My wardrobe strategy has significantly shifted the past couple years. And it’s been life altering.
I’m personally over the Amazon fashion finds (they’re great until you wash them) and everyone’s buying the same stuff at the same stores.
Now, I try to purchase clothes that flatter my body and are built to last. And if I desire to pull off a cute trend (which I always do), I want pieces that LOOK expensive but aren’t.
But way easier said than done right?
The cost of clothes add up. And who has time to find those needles in a haystack at H&M, Zara, Target, etc.
Luckily, I’ve found THE BEST RESOURCES that prove themselves over and over. Using these sources as a guide, you can get designer clothes for a FRACTION and the perfect top you’d NEVER guess was $25.
They are how I scored my $300 Alice & Olivia polka dot sweater for $60 (sadly sold out); this white Bottega clutch dupe for $24 {sadly sold out from Anthropologie}. {PS the Bottega clutch is THE IT DESIGNER BAG RIGHT NOW}, my $411 NYE dress for $100 and my favorite $29 sweater that gets me a million compliments.
These sources (even if you don’t buy a single thing) are also a great way to stay in the know about “what’s trending” and “in style”. So when you DO go shopping, you can spot the good stuff!
Keep scrolling to get my EXACT 8 secret resources that I know you’ll LOVE too! You’ll look at shopping in a whole new light.
My Exact 8 Secret Fashion Resources
1.. The Luxe Merchant: Consignment is my favorite right now. You can get beautiful designer pieces that fit you like a glove for the same price you’d spend at Ann Taylor. The Luxe Merchant is hands down one of the best I’ve seen. And you can buy everything directly on her Instagram! The selections are KILLER (Chanel, Gucci, Alice & Olivia, Veronica Beard, Loeffler Randall, Tory Sport, Tods, Burberry, Jimmy Choos…need I go on?). And her prices are unbelievable. This is where I scored my polka dot Alice & Olivia sweater I’m wearing here; a classic Veronica Beard blazer (they retail for $600+ and I got mine for $70!). If you live near Elmhurst (a western Chicago suburb), she has random pop up shops too.
2. Thrift and Tell: Another consignment expert! Her IG stories are GOLD. She even walks you through what to look for and what brands/styles she feels will stand the test of time in her Instagram highlights. She somehow finds the best sales and has an eye for sniffing out the good stuff on The Real Real! She includes high street finds too that look $$$$$.
3. Online Boutiques Sale Sections: The curated online boutiques {versus the big department stores like Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, etc.} always have KILLER sale sections. You just have to check regularly! Shopbop is my absolute favorite. Sign up for their newsletter to get first dibs (the good stuff always go FAST). Matches and Revolve’s sales are insane too.
4. Actual Investments: My rule of thumb is if you can wear something multiple times a week and don’t care if someone sees you, then it’s worth the investment! Shoes, handbags, coats, classics and jewelry tend to fall in this category. I always buy Loeffler Randall sandals this time of year. They hold up beautifully for a minimum of three years. Plus they keep the same styles around for years. So whatever you buy remains current and on trend. Same with Theory tops and a good trench (which I’m in desperate need of!).
5. L.Williams.Closet: She’s an actual stylist and professional closet organizer. So she knows what works on ALL body types. {Versus an influencer who specializes in themselves}. SIGN UP FOR HER NEWSLETTER and WATCH her IG STORIES/HIGHLIGHTS! She does the BEST try on hauls and influenced my recent jean purchase. I wear them every day. She includes a lot of mid to low brands which I appreciate. I’m talking Target, Zara, H&M, Banana Rebulic and more! And if you are pregnant she’s very thoughtful about pointing out bump and nursing friendly finds (that aren’t maternity) too!
6. Born On Fifth: Her wardrobe is a DREAM and what mine would look like if I had an unlimited budget. And she has a little girl whose closet is equally as fabulous. Her selections are typically $1K dresses and $600 tops but her occasional H&M finds are what I consider gold. I pounce on them like a leopard in the jungle. WATCH HER INSTAGRAM STORIES {and highlights} to stay up to date!
7. Pencil & Paper Co: Their daily IG stories are chalk full of high end fashion and home decor. But they always share killer sales and high street finds as well. The Friday Finds blog posts are the bomb too (I sign up for the newsletter so I never miss it). They’re the ones who tipped me off about my highly coveted Bottega clutch dupe in this blog post that I dearly love. Sadly sold out otherwise I’d link it!
8. The Nate Note: This once a week newsletter includes fashion finds, entertaining pieces, kids clothes and more. It’s so well done and where I found my heart print dress from H&M! Mostly high end but the more affordable stuff always look expensive.
So there you have it! I secretly didn’t want to share these resources with you. It’s where I find all my finds! So if you start following these outlets, you’ll probably see a lot of similarities around here 🙂 But I decided to cave because my motto is all about giving you value!
Where do you find outfit inspo? I’d love to know! Tell me on this Instagram post here.
Photos by Chicago Andrea Creative
