Besides chocolate, my drug of choice is the bargain hunt. Recently, my need for a fix has become so bad that I rarely buy anything at full price anymore. Some may not have to patience to go through rack after rack to find that one Michael Stars t-shirt, but to me it is a challenge that I gleefully accept. Luckily, I am not alone in this obsession and there are many stores, both actual and on-line, that specialize in discount clothing.
T.J. Maxx is probably my favorite, especially the ones that have special designer sections. In the regular section, I have found many higher-end t-shirts, like those from C&C, Michael Stars, and Rebecca Beeson. And there are often random, un-known brands that are made in the U.S.
Marshalls is also good, especially for handbags and shoes.
Blue-fly.com was the first designer discount site I ever used and it is still a good resource.
Gilt.com is a (free) membership site with sales that change daily.
Ideeli.com is also a membership site (free or fee for early sale access) but carries less up-scale designers than gilt.com.
Unfortunately, much of the clothing these sites carry is not produced in the U.S. or other ideal countries, so it can be a bit hit-or-miss. However, if you are not looking for something specific, bargain shopping can be a fun scavenger hunt!
