Best Fashion to Cost ratio

[red_roses101]

Winners....Don't give me garbage about it being ghetto. I went to the one on Yonge, and it was ugly. Who paints a store gray? And this store was very small, lots of people congested into that tiny place. Go to other stores across the GTA and it's great.

[bmwmini]

You judge a store based on the colours on it's walls? Is there a point to this thread? Why God, why?

[red_roses101]

You judge a store based on the colours on it's walls? Is there a point to this thread? Why God, why?
No, I've read many times on this forum that people dislike Winners, I went to the one on Yonge, where I guess most RFD'ers go...and yes, the store was ugly and it didn't look all great. The point of this thread is to compare stores with the best fashion to cost...best fashion, cheapest cost.
:mad:

[bmwmini]

Any fashion outlet areas perhaps? There are lots of those boxstore outlets in and around the GTA.

[NiftyScent]

H&M is pretty trendy. Their clothes fit nicely and the prices are reasonable.

That or just look for sales.

I went shopping today and got:

Guess Jeans Dark Wash: $37.50 (Reg. $98)
Black Club Monaco Polo: $29 (Reg. $59)
2 Club Monaco Crew Ts: $12 Each (Reg. $27)

[Neovingian]

I know this is sorta out ouf place on a Canadian forum but for me the best fashion to cost ratio is in the States. I go on Bus trips, or annual vacations to the states. Plus I get preferred rates on $ USD, so I can't lose.

I get get a whole wardrobe @ Marshalls, SNB's, BurlingtonCoatFactory,TJ's, for $250. Where as in the GTA i'd be lucky if I get 2 pairs of jeans and a top for $250.

[sonick]

All it takes is a keen eye, and a TRUE sense of style.

A person who is truly stylish (and not fashionable or trendy) can find a better looking outfit at WalMart than a trendy person buying every item of clothing with a brand name plastered on the front.

[Mems]

I know this is sorta out ouf place on a Canadian forum but for me the best fashion to cost ratio is in the States. I go on Bus trips, or annual vacations to the states. Plus I get preferred rates on $ USD, so I can't lose.

I get get a whole wardrobe @ Marshalls, SNB's, BurlingtonCoatFactory,TJ's, for $250. Where as in the GTA i'd be lucky if I get 2 pairs of jeans and a top for $250.
TRUE THAT. These stores sell stuff way cheaper than here in Canada. Also the outlet malls have sweet deals.

-Mems

[yuwing8]

H&M is trendy but their quality sucks. Go there if you want to wear it for that season only because by the time the season's over, the dye will be washed out and things will fall apart. However, their cuts are great for me (slim) unlike Gap or Old Navy (where they cater to more general public).

Club monaco's cuts feel like they're tailored to my size and height. I buy from there for timeless pieces.

gotta go to club monaco tommorow to check for onsale items... *hungry student*

I want that navy summer trench coat but it's freaken $250...

[alv077]

<3 the shirts at guess. they're pretty good after spc discounts =/

[Raggie]

ZARA - They always have nice things and they are affordable.

[ElizaC]

i was told suzy shier is pretty cheap as well.. i dont know about their quality tho. bought a top once and it's been fine, but i've heard a few complaints from others.

[RonyPal]

ZARA - They always have nice things and they are affordable.

I guess affordable is a relative term then...

[Raggie]

Well, I find their quality great for the price. All the clothes I've bought there is still in excellent shape.

[sonick]

ZARA - They always have nice things and they are affordable.
I agree here, when I was looking for a cheap suit, i searched all across the city for one that didnt fit me like a garbage bag.

Zara was the only place that had a decent fitting WOOL suit (most cheapies are polyester) for under $800.

It was $299 for the combo. Last season I saw a fully canvassed suit for $399. This is quite the deal, considering fully canvassed suits usually sell for the $1000+ range.

[Fragle]

I have to agree with those who like Winners. Sometimes I wonder why I bother to shop someplace else. Although people who don't like to browse through 100s of items will quickly get turned off the store.

Another good place in the states is Ross Stores..Recently came back from a trip to SF and bought $220 CDN worth of clothes, which in Canada would have easily cost triple the amount at retail.

