Style It Less » CATO

5 Places To Bargain Shop

Dexie Wharton — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:17:41 +0000

When it comes to bargain shopping there are 5 places I could honestly tell you that I frequent a lot. I actually have more than that, maybe about 10 places to bargain shop but I’m only going to share with you the 5 places I mostly go to for bargain shopping.

CATO

CATO – I’ve only discovered CATO about 2 years ago actually. Before that, whenever I saw the commercials featuring beautiful dresses and tops I thought they were expensive. The first time I visited the store inside a mall I was surprised how reasonable the prices are. I could walk in there, grab 5-6 items and only spend about $50. That’s because I usually go to the clearance racks. The ones that aren’t on sale are still pretty affordable but I learned early on that if I wait at least 2 weeks, some of the items from the regular racks would be on the clearance racks with their respective sale prices. CATO has tops, dresses, jeans, shirts, shoes, accessories and even home decors. Plus Size line is also available. To describe CATO more clearly is by calling it the feminine, grown-up yet trendy version of Forever21. If you’ve ever thought that CATO is for old women I’m telling you now, you are wrong. 30’s is hardly old. Step inside one time, check out their clearance racks and I can assure you that you’ll be inside a CATO store every 2 weeks or so.

TJMaxx

TJMaxx is the quintessential place to shop for brand names in affordable prices. You will find brands like XOXO, Jessica Simpson, DKNY Jeans, Nine West, Unlisted, just to name a few. TJMaxx is similar to ROSS. They pretty much carry the same brands in good prices. I say the more stores like that, the merrier. I’m just hoping one of them doesn’t close like Goody’s which also carried the same brand items in bargain prices. The trick on finding really good stuff at TJMaxx is having patience. When you first enter the store, you’ll see racks right next to each other. It could get overwhelming even to someone like me who likes to dig for bargains. If you decide to go bargain shopping at TJMaxx I suggest you have a clear head, no rushed schedule, and are willing to dig, dig and dig even more.

Old Navy

OLD NAVY is one of my favorite go-to place for jeans. I’ve found other items there of course but I’m happy to say that Old Navy Jeans fit perfectly with my body. I’m blessed with curves and well-endowed bottom. Besides L.E.I and Levi’s jeans, ON Jeans fit me nicely. Old Navy fashion tends to be trendy as well but it has classic aspects to it. Of course you can’t ignore how affordable Old Navy clothing are too. It’s a perfect place for the whole family to shop at.

Wal*Mart

Wal-Mart — If you look beyond the name of Kathie Lee Gifford’s clothing line, you’ll be surprised to discover trendy and stylish items from Wal-Mart. Brands like No Boundaries, Metro7, GEORGE, and surprisingly, Levi’s as well. I have found many fashionable and affordable things from Wal-Mart through out the years. I’ve found dresses, tops, skirts, shorts, and shoes. And like I said, Levi’s jeans and jackets. I give Wal-Mart credit in paving the way for my flats obsession. For a long time I refused to by myself a pair of flats because I prefer heels but one day I saw a blue polka-dot flats for $7 and my flats love-affair sprouted like crazy ever since.

Payless

PAYLESS — This is THE shoe store where I buy my shoes all the time. I love the prices especially during the BOGO sale. What you see in the picture is just 1/3 of the pairs of Payless shoes that’s in my closet. And yes, I wear them all but not at the same time of course .

There you go, my favorite 5 places to bargain shop. I used my own pictures to show you proof that I actually do shop there and I’m not just blogging about them because it happens to be my job that I love. I hope you consider these places if you haven’t already. They’re the best places to shop at, recession times or not. All you really have to do is dig among the clearance racks and have a sense of what you like to wear to represent your style identity.

(Images : Style It Less)

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Bargain Shopping : Brown Retro & Polka-Dot Print Dress

Dexie Wharton — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:41:29 +0000

I found this brown floral/retro polka-dot dress from CATO a few days ago day. I couldn’t put the dress down. The prints are kinda bold, but surprisingly. I like it. The polka-dot belt on the empire waist is in ruching.

I wore it with my brown wedge the other day. Sorry, no pictures yet. Some other time . Anyway, it was on sale for $14.99. I figured the brown would go nicely with Fall.

