People see my travel photos, and they always ask about where I get the dresses that I wear on my travels. My number one rule when shopping is: if I don’t absolutely love it, and I can live without it, I don’t buy it. I guess that’s how I live my life in general, but anything you feel lukewarm about or you “kind of like” or is “just ok” doesn’t belong in your life.
I am a tough body-type to shop for, and also because I am a shortie, I need so many things altered. So, when I find a brand or designer that fits me off the rack, I am loyal to the end. I am going to give away my secrets here, but that’s OK, that’s ultimately what I’m here for. So, here are my 3 top go-to places for most of the dresses in my wardrobe.
Reformation
This brand is admittedly on the more expensive end of the spectrum for me, but they have great sales several times a year (like 30-50% off), and that’s when I stock up. Reformation is also an eco-friendly brand, and they use sustainable fabrics, which is fantastic.
If you live in a city like LA, New York, Miami, or London you will have the option of going into the boutique to try things on (I order most of my Reformation pieces online). If you can, shopping in-store is quite an experience in itself. When I’ve shopped in-store at Reformation, they make things so easy. The salespeople all carry tablets and you tell them which items on the rack that you would like to try on. They then select the item you’ve indicated and in what size. It will be waiting for you in your dressing room inside a little closet that is stocked from behind. There will also be a tablet in your dressing room where you can request different sizes, or even ask to try on other items. As long as your closet doors are closed, the ‘clothes fairy’ in the back will load up your closet with the items you requested on the tablet. It’s a fantastic way to shop if you get the chance to pop into one of their stores.
They have a very feminine silhouette and style, which I adore. I feel like a princess every time I am wearing a Reformation dress. They are my absolute favorite splurge, because they make me feel so good when I’m wearing them. They also travel pretty well, depending on the fabric choice. I try to choose fabrics that I know won’t wrinkle too much, but I never travel without my Wrinkle Releaser spray anyway, so I’m usually ok.
Anthropologie
Anthro is another go-to of mine when it comes to bold statement dresses. They have such an eclectic style, and I’ve found some pretty stand-out pieces there that have become iconic dresses in my life. Anthropologie can be on the pricey side as well, and that’s why I love their sale rack. When I go into an Anthro store, I head straight to the back (or upstairs in some cases) to check out everything that’s on sale first. There is usually a pretty good variety with some great finds.
If I do find a full-price piece that is calling my name, and I can’t live without it, then I will splurge if it’s ideal for a future trip I’m taking. One time, I bought this dress for a trip that was almost a year out, because it was absolutely perfect for my destination and the photos that I wanted to take there. In that year, I lost a lot of weight and had to have the dress altered to fit me again, but it was still 100% worth it. The dress and the scenic backdrop turned out to be the picture-perfect combination, and I was so glad I stuck with the dress.
Express
Express has always been my core brand. Since I was in high school to now, I’ve been a loyal Express fan. I even worked for the company when I was in college. Probably half of the clothes in my closet are from Express, as it just fits my body type and my style perfectly.
It’s great for all of my wardrobe staples and basics, but I do find great dresses there too. They are definitely more on the casual and wearable end of the spectrum, which is great for traveling. I can dress them down or up with shoes and accessories, and I love how versatile their dresses are.
The bonus with shopping at Express is that it’s normally a really great value for the money. They have amazing sales (40% off of the entire store) multiple times per year, their clearance section is amazing, because you can get tops for $5-$10 each, and they send me coupons every month that are a pretty good deal. I also earn Express Cash with everything I buy, and I often have $15 off perks in my account.
Express also has Factory Outlet stores, where you can get even better deals on the styles that have left their main stores. I go to the outlet store regularly, as there is one near me. You can shop the factory outlet store online as well. I always kick myself when I see something in the outlet location that I paid full-price for (granted during a sale or with a coupon) at the regular store. So, I try to hit the factory outlet store first, before I splurge on anything at the regular store.
And there you have it…all my secrets! Happy shopping!