Back to school shopping starts out exciting, but then can end up being an annoyance. You're excited about that Brandy Melville crop top, but you need an aspirin ASAP. So to avoid the headaches and the FOMC, (fear of missing clothes) here our some tips to get a stunning wardrobe without breaking a sweat.
Starting Out
Before you go shopping, look through your old clothes to see what you need and what fits. This will save so much time, especially seeing if your jeans still fit so you can avoid trying on that same size in various stores.
The Basics
After going through your old wardrobe, (boring but helpful) pull out the wallet and shop. Start with the basics, T-shirts, long sleeves, jeans, and jackets, things you can wear any day to school. My key tip for basic clothing is to get it at stores that are more expensive. Even though there will be similar clothing in every store, getting it at the more expensive store will be more useful because the clothing will last longer. Since it is clothing you can wear any day of the week and you will typically wear the item many times, it will also stay in style meaning it is not a seasonal trend. Examples of basic clothing are:
The jeans are from Abercrombie and Fitch, the shirt is from Nordstorm and the leather jacket is from J Crew. Although these stores can be pricey for people our age it will be beneficial for our wallets because we will be using these items for a long time.
Other stores I recommend for this kind of clothing are American Eagle, Top Shop, (can be found at Nordstrom), Zara, Urban Outfitters, Bebe, Victoria's Secret and Express.
The Fun Stuff
Now that you have finished a crucial part of your wardrobe you can think about what you need for your social life … date nights,a night out with the girls or even a school function. If you want to dress it up and stand out, here is when you should shop at stores that are less pricey. Since you will be buying things that are the latest trend they will usually become a fad, meaning you will not want to wear the clothing item in the next year. From my experience I have found stores that are helpful for almost every occasion.
Date Nights: Tobi, Forever 21, and Know Style. These stores have great dresses, skirts, and crop tops.
Day Parties: Garage, Pac Sun, H&M, Wet Seal and LF (only when they have the end of summer 60 percent off everything sale)
School Functions: Francesca's
Tip: When shopping at Forever 21, H&M and stores that are similar, it is easier to shop online. It is more organized and comfortable.
Accessories
Shoes: Repeat the same process if you feel like they are shoes you will always wear - buy the more expensive pairs. Where I like to shop for shoes: Aldo (long lasting), Bebe (long lasting) Journey's (great for sneakers), and Forever 21.
Bags: Urban Outfitters has great long-lasting cross-body purses. Aldo has great handbags.
Tip: Try to get a color that will match with most of your outfits; that way you will get the most use out of your purchase.
Makeup: I personally like to get makeup that will last a long time. It is also important to me that my makeup is cruelty-free. These brands are absolutely amazing: Too Faced for bronzer, blush, and mascara; Urban Decay for lipstick, eyeshadow and eyeliner (smog is my favorite shade); and Tarte for clay pot eye-liner.
I hope this guide makes your journey of back-to-school shopping enjoyable!
