← Her Style Podcast | Shopping, Color Palettes, Fashion, Wardrobe, Outfits, Clothing
Her Style Podcast | Shopping, Color Palettes, Fashion, Wardrobe, Outfits, Clothing
297 | The Women's Clothing Stores I'm Loving Right Now (and How to Find Your New Favorite Brands)
00:20:44
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- [00:01]
A
Today, we are talking about something almost every woman struggles with but rarely stops to question. Where are you actually shopping? And is it still serving you? If getting dressed feels boring, your wardrobe feels outdated, or you keep leaving stores and websites feeling disappointed, chances are it's not because you don't know how to shop. It's because you've been shopping the same two to three places forever, even though your body, lifestyle, tastes and goals have changed. And so today, I'm sharing the women's clothing stores I'm loving right now, plus the exact method I use to help my clients and myself find brands that actually work for them. By the end of this episode, you're going to know how to discover your new favorite brands. The ones that fit your body, your lifestyle, your budget, and your personal aesthetic so much better than the default stores you've been relying on. Let's go.
- [00:58]
Welcome to her Style podcast, where we're all about empowering you to show up and get dressed every day with confidence. I'm your host, Heather Riggs, a 15 year and counting certified image consultant and color specialist, ready to build a wardrobe and a personal style you love. Let's get started.
- [01:24]
All right, friend. We are going to get right into it today. And I will say that I think one of the biggest reasons women feel stuck in their style is often because they've been relying on the same familiar stores for years. We all do this. We go where we feel comfortable. We shop the sites that we know how to navigate. We revisit the brands that worked for us really well at one point in our lives. Maybe you shop where your friends shop. Maybe you shop where your mom took you when you were younger. Maybe you are still aspirationally shopping where you wish your life fit instead of for the life you actually have now. And what happens is that these stores become our comfort zone. And the problem is that comfort isn't the same as compatibility. Familiar doesn't automatically mean that it's flattering. And Old Faithfuls don't always grow and evolve with you. Sometimes they do. Sometimes you have those tried and true places, brands that just fit you like a glove and always do. But often when your life changes in whatever way that means. Maybe your body has shifted or your job has changed, your lifestyle has evolved in some way. Your tastes have changed over the years, but your shopping habits don't. You can start to feel really bored and stuck in a rut with your wardrobe. This is what I talk about all the time. The reason that you have a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear is often because your life has changed in some way and your wardrobe hasn't kept up. And the same thing, or part of that problem is often that you're shopping from the same stores without making any needed adjustments. And then you feel like nothing fits, right? You're uninspired by everything you own. You feel like you're shopping and shopping and somehow still not getting anywhere. And it's not that the clothes have gotten harder to find. It's that you're looking for modern needs inside an outdated shopping pattern. And once you see this, it becomes so much easier to adopt a smarter, more intentional way to shop. And the biggest shift that you can make is moving from brand loyalty to item based shopping. Now, most women shop by starting with a store. You might be thinking, okay, let me check what Old Navy has today, because I've made out really well there in the past, or I'm just going to pop into Anthropologie because I've always loved that store. Let's see what's new there. Or maybe this pair of jeans from madewell will fit better than the last. So six pairs of jeans that I've tried on from madewell. And the problem is that when you shop this way with the store first and then the item second, you are always at the mercy of whatever that store happens to be offering at that time. And you end up settling more often than not because they may not have exactly what you wanted, but something is better than nothing. And what I teach my clients inside her Style collective is to really flip that process around and instead to start with the item that's on your wish list first and then find the stores and brands that make the best version of that item for you. So instead of, okay, what does Old Navy have in the way of sweaters this year? You shift to, I know that I want this color sweater in this shape or silhouette in this fabric with this detailing at this price point. Now, based on those parameters, who has the best options for me? And this is really gonna open up your whole world, because suddenly you're no longer locked into the same handful of stores you are choosing intentionally. And you're discovering new brands that specialize in exactly what you need when you need it. You're finding better fits, better quality, and hopefully some better longevity. You're shopping with purpose instead of aimlessly browsing your go