Shopping for clothes can be somewhat overwhelming, just because of how many different brands there are out there for different things. This can make you feel a bit discouraged on where to look for a certain type of clothing, or maybe you're too lazy to browse through tons of websites/stores.
As an avid shopper myself, I decided to put together a list of my personal favorites stores that are my go-to's for various types of clothing. These stores carry some really good-looking pieces of apparel, and best of all, they're all affordable (or can be affordable with the right strategy). The categories I'm covering are:
Jackets/Coats
Button-up Shirts
Jeans
Chinos
Hoodies/Sweatshirts
Dress Pants
Dress Shirts
Loungewear
Basics
1. Jackets/Coats: Zara
I consider a jacket or a coat to be one of the most important pieces of your wardrobe. It's the outermost layer of your outfit and can really make or break the look that you're going for! I have always found the outerwear at Zara to be excellent. You get the amazing style characteristic of more luxurious brands, but at a much more affordable price point (generally well under $200). This also allows you to get 3 or 4 different styles instead of spending all of your money on one expensive coat.
Now, is it the best quality out there? Nope. But it's good enough, especially if you're someone who likes to switch up their look every couple years. I think Zara's outerwear fits extremely well, looks high-end, and allows you to keep experimenting with your style without breaking the bank over the long run. Plus, they're always on top of the latest trends, which means you will be too.
2. Button-up Shirts: J.Crew and American Eagle
I think button-up shirts vary a lot across different body types, but there if there are two brands that are classic and always seem to make great button-up shirts, they're J.Crew and American Eagle.
J.Crew creates classic styles that are super timeless and have incredible quality to match. Whether it's a solid Oxford shirt or a more patterned look, their button-up shirts have great proportions and feel really well-made. You can even snag incredible deals if you look at their J.Crew Factory inventory, where you can find the same high-quality clothing at a discounted price. The downside to J.Crew is that because their style is so classic, you're not going to find too much that really stands out from the crowd. Nevertheless, for a button-up shirt you can't go wrong with, J.Crew is the place to look at.
American Eagle, on the other hand, also makes great button-up shirts, and I personally love the patterned ones (not the ones with their logo on it) Their shirts fit great around the chest and shoulders, and leave a little bit of room at the waist giving you a comfortable, yet slim, fit. I would say the quality is a tiny notch below J.Crew, but the patterns and looks you can create are more interesting. Their shirts are also a bit longer and feel more casual. If you can find a deal or sale where their shirts are $30 or under, that's a great value.
3. Jeans: American Eagle
Continuing the same theme here, it seems. Of course, there are tons of great brands out there that make excellent jeans, but I've found that my favorite pairs are from American Eagle. The reasons why are as follows: they have a crazy amount of different fits to suit everyone's body type, the colors and dyes are excellent, they have a bit of stretch, and they last a long time.
Something about the tiny amount of stretch these jeans have makes them feel very, very comfortable to wear. It's just the right amount. Plus they're relatively understated (no crazy logos or anything like that) and are well worth the price at around $40-60 a pair. A classic indigo blue looks and feels just as great as a more edgy black ripped pair. I also find the sizing to be very consistent across all of their jeans.
4. Chinos: H&M
For more dressier occasions, you're better off wearing chinos and you should head straight over to H&M for those. My preference is to wear slim/skinny chinos, so for that H&M is perfect - if you prefer a looser/oversized fit, then this is probably not the best suggestion for you.
The reason I love chinos from H&M is primarily the fit. They have a perfect amount of room around the waist and taper nicely down to the ankles, giving you the perfect amount of extra cloth to roll into a cuff. The colors they come in are also excellent and easy to incorporate into anyone's wardrobe (navy blue, khaki, black, maroon, etc.). They're surprisingly durable as well, given H&M's reputation in long-term quality, and are thick enough for the winter months. Lastly, just like American Eagle, the sizing is pretty consistent, so once you find your size it's really easy to buy different colors and styles for the rest of your wardrobe.
