Work clothes after baby - Are the Leesburg Outlets any good?

[Anonymous]

Thinking about going to the Leesburg Outlets (Ann Taylor, JCrew, Banana, Sax / Off 5th). Looking for some work wardrobe staples that are good quality but also relatively inexpensive.
Is the selection / pricing decent?

As background, I need to buy a couple of suits and a few other work pieces before returning from maternity leave. I'm still carrying extra wieght four months PP, so I can't fit into a lot of my regular work wardrobe. That said, I don't want to spend a whole lot on these since I am hopeful I will continue to lose wieght.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Have you tried Marshall's or TJ Maxx?

[Anonymous]

That's where I got my back-to-work wardrobe. Prices are worth the drive, if you're going to be buying several outfits. Register online to get the free coupon book. With the banana republic coupon I can usually get 3 complete outfits (top and bottom, not counting accessories) for about $300. Same with Ann Taylor. The selection varies but I'm usually satisfied, except at the j crew outlet which is small (but j crew clothes usually don't fit me anyway). You might call ahead to see what day of the week the stores you're interested in put their new stock out. If you can shop during the week it's less crowded. On weekends the popular stores (including banana and AT) have lines for the dressing rooms.
There's also an outlet mall at national harbor, but they don't have an AT.

[Anonymous]

I am a big outlet shopper. The Ann Taylor outlet (any of them, not just the Leesburg location) is a rip off. Ann Taylor quite often has big sales (for example Loft is having the whole store 50% off today and Ann Taylor does the same thing all the time) - these sale prices are much better than the AT outlet prices and the quality of the clothing is better. I do like the JCrew Outlet a lot and most of my work wardrobe is from there. The JCrew outlet also has days where the whole store is 40-50% off though so go on one of those days. Banana/Off 5th are so so, I have found good deals and bad deals. I think JCrew Outlet and regular Ann Taylor sale days are probably your best bet. If you live closer to DC you should try the JCrew outlet in National Harbor, much closer. They also have a DVF outlet which would be very flattering post baby.

[Anonymous]

OP here - Thank you, PPs. Incredibly helpful - thank you! I will look at the Loft today to see what I find. Good to know about the pricing at AT outlets. Hadn't thought about DVF but that's a great suggestion.

Have tried TJ Maxx / Marshalls but I don't seem to be getting them on the right days - not finding much in my size, etc, but will certainly keep looking.

Again, thank you.

[Anonymous]

Go to customer service in the food court. You can buy a coupon book (can't remember how much it is) that may be worth it depending on what stores are participating.

[Anonymous]

There is also the Talbots Outlet in Springfield, which might be closer than Leesburg depending on where you're located. I've found it's hit or miss but post-baby I went there and got 3 pairs of work pants, each of which was $9.99.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go to customer service in the food court. You can buy a coupon book (can't remember how much it is) that may be worth it depending on what stores are participating.

Is this the coupon book for the outlets at Leesburg?

[Anonymous]

They have a White House black market and that is worth the drive alone.

[Anonymous]

Leesburg is a great outlet mall, but holy traffic, Batman. We've stopped going there after being unable to find a parking space on the weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go to customer service in the food court. You can buy a coupon book (can't remember how much it is) that may be worth it depending on what stores are participating.

Is this the coupon book for the outlets at Leesburg?

NP here. In the past, you could get a free coupon book by being a VIP member on their website. There are also extra coupons on their website that are not in the coupon book.