Everyone likes a good deal. There's some inexplicable satisfaction in finding what you need (or don't need) for a steal. That is why we hit up sales, shop around, and fall in love with Target and TJ Maxx. Discount stores are the best way to save some cash while not skimping on style. Although Freeport is a Maine mecca for cheap, high quality fashion, Target in Topsham and TJ Maxx at Cooks Corner can be just as promising in what they have to offer. Plus, with one-stop shopping, everything is at your fingertips.
We used to have to venture to Portland to check out the latest Target fashions, but with a branch opening in neighboring Topsham, we won't have to feel like what we've saved in shopping, we spent on gas.
Isaac Mizrahi has been a Target staple for the past few years. For those of us who can't afford his couture designs, the Isaac Mizrahi collection at Target offers a stylish solution. As a renowned designer, Isaac transforms his visions into affordable wear by opting for clean looks in less expensive fabrics. Some of the designs are admittedly "frumpy," but his blazers and skirts make great, classic additions to any wardrobe. He doesn't stop at the clothes, as his shoe collection outshines the others in the aisle. Looking for a cute pair of transitional spring shoes? Try Isaac's metallic gold or silver ballet slippers.
A newcomer to the Target scene is a line called "GO International: Luella." It offers a more rock-edge alternative to the conservatively sweet Isaac pieces. The clothes are directed toward a younger customer, but, never fear, you won't send out a teenybopper vibe. This line is great for eye-catching accent pieces. The cropped jackets, skirts, and dresses are the most fun and flirty pieces. The skirt selection is especially impressive, so for a new addition to your wardrobe, you might want to try the tulip skirt. For any given season there are trendy pieces that may be defunct in the seasons that follow. Avoid investing a lot of money by shopping at places like Target to get the styles at a great price.
As well as Luella Bartley, Target plans to feature various other foreign designers in the near future, with each designer scheduled to feature their clothes for 90 days each. This ups the incentive to hop over to Topsham on a regular basis. You can get the clothes while they're hot for an even hotter fee. If you're more into a sporty, surfer look, Mossimo Giannulli is selling a low-priced line of board shorts and California-inspired casuals perfect for hitting the beach this summer. Taking cues from haute couture, these designer knockoffs or "lower-priced lines" have the same general style and design without the minute details and expensive cloth and stitching.
TJ Maxx is a bit different from Target in that you need to approach the store with an open mind and a great deal of patience. Without these essentials, the store will seem overwhelming and frustrating because of the vast array of choice. TJ Maxx is a hodgepodge of all designers, shop by brand?you know you'll be getting the most for your money. From personal experience, the best deals are found in the clearance denim and shoe departments. Sometimes you hit it, and sometimes you don't, but when you hit it, you hit it big. How about Paper Denim and Cloth jeans for $21 or Blue Cult jeans for $30? Those prices will save you a solid $100-plus more than the usual department store. Granted, not all sizes are available at all times, but it's worth checking out.
Lastly, Wal-Mart has also jumped on the bandwagon for low-price designer lines. Its urban fashion line, Metro 7, features trendy pieces ranging from $9.99 to $29.99, geared toward girls in their 20s and 30s. Looking for an outfit for the next Potter Street theme party? For under the cost of two 30-racks, you can make your ensemble the best costume of the night with glittery tops, fun accessories, and outrageous shoes. Cheap chic is the new thing, and finally, sporting the trend-of-the-moment won't break your bank account. The quality may not be on par with more upscale department stores, but considering the quickly changing fashion world, it may be worth sacrificing long-lasting threads for "this minute" looks. These stores aren't waiting for a new season to rotate their stock?you can find new items daily as the next shipment comes in.
Before you invest in those "items of the moment" consider finding cheaper alternatives found at Target (or Wal-Mart) that won't run you dry. At the end of the season you won't feel badly about tossing them by the wayside. Although TJ Maxx is another place to find trendy items, with the available classic, high-end fashion brands, you can rest assured that your inexpensive investment will span a number of seasons if you're careful with your choices. The simpler, the better.
Regardless of your fashion sense or your fashion taste, try out the discount option. You might just find yourself reluctant to return to the former comfort (and relative boredom) of department store shopping.