forgive the somewhat cryptic title. i was all set to write a post on how your significant other views your style and how their opinions, in turn, influence the wardrobe choices you make in the morning. but i made the mistake of trying to ask the boy questions about this Very Serious Subject Matter after we’d been obsessing over this clip and had been using “CHICKEN TETRAZZINI!” as a reply to every-damn-thing (“what channel is hell’s kitchen on?” “CHICKEN TETRAZZINI!”). (of course, watching hell’s kitchen after watching the clip just made it worse. try imagining gordon ramsay asking for chicken tetrazzini.)
this means that the boy, when asked, told me that my style was very “feminine and easy and carefree CHICKEN TETRAZZINI,” which i told him was absolutely useless. i shall try again today.
THAT means that instead of the Very Serious Subject Matter post, you shall, instead, get a cheat sheet of where i get goodies online! several people have mailed in to ask me such things, and i thought, well hey, if THEY want to know, surely some others may want to know as well. so here it is.
where: modcloth.com
good for: lesser-known indie designers; retro stylings in modern sillhouettes; huge and oft-updated selection.
bad for: my wallet.
buyer beware: if you think something looks cute, chances are it’ll sell out. because they stock lesser-known indie designers, they also have smaller amounts of stock. so jump on items you love before they disappear. also, hemlines can run a tad short — check “composition and measurements” and the ratings and reviews before you buy if this is a concern for you.
coupon please?: high probability. make sure to google for codes.
international shipping: yes!
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where: shopruche.com
good for: dreamy anthropologie-style clothing without the anthropologie-style price.
bad for: there isn’t a whole lot of choice compared to other online shopping sites, but what items they do stock are lovely and not that common on other sites — if you’re big on owning things nobody else has.
buyer beware: there is an eco-friendly section with a pretty nice variety of clothing, shoes and accessories that are totally planet-safe; a nice touch.
coupon please?: high probability as well; google away!
international shipping: yes!
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where: tulle4us.com
good for: basics with a twist. the interesting detailing and cuts set them apart from the gaps and old navies of the world. also, their outerwear section is pretty dreamy.
bad for: the edgy and hipster. it’s just not what they’re about.
buyer beware: tulle has an awesome sale section, so if you spot them on another site (modcloth, for example), always check back to see what the price is here. also, every once in a while, they have AMAZING sale days where certain items are priced anywhere from $4.99 to $9.99. sign up for email updates, then station yourself at your computer bright and early; as you can imagine, sizes sell out fast. also, speaking of sizing, they size a tad small and tell you so. be aware of that when placing your order.
coupon please?: not likely.
international shipping: nope.
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where: lulus.com
good for: staying on-trend without paying too high a price for items you’re not sure you’ll be wearing in 3 months; pieces with more of an urban and edgy vibe; huge selection.
bad for: classics that will last you for years (but where’s the fun in that?)
buyer beware: the sheer number of items to skim over can be overwhelming, but if you’re trying to replicate a look you just saw in this month’s glossies, chances are you’ll find a spot-on, for-less version here. just focus and take a break if your eyes start to glaze over a little bit. oh, and there’s a recently-added section of vintage clothing for those so inclined.
coupon please?: possible; it’s worth a search.
international shipping: nope.
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where: baghaus.com
good for: pretty, funky purses for reasonable prices.
bad for: the truly high-end, high-quality goods. we’re not talking chanels or pradas here, people, though you could probably find a style that looks deceptively similar…
buyer beware: i turn to baghaus for my big buddha, urban expressions and melie bianco fixes — my designers of choice for totes with ‘tude. the selection is extensive, and for the budget-conscious, it’s an easy way to get a trendy handbag fix.
coupon please?: there are always offers going on at baghaus; sign up for email updates.
international shipping: nope.
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where: shoetrader.com
good for: comfort shoes at comfortable prices.
bad for: anything too trendy; if you’re looking for fresh-out-of-the-catalog-this-season shoes, you’re out of luck.
buyer beware: the site blares its policy right on the top of the page, on a bright red banner — no returns, refunds or exchanges. yup, final sale, sweeties. but if you can get past that, shoetrader offers bargain prices on brands like clarks, naturalizer, hush puppies, sofft — all good for fussy feet. the selection isn’t as vast as you may be used to with other online shoe stores, but the prices are insane. tip: if you’re worried about sizing or comfort with that no-nonsense policy, try looking up your picks on amazon or zappos, where reviews and ratings may sooth your soul a little.
coupon please?: i’m not sure how often coupons are available, but right now there’s a 50% off sale on every order that you should take advantage of, stat.
international shipping: doesn’t look like it.
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of course, there are many more sites i frequent for my online shopping fixes: gap and old navy for basics, 6pm.com for shoes, urbanoutfitters for accessories, anthropologie to drool. and there’s always etsy for the vintage and the handmade (but that deserves a whole other entry). i just figured you’d want some less obvious gems to search through. just don’t blame me when your wallet starts feeling a whole lot lighter.
What a fabulously thorough review of some great online shopping mainstays! Including several I haven’t checked out yet …
Wow, great post, I might have found a proper jacket for the fall. Thank you!
Great list of online stores! I’ll be looking for a couple of new sites to shop at.
Thanks for posting these web stores. I’m familiar with some of them and have purchased some of the best reasonably priced and unique items (mainly handbags) from them!
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Ohhhhh my gosh. Several Tulle items I had drooled over on Modcloth. In the sale section of the Tulle site. And I think my wallet is in trouble. Criminy.
(Thank you)