Ladies let me let you in on a secret about shopping on a teeny tiny budget. There are three great stores that'll keep your look trendy, young, and most importantly affordable. These stores are Forever 21, Target, and Rainbow.
Forever 21, while it has the widest selection, has grown so much in its popularity that their price range has ski-rocketed as well. However the quality of the clothing hasn't improved at all.
My opinion on cheap clothing is this; if you're only going to wear a piece a few times it should never cost more than $20 (unless it's jeans.) While Forever 21 has started to mass-produce specific pieces, there is still a chance you will run into a few gals wearing the same dress as yours.
Target gets sticky. Sizes move very quickly (mostly size 8 and mediums) and there's a very good chance you'll bump into a friend or co-worker wearing the same thing you chose that day. Since Target is the home of many staples (t-shirts, jeans, pea coats) it's okay if someone else duplicates the item because personal style comes through with accessories and splashes of color.
Rainbow lands number one on my list. While you'll be bombarded by sweatpants that say ‘bootylicious' on the butt and tacky dresses with necklaces attached, you'll be pleasantly surprised by super-cute Sobo/hippie dresses, huge cute purses, and cheap, trendy pumps and boots. While shopping here can sometimes be painful, there are never fitting rooms available and the floor is jam-packed with racks and rounders, I think you get all the bang for your buck at Rainbow.
Blessings.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.