Shopping Sorcery: H&M

Shopability: 2

Reliability: 2

Return Policy: 2

Snapshot: New to the west coast in the last few years, H&M is a great place to find fresh, modern and on-trend styles.  With clean lines and a polished aesthetic their men’s and women’s departments are great for career wear and for polished-casual pieces.  Their department for the younger set lends itself to a less-polished and more edgy feel, but even the late-twenties/early-thirties crowd can find a gem in this collection.  Their sizing is notoriously odd (they use European sizing), so a trip to the fitting room is a must, especially with pants or skirts.   Their accessories, like scarves, gloves, bags and hosiery should not be missed.  Even their lingerie is worth a look, though they don’t cater to unusual sizes. 

Shopability: 2

Selection- Their selection is wide and variable—no tiny boutique feeling here.  H&M feels a lot like a cross between Target and the Savvy department in Nordstrom—a big selection, but in a posh environment.  The store is large and full, though not difficult to navigate.  You’ll find lots of examples of different items, everything from blouses to dress, to slacks and even the random pair of polished shorts thrown in for good measure. 

Cleanliness- For the size of the store, and the wide selection, H&M is surprisingly tidy.  You may find a mis-folded shirt on the table, but never should you find a pile of tees that more resemble a laundry hamper than a display (unlike some stores which will remain nameless until I shamelessly call them out in future posts!) The store is organized by color and style, but not by type of clothing.  So you won’t find all the dresses together, next to all the cardigans.  But you will find items of a similar style and in complementary colors within eye shot of one another.  The cleanliness of the store keeps the wide selection from feeling overwhelming. 

Reliability: 2

In all honesty, if it wasn’t for the Junior’s department, this score could be a 1.  Stick to the women’s and men’s sections and you’re golden.  There will certainly be items that aren’t to your taste, but the selection is reliably on-trend, polished and attractive.  You won’t have a problem finding solid pieces to add to your wardrobe.  However, if you venture into the section for the younger-set, be careful.  It takes a trained eye to recognize the diamonds in that particularly rocky rough. 

Return Policy: 2

As of December 8, 2010, the standard return policy is as follows:  Cash back (or back on your card) within 30 days, if return is accompanied by a receipt.  A store credit can be issued for returns without a receipt, within 30 days of purchase.  That’s pretty good.  Honestly, as good as you’re going to find in a store of this size and price-point.  No, it’s not Nordstrom or REI (who will take anything back, no questions asked), but that’s why the prices are so good. 

As a side note, the holiday return policy:  Returns with a receipt are accepted for cash back (or back on your card) until January 31^st.  Returns without a receipt are accepted for store credit through January 31^st.  Pretty cool huh? 

Have you had a different experience at H&M?  Have anything to add?  A funny H&M related story?  Add a comment or message me!

Tights and Nylons and Socks (oh my!): Hosiery on the cheap

Leggings, tights, nylons, socks--heck, even jeggings--are a must have this fall and winter seasons.  And why shouldn't they be?  An over the knee sock can turn a once summer-only dress into a staple of you wardrobe as the leaves change and frost meets us in the mornings.  But let’s be serious--do any of us have hundreds of dollars to spend on socks?  (Okay, some people probably do, but this shopper most certainly does not.)  So I sat out on a mission to find on-trend socks and tights for a price I could stomach.  Here's what I found:

Over the Knee Socks:

American Apparel: I scored a pair of cotton, thigh-high socks for $15. 
    Why I love them: They come in lots of colors. Their length makes them very versatile.  When pulled fully up the leg, they reach my hips.  Now, I'm not a very tall girl, but even my 5' 9" friend commented on their length.  The bonus of this: by cuffing them down the leg, you can make them any length you need.  So, for a skirt that comes just above the knee, cuff them to end just below.  For a skirt that rises higher, to mid thigh, cuff the socks to above the knee.  They could also be scrunched, for a slouchy, casual look as well, though I haven't given that a try yet.   But for comfort, versatility, price point, and for walking that ever-illusive polished-yet-casual fashion line, I give these a 10! 

Urban Outfitters: I found a pair of thin-gauge, over-the-knee socks with buttons for $14.
   Why I love Urban Outfitters: They have a way of lacing every one of their pieces with authenticity and detail.  What do I mean by that?  Simply put, all of their pieces include a touch to special detail that adds class (and makes them look more expensive.)  I don't suggest Urban for all things--some of their items are grossly over priced--but for hosiery, their selection is always on-trend (if a little ahead of the trend, even) and fairly affordable. 
   Why I love these socks: I got mine in a light, heather grey, and with three black buttons on the upper cuff.  I can't seem to find them online, but the link, above, is a very close representation (without the buttons).  The upper cuff does not cut in on the thigh, making them comfortable and flattering.  They are comfortably and surprisingly warm for how thin they are.  The thinness means that they don't ad bulk to the leg, so all manner of boot will fit just fine over them.  The cuff means that they are a little less versatile than their cousins from American Apparel, but what they lack in flexibility, they make up for in style.

