Chain Stores Like Banana, Zara, J Crew

[stilettogirl84]

The vast majority of people can't afford designer clothes.

Chain stores at least have some kind of style, as opposed to target/ Wal mart/ K-Mart ect.

I think TFS people are real snobs if they think that people who shop at Mall level stores are "without style"

Good taste is not restricted to the wealthy...

 

[sleepy]

I shop on a restricted budget and I find chain stores as Banana Republic, J. Crew, Zara etc. to be great if you know how to mix styles. In my opinion, Zara is really overpriced here in the USA, I remember that it was really cheap in Spain. In general, I find it much easier to buy fashionable items in Europe than in the USA when you are on limited budget.

 

[lucy92]

I shop on a restricted budget and I find chain stores as Banana Republic, J. Crew, Zara etc. to be great if you know how to mix styles. In my opinion, Zara is really overpriced here in the USA, I remember that it was really cheap in Spain. In general, I find it much easier to buy fashionable items in Europe than in the USA when you are on limited budget.

sadly, they literally double the prices for the US. makes me mad!

 

[iheartme]

I don't have a problem with chain stores that sell quality merchandise. I do understand the need for "disposable" clothing, but for example with Old Navy, I think that they *only* focus on the merchandise being cheap. It fits terribly and so I don't shop there unless it's for something like say, PJ pants that no one will ever see.

Banana Republic definitely has it's place and I love mixing some of their shirts with higher end stuff. It looks awesome.

 

[i_<3_chanel]

i love love love love ZARA. but only my 'local'
my nearest has the best layout & picks
clean, sleek, organised . . like a boutique
orgasmic evrytime i'm in there . . .
if i had to shop at just one high street chain it would be ZARA hands down.
absolutely fabulous in contrast w/topshop . . .
H&M sometimes produces a few gems?
*anyway, i'm proclaiming my love for ZARA

 

[pucci_mama]

I never find anything when I'm in Zara, maybe I just go in the wrong one.. but it all seems like office wear and victorian tops to me.

 

[i_<3_chanel]

that's what i'm saying ;] if really does depend on the individual store & its manager
different shops have different sets of clientele to cater for . . being in different areas
i always dismissed ZARA as boring & middle-aged . . until this new ZARA opened
*& i think we probably have a very different eye for things . .
bc i don't mind a bit of 'office wear' now & again

 

[joues-rouges]

I do love Zara whenever I am in the mid-west but my trouble with them is they definately are not catered to the short-torso petite woman. And they are kind of a hit or miss sometimes. Occasionally I walk in and love everything in there and lament my limited pocketbook and sometimes I am left horribly disappointed.

Other than that, I can take em' or leave em' when it comes to chain stores. On occasion I will be able to find something darling in them. Problem with being a poor college student on a tight budget is that most often you are renegaded to chain stores. The more frightful thing with that is if you purchase say, a tote from the Gap, you are most likely to run into couple dozen of their clones on campus.

 

[CollarScholar]

Ive been really loving Club Monaco this year. I loved them before but now especially.

In general chain stores are great for basics and staple pieces for your wardrobe. I'll usually take a few staple pieces from there and then try to add something I consider exceptional to punch it up a little. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with chain stores. They serve their purpose.

 

[Erin]

I haven't been to Club Monaco in ages. I always thought that the pieces was focused on individuals in the 30-40 age range... is this correct?

 

[manolocraver]

I only been to Club Monaco once ... for their launch party ... indulge in those delicious canapes and glasses of Veuve ... and didn't buy a single thing

 

[CollarScholar]

take a look at their website if you want to know what look they are going for.

 

[Legyviel]

i love love love love ZARA. but only my 'local'
my nearest has the best layout & picks
clean, sleek, organised . . like a boutique
orgasmic evrytime i'm in there . . .
if i had to shop at just one high street chain it would be ZARA hands down.
absolutely fabulous in contrast w/topshop . . .
H&M sometimes produces a few gems?
*anyway, i'm proclaiming my love for ZARA

Amen to that!
At least half of my wardrobe is from Zara and I don't mind that.
I would shop more in H&M, but the store in my town is rather small and I don't like the customer service, plus I always found the sizing a bit off.

That's what I love about Zara - I don't have to try stuff on there as I know the clothes in my size will always fit me. I'm happy with the quality and especially designs.
Zara

 

[Erin]

I have never been to Zara!

And it's a shame that there is not an H&M here.

FORTUNATELY, though, I'm moving back to Chicago in August...

 

[Cosette]

Ive been really loving Club Monaco this year. I loved them before but now especially.

In general chain stores are great for basics and staple pieces for your wardrobe. I'll usually take a few staple pieces from there and then try to add something I consider exceptional to punch it up a little. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with chain stores. They serve their purpose.

I agree.
And I love Club Monaco this season, so so much! They have such beautiful dresses and scarves. I think they've improved a lot over the past couple years.

 

[le go garçon 84]

I Love Love Love Zara, but it's kind of expensive sometimes (in it's context). But if i could i think i would buy most of the new stuff they have each week. Some of the more casual/ streetwear (like t-shirts and some shirts) is really cheap looking though.

 

[onlythebest4me]

I have a pretty inflexible shopping philosphy. 90% of the time I will by jeans, bags and shoes as well as certain staple items designer, high-end only. Tee's, one-offs like sun hats, tank tops, sun dresses (some), flip flops, I buy as cheap as possible from places like BR, Zara, Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, American Apparel and very rarely Gap. I never buy from Old Navy, AE, and never Abercrombie on principal (I don't spend my money in racist establishments).

 

[princessaud]

how's old navy, ae and abercrombie racist? i don't live in the us, so care to explain?

 

[onlythebest4me]

Only abercrombie. There has been several articles written about this. You can google and find it easily. Here are a couple of examples:

http://www.dailynexus.com/article.php?a=2994

http://www.aurorawdc.com/ci/000080.html

 

[princessaud]

wow, that stinks.
i'm asian and reading that was like =/
i'm glad i never purchased any of their stuff cos frankly speaking, no matter how nice their clothes are, i'd feel like a hypocrite wearing them.