Showing posts with label favourite shops. Show all posts
Showing posts with label favourite shops. Show all posts

Thursday, December 11, 2014

5 Favourite Shops: Best for Tall Girls

I'm 5'9", which is not super tall, but it's still tall enough to find certain stores a nightmare to shop in when it comes to finding clothes of a decent length (*cough Forever 21 cough*). Here are a few favourite brands I find are kind to those with longer limbs...

1. Gap
Most of Gap's jeans come in three sizes -- regular, petite, and tall -- and believe me, their "tall" sizes are long (I actually only need a regular length myself). I find their sweaters, dresses, and coats are also very generous in terms of length.

2. J. Crew
J. Crew's Creative Director, Jenna Lyons, is over six feet tall, and the brand's most famous patron, Michelle Obama, is 5'11"... needless to say, this is a store that caters very well to taller women. 

3. Dynamite
While I don't own any trousers or skirts from Dynamite, I find this Canadian brand is surprisingly great for length in things like blazers and cardigans.  

4. Topshop
This British high street staple has a Tall section actually in store, which I appreciate (most stores that have tall sizes only carry them online). However, a word of warning: this line caters to women 5'7" and taller, so if you're 6"+, you might find some items are still a little on the short side. I've found that some of their supposedly "Tall" dresses are not particularly long, but you can definitely notice the difference in things like sleeve lengths. 

5. Banana Republic
Part of the Gap Inc. company, BR is a great place for both tall and petite women to check out. Most locations have a Petites section in store, but the Tall range can only be found online (unfair but at least they have one, I guess!). However, I find that most of the regularly-sized stuff found in stores is actually lengthy enough. 

Monday, November 24, 2014

Five Favourite Shops: Pricy (But Amazing)

Over the past few weeks, I've shared my five favourite budget-friendly stores; five pricier/mid-range favourites that have great sales; and my five favourite shops from the UK and Ireland. (You can check out those posts here). Today, I thought I'd share, in no particular order, five of my favourite pricy favourites -- the kind of places that I could go crazy in if money were no object. 

1. Anthropologie
Vicky and Claudia aren't the biggest fans of Anthro (they think it's pretentious), but I love it. Love, love, love it. They really know how to suck me in with their dreamy, ethereal catalogues and their impeccably boho-chic store design. The few pieces I own from here were all bought on sale (because no matter how beautiful something from Anthropologie is, I don't have the budget to justify buying it full price), but let's be honest: the full price stuff is just so much more alluring. 

2. Kate Spade
Ah, Kate Spade just knows me. She knows what I love: bright colours, bows, polka dots, pretty stationery, the odd bit of glitter... Definitely pricy, but pure preppy, girly heaven. Their outlet stores are fantastic -- at the one in Vegas I was able to score this beautiful lemon-yellow handbag at a quarter of the original price. 

3. Club Monaco
If I had to describe this Toronto-born chain in one word, it would be "sophisticated." Normally, I'm big into colour and pattern, but there is something so refreshing about stepping into the peaceful, immaculately appointed haven of a Club Monaco store, with its crisp, understated-chic pieces in muted tones. Also: I love that every item has a name! (I was totally nearly tempted to buy a skirt once because it was "called" Ali).

4. Ted Baker
This British brand strikes the perfect balance between feminine and cool, and their pieces are just so beautiful -- great colours, fabulous prints, lovely detailing. But when you do the conversions...eeeee they're so expensive! Sigh. 

5. BCBG
I'm big into dresses, and BCBG gives great (albeit $$) dress. I recently browsed the summery dresses they had on sale, and was overcome with an intense craving for warm weather (and this is coming from someone who is typically in her element in November). Damn, those dresses are magical. 

Monday, September 22, 2014

Five Favourite Shops: High Street (Ireland & UK)

One thing I miss about living in the British Isles is the fashion: in general, people over there are more daring with their style, and the high street shops (a phrase that just refers to middle-of-the-road chain stores as opposed to designer brands) reflect this. The downside, however, is the price (clothes over there are so expensive when you do the conversions!). 

Here, in alphabetical order, are some of my favourites (I've left Topshop out of this list, because although they're the quintessential high street classic, they've now got locations in North America).

1. Dorothy Perkins
Aimed at the 25-35 demographic, this shop is not quite as trendy or cutting edge as some of the others, but it's great for the kind of clothes I like---pretty dresses, skirts, and the like (and the sizes are nice and generous).

2. Miss Selfridge
Similar to Topshop and River Island, but I always feel that Miss Selfridge leans more towards girly than edgy. They often have great going-out dresses, and pretty tops and coats. 

3. New Look
One of the more budget-friendly high street shops, New Look still has the of-the-moment trends, but at more reasonable prices. And they have an incredible selection of shoes!

4. Oasis
Like Dorothy Perkins, Oasis is geared towards a slightly more mature demographic, and is not quite so trend-driven. I'm big into colour and pattern, and these are two things they do really well.

