Great deals, IF you like poly/rayon.

[8 Bit WWBG]

After hearing so many success stories like "if you are patient and dig through the racks, you can find $100 Ralph Lauren dress pants for $20", I decided to give Ross and TJ Maxx a look see. I wasn't expecting to waltz in and find everything within 5 minutes, but at least wanted to see SOMETHING encouraging.

I was completely disappointed. There was not a SINGLE pair of pants in the men's rack that had ANY wool at all. The best ones were 100% polyester, while most of them were a poly/rayon blend.

Dress shirts were also a disappointment. When did the fashion industry declare war on "the pocket". There weren't many that were 100% cotton either, it was all polyester with rayon or lycra mixed in for good measure.

Sure, there were some good deals on casual clothes. But I didn't see it as the wondrous treasure trove that others seem to do so well in.

[Cookies Galore]

Jan 16, 2011 7:46:18 GMT -5 8 Bit WWBG said:

Sure, there were some good deals on casual clothes.

That is the sole reason for going to Ross. Great for $5 tees and accessories, not so if you have to dress to the nines for work.

[8 Bit WWBG]

I need to find out which Ross some of the WIRs go to. Apparently its located in the same area that has 24/7/365 libraries offering free PCs/wireless on every block.

[dancinmama]

We've found Ralph Lauren Polo dress shirts for DH on several occasions at Ross. It is definitely hit and miss so it may not be worth the time for some people to go and come up empty handed.

We also like the clearance racks at Kohls when they are offering a $10/$20 coupon. We have found DH dress slacks, dress shirts, shorts, t-shirts, etc.

[8 Bit WWBG]

The Kohl's $10 cash is a good deal, and I've used it to take advantage of things that almost never go on sale, or to walk out of the store with a $10 item.

[debtheaven]

Sorry Gowron, but as an expat your post made me laugh!

When I go to the US / UK I try to hit TJ / TK Maxx (it's TK in the UK). In June I found a pair of sunglasses in NY but zero clothes. In Oct in London I found two pairs of great wool pants / trousers and Bear Paws (good quality fake Uggs). Both times I spent about 30 minutes in the store.

My DS2's Gdmother used to send him home from CT with a suitcase FULL of designer gear. Lauren, Hilfiger, etc. I'm sure they hit TJ Maxx several times a week to get all of that. But, they are both clothes horses and they LOVE shopping. I hate it.

IMO those stores are totally hit-or-miss. I go to them because IF I find something I want, I know I will pay a small fraction of the price I would pay here for something equivalent or for the same brand.

But, I would never rely on them for my wardrobe unless shopping was my hobby, which it is definitely NOT.

ETA: My sister has a Kohl's nearby and we have gotten some good deals there too.

[cubefarmer]

Try Steinmart, too.

[TrixAre4Kids]

I think our local Ross gets new shipments once a week. If you luck out and hit the store after they've just stocked the racks you can score big time. To get the good stuff you'd have to drop in frequently. Or perhaps put some time into figuring out their schedule. Maybe just smooze the staff?

[dcmetrocrab]

I don't have a link, but I recently read that the costs of wool went up more than 30% in 2010, and cotton 92%. Bottomline, both went up a crapload, and I've definitely noticed even mid-ranged retailers have begun mixing man made materials with natural fibers. Very hard to find 100% silk, wool, cotton nowadays. New-ish synthetic fibers like modal drape well and feel oh so soft, but pill like crazy unless you dry clean. I've seen polyester that looks just like silk.

[Deleted]

I'm not fond of 100% polyester, especially in cold, dry weather like we have now. I hate static cling! But, in polyester's defense, I wanted to mention that of a set of 4 shirts I had custom-made about 20 years ago, only the polyester blend is still wearable. I rarely wore it for the last 10 years and have started again since I got some decent business clothes, so I haven't been wearing it regularly that whole time. It's also a heck of a lot easier to iron. A little synthetic can be a good thing.

[Deleted]

The key is to shop a lot - which is not something you want to do. I found two dresses at Ann Taylor Loft the other day marked down from $80 to $2.87 each. But I'm there at least once a week because of my PT appointments.

I've had better luck finding professional quality stuff at Nordstrom Rack.