(Image : Dexie J. Wharton / Style It Less)

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Bargain Shopping : CATO Yellow Tunic

Dexie Wharton — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:26:05 +0000

I don’t know what has gotten into me lately but for some reason I can’t stop thinking about yellow. This coming from a bargain fashionista who vowed never to wear yellow in her lifetime. I used to have a picture of the ’80s in my head whenever I thought about yellow..LOL. Like I said, now I can’t stop thinking about it. I’m drawn to the damn color every time I go shopping. So of course when I saw this yellow square neck tunic with a cord belt the goes around the back I was attracted to it. It didn’t help that it was on sale for $7.99.

I’d probably wear it with jeans or shorts like the pink eyelet tunic that I also bought from CATO, with my CATO gladiator flats. I’m all CATO’d out. Hehe!

(Image © Dexie J. Wharton / Style It Less)

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Bargain Shopping : CATO Green Floral Print Ruched Tee

Dexie Wharton — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:17:14 +0000

Image © Dexie J. Wharton / Style It Less

I found this green floral print ruched tee from CATO on sale for $7.99. You can never have enough tees for the Summer right? The floral print is beautiful and the ruched sides are just added bonus. There’s a keyhole-tie on the back for another cute detail . Very pretty. I’ve already worn it with jeans which I will show you later this week. I’m sure I’ll be pairing it with shorts and skirts as well.

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SIL Shopping Haulage : Belts, Wrap-Tie Purple Blouse & Pink Dress Shirt

Dexie Wharton — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 18:14:59 +0000

This JW Purple Wrap-Tie Waist Blouse used to be $19.99. AAFES(military department store) had it on sale with 75% off yellow ticket PLUS another 20% off at the register so I ended up paying only $4. OH MY Holy Sale!

IZOD Pink Dress Shirt also had the 75% tag plus another 20% off at the register so I only paid $6.60 for it. I love “Men’s Shirt“. It’s so versatile. I wish they had a white one though coz tha’ts really the must-have Woman shirt. One outfit in mind for this shirt came after I bought my skinny belts, which are coming next.

I bought the patent wide-buckle red belt from CATO for $4.99 thinking I was going to use it for the white dress I wore for our Christmas picture. Even though I already have a wide red belt I thought I might as well buy it coz I know I’d still be able to play around with it with different tops and dresses. BUT, I wasn’t really sure how the wideness would work on the white dress so I picked up the 3-pc skinny belt from Wal-Mart for $8 as well. With the black and yellow that came with the set, I know I’ll be able to use them somehow. That’s where the pink IZOD shirt comes in. I plan on wearing the black belt around it sometime. Cool huh. I gotta find a white shirt like it so I can recreate this under $100 tuxedo blouse and black skirt ensemble I posted the other day.

Honestly though, any of those colored patent belts will look good with any blouses or dresses if you’re brave enough(remember my sophisticated catholic school girl look?) to play around with ‘em. I hope you do. After all, fashion is all about experimenting different looks to incorporate your own style and personality. INDEED

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Spring Sale Shopping @ CATO, Already?

Dexie Wharton — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 14:40:39 +0000

Sure why not? So what if it’s Fall. Once I tell you the prices, you’ll surely pat my back . Well, I’m thinking I could wear the tops this Fall too, and then transition them into Spring and Summer. How so? With a blazer/jacket/coat/shrug over the tops, respectively. Here, let me show you.

Teal and Orange colors. I like to get 2 or more of the same thing in different colors. that’s my quirkiness, I suppose. Used to be $11.99 each but were on sale for $1.99 each. Hello! Ruffled v-neck trim and hem. You could see blazer/jacket/coat/shrug over ‘em for Fall right? Then by itself on warmer weather. So really, they’re a good purchase

How about this teal tunic? Ruching on the neck and the way the square neck flows onto the cap shoulders is gorgeous. Again, another top that could transition perfectly on both cold and warm weather. I’m thinking of wearing this with a black trouser this Fall. Originally $15.99, on sale for $4.99. I wish they had the purple color in my size. The ones left were too big. Arrgh, I was pissed.. LOL.

