-pleated pants that don’t all have mom-jeans waistlines!
Can I admit that the orange and navy patterned top I am wearing on the sailing pics from Turks is from TALBOTS??? LOL- I can’t wait to see you rocking some LL Bean though Kate. :)
now i wish i didn’t get rid of my norma kamali 80′s stuff!! erin – if you were to only purchase 5 pieces to update your spring wardrobe what would they be?!! i’d love to know since you have such a wonderful sense of style!
that third outfit looks just perfect for me. Thanks for the tip.
Love all the stuff under the JCP! Very cute stuff!
oh snap! i was dying over that top! i don’t carry my bright pink and green monogrammed LL Bean tote bag here… in LA it was cheeky and ironic and in Boston, well…
I am impressed!
Some of the JCP items look like Diane Von Furstenberg designs, wow!!
I love the Matthew Williamson H&M ensembles…
I have to add, that GO label at Target is of good quality, good fit and of course well-priced. The designs are unique and edgy.
I agree the Anne Taylor looks like J Crew…nice surprise.
Great post!
Love all the stuff from Ann Taylor Loft! Great post.
I’m so glad to see JCP revamping their image. Designer lines for mass market is a win-win-win situation (designer-store-customer!). Personally I love Simply Vera by Vera Wang at Kohls. Don’t buy it online though, the sizes can be strange.
the norma kamali for walmart stuff is to die for!
Some really great finds! We need all the help we can get with the budget nowadays :)
How great of you to fill the rest of us in…i just couldn’t bring myself to do another JCrew post. Love the label but getting my teen through driving school is what i am really lovin. Hey maybe we will celebrate and go shopping and SHE can drive mom around for a change! Thanks for helping us to re-route our shopping trip.
Great to visit Elements of Style!
Lisa
Can’t wait to check our Ann Taylor Loft.. fun finds! Thanks.
Kate: My mother called me absolutely baffled by the LL Bean catalogue. She was disappointed that nothing appealed to her anymore.
I love the floral dress from Ann Taylor Loft. Perhaps a visit to the store is in order this week.
I feel you! Check out my latest “boutique” shopping… ha!
http://www.pinkmonkeystyle.com/2009/04/attention-k-mart-shoppers.html
Just bought the brown and black JCPenney dress…thanks for this!