[somemale]

ZARA - They always have nice things and they are affordable.


i agree. When i first went into zara i thought things were going to be really expensive, but clothes arent that pricey there for what u get.

[akito925]

is zara store located in the GTA ?? where are theses stores ?


i agree. When i first went into zara i thought things were going to be really expensive, but clothes arent that pricey there for what u get.

[blizzah]

is zara store located in the GTA ?? where are theses stores ?
*347, QUEEN STREET WEST*
00000*TORONTO
Tel:*+1 6472880545**Fax:*+1 6472880547
Sections:*Woman*Man*Kids

*50,BLOOR ST WEST UNIT C26*
00000*TORONTO
Tel:*+1 4169162401**Fax:*+1 4169162403
Sections:*Woman*Man*

*CC EATON CENTRO LC2-C3-C4*
00000*TORONTO
Tel:*+1 6472880333**Fax:*+1 6472880335
Sections:*Woman*Man*Kids

*YORKDALE SHOPPING CENTRE*
00000*TORONTO
Tel:*+1 4166400471**Fax:*+1 4166400539
Sections:*Woman*Man*Kids

[NiftyScent]

H&M is trendy but their quality sucks. Go there if you want to wear it for that season only because by the time the season's over, the dye will be washed out and things will fall apart. However, their cuts are great for me (slim) unlike Gap or Old Navy (where they cater to more general public).

Club monaco's cuts feel like they're tailored to my size and height. I buy from there for timeless pieces.

gotta go to club monaco tommorow to check for onsale items... *hungry student*

I want that navy summer trench coat but it's freaken $250...
There's this military blazer I want but it's also $250. :(

[cmge]

All it takes is a keen eye, and a TRUE sense of style.

A person who is truly stylish (and not fashionable or trendy) can find a better looking outfit at WalMart than a trendy person buying every item of clothing with a brand name plastered on the front.
so true .. brand names just give ppl a better self esteem i think...

[Cruel_Angel]

All it takes is a keen eye, and a TRUE sense of style.

A person who is truly stylish (and not fashionable or trendy) can find a better looking outfit at WalMart than a trendy person buying every item of clothing with a brand name plastered on the front.

why do you assume a fashionable trendy person is wearing stuff with logos plastered all over it.. 2 type of people do this, trend whores who are far from fashionable, and the ghetto fab people who will buy logo shirts.

And yes, if somebody knew what they were doing, they could probably find an outfit at walmart, and after extensive alteration they may be able to even wear it in public. You have to understand there is actually a difference between a Walmart suit, and a Canali suit, it's not just the name.

[Steeve Urkel]

What is the price range for Zara women's clothing?
I just bought a couple sweaters from an "outlet" shop in my city that resells clothing for other stores.
A few months ago I bought a Zara silk boatneck sweater for $13...now they are even less @ 3 for $10 (for the one colour they have left, beige- wich is very nice).
-I'm guesing my sweater was +$50 before??

Thanks ;)



*347, QUEEN STREET WEST*
00000*TORONTO
Tel:*+1 6472880545**Fax:*+1 6472880547
Sections:*Woman*Man*Kids

*50,BLOOR ST WEST UNIT C26*
00000*TORONTO
Tel:*+1 4169162401**Fax:*+1 4169162403
Sections:*Woman*Man*

*CC EATON CENTRO LC2-C3-C4*
00000*TORONTO
Tel:*+1 6472880333**Fax:*+1 6472880335
Sections:*Woman*Man*Kids

*YORKDALE SHOPPING CENTRE*
00000*TORONTO
Tel:*+1 4166400471**Fax:*+1 4166400539
Sections:*Woman*Man*Kids

[drucillica]

What is the price range for Zara women's clothing?
I just bought a couple sweaters from an "outlet" shop in my city that resells clothing for other stores.
A few months ago I bought a Zara silk boatneck sweater for $13...now they are even less @ 3 for $10 (for the one colour they have left, beige- wich is very nice).
-I'm guesing my sweater was +$50 before??

Thanks ;)

yeah the stuff at zara is probably $50+, which is not to say that you won't find stuff on sale. then again, when they had stuff on sale in the summer, the store was a mess: ***** everywhere, completely disorganized, lots of digging around to find anything decent. Prices were good though lots of stuff was damaged.