[wodehouse]

guy here. I have rarely seen anything at these places that I would want to buy and wear. I don't even look anymore. However, years ago I frequented the Spiegel outlet and got some nice ties there. I buy clothes so rarely that I just go to Jos. A. Bank for my dress shirts (hey, they always have sales, so I buy their $60 dress shirts for $30, I can handle that), and Sears/Penney for Dockers. I am tempted to try J A B for some wool dress slacks...not really my style or necessary for my position but I am tempted to try them. I have gotten some decent home furnishings/accessories at some of these places. Including two pairs of beautiful porcelain table lamps at Marshalls.

OTOH, my wife shops at these places all the time (her preference) for clothes for her, clothes for gifts, etc. And I have to say that careful shoppers can find some great ladies' clothing at some of these places. I have kind of gone bananas at times buying gifts for family.

One place that is quite nice but has only a few stores is Sym's. Got some nice sport coats, ties, there. I should check out their wool slacks.

Like others have said, you have to shop these places frequently to keep up on their stock.

[pushingit]

I took my daughter to TJ Max and their sister store AJ Wright at the start of school this year. And while we did find a few really nice pieces at each for her and a really cute pair of boots, the places were both filled with a whole lot of Apple Bottoms and Phat and other "urban" clothing lines.

Accessories can be found there at a great discount. My 10 year old DD has a sock fetish going on and we love to go for those. Often nice name brand socks at Walmart/Target prices.

[thyme4change]

I'm with you Gowron - I hate those places. I have really stopped believing people when they just "tell" me what a great item of clothes they found. Unless I can see it, I don't believe you. I will agree that I absolutely do not have the patience or tenacity to be on the hunt for these deals. Spending a couple hours digging through racks and racks of stuff is not worth it to me. Neither is going to these stores weekly or twice a week. I guess we all have our things. I work and cook dinner every night. Others seem to quit their job and search out deals, or shop and pick up fast food. If you can do it all, you are better than me. If you don't do any of it, you should probably acquaint yourself with the bankruptcy laws. Most of us can just pick and choose where we can pull the ends together.

[8 Bit WWBG]

I have one or two polyester shirts that are OK, but they don't breathe well. There are cotton shirts that if you run them in the dryer for a moment or two, or hang them in the bathroom while you shower, the wrinkles go away. Or you could just buy a vest/waistcoat then you only have to iron the arms

I get that there probably are one-in-a-thousand finds there that; IF you go there often enough, and at the right time, you'll find. But I'm certainly not going to make that a regular occurrence. Maybe something to check out if I'm killing time.

I did pretty well at Syms a few days ago. I can usually find something there. I'll browse Rack as well.

Nice O-ren avatar, Trix.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

It's like your argument with the grocery challenge ladies WWBG. If you don't like aparagus it doesn't matter if it is onsale for pennies a pound, you aren't going to eat it. If you are happy with the aparagus you got yourself a good deal.

You don't want polyster pants, so that's not a good deal for you. But some guy or his wife is out there shopping who thinks that is a fantastic deal.

I agree with both you and Wasting. I value my time more than I do finding the one good deal out of crap and I refuse to lower my clothing standards to accomodate what I do find.

Kohl's usually has pretty good deals and so does JcPenny. I like JcPenny because they have a really good petite section that isn't full of polyster elastic waist band pants and shirts with sail boats on them.

[8 Bit WWBG]

...:::"If you don't like aparagus it doesn't matter if it is onsale for pennies a pound, you aren't going to eat it. If you are happy with the aparagus you got yourself a good deal.":::...

Oh but, isn't that why they are all better than us? Because they spend so little on food? Remember though since they all happen to love what happens to be cheap, its win/win.

...:::"I like JcPenny because they have a really good petite section that isn't full of polyster elastic waist band pants and shirts with sail boats on them. ":::...

Well you aren't SailingQ1015.

[Urban Chicago]

I still shudder when I think about TJMAXX or Marshall's or whatever. My mom used to drag us there, spend HOURS and buy TONS of stuff we generally did not need.

I'm still not really getting through to her when I say that my family does NOT want or need any more clothes, toys, whatever.

I have to be dragged into these places kicking and screaming. No pair of cheap pants will overcome my psychological aversion to these places.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Well you aren't SailingQ1015

I'm also not 85 years old!

I told DH I will figure out a way to wear button up jeans till I die. You will NEVER see this body in a pair of elastic waistband polyester pants!

He also has permission to smack me if anything with kitties, puppies, sailboats or the red hat society creep into my wardrobe.