to standby sources. And once you're in this item first mindset, it's time to understand how to recognize whether a brand is actually a good fit for you. Because not every Store is meant for every woman. Just because something comes up on the search. Because you find a product that visually looks like the thing that you want, you've got to dig a little bit deeper and do some homework. There are seven filters that I like to use when evaluating a brand or recommending different brands to my various clients. Again, because we all don't need to be shopping in all the same places. It really depends on what you're looking for. And so the first thing that you want to think about is body compatibility. This alone can make or break a shopping experience. I know you know what I'm talking about. So you do want to think about, does the brand that I'm looking at cut clothes for my particular needs? Whether that's curvier hips, narrow shoulders, a petite frame, a longer torso, more athletic builds. Some brands are going to simply align with your body better than others, or they might have a variety of options and sizing so that you can accommodate the specific things that you need. So if that is a factor for you, which for a lot of us it is, we don't all have, quote, unquote, easy to dress bodies, you might want to consider doing some specific searches for brands that align with your body type and the specific needs that you have. The next thing is lifestyle alignment. And I know so many closets can end up feeling disconnected because women are buying for a fantasy life, not their real one. And a brand might look absolutely gorgeous and have some irresistible pieces, but if you're working from home four days a week, then you do not need to buy all of this expensive luxury office wear, because that doesn't make sense for what you actually need to get through your week, just as one example. Then there's the matter of finding an aesthetic match. So. So we want to make sure it aligns with your figure, with the lifestyle that you're living, and then of course, aesthetically. So you want to think, does this brand actually align with my style type? Is it classic, feminine, natural, creative, alluring, and so on? If the overall vibe of the brand doesn't match your style goals, you might get lucky once in a while and find a really great piece that works for you and hits on all the things that you want. But it's going to be hard to find consistent wins there. So you do want to maybe head over to the brand's Instagram page or check out what they have on Pinterest. If anything, look through their catalog of clothing for the season and just see overall, if it feels like it aligns with the aesthetic that you want to direct your wardrobe to. Now, you also want to consider your overall budget and your ideal cost per item. What I'm saying here is don't tempt yourself at Bergdorf Goodman if your budget aligns better with Banana Republic, you want to consider not only what your budget is for the season overall, but but what your ideal price points are per item. For example, some of my clients don't bat an eye at buying $250 jeans, while others don't want to stretch beyond $75 or $100, even if they could financially swing it. And this is the key. You might have the funds to buy whatever you want, but you might not want to spend that much on your pieces. So it's okay to give yourself a general ballpark and to know what price range feels good for you for each category of clothing. This is also going to help you eliminate a lot of brand and store options that are either well above or well below what you want to invest. We want to hit that sweet spot where you're getting the quality that you're looking for at a price point that aligns well with your budget. Another big filter is the materials that you actually enjoy wearing. If you hate synthetics, it doesn't matter how trendy a blouse might be, if you're sensitive to wool, then certain winter brands are never going to feel good on your body. So material matters more than most people realize. So I do want you to look for the brands that carry your favorite fabrics, whether you want to start shopping for organic cotton. If you're looking for a real cashmere sweater, it doesn't have to be expensive fabrics, but make sure that you are checking that, especially if it's something that is important for you as you're working to build in new quality pieces, pieces for your collection. And then finally consider your personal values or your preferences. And this includes a multitude of things, not an exhaustive list, but some of that might be sustainability, inclusivity, ethical production, opting for slower fashion, whatever matters to you. I want you to just think about what, if any, personal convictions you have about the brands that you're buying from. This doesn't have to be a main deciding factor for you, but I think it's definitely worth taking into account, especially if that is something that you want to be more conscious of. Moving forward. Now, when a brand checks many of these boxes, that is a really strong sign that you're on to something. You may not want to look for a needle in a haystack. You might not want to make your list too rigid, especially if you have some urgent needs and you do need to pick up some clothes. You