There’s no doubt that men are always looking for ways to dress better. Since the 1960s, magazines such as Esquire or GQ showcase the best in men’s fashion. The biggest stars from the silver screen and the gridiron have worn the latest designs from top designers to demonstrate how simple it is to dress like Idris Eba or Ryan Gosling… provided you can afford to spend a few thousand bucks on one shirt. It’s even more secretive how men can dress better on a budget. What are some of the best places for a guy to find affordable men’s clothing?
Many retailers, both online and offline, offer great deals but lack the quality that backs them up. It’s tempting to buy that designer suit to make yourself feel better about your appearance, but it can be expensive.
Once you know what to look for, dressing on a tight budget is easy. This guide will help you decide where to spend hard-earned money based on the items you want to purchase, such as a tee-shirt or three-piece suit.
You won’t find anything that you will be able pass on to your great-grandchildren. But you can find something decent without spending too much time or money.
An aside : is a great place to find affordable fashion items like the one-of a-kind vintage suit that fits exactly. But, like thrift shopping in general, it all depends on your timing and how much time you invest to sort through the duds to find something that suits you.
The 12 Best Stores to Find Affordable Men’s Clothing for Guys on a Budget
Nordstrom Rack
What it’s good for: Designer suits, Jackets, Coats designer socks, and underwear
Price Point: $$$$
Nordstrom Rack has everything you could possibly need, from Lucky Brand tees to Belstaff outerwear. All at incredible discounts. Ted Baker shirts start at less than $50, Hugo Boss suits are $350, and there is a huge selection of shoes from Allen Edmonds to Johnston & Murphy, Converse and Timberland.
Words of Warning Stick with the online store to avoid having to sort through the random offerings your local store may have.
H&M
What it’s good for: Jackets, affordable jackets, jeans and t-shirts.
Price Point:
H&M is a great example of “fast fashion”, allowing mainstream consumers to get runway looks. They often collaborate with designers such as Karl Lagerfeld and Alexander Wang. H&M’s quality can be inconsistent, so it’s not the best choice for dressing to impress. Sizes can also run small. But with a limited selection of outerwear and suit separates priced over $100 and a few t-shirts under $7, you can experiment with new looks and fill your closet.
ASOS
The variety of styles and sizes available is great for those who want to keep up with the latest trends.
Price Point: $$$
ASOS (pronounced ACE-OSS) is a UK-based behemoth with over 80,000 products, both branded and owned. Imagine H&M, but with more third-party brands. It’s worth checking out for outerwear, pants, sweaters and swim trunks.
Words of Caution: With so many products it is easy to become lost and not understand what you are looking at. Premiere Delivery, a service similar to Prime that costs $19 per year and offers free 2-day shipping.
The target is to increase the number of people who are able to use this language.
www.target.com/c/men-s-clothing/-/N-5xu2f
What it’s Good for: Smart Casual Jackets, starter jackets and sportcoats. Sweaters, modern fitting trousers, button-down shirts. Henleys. A wide selection of straight fit, skinny, big and tall and perfectly acceptable last minute suits.
Price Point: $
Target is a great place to start a men’s wardrobe. But, the company has just launched its most comprehensive menswear line yet: Goodfellow & Co. This exclusive private label is a throwback to Target’s founding in the turn of the century as “Goodfellow Dry Goods.” It responds to today’s menswear revival with stylish, comfortable, and affordable modern takes on classics such as tweed jackets, shawl collar cardigans, or chinos.
Primer’s First Impressions will give you more information about the selection and fit of Goodfellow & Co. Check out our All From Target to see a look that is entirely made up of items from your local Target store.
The entire outfit is available for Prime members with 2-day shipping.
Amazon
You can try it on at home for free. The best prices on name brands like Levi’s or Red Wing. Reviews can help you make informed decisions about budget-friendly items. For budget-friendly fashion, try brands such as Goodthreads and Amazon Essentials.
Price Point: $$$
Amazon offers the same selection as a department stores, but at a much lower cost. Amazon Prime offers free shipping on all fashion items and allows you to exchange or return anything that doesn’t work.
Amazon is a great outlet for many low-cost brands. You’ll recognize them by their prices and the fact that they are too good to be true. But pay attention to reviews. You’re more likely to read the honest experiences of someone who has purchased an item if you see more than a generic comment about a “good product”.