Now this is definitely a Spring/Summer dress, unless of course I find a solid color shrug to wer over it which frankly I’m not even going to try. This print halter dress in teal blue used to be $34.99, but I only paid $5.99 for it. OMGosh! Seriously, CATO has a lot of nice stuff on sale. You just really have to possess my errrr, bargain digging uber-talent. Hehehe.

Style It Less Tip : Don’t be shy on buying stuff for next year’s Spring/Summer season. It’s actually a good time now coz chances are, stores are selling them in bargain prices.

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PTA Meeting Chic Outfit

Dexie Wharton — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:36:14 +0000

I wanted to look chic yet comfy. I didn’t want to look like I was trying too hard to portray a “stylish” Mommy. Yah know. When you are, you just are. No need to wear too much stuff to make a statement. So I opted for an olive green skirt(Goody’s), flower print blue top with sash belt(CATO) and a white kitten heeled sandals(PAYLESS). For accessories, I just wore my rings, silver hoop earrings and of course my black mock croc purse.

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Neutral Look For My CATO $3.99 Long Beaded Necklace

Dexie Wharton — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 01:22:11 +0000

When I saw this single strand long brown tones beaded necklace from my last CATO shopping spree where I bought a blue floral top and brown floral smoked tube top, I knew I had to have it and I knew exactly what to wear along with it. Like Sasha, I sometimes build my ensembles starting from a particular accessory. It’s so much fun, you should try it too sometimes . I wore my brown polka-dot wrap dress with a white skin tight cami underneath since I wore it for Church today. I had to keep the twins obscure yah know . A brown wood bangle graced my wrist and an olive green floral wedge from my friend Krisa for shoe wear. More pictures after the fold.

This whole look cost less than $30, my dahlings… First, check out the shoes. I LOVE IT!

$3.99 Long beads necklace
$4.99 brown polka-dot wrap dress (on sale from original price of $30)
$4.99 brown bangle
Wedge was a gift, Krisa said it was on sale for $8? Can’t remember sorry… or was it $15?

I took a whole picture of me but the shots didn’t show the polka-dot print on the dress so I just deleted them all. It drove me nuts, heh. Some other time, I promise

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Feeling Pretty W/ My Brown Floral Smocked Tube Top

Dexie Wharton — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:05:26 +0000

I’m really starting to like CATO a lot. I’ve bought a lot of stylish clothes from there lately in very affordable prices might I add. First was the white cropped pants which I bought for only $12.99, the white eyelet summer dress which was on sale for $13.99, and then the dark blue MOD fitted blouse for only $7.99. Now here’s another one(among others) I dug out of their clearance rack the other day. This brown floral smocked tube top that actually ties on the back was only $4.99. I wore this yesterday and I felt so pretty I didn’t wanna touch raw chicken to cook for dinner. LOL. Whuuut? My husband didn’t see what I had in the bag when I went shopping actually so when he got home from work yesterday he was like, “oh niice, is that new? Errrr, yeah??? . Anyhoo, I wore it with my low-rise Levi’s jeans and barefoot since we didn’t go anywhere yesterday. Just lounged around the house with my pretty new smocked tube top .

If you noticed in the last picture, I broke the “fashion rule” by not wearing any necklace. I just didn’t feel like it. I thought going bare was much better. Besides, I’m always breaking “rules” anyway which is MY fashion rule.

What do you think? Should I stop breaking the fashion rules?

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CATO Dark Blue MOD Blouse

Dexie Wharton — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 19:45:55 +0000

I’m getting ready for Fall season as I intimated in the TJ Maxx Fall Guide post the other day. I’m also trying to build up my blouses collection to coincide with building up my trouser selections as evident in the black pinstriped and tan brown pants I’ve bought recently. This dark blue color MOD cuffed-button sleeves fitted blouse is from CATO that I found last Friday on sale for only $6.99. As soon as I saw the color I prayed that it was in my size. It is, woohooo. I love it. My husband said I look good in this dark blue color and I can think of a lot of ways to wear this blouse.

With a solid color or printed skinny belt cinched on the waist.

A polka-dot print skirt which I yet have to find.

Solid color skirts.

Trousers, solid or pinstriped.

Jeans too, with skinny belt

Heels or knee-high boots.

Versatility, that’s what I aim for when it comes to styling. Without spending too much money? Icing on the cake my friends. And make it a devil’s chocolate .

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