[chicadam]

so true .. brand names just give ppl a better self esteem i think...

I'll have to disagree here.
There are definitely some items we can filter out with a keen eye and a good sense of syle, but for fabric quality, patterns, cut, and design, only certain stores can provide this.

You can mix and match between different stores with different pieces some high-end and some near the middle, but to find a complete outfit at Walmart or Winners... good luck.

[tt_boy]

I'll have to disagree here.
There are definitely some items we can filter out with a keen eye and a good sense of syle, but for fabric quality, patterns, cut, and design, only certain stores can provide this.

You can mix and match between different stores with different pieces some high-end and some near the middle, but to find a complete outfit at Walmart or Winners... good luck.

exactly ... people keep dissing designer labels because they cant afford it

[kent1992]

French Connection (FCUK) has some good deals at end of season... Plus, I really like their shirts :)

[Fragle]

exactly ... people keep dissing designer labels because they cant afford it

To follow through with that, people love to buy knockoff products to give the impression they are trendy and can afford it(think women with their LV bags, gucci/chanel sunglasses) but this only serves to cheapen the brand image. Now whenever I see a woman with a LV purse I assume it is a knockoff.

People wear a brand/label to help define the image they are trying to acheive. Style is very subjective, and having some designer clothes or items where the label is clearly shown just portrays the person wearing said brand to be stylish/rich/whatever.

Style helps people feel better about themselves. Brands are built to give a reputation of quality for a certain price. Some people want to wear a certain label to show people they have good taste or can afford expensive clothes. Myself, I hate wearing clothes that make me a walking billboard for a company, although sometimes this can't be helped ie. Nike. with the exception of their g label. I prefer to wear clothes for myself that are affordable to me, fit both my style and budget and is of certain quality.

It seems that most people have strong feelings about clothes because it aligns so closely to who they are or how they are trying to be perceived by others. The clothes you wear make a lasting impression on others, and you are quite often judged(improperly or not) on what you wear. As they say, image is everything.

[caliente]

I shop at many different stores and don't often wear an outfit purchased completely from one store. I ALWAYS buy stuff on sale, NEVER full price. In fact, I'm so cheap that it's usually at least 50% off regular price, if not more! I usually aim for 60+% off. Therefore, I tend to shop at stores that have good sales. I have tons of clothes, so I don't ever need to buy new stuff.

After price, I look for cut, fabric, and something that makes the piece unique and different from what I already own (be it the pattern, embellishments, or design). I try to buy things that will wear and wash well. I shun 100% polyester, but will accept a polyester blend. I like things like skirts, suits, and even bathing suits to be lined properly with nice material. Too often the lining cheap.

It is imperative for me to shop at different stores because I cannot name a single store in which merchandise always has a good fabrication and cut. There are always a few absolute duds in each collection. I would love to shop at independent boutiques, but alas, I'm stuck with suburban-type malls and stores.

Off the top of my head:
Banana Republic - good cuts, designs, and fabrics on average, but can get a bit bland at times. some stuff is shockingly poor in terms of quality for the (regular) price you're expected pay. love the Petite section, though!

Club Monaco - good for classic basics. but a lot of black, white and khaki! I love the accent colours they pick for each season -- almost always great saturated colours (can you tell I'm not a pastels person yet?)

Mendocino - great for unique and funky pieces. must be careful in this store, though....some stuff looks and feels like it belongs in Zellers.

Urban Outfitters - trendy, lots of styles and colours. great printed t-shirts. washes and wears surprisingly well.

Buffalo - the only jeans that fit my odd body. too bad a lot of their jeans are overly distressed, flared, and embroidered/rhinestoned.

Tommy Hilfiger - don't laugh!! yes I know there's a lot of khaki and pastel colours, but occasionally I've found some great deals here.

Mexx - some of their t-shirts wash and wear fabulously. but lately the quality and cut seems to be worse. anybody else agree? i haven't purchased much from here in the past year.

Guess - has great sales. trendy clothing. i think it's part of the "urban" style, but their quality is quite poor in terms of fabric and especially stitching/hemming/seams.

RW&Co. - their overall quality is not as good as some of the other stores I've listed (they use a lot of polyester and their colours are sometimes off for me). they use a lot of heavy cotton instead of a thinner, softer cotton, but I realize this is just my preference. I don't usually stop here when I shop, but I have found some great buys every so often.

