Where I shop for affordable clothing

It's a known fact - we women are crazy about fashion. Clothes, shoes, accessories, the list is never-ending, and there's guaranteed something on that list at any given time. There's also this misconception that nice things must cost more but I have come to learn that you don't have to spend a lot of money to get quality and look good. Of course, this rule doesn't apply to everything, but it works for a lot of things.

I have found so many affordable clothing items that have withstood time and trends, and are with me 10 years later - yes I have clothes that are that old and still look like new, and don't feel like they're from another "era".

I rarely pay full price for clothing or bags. I buy a lot of items on sale or even clearance. There's absolutely nothing wrong with buying on clearance. However, I try to stay away from super-trendy things and go for the ones that will withstand fashion. Remember what Coco Chanel said: "fashions fade, style is eternal". By now, you should know I don't pay much attention to the latest fashion - I buy and wear what I like and I feel comfortable in, and not just because it's on sale or is "fashionable".

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There are a lot of places that offer a good mixture of trends and classics at affordable prices. My go-to stores are:

H&M has all the style and fashion you could possibly want: edgy, classic, feminine. I buy clothing here, mostly dresses (surprise!), and some espadrilles here and there. A good place for basics like camis, shirts, t-shirts, slacks for the office and so on. It often has sales, as they seem to bring new arrivals constantly.
asos.com. I am obsessed with this website. Truth is, I haven't shopped it in a while, but I used to regularly, and I have only had good experiences. The items I bought years ago are still in my closet and wear to this day, like this dress here. I even bought the dress I got married in via asos.com.
T.J.Maxx in-store and online. I have gone crazy with this store lately - the proof is this dress. T.J.Maxx really is the place for everything on your list and more. The inventory differs from one store to another, but I find it hard to believe you'd leave any of their stores empty-handed.
Marshalls - read T.J.Maxx; same concept, just an extension of more goodness - consider yourself warned!.
Target in-store and online. Another dangerous place for me; if you don't believe me, see this, this and this. With brands like Who What Wear, A New Day and Universal Thread, Target has become very attractive.
Burlington - a great place for bags and accessories and everything else on your list. Keep browsing, you never know what you might find.

Outfit details: the dress I am wearing here is an old Target find, see similar here, here, here or here, shoes here, sunglasses here.