I’m kidding, kind of. I don’t feel deliberately left out of the loop, and I know your lack of Sharesies wasn’t intentional. But I’m going to piggyback off of it anyway, because it illustrates something icky we can’t help but feel in relation to Fashion – something that happens rarely on this blog (and it better not start), but something I see all too often in other mediums: Competition.
Whenever I read the reviews in Yelp’s Thrift/Consignment Stores section, I almost always see something like this:
I wasn’t going to comment on this store because the deals are, like, sooo amazing and I don’t want you girls to take all the good shit! I found this FIRST goddammit, but according to Yelp, you all know about it anyway. So I’m going to brag about all the great stuff I found to discourage you from moving in on my territory, ’cause I’m clearly a better shopper than you.I’m obvs paraphrasing, but you get my drift. Because the Recession’s like, so hot right now, budget shopping – secondhand and otherwise – has a lot of new converts; former fashionistas more comfortable with battling it out at the Barney’s Warehouse Sale than with sharing their coveted secrets. And that is So Not Okay. Part of why I’m a kickass shopper is practice, but another part of it is Karma. Good Shopping Karma comes from being good to your fellow shoppers, from acting in accordance with the notion that Sharing is Caring. I don’t need you to share your tips, trials, finds and frustrations with me: I just want you to share them with each other. (Yes, I sound like a Sesame Street character, no, I don’t care.) So use this blog to do it. And don’t even think about hoarding info on something we can ALL use like a Basic V-Neck Tee again.
Last time my mom and I were at Target, we saw some Tri-Blend Tanks on sale for $6, just like the ones from American Apparel. I was skeptical at first, but upon trying one one, found they fit like a dream. The Target copies are the exact same blend as the A.A. originals – 50% polyester, 25% cotton, 25% rayon – and, I am convinced, the exact same cut. I am still amazed. I am having to refrain from buying three in every color.Approximately seven minutes after receiving Emma’s email, I hauled ass to Target to see what she was talking about. And, um, OMFG. Target’s Mossimo Supply Tri-Blend Tanks weren’t just the spitting image of American Apparel’s Tri-Blend Racerback Tank – they were cut a little longer, and heretofore made to be paired with leggings. Emma was right about the material too; the feel was identical. The only difference, obvs, was the price. I briefly wondered, Is This Legal?
The top two tanks are AA originals, the bottom two are Target. Can YOU tell the difference?
Thank you, Emma. Thank you, Target. And American Apparel: I hope those leggings get copied next, so I can stop getting ripped off buying yours.
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I’m a big believer in shopping karma, AND sharing karma. Give your friends stuff you’re not using and just watch. JUST WATCH! Free stuff will come your way, too.
How does sizing run on the Target version? Does anyone know?
I’m curious about where the Target tanks were made. American Apparel is made in the US, which likely explains the price difference (cost of labour factored in).
Hi CJ,
I am Emma’s mom and I am so proud of my girl! I am going to write about this on my blog. Hoe that’s OK.
Love your blog; I read the whole thing over a few days.
uhhhh hoPe
Soooo, I went to get more v neck bf tees and they were all out of my size in white, hopefuly they have them online, they are on sale for $6 this week AND I will be purchasing a tank or two, thanks!!
you know, i ALWAYS admire your thrift, cheap jap, and i definitely don’t admire AA’s prices (nor dov charney’s vices), but i do appreciate american apparel’s fair labor standards, which undoubtedly are not shared by target. just something to put out there — though i know from experience that even expert thrifters can’t always avoid retail (especially for the basics).
I agree with Lisa and Zhozhi, if we’re going to tout ourselves as savvy shoppers, then we need to take into account our responsibility as ethical shoppers as well. Besides likely having lower labor standards, Target is also a much larger retailer than AA and therefore can work the quantity scale much better to make a profit – they can afford to sell it cheap when they have thousands of locations! This isn’t to say that I research all the labor practices of every store I buy at, but it is something to keep in mind.
http://www.trendyblanks.com
prepare to have your mind blown
$6 AA tri-blend tanks, in all their fair-labor glory