How to shop at expensive stores for less

This post is meant for me to give you MY tips on how to shop at name brand stores with out breaking the bank.

Nordstrom

* disclaimer!!! This is not teaching you how to shop designer for less. This is only talking about finding good deals or just being able to shop at a store like Barneys. *

    

   Okay the first step to successful shopping is not being intimidated by the store. This statement might sound really crazy but it is very true. Just think back to that one day you were standing outside of Chanel remember? Why did you not walk into the store again?? Ahhh now you understand what I am saying. I know it can seem intimidating but it is not at all. I remember the first time I walked into Gucci. The store was empty and it had like 10 guys in beautiful black suits and ties, standing around keeping an eye on the people that weren't there. I was nervous, but I realized that I do not have to be it is just a store. Truthfully the only difference between Loft and Gucci is the price tag. 

Hermes Birkin $7,400-$150,000 and a six year waiting list.
most coveted bag ever. ( I shall have it one day )

    Once you get over your fear of walking into the store enjoy what you see. Most high end stores are really nice on the inside and smell amazing. The people are nice and depending on what store you are in they might offer you something to drink. Look at a map of the store to get your bearings. Walk around the store; touch and feel the clothes. One thing you must not do is react when you see a purse being sold for $27,000 or a dress worth $12,000 or a wallet worth $1,000. you must stay calm about these things and not make a big deal because guess what? Its not a big deal. YOU are not buying it so just look at it like it is artwork and enjoy it.

Gucci

    Now here comes the hard and tiring part. You must look through the clothes until you see something in your price range. Now when you do this you must be very careful not to fall in love with the price. For example you are looking for a dress, you see this hot pink dress with neon green ruffles sticking out from the neck and lower back, and it is just not pretty at all, but it is on sale from $3,000 to $500." Oh wow this dress is the most beautiful thing that has ever existed on the face of this earth!!!!!" that is what you want to avoid, but in most cases it is not going to be that obvious. You are mainly going to realize it like after a month of owning it; when you have only worn it once, and it is to late to return it. So you must look for things that you like, then look at the price, and lastly look at the brand.

   You must realize that when you shop at high end stores the material is sometimes different which means the way you take care of the clothes is different too. While you are in the store look at the inside of the clothing to see how to take care of it. This might sound funny but this could play a big role on you deciding if you want to purchase this item. A lot of my clothes are hand wash only which is a really big drag because I have to schedule time to sit down and wash them. That might not work in your life because you might be too busy to do that. therefore you might not want to get that item. Dry cleaning is also something to consider. If you are buying a lot of clothes that have to be dry cleaned and you are trying to stay on a budget....... that might not work for you either. Try and find something that fits your lifestyle.

Nordstrom

    The best way of shopping, I think, is shopping online because you can get lots of great coupons and sales that you can not get in stores. But then there are also loads of sales that do not need coupons that you can get in the stores if you search hard enough. When I shop at Macy's I get all of my dresses for under $15. When I buy bobby pins from banana republic I only pay $6 instead of $15. ( Because of the location but i'll talk about that next)

   The last and biggest factor for shopping at expensive stores is the location. Once you start shopping in the stores you will notice that different locations have higher prices and some have lower prices. For example, when I go to buy a dress from Macy's I am not going to go to the one in Orland Park. No, I am going to the one on State Street. When I want bobby pins from banana republic I am not going out to Orland Park. Nope I am going to 900 N Michigan ave. So, wherever you live you have to find the stores that have lower prices. 

      Well, that's all I have for tips. They may not work for everybody but you should at least give them a try. I do hope they were somewhat helpful.

-Ashley-