5. Hoodies/Sweatshirts: Zara
I love wearing sweatshirts and hoodies because they can be equally stylish as they are comfortable. For more basic hoodies/sweatshirts, you can definitely find great options at brands like Hanes or H&M, but for a more stylistic look (which is what I'm focusing on here), I love the offerings at Zara.
They just have the cut so right, and it fits in a very modern way with purpose. This means that these are hoodies/sweatshirts you can rock with a pair of chinos or layer under a nice coat, instead of just wearing it to lounge around. They also come in incredible colors, such as light pink or beige, that create a very aesthetic look.
6. Dress Pants: Express
I like having dress pants that fit pretty slim, especially near the ankle. I think it creates a much cleaner silhouette that way, especially when the pants stop right at/above the ankle. I also like being able to switch up the style of my dress pants fairly often, so I try not to spend too much on each pair. A lot of upscale menswear brands charge you $100+ for a pair of dress pants, and in many cases this is worth it due to the high quality.
But for my needs, I'd rather spend less so that I have the opportunity to switch up my style when I want, without worrying about spending too much. For all of these reasons, my go-to for dress pants is Express. They have really well-fitting, stylish dress pants that are also super comfortable. The quality isn't the greatest (will probably last around a year), but if you're like me and like changing your wardrobe a little bit every year, then this isn't too big of a deal. In fact, it's an advantage because you don't have to worry so much about taking care of them and can wear them at your leisure.
7. Dress Shirts: Charles Tyrwhitt
Naturally, you also want to have a good dress shirt to go with those dress pants. I've tried at least 20-30 different dress shirt brands and find myself coming back to one brand every single time: Charles Tyrwhitt. The hype is real and the quality is incredible for how much you're paying. They often have sales or deals going on where you can snag 3 dress shirts for $100, and if they don't have that specific deal going on, there are often other sales that you can take advantage of. I definitely would not buy these shirts at full price, but on sale they're completely worth it.
The variety of shirts they have is amazing - there is truly a style and fit that would work for anyone (although in general, they err on the conservative side of styling, so you won't find too many crazy patterns or prints). I find that their slim fit shirts are a perfect medium between comfort and style, plus they have a variety of collars, cuff types, and sleeve lengths. Each shirt also comes with a pair of metal collar stays to keep your collar looking sharp at all times. Definitely give these guys a look if you haven't already.
8. Loungewear: Adidas and H&M
I love lounging as much as anyone else, and loungewear includes things like sweatpants, hoodies, lounge shorts, etc. Adidas has always been my favorite sportswear/athleisure because of how well they balance sports and lifestyle clothing. For example, their Tiro 19 training pants are perfect for wearing around the house, but also great for going on a run in the morning. I also find them to have much better-looking styles than some of the other athletic brands out there, and they're always coming up with new ideas and designs to create.
When it comes to other stuff like sweatpants, hoodies, and other "lazy" clothing, I love going to H&M. They're extremely affordable, look really nice, and keep you feeling super comfortable. I don't like spending too much on loungewear, because it's literally just to feel comfortable at home and doesn't really require much "quality" in my opinion, so H&M does the trick for me. Plus, you can get your entire loungewear wardrobe in one shot because of the affordability of H&M.
9. Basics: Everlane
Everlane is a brand I started shopping at fairly recently, and I have to admit they've become one of my favorite clothing brands out there. They emphasize quality, ethics, and sustainability in their clothing, and it really shows. I especially like their Uniform collection, which are basic essentials that can be incorporated into any outfit. This includes T-shirts, jeans, sweatshirts, light jackets, etc. I'm a big fan of their long-sleeve shirts, because they come in classic colors and are super high-quality for the price. I've washed mine several times and haven't seen any signs of shrinkage or color-fading, which is not something I can say for my other basics.
Furthermore the materials used in their clothing are meant to last for a long time, so even though they're a bit pricey, I think it's worth it. Basics are not something you're really changing up every season anyway, so it's good to "invest" in some high-quality ones. As an added bonus, their Uniform collection has a 365-day guarantee, which is absolutely ridiculous (in a good way).
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