The dress I wore to my high school graduation still fits. So does the one I wore to my middle school promotion…and the one I wore to my fifth grade promotion. Despite eating all the shredded wheat and vegetables my parents told me to when I was a kid, I’ve just never grown much. While this has saved me a lot of money over the years on clothes, it’s also made it a lot harder to find “adult” clothes that grow with my age and tastes. I’ve compiled a list below of some of my favorite spots to find different types of clothes.
Business wear – Loft
Something that I really love about Loft is that they have something for everyone, offering Loft Outlet for similar styles at a lower price point, plus-size, tall, maternity, petites, and even a curvy option to accommodate ladies with wider hips. I love this because I’m able to buy pants that are both petite to fit my shorter inseam and curvy to fit my hips.
Dresses – Francesca’s
I love going to Francesca’s for dresses, they have great picks from casual to night out and they’re usually having some sort of sale. I literally just picked up an adorable tiered babydoll style for $6 the other day that usually retails for $44. Last summer they even had a 70% off storewide sale and that was a total lifesaver because my closet needed a refresh at the time. I love that many of their dresses start at an XXS, and they recently added a kid’s line that often offers the same pieces as the adult clothes, just in even smaller sizes. Be sure to stop by a boutique if there’s one near you, they often have different deals in store than the ones online, and I’ve even managed to score boots on clearance for $5 in store.
Activewear – Aerie
Their leggings are high-waisted and great for working out. They start at a size XXS and they offer short, regular and long lengths. For tops they have a great selection of sports bras and workout tops in a variety of colors and prints. They usually have some sort of sale going on, plus they have a rewards program.
Denim – Free People
It wasn’t until last year that I started to wear jeans. I just couldn’t find ones that felt comfortable or looked good. Adult jeans didn’t fit and kid jeans didn’t flatter. Then I happened to pick up a pair of Free People bell bottoms on sale. It was a total game changer. I now have about seven pairs of Free People jeans in my wardrobe. They offer their pants in petite length which is so perfect, and since I’ve never been big on skinny jeans (sorry millennials!) but I still like a fitted look, I love their bell bottom and bootcut fits. These fits work especially well for me since I’m always wearing slightly heeled boots. They even offer their bell bottoms in corduroy, which is such a fun way to play with textures. While their jeans are pricey (in my book at least, but maybe that’s just because I’m used to paying $5 for leggings at Target and wearing those instead of jeans) at around $78 per pair, there’s usually a great selection of secondhand or even new pairs on Poshmark for a lower cost.
Loungewear – Target
The kids section at Target usually has shorts, joggers, t-shirts and leggings for under $10 each. I love their leggings since they’re usually around $5 and they’re great for lounging around or pairing with a long t-shirt or tunic. Unpopular opinion but I love that their leggings aren’t really high-waisted like so many pairs are these days. Aside from that, the adult section has also been carrying some really cute loungewear and pajama sets that fit smaller sizes well in their Stars Above line recently.
Streetwear – Zara kids
In my experience, Zara is generally the most chaotic store in the mall. Always super crowded and the check out lines are insane, shopping the kids section here usually has the added advantage of a shorter checkout line. They have great style, it’s like their designers are trying to dress kids like mini adults instead of kids, but still with the practicality of children’s wear. While I know a lot of smaller ladies are tired of wearing kids clothes (apart from the benefit of a lower price), Zara Kids is actually quite trendy, especially their coats and trousers. I have two pairs of skorts from here that I love and that can be dressed up or down and worn in any season.
Undergarments – Nordstrom rack
I’ve never been much of a bra person. Underwires feel unnecessary and inconvenient to me and I can’t justify the price point, especially for the pain that it causes me while wearing. Sometimes I do want an extra layer or a little support though, so I usually go for the Calvin Klein bralettes at Nordstrom Rack. They typically run between $10-15 each and they come in solid colors and the occasional fun print. They also offer matching underwear in a variety of cuts, if you’re a “the shoes must match the purse” kind of girl.
Elizabeth Guldimann 
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