Quality Clothing at Discount Prices
Stretch your clothing budget with shrewd shopping. How to look good for half the price or less.
by Rita Gworek

Shopping for a new private sector wardrobe can be a budget buster unless you take advantage of retailers which specialize in quality clothing at discount prices. There are many national chains that offer discount prices all the time. Online shopping represents yet another world of discounts available to everyone. If you are not savvy at shopping, ask someone who is. They will be happy to tell you about the bargain stores. It doesn’t matter where you live you should be able to find the right stores for your budget.

Some of the seasoned discount stores are still thriving. T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, Syms, Burlington Coat Factory, Loehman’s and Filene’s Basement are just a few that come to mind. You may have others in your specific area. Each store has its “best for” and “don’t bother” items. Filene’s has great men’s suits and you will find designer shirts and ties from the likes of Kenneth Cole, Diesel, Fendi, and Tommy Hilfiger. Women can find designer handbags from Prada, Fendi and Dolce & Gabbana. But don’t bother looking for shoes here. Marshalls has men’s basics from suits to socks by Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger. Women will find Liz Claiborne and Josephine Chaus clothing. Consignment shops are booming, though you will have to do a little investigating to find the best shops in your area. But once you do, make it a point to get to know the owner or the sales people. Let them know that you are on the look out for certain things. Give them your phone number and size and ask them to call you when something in your size arrives. The best way to find a consignment shop with the best clothing is to look in high income areas. You can snag a Brooks Brothers or Armani suit. Women can find Escada and St. John. To avoid that second-hand look, remember you’ll have to have it altered correctly.

When shopping at thrift shops, carefully look the garment over for any stains that may not come out. Check for moth holes. Second-hand clothes may have been in storage for a while and it can be expensive to expertly repair holes. Do not buy anything that is showing wear or has pilling (those fuzzy gatherings that are a sure sign of wear) on it no matter how great a find it is. Some people have stopped me to show me the wonderful deal they got on a suit for $10. The problem is it looks like a $10-suit. Get someone else’s honest opinion if you are not sure.

Some of the exchanges on military bases can even offer some great deals. Watch for sales. I have noticed that not all exchanges carry the same merchandise. You will have to search out the ones that carry high-end brand names. Most exchanges carry suits, shirts, jackets, pants, ties and shoes to outfit yourself for that private sector career at a good savings.

Department stores have their deepest discounts in January and February and again in July and August. They are clearing out their old stock to make room for the new season’s goods. Jos. A. Bank appears to have a sale every week at 30% to 50% off different items. So keep an eye out for those things that interest you. They can outfit you from business to casual and all the accessories to boot. Watch web sites to get even deeper discounts. A new store on the scene is H & M. Most of their stores carry both men’s and women’s apparel. They sell at jaw-droppingly low prices. The clothing can be a bit trendy but at these prices you can afford to stay in fashion. Because most are based in Europe, you will find that men’s clothing will be cut narrower.

If you’re not good at pulling together a flattering look, you may want to try Express. They have clothes laid out for you to mix and match as well as accessories. To make the whole shopping thing less painful, you can go online, make your choices, print out a shopping list and take it with you. Present it to the Express sales person and they will pull the clothing together for you. How easy is that?

I have only touched on a few places to shop. Each area of the country has its personal best places. You can always ask someone who looks like they just stepped out of GQ or InStyle for advice on where to shop.

Best of all, make sure to ask for a military discount wherever you shop. You will often be pleasantly surprised to get 10%, 15% or even 20% off your purchase. Now you really can enjoy wearing quality clothing at discount prices.