It seems harder and harder to find attractive, affordable women’s clothing these days. As the days get warmer, a woman’s thoughts turn to finding some perfect summer dresses. Unfortunately, the cost of clothing is on the rise, so it’s hard to find summer dresses that don’t cost a lot.
For the beach or those carefree warm days and nights, summer dresses are always appropriate. Here are a few places to buy some cute affordable summer dresses.
Wal-Mart
It might surprise you to learn that Wal-Mart actually has some cute summer dresses in stores this season. The retailer is usually associated with household products and food; however, Wal-Mart actually has a few trendy and affordable clothing lines. I’ve found some nice halter dresses and summer sundresses here, in fabrics like jersey and lightweight cotton. There are fun maxi dresses and minis too, in an explosion of bright floral prints.
Summer dresses by Faded Glory are available in misses sizes, while dresses by No Boundaries are aimed at juniors. I love the George line at Wal-Mart for summer dresses. I noticed some ladylike cotton floral ones that could be dressed up for a more formal occasion, or worn casually for a day on the boardwalk. All the summer dresses I’ve seen at Wal-Mart stores usually retail for under $20.
Target
In the past few years, Target stores have increasingly become a source for fashionable summer dresses by the hottest designers. Popular designers of the moment, like Jovovich Hawk, love to design reasonably priced lines of clothing that are exclusive to Target (look for Jovovich Hawk for Target’s trendy boho print halter dress in cotton modal fabric, a steal for $30 if there are any left on the racks!)
Isaac Mizrahi has been designing for Target for quite a few years, and he has produced some really nice summer dresses this season. I noticed a breezy eyelet halter sundress from Izaac Mizrahi for Target that is quite versatile and adorable. This dress costs $39 and would be darling dressed up or down for many different occasions this summer. Mizrahi is a classic American designer and you can’t go wrong with his tasteful summer dresses.
For the most part, the styles that fill the racks at Target are a bit bolder than those at stores like Wal-Mart. You’ll see more graphic prints and colorful styles that are right on trend. Shop for summer dresses from designers like Jovovich Hawk at Target and you are certain to be the epitome of “boho chic.”
Victoria’s Secret clothing is for the woman who wants to be unabashedly sexy. The Victoria’s Secret catalog and web site offers sexy, flirty summer dresses in a variety of styles, fabrics and colors. I saw a cute pink plaid mini smock dress for $49.50 and other fun summer dresses are available for under $50.
Victoria’s Secret sells baby doll dresses and bra top dresses for very reasonable prices. Look for sale and clearance prices on summer dresses in stock (I fell in love with an exquisite embroidered halter dress recently marked down to $49 in their catalog.) Bra top dresses (great for the beach!) have been marked down to the twenty dollar range at various times throughout the season.
Whenever I step into my local Ann Taylor Loft store in the spring and summer, it’s usually a wonderland of cute, appropriate summer dresses. Ann Taylor Loft is the more affordable, casual division of Ann Taylor stores, which seem to be a bit pricier and more formal.
I love that the summer dresses at Ann Taylor Loft are attractive and feminine, but not so short or low cut that I don’t feel comfortable wearing them. Prices for summer dresses at Ann Taylor Loft are very reasonable, too. Cute styles like a smocked flower print dress and a cotton stripe halter dress cost about $39. Ann Taylor Loft clothes are youthful and sexy, but also tasteful. Don’t forget to haunt the sale racks set up in the back of the store, as there are some incredible markdowns on summer dresses to be found there.
Other Catalog and Department Stores
If you haven’t taken a look at JC Penney stores in a while, they may surprise you. The catalog giant has introduced several fun, feminine lines of summer dresses that are quite affordable. Nicole by Nicole Miller is a line designed by Nicole Miller exclusively for JC Penney. Miller’s summer dresses are on trend, well priced and great for things like a summer wedding.
Another great line at JC Penney is American Living clothing. Very much in the spirit of Ralph Lauren (but without the hefty price tag of that designer) the new American Living line offers breezy, “All American” summer dresses that are preppy, sweet and feminine. Many of the summer dresses by Nicole Miller, American Living, and other brands at JC Penney retail for under $50, and JC Penney has frequent sales and clearances. Trendy colorful dresses by Mixit and Bisou Bisou were recently on sale for $29.99.
Macy’s department stores and Macys.com can be a great source for summer dresses on a budget. As sales slow down this season, I’m noticing a lot of reduced prices at Macy’s stores, which is clearly an effort to move some of this merchandise. The best deals are often in the Juniors Department, where lots of sweet summer dresses by American Rag sell for $50 or less. Check out the Macy’s website for clearances and markdowns on cute summer dresses. Recently, I saw dresses by DKNY Jeans, Kensie, and Style and Co. marked down to under $50 (with some in the thirty dollar range.)
More Sources
Stores like Old Navy, H&M;, and Forever 21 do offer deep discounts on women’s summer dresses. Of the three, I’m a fan of Old Navy–I love the cute halter summer dresses in fun colors and prints that Old Navy usually sells each season.
The only drawback to shopping at these retailers is the inferiority of the cut and fabrics used to make the summer dresses. When a summer dress is selling for under $20, it is often possible to see through the fabric and the whole dress sometimes looks cheap, not inexpensive.
Also, for a woman who is not a teenager, it’s often hard to find a cut or style of summer dress that fits and flatters when shopping at the discount retailers like Forever 21. Shop carefully at these stores; it may be possible to find a real steal, but study the summer dresses for the best fabrics and quality you can find (sometimes a bargain is not a bargain, if you don’t feel good wearing your bargain dress.)
My shopping strategy for summer dresses: look for the best price on a good quality dress. At the sites and stores mentioned in this article, you can sometimes discover a $100 dress marked down to $50 or even $20. These retailers have lots of summer dresses in the thirty to fifty range that should wear well for the rest of the season.
Have fun shopping for summer dresses this season and good luck hunting for bargains!
Sources:
Wal-Mart:
walmart.com
Target:
www.target.com
Victoria’s Secret:
www.victoriassecret.com
Ann Taylor Loft:
www.anntaylorloft.com
JC Penney:
www.jcpenney.com
Macys:
www.macys.com
Old Navy:
www.oldnavy.com
H&M;:
www.hm.com
Forever 21:
www.forever21.com
