Wardrobe for LA? (probably one for the ladies, but guys are free to chime in). (credit, college)

[DewDropInn]

Keep at least one warm coat. And some cute gloves and hats. You never know. You'll be meeting friends and there could be week-end trips to Big Bear or Mammoth. Even Big Bear gets plenty cold if you are going out at night.

[readymade]

When I moved to LA from Boston, I would wear skirts & dresses all the time. People would look at me funny. Friends would good-naturedly make fun of me. Apparently when you "dress up" (and wearing a skirt is "dressing up") people wonder why you're trying so hard. People here REALLY like to look that they just don't care.

A good friend of mine put it this way: "I've found that the thinner I am and the crappier I dress... the better I'm treated."

It's true. I pretty much live in t-shirts & jeans now. (in Boston I very VERY rarely wore jeans)

Now, if you're going to go out "clubbin'" like on Sunset or something... that's probably a different story.

[Lovehound]

Originally Posted by uptown_urbanist

... you can easily find cheap options once you're in LA if you decide that you do want more.

I forgot I was going to mention that too. It can't take a genius to find inexpensive clothing in L.A. The only reason to spend more is if you're into trendy fashion and you'll have plenty of time to find places for that since IMO you should need only a small portion of your wardrobe to be really good stuff, unless you just like fashion. (That's okay but that's not my kind of woman. I like my women in blue jeans, sexy top, and sport shoes are just fine.)

Inexpensive places: Kohl's, Ross Dress for Less, Walmart. There, you don't need to go searching for them!

[readymade]

Originally Posted by Lovehound

I forgot I was going to mention that too. It can't take a genius to find inexpensive clothing in L.A. The only reason to spend more is if you're into trendy fashion and you'll have plenty of time to find places for that since IMO you should need only a small portion of your wardrobe to be really good stuff, unless you just like fashion. (That's okay but that's not my kind of woman. I like my women in blue jeans, sexy top, and sport shoes are just fine.)

Inexpensive places: Kohl's, Ross Dress for Less, Walmart. There, you don't need to go searching for them!

One of my favorites for jeans/t-shirts is Old Navy. Target has some cute things too!

And there's always Marshalls & TJ Maxx.

[proudmommy]

No kidding: Good Will and Salvation Army. For $5 jeans and shirts, you can't go wrong. If you end up not liking it, then you've only lost $5. Low risk. (Just make sure you wash everything first.)

[Lovehound]

Originally Posted by Lovehound

Inexpensive places: Kohl's, Ross Dress for Less, Walmart. There, you don't need to go searching for them!

Originally Posted by readymade

One of my favorites for jeans/t-shirts is Old Navy. Target has some cute things too!

And there's always Marshalls & TJ Maxx.

There you go! You're a woman and I'm a man. It seems about right that you know twice the stores I do. (I often shop at Target but forgot to mention it.) However IMO Old Navy is substantially more expensive than the other named stores. I quit going there after I always found better stuff for the same price at other stores, or the same stuff for less (without the Navy logo).

I occasionally buy something expensive but it's expensive casual stuff: date attire.

[uptown_urbanist]

I miss Ross! They don't have them in MN. Cheaper than Marshalls, etc. I miss the LA Goodwills and Out of the Closets, too. And for anyone looking for cheap trendy stuff, there's always options like Santee Alley (downtown, in the Fashion District). Or the Fashion District in general, including for the more upscale stuff at good prices.

[readymade]

I miss Robinson's May! They would have GREAT deals sometimes.

I don't like going to Salvation Army or even thrift stores because invariably I would find something super cute and it wouldn't be in my size. It just became frustrating. I would sometimes even BUY the "super cute" article of clothing because it was too cute and too cheap not to. I would simply lose 10 pounds to fit in it! Or have it taken in by a tailor! I gave that up years ago.

At Old Navy (or wherever), you have a range of sizes to choose from.

Hee hee... I've never heard anyone call Old Navy expensive before. I feel all Sex & The City for shopping there, now!

[Lovehound]

Originally Posted by readymade

Hee hee... I've never heard anyone call Old Navy expensive before.

All I said (or at least meant) was that Old Navy is more expensive than the specific other stores mentioned. I'm pretty sure that was true and still is true but I haven't been in an ON store for about a year. I quit going there because I don't think any of their stuff is special and everything I saw there I could get a better price elsewhere (sans logo).

[proudmommy]

Originally Posted by Lovehound

There you go! You're a woman and I'm a man. It seems about right that you know twice the stores I do.