Tights and Nylons:

H&M:  For $10-$15, their tights and nylons can't be beat...mostly.
   Nylons:  Their selection is serviceable.  I was even able to find a pair of thigh-high shimmer nylons for a recent christmas party (when even Nordstrom had had nothing of the sort!).  But the durability leaves some to be desired.  If you're very gentle with your hosiery, these will probably last you a through a few wears.  However, if you are like me, and you carry a bag that has a way of brushing up against your legs when you hold it by the handle, you'll only make it through one evening.  But at $10 (and considering how seldom I wear a shear leg covering), I can't be too disappointed. 
   Tights:  Their selection is what I call on-trend-basic.  It includes the standards like black and grey, but also light pink, green, purple and teal.  And even some fun textures like knits, metallic and fishnet.  But my favorite feature: they are comfortable! *hear angels singing*  Can you believe it?!  A comfortable tight!  I can wear them all day and not think twice.  They don't pinch in at the waist and they don't inch down my leg.  (No penguin crotch here!)  Now, they aren't control top, either (which is part of what lends them to being so comfortable) but if you need that, add your own pair of Spanx and you're good to go! AND, the tights don't seem to share the unfortunate problem of durability with the nylons.  Just be gentle, use a lingerie bag in the wash and don't dry them in the dryer and they should last through many wearings.  They rang in price from $10 to $14 per pair, depending on style, thickness, material, etc. 

If you are on the fence about items such as tights and over-the-knee socks, try Target, or your other local big-box store.  They can be a great way to try a on a trend with minimal impact on the pocket book.

Shopping Sorcery: The Discount Store Rating Scale

Hello again Discount-Connoisseur!

It is time to unveil the crux of my blog: The Discount Store Rating Scale. 

Some of us are discount store experts, others are intimidated, or even driven to panic, by an over-stuffed rounder.  Now, I admit that there is truly never a good excuse for improper merchandising, but sometimes we must suffer the ineptitude of retailers in order to reap the benefits of their offerings. 

To this end, I plan to rate a different store each week.  The lower the score, the easier the store is to successfully shop.  Ratings will be based the following three categories:

1) Shopability: How easy is the store to maneuver/shop?  This can be broken down into two sub-sections.  First, Size of Selection--does the store carry a wide selection of items, including multiple examples of one article (like vests, leggings)?  Or does it cater to a smaller selection of unique pieces (say, one type of vest, or one kind of legging)?  Second, the Tidy-Factor--are the racks over-stuffed and over-flowing with a disorganized orgy of fabric?  Or, are the racks easy to maneuver and neatly organized by color, size and style?

2) Reliability: This is important--If I close my eyes and remove a random article of clothing from a rack, how likely will it be that the item is on-trend for the season?  If I am likely to open my eyes and find a sweatshirt appliquéd with an angel and quilting squares, I would give them a 3 in this category.  Alternatively, if I would be hard pressed to find something that wasn't on-trend in the entire store, their score would be a 1 (and I would be in heaven because I've never encountered a store quite that reliable!) 

3) Return Policy: So you make your purchases and you're feeling good.  But when you get them home, you realize that the boots that looked brown in the store, look purple when you put them next to your brown slacks.  Or the top you thought would look great with the skirt you bought last week actually looks horrible.  Can you return your purchases?  If so, how long can you wait to make the decision to do so?  Will you get your money back, or do they only offer store credit?  These are important issues to consider that should inform your retail-daring at any given shop.  The worse the return policy, the higher the score. 

So, if Elle's Belles is a tidy store with a small, focused selection of on-trend items, it would score well in the first two categories. 

Shopability: 1

Reliability: 1

But if they won't let you return your new top, that will hurt their third rating. 

Return Policy: 3

Elle's Belles total score would be 5--this would put them in the middle of the Shopping Sorcery spectrum.  Feel free to shop, but make sure you are certain about your items before you buy. 

Or, maybe Elle's Belles is a sprawling store with over-stuffed racks and that same fabric orgy problem I mentioned earlier. 

Shopability: 3

But 6 out of 10 items you pick up will be seasonally on-trend.

Reliability: 2

AND, to make it even more complicated, they will accept returns with a receipt within 30 days.

Return Policy: 2

Total score: 7.  This puts them in the middle-high end of the spectrum.  The deplorable Shopability tipped their score.  This Elle's Belles represents a semi-advanced shopping experience. 

Hopefully, these ratings will help you get the most out of your shopping experience.  They should also help you pace yourself.  If you're having a frazzled day, it might be best to stay away from that level 9.  Stick to the stores on the lower levels of the Shopping Sorcery Rating Scale. 

