Where do you buy your clothes?

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to spruce up my wardrobe post-pregnancy #1. DD is 9 months and other than boobs (still nursing) I think my body probably is what its going to be. Where do cute-looking moms buy their clothes? I'm looking for mid-prices places - I'm still trying to recover from my college/grad-school/husband-in-law school cheapness. I want to look cute and current but not super trendy & fashion-forward. I honestly have not really shopped for myself in years other than a random shirt or pair of pants here and there (and maternity clothes).

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I do Chicos, Talbotts, Macys. But can't say whether I'm cute or not.

[Anonymous]

All the department stores are having really good sales right now. With all due respect to PP, Chicos and Talbotts are for the matronly set. This is a really personal decision, though, so I hesitate to make specific recommendations myself without knowing more about PP's taste. I guess "mid-price" and "cute and current but not super trendy & fashion-forward" suggests Banana Republic/J Crew to me.

[Anonymous]

Second Jcrew and BR. I realized lately that a lot of my Ann Taylor Loft stuff is just plain matronly. I would check out Zara too, if you are fairly slim. And through in some good old Ralph Lauren (not the dept. store stuff) for a nice sweater or leggings or boots and you are in good shape. Bloomingdales is good for hip clothes for moms. Also, buy a pair or two if you can of great fitting nice jeans. . .Bloomies can help you or Natl. Jean Co., great looking flats and or boots and you are good to go!

[Anonymous]

sorry, typo in PP throw vs. through (obviously!)

[Anonymous]

I am 31 -feel that is important to know because I am just not ready to shop at Lord & Taylor, Mimi, or Ann Taylor yet. I shop at Nordstroms -they have lots of different trendy departments, there is a new store i m Tyson's called Madewell (owned by J-Crew) which I LOVE. Also, I occasionally find some cute clothes at Benneton (sp?) and when all else fails I hit Bloomingdales but some their stuff can get kind of pricey.

[Anonymous]

Nordstrom, Juicy Couture, Anthropologie,

[Anonymous]

Target! They actually have great stuff though obviously not the same quality as Nordstroms, etc.

[Anonymous]

I am 40 and I shop at Nordstroms, Nat'l Jean Co., Gap for basics, JCrew and Chicos (but only for solid pieces ie: basic sweaters and shirts). I try and add a trendy piece in here and there and a new bag or shoes when I can.

[Anonymous]

I would say that I have cute clothes as would others. I shop at J Crew, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, some Ann Taylor Loft (depends on what they have), Lilly Pulitzer and Boden.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for all the great suggestions. Just as a point of reference I am 30 and on average a size 4.

I hate to talk money...but hey its anonymous, right? How much money do you think is reasonable for a single top or pair of pants? Also, roughly how much would you say you spend in a year on clothes for yourself? For now I SAH with our daughter and DH's salary is upper 100's. (Of course we have mortgage, student loans, etc.)

As I said, the last time I really shopped DH was in law school. Now that we're done with tuition (but not loans, ha!) I feel like I should step it up a little. I do not really consider myself a brand snob or status conscious, but also do not want to look cheap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All the department stores are having really good sales right now. With all due respect to PP, Chicos and Talbotts are for the matronly set. This is a really personal decision, though, so I hesitate to make specific recommendations myself without knowing more about PP's taste. I guess "mid-price" and "cute and current but not super trendy & fashion-forward" suggests Banana Republic/J Crew to me.

I agree. My MIL shops there, but this is ok b/c that fits her style. For me, that really isn't. I like Ann Taylor stuff, but the prices are rather steep for the budget. Kohls is pretty decent (especially if you're petite) and more reasonably priced. If you get a chance, try the outlets (Leesburg, Williamsburg, Hagerstown, and I think Potamac Mills) if you are in the area for great styles, but for less.

I guess it all depends on your style and if you need to look decent verse looking nice - for example: we go to the playground everyday so, obviously, I'm not going to wear (or buy) a lot of "nice" clothes from upper end stores - J Crew, Banana Republic, etc. - but instead wear my jeans from Kohls. However, if I'm meeting my friend for lunch, then yes, a pair of nice khakis from J Crew would be great to wear.

[Anonymous]

To the OP:

Though I hate to say it, the clothes that I have spent more on really make me much happier. Last year I bought a pair of designer jeans and I LOVE them. Best $150 ever spent, and it hurt me to do it. I just bought another pair, but on sale at Nordstrom for $90.

Same goes for tops - DH convinced me to buy a long sleeve shirt at Nat'l Jean last year for $70, which I thought was crazy. But it's so much nicer than the other plain shirts I own. I really feel stylish in it.

So you don't have to break the bank, but you probably won't get by on $50 clothes. On the other hand, sales these days are AMAZING, so you just may find some steals.

BTW - I'm your size and in addition to the basics at JCrew and BR, I love some of the new stores on Bethesda Row (names escape me...) and Nat'l Jean and Luna in Bethesda. Some of their stuff is crazy expensive, but you can find cute stuff on sale that will make you feel very hip and cute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am 31 -feel that is important to know because I am just not ready to shop at Lord & Taylor, Mimi, or Ann Taylor yet. I shop at Nordstroms -they have lots of different trendy departments, there is a new store i m Tyson's called Madewell (owned by J-Crew) which I LOVE. Also, I occasionally find some cute clothes at Benneton (sp?) and when all else fails I hit Bloomingdales but some their stuff can get kind of pricey.

I feel obliged to defend Lord and Taylor, here! Yes, their official concept is classic rather than trendy, but there is a fair amount of merchandise crossover with Nordstrom. For those of us in DC, alas, Nordstrom is a shlep, and Lord and Taylor in FH has a small, well-edited collection that includes BCBG, Free People, etc. My own puny budget makes their Michael Kors and Kenneth Cole the extent of my splurging, since those brands are not excluded from their frequent coupons!

[Anonymous]

Try Friendship Heights; that way you can check out Gap, J. Crew, Banana Republic, Filene's, Loehmann's, Neiman's, Barney's Coop, Bloomingdale's, and T.J. Maxx. How's that for price range?