Winners - I can only go to this store when I'm in the right mood. else it just makes me annoyed. most of the items are junk. to get the treasures, you need to get there early, especially in toronto. prices aren't that great if you compare to buying the same stuff on sale in regular stores which usually have more colours and sizes. i rarely have luck here (unlike my mother) so maybe that's why I'm not a big fan.


Stores which other people love but I rarely buy from:
Aritzia - very expensive and any time there is a sale, it's an absolutely madhouse. I also think I'm too old for this store :(

Zara - expensive for the quality you get. madhouse during sales. salespeople are not the best (but this is probably just my experience). the cutting does not suit my body.

Abercrombie and Fitch/Hollister - very young. I don't remember A&F skewing that young in the States a few years back.

GAP - their basics aren't bad, but I think you can get better elsewhere for around the same price. I used to love GAP in high school, but I think they have been going down for a while now. For me, there has just been something off, especially with their colours and some of their cuts.

[sonick]

Wow man, I find Banana Republic fits me like sh*t, meanwhile Zara carries the best fitting cheap suits out of any other place.

[Raggie]

I don't shop at Mexx anymore. I used to buy all my suits from there on sale and because their cut used to fit me so well. Now I find the fit is poor, the quality has really gone down, and the prices has shot up. Even on sale the prices are sky high. I also find their styles these days pretty stale. I may visit the Mexx outlet once in a while but overall, I haven't bought anything from there in a long while.

Aritzia - I love this store and I agree its really pricey. But I have to say everything I've bought there, I wear. I love their sales.

I only purchase at GAP when everything is on sale for a really low price. The clothes are made in third world countries. I find it ridiculous they are able to sell their things at skyhigh regular prices but when they have their sales it comes down sooo much. Its just ridiculous...Never pay full price from this store.

For shoes, I love the Nine West outlets when they have their huge sales. I can pick up a $125 pair of shoes for $40.

[Shortie28]

Unfortunately I cannot fit into clothes from Gap, Old Navy, H&M, unless they are from the kids' sections. These stores tend to put clips at the back of the clothes on the mannequins to give the illusion of their clothes being tailored and fitted to the body. They design everything in a bulky way and it's pretty impossible to look nice in it when you're a size 0 or 1. A lot of my friends and I go for places that cater to more petite frames such as Costa Blanca, Urban Behavior, Jacob, and Garage. They have great end of season sales and you can get nice work pieces for $10-$50. They have some sophisticated tops and outerwear.
I highly recommend the outlets at Hwy 7 and Weston Road. Although spread out over the four corners of the intersection, if you are willing to look and drive a little, it's definitely worth it. For example, Garage has great clothes for the gym and I got khakis, tanks, and sport pants there for $5 back in May. These items retailed for $15-$32 in their regular stores.
That La Senza also had more bra styles and a wider sale section than any. A new design sports bra that cost $32, was only $8 there!
Go check out the outlets for Back to School sales! :lol:

[chicadam]

I shop at many different stores and don't often wear an outfit purchased completely from one store. I ALWAYS buy stuff on sale, NEVER full price. In fact, I'm so cheap that it's usually at least 50% off regular price, if not more! I usually aim for 60+% off. Therefore, I tend to shop at stores that have good sales. I have tons of clothes, so I don't ever need to buy new stuff.

After price, I look for cut, fabric, and something that makes the piece unique and different from what I already own (be it the pattern, embellishments, or design). I try to buy things that will wear and wash well. I shun 100% polyester, but will accept a polyester blend. I like things like skirts, suits, and even bathing suits to be lined properly with nice material. Too often the lining cheap.

It is imperative for me to shop at different stores because I cannot name a single store in which merchandise always has a good fabrication and cut. There are always a few absolute duds in each collection. I would love to shop at independent boutiques, but alas, I'm stuck with suburban-type malls and stores.

Off the top of my head:
Banana Republic - good cuts, designs, and fabrics on average, but can get a bit bland at times. some stuff is shockingly poor in terms of quality for the (regular) price you're expected pay. love the Petite section, though!

