How Cheap is Cheap before it’s Crap?

This is a tough one. During this holiday shopping frenzy one might get caught trying to cut fashion corners, if you will. Not that we blame you. If you’re not an expert at garment construction, which most people are not, you are not alone. When bargain shopping for clothes here are a few categories that I like to put garments into:
-Decent
-I can get away with it
-No wonder this is $9.99
-Wouldn’t be caught dead in a casket wearing it

When fashion bargain shopping most people agree that you get what you pay for. We do agree with this, however depending on the situation and/or occasion you might be able to cut more fashion corners than you think. Let’s analyze:

-Wouldn’t be caught dead in a casket wearing it
Do you wonder who buys clothes at the 99 cent store? This is been a question in my mind since there are quite a few here in the Brooklyn area. People still continue to keep these places in business and believe it or not, if they have clothes, they have a clothing buyer. If you need a pair of sweats to paint your apartment, a cheap Halloween costume or hair accessories, then go to the trusty 99 cent store. Some are nicer than others and some have wider selections of merchandise. You would never think to go there for clothes because well, that’s just beyond weird. However, once you realize how incredibly far you are from your apartment, those fabulous stilettos aren’t feeling so fabulous after a long night of drinking while STANDING. Don’t be surprised when you knock someone over trying to get in there to buy a pair of rescue flip flops. It’s happened to the best of us.

-No wonder this is $9.99
Discount discounters like Conway, Value-City, and Strawberry are known for their organized way of making their cheaply made merchandise look presentable; which in our opinion is pretty smart. These places have clothes for the entire family from head to toe including house wares. Why not, right? These places sell some “irregular” or “rejected” merchandise that didn’t pass the Quality Control inspections at the manufacturer. What’s wrong with shopping there? The answer is nothing. You can find good deals on things that are cheaply made or have imperfections. If you’re not afraid to get that cute holiday dress in the window that is maybe a printed fabric instead of woven, then who cares? If you need some new towels, then why not pay $5.99 instead of $10.99 each? Just be wary that most of these fabrics shrink and fall apart VERY easily. Hence: the $9.99.

-I can get away with it
Say you’re not totally in the red zone in your bank account this month and you’re feelin’ like a new pair of shoes. This is where TJ Maxx, K-Mart, and Target come in. Some of these retailers have private label designers, which mean they have an in-house design team. Not bad. How do they save money on their product while charging the consumer less? They skimp on garment details that can save on their production costs. For example, a garment might have an unfinished “raw” hem, inexpensive buttons or no lining on the inside. All of these facts add up to one thing: lower prices. Who doesn’t love a great pair of lined slacks? When times are tough, sacrifice the lining for a better price.

-Decent
The key is to be open minded. If you buy an $89.00 Calvin Klein suit at TJ Maxx or Stein-Mart chances are it’s not perfect. Most major retailers have outlet stores that sell their defective or “not perfect” items. The average customer can’t tell the imperfections. There might be a slub in the fabric weaving or an uneven color match. The stitching might not have passed inspection or the incorrect color thread was used. Their imperfections can be your perfections! All major department stores have great sale racks, so just remember if you must have designer, see if you can wait until a great sale or look further to find a less expensive option.

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