Being from the mid-west, you get acclimated to a few things: freezing temperatures, long-open spaces, more trucks and Subarus than people, and of course…no source of fashion.
While just about every great city in the world has an H&M, and Uniqlo is finally starting to bring stores to the US, the Midwest is still dead. In the world of fashion, the Midwest is seen almost as a lost cause. Far too rural for high style, and far too desolate for trendy wear. It’s almost as if style shops see the marketing potential of the Midwest as lucrative as that of the Polar Ice Caps.
But, truth be told, the Midwest is not as un-marketable as it may seem. There are residents here that long for an outlet into the rest of the fashionable world, by and large…people who scour the web looking for any and all apparel that cannot, and probably will not, be found here any time soon.
So, what is a Midwestern guy on the up-and-up of fashion to do?
Here are some survival tips:
1. GET TO KNOW YOUR LOCALE – Wherever in the Midwest you may be, you should get to know what stores you have near you. Although they aren’t going to have everything you need, you might as well exhaust every local possibility. Possible local stores: Forever21 (Heritage 1981), Gap, Banana Republic, Urban Outfitters, Express…
2. UTILIZE ARMY SURPLUS STORES – Army Surplus stores are known to have great looking military peacoats, sweaters, jackets, wool pants, etc. And, the best part is, they are all affordable. Find your local Army Surplus Store and usher yourself into a new style.
3. MAKE EBAY YOUR BEST FRIEND – Although you cannot order directly from places such as H&M or Uniqlo, many sellers on Ebay continuously post select items from the stores. Also, be sure to check out Ebay UK, as well as other English-speaking countries.
4. FIND A CHEAP SHOPPER – Find a friend or family member that lives in the vicinity of a shop you like. Also, you can search the web and find professional shoppers that will purchase an item and mail it to you.
5. SHOP ONLINE-SALE DISTRIBUTOR SITES – Websites like www.gilt.com and www.80spurple.com have online super-sales (up to 70% off) where you can order designer clothes at a fraction of the price. Become a member of these sites, and you’ll be alerted before a big sale.
6. UPCOMING VACATIONS – Most vacation spots in the US have an array of H&M like stores (Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando). So, plan accordingly.
7. USE YOUR TAILOR – Finding a certain print of a shirt or material of pants in the stores is the easy part. Finding a modern fit? Not so easy. Make your tailor your best man. Find the cheap styles and fabrics of shirts, and take them to your tailor to see what he can do for you. 9 times out of 10, you’ll end up happy.
Some of the Best On-Line Stores
Good Luck…
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