The Fugliness of Filene’s
I took the advice of a few commenters yesterday and made a pilgrimage to Filene’s Basement. That crack you Filene’s fans are smoking is totally laced with hallucinogenics, because it’s duped you into thinking that this dire, sloppy selection of discount designer wares is worth your time. There are many reasons why it’s not; for good measure, let’s break down the top three.
Why Filene’s Stinks Like Poo - A Study
1. Big Names, Little Selection
Filene’s has some decent brands, sure. I was initially wooed by the Tahari, C&C California, Free People and True Religion signs gracing the tops of the racks. But upon further inspection, these brands proved a total cocktease. Almost every article of clothing attached to said brands was either boring, bizarre, played out and/or fugly. Not cool.
2. A Not-Hot Mess
An overwhelming amount of clothes at reduced-reduced-reduced prices is hot. A sale rack with no size or brand consistency is not. If the clothes were half-decent to begin with, I might have found the strength to wade through the overstuffed sale section. But sifting through a shit ton of Jones New York and Anne Klein blazers to find one lame BCBG black top isn’t really my bag, baby.
3. A De-motivating Experience
Designer discount shopping is hard, people. But we do it anyway because looking loaded requires a buying a few legit JAPtastic brands every so often. The problem with Filene’s is that it perpetuates the myth that designer discount shopping means always getting the short end of the label stick. An unsuccessful designer discount shopping experience makes us wish we could waltz into Saks, slap down the plastic for a new DVF dress and not think twice. And someday, we will. But it is not this day. Today, we are still broke, which means we must reserve our strength for designer discount shopping that’s worth our while. Century 21 and Loehmanns exist for a reason; because we’re too smart to buy the bullshit at Filene’s.
Tagged: Rip Offs
Kvelling and Kvetching
A-freakin’-MEN to that! I haaaate Filene’s and am sorry you wasted your time there. Those are precious shopping minutes that you will never get back.
@ 1:17 pm on July 9th, 2008don’t like it either…i rarely ever find anything there..stopped going awhile back
@ 2:52 pm on July 9th, 2008I ADORE Filene’s Basement. I’ve gotten amazing finds there: I got a pair of Chloe platforms for $75, a cashmere Chanel scarf for $45, Ralph Lauren polos on sale for $10 each (I think I grabbed 5), a gorgeous pair of oversized LV sunglasses $90, a gorgeous military style blazer from Calvin Klein for $20 on sale, and several pairs of Betsey Johnson underwear on sale for $2 each (which I found online later for over $20 each). I could state so many more finds. I love FB, and I never consider a trip there a waste of time. Heck, right now I’m at work wearing a purple wrap DVF dress that I found hidden between racks for $15, and some black Gucci slingbacks I found for $150.
I think it’s all about the location. The FB near me is totally amazing.
@ 3:09 pm on July 9th, 2008New to your blog, but old had at discount shopping. I would agree with the above, the last few times I’ve been in Filene’s I haven’t found anything, and their shoes and bag section is kind of sucky and overpriced. However in the defense of filene’s fans I have had some wicked finds here in the past(black gucci dress shirt for $50.00 and floor length silk Missoni skirt for $100 come to mind). p.s. If it’s not already on your list of shops to stop in for a quick look round for deals you might want to try Daffy’s if there’s one convenient. Not someplace that you’ll always find something, but, they often have wicked shoes here for rarely more than $50, usually less.
@ 3:18 pm on July 9th, 2008agreed, filene’s is the worst of all of these stores, selection is shit. but how do you feel about neiman’s last call?
@ 3:39 pm on July 9th, 2008New to your site and here to stay. Clicked on your link on LadyBrille’s page. You’re my style guru. Live in L.A. and am using your ideas at my local Loehmann’s.
@ 10:16 pm on July 9th, 2008I am some sort of rare bird because I always find the good stuff…but all of my friends agree with you.
and daffy’s? that’s some seriously fugly crapola, always walk out empty-handed.
@ 11:20 pm on July 16th, 2008You must have an awful one. My FB feeds my Missoni lust, allowing me to amass a collection of delicious Missoni silk scarfs at $10-$20 a pop. One miraculous day a Chanel navy silk scarf… $30. Fell in love with a delicious floral Escada tank and couldn’t justify the $100 price tag. By the end of summer, the price tag had fallen off, so I priced checked that bitch: 55. Are you KIDDING ME? Rag and Bone jeans $15. Acne Jeans $15. the list goes on. JAPtastic for me at least.
@ 1:24 pm on September 5th, 2008i mean $5 not 55 baha yes.. FIVE
@ 1:25 pm on September 5th, 2008Leave a Reply