Best Affordable Clothing Brands

I mentioned previously that I have not been doing much shopping this year. Partly because the pandemic has been a good opportunity to save money, and partly because I have nowhere interesting to wear new clothes.

But there are some holiday/New Year's sales at some of my favorite affordable clothing stores, so this is the best time to pick up a few things that can last the year.

Old Navy Light Support Longline Sports Bra

Old Navy is a somewhat new discovery to me. Not just for American flag t-shirts anymore! Winter 2019, Grace Atwood linked to a cheetah print coat that was chic and wildly affordable: shockingly, it was from Old Navy. This led me to give the retailer a new look, and I've been so delighted with their selection. Especially, their athletic wear and casual dresses.

Old Navy and Athleta are related. I'm not business-savvy, so I'm not exactly sure who owns which, but I think this association can help the Old Navy skeptics give it a chance for athletic wear. Although I love Athleta, eighty dollars for leggings is just not in the cards right now. So an amazing alternative is the athletic line at Old Navy.

For casual dresses (like this cute swingy, cheetah dress), Old Navy also can't be beat. I would say I prefer it even to Target(!). For one, Old Navy has an excellent supply of extended sizes. I am over 5'9", so Old Navy's tall sizes are oftentimes way better for me than regular misses. They also carry many of their items in petite, plus, and they have a wide supply of gender neutral clothing. Second, considering their affordability, their items wear well and are almost all machine washed. I bought a tank dress from Old Navy a year ago and have gotten tons of wear from it, and it isn't showing its age at all.

Uniqlo Boxy Marimekko Blouse

I discovered Uniqlo the first time I visited New York City with an old roommate. We walked into the store, and I saw a great pair of emerald green, matchstick pants for $12. I thought I was in H&M but I did not have a headache. I bought them immediately, and wore them for two years: the per-wear cost was probably less than fifty cents. Uniqlo is a fun retailer for dirt-cheap deals with more modern looks. The blouse above, for instance, is marked down below $15. But the abstract pattern and boat neck neckline make it look far more upscale. It is also a wildly wearable shirt: it would work tucked into a pencil skirt for work, paired with wide-leg slacks and left untucked for work, and with jeans or even dark shorts in warmer weather.

Plenty of Uniqlo's items are a bit... funky... but there's great stuff in there for women who work in a traditional office or want something comfortable to wear to brunch.

Ann Taylor Fair Isle Sweater Dress

Honorable mention goes to Ann Taylor, because AT is not perpetually cheap. But right now, AT is having an insane sale. The above dress is marked to $30, as are dozens of other dresses--including some professional items that rarely get discounted. Some accessories are as low as $5, and some pants and tops are under $20. You could do an entire capsule wardrobe for about $200 right now.