Club Monaco - good for classic basics. but a lot of black, white and khaki! I love the accent colours they pick for each season -- almost always great saturated colours (can you tell I'm not a pastels person yet?)

Mendocino - great for unique and funky pieces. must be careful in this store, though....some stuff looks and feels like it belongs in Zellers.

Urban Outfitters - trendy, lots of styles and colours. great printed t-shirts. washes and wears surprisingly well.

Buffalo - the only jeans that fit my odd body. too bad a lot of their jeans are overly distressed, flared, and embroidered/rhinestoned.

Tommy Hilfiger - don't laugh!! yes I know there's a lot of khaki and pastel colours, but occasionally I've found some great deals here.

Mexx - some of their t-shirts wash and wear fabulously. but lately the quality and cut seems to be worse. anybody else agree? i haven't purchased much from here in the past year.

Guess - has great sales. trendy clothing. i think it's part of the "urban" style, but their quality is quite poor in terms of fabric and especially stitching/hemming/seams.

RW&Co. - their overall quality is not as good as some of the other stores I've listed (they use a lot of polyester and their colours are sometimes off for me). they use a lot of heavy cotton instead of a thinner, softer cotton, but I realize this is just my preference. I don't usually stop here when I shop, but I have found some great buys every so often.

Winners - I can only go to this store when I'm in the right mood. else it just makes me annoyed. most of the items are junk. to get the treasures, you need to get there early, especially in toronto. prices aren't that great if you compare to buying the same stuff on sale in regular stores which usually have more colours and sizes. i rarely have luck here (unlike my mother) so maybe that's why I'm not a big fan.


Stores which other people love but I rarely buy from:
Aritzia - very expensive and any time there is a sale, it's an absolutely madhouse. I also think I'm too old for this store :(

Zara - expensive for the quality you get. madhouse during sales. salespeople are not the best (but this is probably just my experience). the cutting does not suit my body.

Abercrombie and Fitch/Hollister - very young. I don't remember A&F skewing that young in the States a few years back.

GAP - their basics aren't bad, but I think you can get better elsewhere for around the same price. I used to love GAP in high school, but I think they have been going down for a while now. For me, there has just been something off, especially with their colours and some of their cuts.

Wow, your shopping habits are almost identicle to mine.
Except I do splurge on the odd pair of expensive jeans/jacket/shirt if the sale price is right. And, I shop about 10X your speed because I'm a guy.

As for A&F and Hollister... Since you're a little smaller and female, I suggest Hollister (not A&F). Yes, I understand you are out of that age group, but the fit, price, look, and fabric is great.
I don't waste my time at Winners, Gap, or Tommy unless I'm willing to pay for some serious alteration work.

Edit: Not because of the sizes but because their not cut properly not matter how it fits.

For the price, Gap stuff is really bad and some stuff is really, really bad. I worked there in High School and can tell you their quality is close to Walmart.

[Muncher]

I can usually only shop at Smart Set if I want something cheap and trendy (that's because they have size 4's!). I like the Laura styles, but their petites are too short and their "normal" only starts at size 6. Even Sears has some things that I like, but they're never smaller than 6's.

[Venusia]

Simons has best fashion to cost ratio hands down. They discount deeply and frequently, and are the quickest to jump on the latest trends. http://www.simons.ca/ worth a trip to Montreal just to go there.

H&M is Zellers quality to me, I would never buy anything there.

Best bets are outlets and sample stores, my favourite sells Miss Sixty and Emporio Armani pieces for less than 50$ each.

[kent1992]

[QUOTE=Venusia]

H&M is Zellers quality to me, I would never buy anything there.

QUOTE]

H&M has great quality jeans!

[platinum_dragon]

Just have to have patience, I always look for sales too when buying stuff. All stores have sales, even the more expensive ones. Once I picked up a jacket at Banana Republic for $45 marked down from $150. Other times I've found quite a few deals at Club Monaco for $19 shirts down from $79. I gotta say that a lot of sale stuff is junk (styles that no one should buy...), but if you keep looking, you'll find some good deals that fit your style.

Oh and I gotta second the fact that the States is a lot cheaper. I just went over for labour day to Prime Outlets in Niagara Falls, they had some really good deals. Picked up a Fossil watch for $40US when I was about to pay $120CDN for it last week at Square One. Mind you they had a labour day sidewalk sale going on for the whole mall too, so it's not always this cheap, but still better than in Canada.