A word of warning: In the Fashion section, check the boxes next to “Our Brands” and “Top Brands.” This will filter out all the cheap junk.
Uniqlo Shirt Jacket and Corduroy Pants
Uniqlo
What it’s good for: Basic styled essentials such as oxford fabric button-downs and sweaters. Also, chinos and selvedge jeans.
Price Point: $$
Uniqlo is a Japanese retailer that should be included in any list of budget-friendly clothing. Uniqlo, often compared to Gap, is more basic. It has simpler patterns, fewer trends, and a greater focus on staples. We love their $30 knits and $20 OCBDs but we’re most excited about their sub $50 selvedge jeans. Some locations offer inseam hemming while you wait.
J.Crew Factory offers a 9″ shorts and a linen shirt.
J.Crew Factory
What it’s Good for: Casual button-ups, modern dress shirts under $300, slim suits, modern, thin shorts, chinos
Price Point: $$
J.Crew Factory, unlike some outlet versions of popular retailers that sell out-of season or irregular items from their parent company’s more upscale line, is a brand all its own. J.Crew Factory, however, is its own brand with its unique line. It shares J.Crew’s stylish aesthetic and decent quality at prices that are surprisingly affordable. J.Crew Factory is always on top of the latest trends. They offer a wide selection, including plaid shirts under $30 and slim-cut suits below $300. Sale prices are regularly 50% and more.
Andrew’s cotton trucker with a waxed canvas from American Eagle, which he purchased on clearance at $35
American Eagle
What it’s good for: Jeans and sweaters. Buttons-up shirts without logos. And outerwear.
Price Point: $$
After its short-lived Martin + Osa smart casual line failed in 2010, the company incorporated that more adult-oriented mindset into its offerings to broaden its target audience. The company’s Martin + Osa line, which was short-lived, failed in 2010. To broaden their target audience, they incorporated a more adult-oriented mentality into its offerings. The quality of the clothing is better than other brands in the same price range (Zara etc.). You just need to be aware of the fact that you should avoid buying products with large logos, and instead look for solid staples.
American Eagle offers quality fashion that will last beyond college, while still maintaining the youthful appeal of the brand.
Gap
What it’s Good for: Versatile shirts and quality sweaters. Jeans, shorts, henleys.
Price Point: $
Seinfeld Jokes aside, [the] Gap is a reliable player on its market since nearly fifty years. Gap’s appeal is maintained by its neutral and wide selection of timeless staples that are affordable, easy to adapt for work or play and guaranteed to endure several seasons. Banana Republic offers upscale, professional looks while Old Navy caters to bargain hunters. Primer uses Gap as a benchmark to compare the quality of an item with its price.
Macy’s
What it’s good for: Business wear (business suits, dress shirts and Levi’s Jeans)
Price Point: $$$
Macy’s has more than 700 locations in the United States. However, it might need a little explanation given the range of quality products they offer. There’s no doubt that budget shoppers can find a stylish wool suit from top brands such as Calvin Klein, Michael Kors Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger for less than 200 dollars. Spend a little more to get a suit professionally tailored. You’ll end up with a suit that looks ten times as expensive.
Warning: Department stores are based on volume and this means that they will have a lot of racks with ugly or baggy designs. Concentrate on the essentials, and ignore everything else.
Andrew’s denim jacket by Zara
Zara
What it’s Good for: Slim-fit buttoned-up shirts in interesting patterns, jackets and fashion-forward blazers
Price Point: $$$
Zara is H&M 2.0 if you are unfamiliar. Zara, based in Spain, revolutionized “instant fashion”, a concept that rushed new products to store in just a few weeks. They preferred new product designs to traditional advertising. Zara’s success is due to its affordable prices and short product lifecycle. If something doesn’t sell, it will be removed from the store within a week. It’s James Bond approved.
We recommend that you keep the money you spend on “aggressive”, fashion-forward pieces to a minimum. Instead, invest in a good quality shirt or pants you can use over and over again. Zara is a great way to incorporate trendier ideas into your wardrobe without having to pay designer prices.
Words of warning: The price is high, because you are paying for designer styles at a lower cost and not for quality. Avoid buying Zara’s classic blazers or chinos. You can get better quality elsewhere.