Ratings to come:
Forever 21
Love Culture
H&M
Arden B
Charlotte Russe
JuJubes
Papaya
Payless Shoes
Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale
Nordstrom Anniversary Sale
Old Navy
(Got a suggestion?  Send me a message!)

The 27th Annual Goodwill Glitter Sale

First off, if you're reading this out there, let me begin by saying "Welcome!" and thanks for reading Fashion by Number.  This is my first post, and I'm kicking things off with one heck of a review! 

This morning, Saturday, November 13th, I attended Goodwill's 27th Annual Glitter Sale.  It was my first time.  And like so many recently-deflowered Glitter Sale virgins across the greater Seattle area, my head is still reeling, my ears still ringing, but my bank account is barely the worse for wear, so I call it a successful day.

"But, Elle," I hear you saying, "are you talking about Goodwill?  As in, Goodwill?  Used clothing?" 

I can also hear your fingers inching toward the mouse as you begin to think I have discredited myself before I have truly begun, but stick with me.  I promise not to disappoint.  (How's that for setting the bar high, huh?)

Let me start at the beginning: 

It was very cold this morning, and I was very, very sleepy when I woke up at five o'clock to blearily pull on the leggings, tank top and comfy, slouchy boots and sweater I had hastily picked out the night before (based on tips from the Glitter Sale Blog).  But I made it out of the house on time, picked up my best shopping-buddy, and together we made the short trek to the Goodwill on Dearborn, in SODO. 

This Goodwill is the Big Kahuna--the head cheese of Goodwill's.  If you haven't been, and enjoy thrift-store shopping, I strongly suggest it on any given day.  The first day the Glitter Sale, however, is not for beginners.  It is not for those that are daunted by a crowd.  Or for those who are looking for a leisurely, latte-sipping kind of shopping trip.  This is for the line-waiting diehards who get out of bed at 5 A.M. on a Saturday for the fun of it, and because the siren call of genuine vintage clothing (and maybe even the random pair of Manolo Blahniks) stirs them from their otherwise restful slumber. 

Which brings me back to this morning. 

So there I am, me and my favorite shopping buddy, each perched on our collapsible camp stools, wrapped in a blanket.  The sun hasn't yet risen and the faint glow of book lights casts the circles under our eyes into a warmer hue as we read our books in companionable silence.  But around us, the excitement is growing.  Donuts are bandied about, and from Top Pot no less!  We take one to share, my friend and I.  Back to reading.  But then, as the minutes tick by, announcements are made by enthusiastic and spirited employees.  The time is growing near.  Just after 8 A.M. they come down the line, handing out tote bags.  People begin to stand, stretching their legs after hours of sitting on whatever camp paraphernalia they brought with them.  As some stand, more follow, nobody wanting to be left behind.  I deliver our camp chairs back to the trunk of my car, and we stand.  Soon, they pass out pink, numbered tickets--only a certain number of people will be given numbers to view the jewelery, and we're lucky enough to be two of them!  Tickets in hand, the line becomes restless, but jovially so.  There are no bad attitudes on Goodwill Glitter Sale day! 

They open the doors and an orderly flood--so, maybe more like a churning river--of enthusiastic bargain hunters make their way through the store, to the back, where the magic is said to happen. 

There are two apparent methods when you are among the first to flood into the Glitter Sale.  Both involve planning: what are you looking for?  Anything specific?  Are shoes your weakness?  Handbags?  Looking for formal wear?  Make a game plan--this is my first tip.  Our plan went like this: shoes, handbags, dresses--and jewelery whenever our numbers get called.  How you execute your plan is up to you, and this is where the methods come into play.  The first method involves taking anything you think may be of interest to you and shoving it in your tote as quickly as you can manage.  This technique generally involves more than one bag.  The other technique--and the one that we chose to use--is a less harried approach.  We had our plan, we followed our plan, but we were choosy.  We didn't just shove any old thing into our bags, but were liberal with our choosiness--we didn't take too long looking at any one item, but did employ a certain level of consideration while leafing through the racks.  Both techniques require a certain stage of more careful consideration, generally utilizing a spare bit of corner where you can methodically go through the items you have chosen with a critical eye. 

My take was considerable: a 1950's vintage skirt; a black leather-and-knit, vintage jacket; a mini-skirt for summer; a very unique silver bracelet of undetermined origin, and some other, costume pieces.  I plan to show examples of the pieces with explanations as to what made me gravitate toward them in a future post! 

The final word: The Goodwill Glitter Sale is an advanced level budget shopping experience.  It is not for the faint of heart.  But every employee I encountered was friendly, knowledgeable and eager to help; every shopper was courteous, and I definitely came out of there with some amazing finds.  In those ways, I wish every shopping experience could be like the 27th Annual Goodwill Glitter Sale. 

How about you?  Did you go to the Glitter Sale this weekend? 

For tips from more experienced Glitter Sale veterens, visit their blog:  http://glittersale.blogspot.com/