can't wait forever for the perfect unicorn brand to come along. But I do want you to start raising the bar on what you're bringing into your wardrobe and where you're shopping. And once you're using this framework, it will become so much easier to recognize which brands are worth your time and which ones aren't a match. Now, to make all of this feel a little more grounded and not just theoretical, I want to share a few of the stores and brands that I'm loving right now. And I'm going to give you a little insight into why this is not a comprehensive list as well. It's just simply how I apply the exact process that I'm walking you through today with the brands that I choose to wear personally, the first one is Banana Republic. I love them for their accessibility. I have stores locally, so I. I personally love to go try things on when I can. And I appreciate that they have really great quality and nice, comfortable, long lasting materials. I don't really have any issues with their stuff falling apart like I have had from other stores in the past. Their fabrics feel elevated, their tailoring is beautiful, their customer service has been amazing for me, and even their basics have a nice refined polish to them. If you appreciate timeless classics or if you want some pieces that hold up really well, I do think Banana Republic is a fantastic place to look. I also love Anthropologie, especially for star pieces or some more kind of special, unique items in my wardrobe and especially accessories. I drool over their jewelry collections, their hair accessories. They just have beautiful little pieces that again feel special. The quality is always there. And so Anthropologie is where I go when I want some personality. When I'm looking for great textures, colors, prints, and those special details that make an outfit feel more unique and that up level my wardrobe for the season just to bring in a couple special things. Not everything. There will be an everyday staple and I don't love all of the things that they carry, but if you're looking to infuse your wardrobe with some individuality, I think that they're a really good option. The next one is Nordstrom. This is not going to come as a surprise to you because I talk all the time about my obsession with Nordstrom. I have so much devotion to them because their customer service is truly unmatched. Their shipping and returns make trying things so much easier. They will, I mean, in my experience, they will literally take anything back. And they have so much variety because it's a elevated department store. So they have tons of different brands to choose from. You can compare and, you know, different denim brands. You can try different silhouettes and labels side by side without hopping between a thousand different websites. I've also told you my little insider tip that I use my Nordstrom credit card like a debit card. So I use it as a Nordstrom Visa, which means when I buy gas for my car or when I'm at the grocery store, I use that card. And so I accumulate a lot of points to shop there as well. So it's nice because I almost always have some notes that I can use if I need to pick something up. And it really helps me to keep costs down and be able to get quality things that I really love. Another this is a specific brand that I've been really loving lately is Favorite Daughter. Their aesthetic is very clean, it's modern, it's elevated, but still really casual. You know, a big part of my personal style since becoming a mom has leaned into the natural camp, especially working from home and going to my son's spring sport events and all those kinds of things. I just need some casual pieces that still feel put together, that have kind of that cool factor to them. And so I have been loving their sweatshirts. I have a couple great T shirts. The name just gets me every time. Because who doesn't want to feel like the favorite daughter? I do have a sister. My mom has never bought me a Favorite Daughter piece, but we like to joke that I am the favorite daughter and I will happily buy it for myself and flaunt it proudly. And so while it was the name that won me over at first, I am definitely a convert. And I really love all the pieces that I've picked up from them. And of course, I can't leave out Cezanne. If you love femininity, soft romance, beautiful colors, and classic European charm, I think that you definitely want to explore this brand. So many of my clients have their pieces. We all unanimously love it. Everyone who's tried it, their knits and blouses are so dreamy and everything just feels special in the best way. And as a bonus, I guess it's kind of a store, but not really a store. I do want to mention Nuuly again. I swear I am not an affiliate for them in any way, but I just started renting clothing pieces from them. Was it in the spring or summer? I can't even remember now when I wasn't using this service and it's one of my favorite ways to be able to experiment and bring in a few new pieces to spice things up every single month. I think renting clothing gives you fresh options. It's obviously a more sustainable choice to buying and, you know, donating, throwing away, getting rid of pieces. So it really lets you try and dip your toe into some of the different trends or silhouettes without committing long