If you have teenage daughters, you are familiar with this sentence: “I have nothing good to wear.” Mom or Dad, it's time to go shopping. Here are five of my daughters' favorite stores to shop for clothes.
1. Forever 21
Also known as XXI. This store has something for everybody. Whether you are looking for sunglasses, jewelry, jeans, tops, nice dresses, jackets…, they have it all. Forever 21 carries their own designs inspired from high-end fashion brands. You may see similar styles that you would see on the runway. New merchandise arrives every day and it's completely changed every six to eight weeks. You can find tees for under $4 and their sales racks offer items for as low as $3. My daughters love their sunglasses. Some retail for as low as $4.50. They also sell great skinny jeans in several colors for around $20.
Mom's tip: Most Forever 21 stores are roomy and bright. If you like lots of color and want something different, this is a great place for you. You only get store credit when returning items.
2. Ross
Ross offers brand name clothing for less. All merchandise is 20 - 60% below regular department and specialty store prices. They carry everything your teen might need. My daughters like their huge dress selection. They have found some beautiful formal dresses for less than $15. Their bathing suit selection is great, too. You can mix and match bottoms and tops for as little as $2.99 each.
Mom's tip: Many Ross stores are disorganized. Don't shop there if you are in a hurry. The check-out lines tend to get very long. However, you can get some AMAZING bargains at Ross. I once found a beautiful formal black dress for $ 0.99. No, it's not a mistake. $0.99! A scoop of ice cream costs more these days.
3. Local Thrift Store
Also known as second-hand store. If you are into “going green” and getting a great bargain at the same time, a thrift store may be the right place for you. Thrift stores are a form of recycling. Reusing old clothes, reduces the amount of waste going to a landfill. Thrift stores sometimes carry funky, vintage and even unusual clothes. You can also find great designer clothes for next to nothing. My daughters like to look for vintage vests and t-shirts. Their best find so far has been a pair of Frankie B. jeans (which normally retails for $250) for just $3.99. Plus the store had a “50% off everything” special. So the jeans were basically free. Maybe after reading this, your teenager will want to skip the mall and get some unique thrift store fashion.
Mom's tip: Since most of the items at a thrift store are second-hand, check for missing buttons or tears. The selection is great, but certain sizes are hard to find.
4. Victoria's Secret
In 2004, company executives launched PINK, a lineup of loungewear, sleepwear, and intimate apparel geared mainly towards high school students. PINK is very popular with teenage girls who like cute but comfortable clothes. My daughters received sweat pants and sweatshirts by PINK for Christmas. The colors are vivid, the material is soft and comfy. They also sell cute underwear and totes.
Mom's tip: Since PINK is more on the high end of pricing, wait for their sales, especially after Christmas. During that sale, you can get a pair of sweats for around $6. Also, check for online coupons. Very often my daughters come home with a free Victoria's Secret fragrance or lotion just for presenting a coupon.
5. Hollister
Hollister is a lifestyle brand from Abercrombie and Fitch. If you are into appliqué tees, henleys, tank tops with a bit of a vintage look, this may be the place for your teen. Hollister also carries jeans with that “destroyed” look. My daughters like their “flowy” tank tops the best. They have lots of good sales going on at all times.
Mom's tip: If you think Abercrombie's music is loud, think again. The loudness of Hollister's music can be compared to a construction site. The store has a dark feel to it. The best deals are way back of the store and you may have to do some digging.