5. River Island
River Island has some fairly out-there stuff that I wouldn't be caught dead in...but then they also have really interesting but wearable pieces. Definitely a mixed bag, but I find I always strike lucky when I pay them a visit.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

5 Favourite Shops: Pricier (But with Great Sales)

Last week, I shared 5 of my favourite budget shops--now it's time to feature some of my pricier favourites (in alphabetical, not preferential order). These are the kind of stores where I only buy stuff if it's on sale...but luckily, their sales are frequent and/or good.

1. Banana Republic 

Both Vicky and I have worked at BR at some point in our lives, and we had the nice little 50%-off-everything Gap Inc. discount that comes as one of the perks. While neither of us work there any longer, we'll still occasionally buy stuff from Banana Republic because of their great sales (frequently 50% off the lowest price tag). Twice a year, they have a "Friends and Family" event where employees can give 50% to their friends on up to 5 items of regularly priced clothing (which is why you should all be friends with BR employees ;-). In terms of what to buy there: they're great for high-quality workwear and big-item pieces like coats.

2. French Connection
I don't really have a lot from this British high street staple, but what I do have I love and wear a ton. I can't comment on what the sales are like there over in the UK, but here at their Vancouver location they tend to be pretty good. As a store, I find it's great for sophisticated yet feminine pieces: think dresses, tops, and jackets.

3. J. Crew
You either like J. Crew or you don't, and I'm one of those people who loves it. They don't call it J. Crack for nothing! While some of their stuff can be super pricy at regular price, I find their sales are fantastic--if you have a Student Card, you get an additional 15% off sale items (and their sale items are usually 50% off the lowest price tag; I've got some pretty sweet 65% off deals because of this). They're great for preppy, often colourful basics, and we all know how much I love their dresses!

4. Topshop
I love Topshop because it is the one store that seriously caters to every style of dress, and it has some of the most delightfully WTF items (not to mention that they have a separate Tall section. Yay!). However, it can be pretty pricy, which is why I hold out for their sales--the best of which are the after-Christmas ones, although I find they tend to have pretty decent ones throughout the year. 

5. Zara
If I had to pick just one shop to buy all my clothes from, it might just be Zara. Often, when I shop, I'll wonder if an item is too young or too frumpy, but with Zara there just seems to be this unspoken guarantee that everything in their store is cool and age-appropriate. The caveat of course is the price (their TRF brand is cheaper, but in general, I find it a pricy place to shop at), which is why I pretty much always buy from their sales (which are phenomenal after Christmas, by the way). 


Monday, September 8, 2014

5 Favourite Shops: Budget

I'm excited to introduce a new series today: 5 Favourite Shops! Here, I'll be giving a breakdown of my top stores in a variety of categories, from the best budget places to check out to the pricier spots that I can really only window shop in most of the time. 

For today's instalment, I'm going to share my favourite budget stores (which, to be honest, are where most of my clothes come from). When it comes to purchasing on-trend, budget-friendly pieces to update my look, these are my go-tos.

Penneys/Primark

Where: This budget retailer has its roots in Ireland (where it's branded as Penneys), but can be found all over the UK and parts of Europe, too (where it's called Primark). 
Great For: Everything! My go-to place in Europe for basics like t-shirts, pyjamas, tights, and underwear at insanely cheap prices. (Trust me when I say that in terms of quality and selection, their lingerie section can rival that of Victoria's Secret). Obviously, some of their stuff will look its rock-bottom price tag, but I own some big item pieces from Penneys (ie. a black brocade coat I've worn a gazillion times) that I always get compliments on. 

H&M

Where: This Swedish company is pretty much everywhere now.
Great For: I've yet to go into an H&M and not be able to find at least 10 items I'd be very happy to take home--in terms of selection, trendiness, and wallet-friendly prices, they're tops. For me, I find they're great for summery dresses, pretty skirts, and interesting tops (as well as basic tees and the like). They have a good swimwear section in the summer, and I love how most of their bikini tops come in actual bra sizes. 

Forever 21

Where: Founded in the US in 1984 by a South Korean couple, Forever 21 can now be found all over North America and parts of Europe, Asia, and Australia. 
Great For: Most styles are catered to, from girly-girl to boho to edgy. As to what I like to buy there...well, let's just say that half of my 50+ skirts have a XXI tag. While their dresses can be hit and miss (sizes tend to run a little on the small/short side), I find their skirts usually fit well, and the selection is incredible. They're also great for jewellery, accessories, and other random little necessities like make-up bags. 

Old Navy

Where: The cheapest of the Gap Inc. trifecta, Old Navy is found across North America.
Great For: They do seasonal stuff really well, like pretty sundresses and shorts in the summer, and cosy pyjamas and sweaters around Christmas. Great for colourful, cheap and cheerful basics, as well as work-out gear. (And I'm also a fan of their shoes).

American Eagle Outfitters

Where: Founded in 1977, this chain is found throughout the US and Canada.
Great For: When I was a teenager in the early 2000s, American Eagle was the place to shop at (and I remember thinking how expensive it was!). These days, I find I'm a bit old (and big!) for a lot of their stuff (ie. their skimpy tops and teensy skirts), but I'm still a fan of their jeans--they're good quality, not too pricy, and many of them come in a longer leg length.