term. And it takes so much pressure out of buying something new all the time. So you get the like new feeling without having to buy all of these new pieces and have your wardrobe overflowing with options. So. So for me, it's been a really smart, guilt free way to keep my wardrobe feeling fun while reducing unnecessary purchases. Now, before we wrap up the episode, I wanna give you a super simple exercise that will help you put everything we talked about today into action. This is how you build your own personal brand, Rolodex, which is a list of stores and brands that you learn to love and you will use over and over again to shop smarter, save time, and stop guessing. And I say Rolodex because I really do want you to kind of keep it rotating all of the time. So we don't want to fall into ruts. I want you to reevaluate which brands are working for you from season to season, just like we do with every aspect of our wardrobes. The longer you let something sit on autopilot, the more likely you are to fall into a rut. So you do want to revisit this from time to time and make sure that the places that you're looking are still really resonating for you. So what I want you to do is start by writing down your top five most worn items, the things you already own. And this is not the items that you wish you wore more often. It's the ones that you actually reach for every week, or the ones that you have to run a quick load of laundry just to make sure that that piece that you can't wait to wear again is clean. And then I want you to, for each of those items, research three to five additional brands that make that category of clothing really well. Be sure to look at reviews. If you're searching based on influencer recommendations, make sure that they have a similar body type and other preferences like we talked about before, as you do. And of course, look at your own closet and really discern what's actually working. Because the idea is to bring in more of what's working and find some additional resources within the same ballpark rather than completely reinventing the wheel. Then what I want you to do next is run each of those brands that you came up with through the framework that we talked about today. So do their sizes and the fit of their clothing fit your body? Do they have similar models showing the clothing? What are people saying in the comments and reviews? What can you find out about the fit specifically? If you have any specific needs, this is especially important. So if you need petite sizing, if you need plus sizing, if you need tall lengths, those kinds of details make sure that you're checking whether they provide that for you. Also, does it fit your lifestyle? Does it match your style aesthetic? Is the price aligned with how often you would wear that piece and whether it fits in with your budget for the season? Do you like the materials that they offer? And then does the brand overall align with your values? And once you identify the brands that score well for you, I want you to save them somewhere. Maybe you're going to start a running notes app on your phone. You could start running Google Doc, whatever feels easy for you. And if it helps, you can also organize the brands by category if they are really great at one specific thing. For example, if you find a place that has amazing jeans that you want to try, or everyday tops, dresses, workwear, special occasion athleisure, swimsuits, lingerie, etc. Etc. This list is going to start to become your personalized shopping directory. And once you have this, you will never feel like you're just wandering the Internet aimlessly, hoping something magically jumps into your shopping cart. You're not going to default to stores that you've outgrown, and you won't waste money on pieces that don't feel right. You're going to know exactly where to go for the items you need, making sure that they align with all of the preferences and things that are most important for you, and know exactly which brands are most likely to give you great results. This is how you're going to break out of your shopping rut and discover your new favorite brands, the ones that truly serve the woman you are today. I hope this episode gives you a refreshing new perspective and a really practical way to start shopping smarter. If you loved this conversation, nothing would mean more to me than if you took just a minute to leave a five star rating and written review over on Apple Podcasts. This is the best way to let me know that you're enjoying the show and to help our community grow. Friend, thank you so much for tuning in for this one. I'll meet you back here soon for the next episode of her Style podcast.
- [19:57]
Thank you for listening to today's episode. If you want to stop copying everyone else's style and start dialing in your own swoon worthy signature look, head over to take my free 5 minute personal style quiz which you can find at the link in the show notes. If you've enjoyed our time together, please be sure to rate, review and subscribe to her Style Podcast so you never miss an episode. Finally, I invite you to make this a two way conversation and send me a DM over on Instagram eatherigstyle to let me know how I can best support you on your style journey. I'm always here for you in style and service. Until next time.