Back-to-school season is among us, and you know what that means: it's time for back to school shopping. From freshmen to seniors, everyone in college either goes to the mall, a thrift store or online to get some new staples for their wardrobe.
However, while thrift stores are an obvious place to shop when you want clothes on a budget, there are a ton of other stores to shop at if you don't have easy access to thrift stores or if you simply want to explore all your options. Whether you're looking for clothes to wear to class, on errands, out with your friends, or to a job interview, you're guaranteed to find at least one essential item to add to your closet.
The best part is that these stores are all friendly to your wallet and most of them offer college discounts, so you'll usually be able to find something you like for a fraction of the cost.
Kohl's
While I go into most stores eager to find something but wind up leaving somewhat disappointed both because of the price and the actual clothing items themselves, that's never the case for me when I go into Kohl's. Every time I've gone into this store, I almost always leave with multiple bags. They have everything from casual clothes to more formal clothes that are always on sale for a great price that every college student would love.
TJ Maxx
Another store that I almost always swear by is TJ Maxx. I can't even tell you how many different kinds of clothing items and dorm décor I've found while browsing this store. While it is more time consuming to go to this kind of store since you have to rummage through all of the racks to find clothes in your size, it's definitely worth it. I mean, who wouldn't want to get a shirt that was originally $22 for $2?
American Eagle
While I used to shop here frequently during my middle school days, I had decided to take a hiatus from shopping here in high school due to my ever-changing taste in style. However, as I was scrolling through my Instagram feed one day, I saw a post from their account highlighting the diversity among their models. At this point, I was thrilled that a major clothing company made such a huge effort to showcase all body types in such a positive light. I then decided to check out their clothes and was impressed with the quality. While shopping in this store can be pretty expensive, there are a lot of discount codes and sales online that will help you get these items for a great price, especially if you look for clothes in the clearance section.
Macy's
Whenever I need clothes for a formal occasion, Macy's is always one of the stores at the top of my list. Whether it's for a job interview, a formal dance, or even just clothes to wear every day when you're hanging out with your friends, this store carries some essential staples for your college wardrobe. They also always have sales on their clothes, especially on their website, that are too good to pass up.
H&M
Another store that's perfect for grabbing some essential basics for your wardrobe is H&M. From t-shirts for everyday wear to slacks for work, you can find a ton of items that you can wear every day. The best part is that you can get most of these items for about $15 or less, especially when they have their 2 for $10 sale on basics.
Forever 21
While this store is infamously known for its cliche sayings on its shirts like "I hate Mondays" or "I love tacos," you can still find some cute clothes at an affordable price. However, the one thing with this store is that you have to have some time and patience to sift through the clothing racks or the website, depending on which one you decide to use.
JCPenney's
Much like Kohl's and Macy's, JCPenney's is the perfect store to go to if you want to find clothes for any occasion. The best part about this store is that it's not difficult to find a sale, so you'll always be able to buy something from here at a reduced price.
Old Navy
While this store is widely known for its eccentric commercials, they're also known for their affordable clothing. They usually have a ton of sales on their basics and jeans, but you can also find business casual clothes.
Nordstrom Rack
If you're looking for a way to find a variety of designer clothes at a fraction of the cost, this store is perfect for you. I recently discovered this website through an Instagram ad and was shocked at how many items from popular brand-name designers were offered at an affordable price. With items up to 80% off, your wallet will thank you.
Target
Obviously, I had to put every college student's favorite store for last. While Target is mainly known for carrying all kinds of dorm room essentials plus miscellaneous items that you never really need but decide to buy anyway, it also has clothes for any occasion. While this store can be a bit more expensive than other stores on this list, you can still find good quality clothes (and even swimsuits) at a decent price in comparison to many other stores.
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