[RnC]

I agree that the U.S always has stuff for cheap! I picked up a Banana Republic blazer for only about$60 USD last year where it would cost me triple here in Toronto....

Speaking of outlet malls in the states...where do you guys often go? and when do they usually have sales?

[mooga]

ZARA - They always have nice things and they are affordable.

go to barcelona... zara is from spain and when I went to barcelona they had a bunch of zara's, it was incredibly popular... and the prices were amazing, literally everything was half the price or less of what it would cost in Toronto and also they get the newer stuff much faster. Jackets and Blazers on sale there could go for as low as around 30 bucks.

[Raggie]

go to barcelona... zara is from spain and when I went to barcelona they had a bunch of zara's, it was incredibly popular... and the prices were amazing, literally everything was half the price or less of what it would cost in Toronto and also they get the newer stuff much faster. Jackets and Blazers on sale there could go for as low as around 30 bucks.


LOL! I DID buy stuff from Zara in Barcelona! I was there earlier this year!

[Anessa]

United Colors of Benetton - when they have sales then it's worth it for their unique style and quality. Avoid the Benetton Outlet at Vaughan Mills though. Not cheaper, snotty salespeople and manager when it comes to returns, old styles. Yorkdale or Woodbury Commons in NY has the best selection.

[Orbberius]

Simons has best fashion to cost ratio hands down. They discount deeply and frequently, and are the quickest to jump on the latest trends. http://www.simons.ca/ worth a trip to Montreal just to go there.
Yes, Simons is the best clothing store ever. I do all my clothes shopping there now. Really up-to-date fashion, great service and really really good prices for the quality!

[hugejazz]

I am surprised that no one mentioned the fashion gem of Toronto yet -

KENSINGTON MARKET

With stores like Exile, Bungalow, Adrift and Courage my Love all having bargain prices, Kensington Market has the has the best fashion to cost ratio.

[alv077]

Why does it seem like all the good shops are at far off malls. Nothing pisses me off more than spending an hour on transportation to the mall, just to buy NOTHING, cause it wasnt on sale =(

[Candiana]

Yes, Simons is the best clothing store ever. I do all my clothes shopping there now. Really up-to-date fashion, great service and really really good prices for the quality!

definitely concur. a must-visit in montreal. It made me want to move there. a great store that i hope never comes to gta 'cuz undoubtedly it will ruin the whole company.

[goojoomoonoo]

Yes, Simons is the best clothing store ever. I do all my clothes shopping there now. Really up-to-date fashion, great service and really really good prices for the quality!

They had some good deals over boxing week, although when I went the place was swarming with customers! I think I'll just hold off till about the end of January or February and go shop in a more relaxed environment :cheesygri

[skwan1]

definitely concur. a must-visit in montreal. It made me want to move there. a great store that i hope never comes to gta 'cuz undoubtedly it will ruin the whole company.

I am originally from there and am now situated in Toronto, and whenever I go back there I can always spot the Torontonians fervently shopping there.

As much as the clothes are stylish they are way too metrosexual. If you want to look like a player then you can get a sample of the Simon's style by watching La Fureur on the French network here.

[LeeBoA]

No, I've read many times on this forum that people dislike Winners, I went to the one on Yonge, where I guess most RFD'ers go...and yes, the store was ugly and it didn't look all great. The point of this thread is to compare stores with the best fashion to cost...best fashion, cheapest cost.
:mad:

you know theres a couple of winners on yonge?

[monty613]

Simons has best fashion to cost ratio hands down. They discount deeply and frequently, and are the quickest to jump on the latest trends. http://www.simons.ca/ worth a trip to Montreal just to go there.


This is the first store that I thought of when I saw the topic! Always up on the latest trends and great prices. Definitely worth the trip from Ottawa to shop on a weekend.

[goojoomoonoo]

This is the first store that I thought of when I saw the topic! Always up on the latest trends and great prices. Definitely worth the trip from Ottawa to shop on a weekend.

I was just there today - picked up a black cardigan for $9.99, which was reduced from the boxing week price of $19.99. They have a lot of good stuff currently on sale - some lower than what it was during boxing week.