By: Heather Habermehl
Senior, English Education Major
Outfit Description: A charcoal military-style jacket and cable-knit scarf cover a white graphic t-shirt. Jeans and patchwork Chucks complete the outfit.
Fashion Tastes and Preferences: Although everything that the term “fashion” implies seems to be associated with women, men care about personal fashion as well. “My personal style is to try to look sophisticated and original, but at a reasonable price,” Humphrey said. One or two expensive or quality pieces matched with basic items increase the visual value of the total outfit. His jacket and shoes pictured are perfect examples.
College-friendly Copy: Men can afford great style on a limited budget just as well as women can, although there are less locations for men to go to. Humphrey said, “Target has really affordable clothes that are still trendy. I got this T-shirt there for less than $10. Also, T.J. Maxx is worth browsing through.” T.J. Maxx is a discount department store that retails brand name and designer fashions for up to 60 percent off their listed prices. Both T.J. Maxx and Target have store locations along Military Highway in Norfolk.
Off-price Department Stores Offer Savings
Picture a department store. Most likely an image forms of quality clothes with high prices and plenty of selection. Traditional department stores can be too expensive for the frugal college student. However, discount department stores offer that same quality and selection but at half the cost. Ross, T.J. Maxx, Marshall’s and AJWright are a few major off-price department stores in our area. One organization, TJX Companies, owns three of these T.J. Maxx, Marshall’s and AJWright.
These retailers contain the same sections as traditional department stores: apparel, home furnishings and decor, shoes, jewelry and other accessories. However, the stores and sections are much smaller and less organized. Rummaging and patience will be required skills to find great deals, but these are not new concepts to thrifty shoppers. Also, unlike conventional department stores, they do not place a high value on customer service. Shoppers fend for themselves and what’s on the rack is all they have. No two-store locations for each of these retailers are alike; they all carry different items. The merchandise changes weekly because they continuously refresh their inventory. Aside from these downgrades and warnings, the clear advantage to these stores is what makes the trip completely worthwhile: the merchandise at these discount options cost 20 to 60 percent less than they would at traditional department stores. These prices are possible due to the “no frills” attitude of these organizations. They cut costs within the company (the lack of customer service fits here) and employ opportunistic buying strategies to pass savings onto the customers.
The nearest Ross lies within Military Circle Mall off Military Highway. T.J. Maxx also operates a store off Military Highway, in the JANAF Shopping Center. The closest Marshall’s location to campus is within the Haygood Shopping Center on Independence Boulevard in Virginia Beach. AJWright locations are in the process of converting into T.J. Maxx and Marshall’s stores. An AJWright still stands in Wedgewood Plaza on Little Creek Rd. in Norfolk. Most of these stores have other locations throughout Hampton Roads as well.
