Little Red Riding Vogue: On the Subject of Dress Shopping

indigoWith Chatham’s Holiday Ball sneaking up on us, it’s a good thing we had Thanksgiving break. But for those of you who couldn’t run home during break to pick up your favorite Homecoming dress, you have the perfect excuse to go shopping. And for those of you who just like any excuse to buy a new dress or new shoes, I completely understand.

Whether you realize it or not, there are an endless supply of shops at your disposal in Shadyside and Squirrel Hill. Walnut Street for example, is just a few blocks away and houses all of your favorite trendy shops.

On Walnut Street you can pick up a retro mini-dress from American Apparel. Dress prices usually range from about $40 to $50. If you’re looking for something more festive, it’s best to opt for one of their many velvet or turtleneck dresses. For something more daring, flaunt what you’ve got in one of their Too-Short Tube Dresses or a colorful spandex jersey dress.

Also in the medium-budget-range, you’ll find Francesca’s. Whether you’re looking for a flowing maxi-dress or an easygoing mini-dress, Francesca’s is the place to go. In comparison to American Apparel’s comfortably simple style, Francesca’s is the store to check out if you’re more into unique prints and textures.

Photo: Indigo Baloch/ First year Meg Scanlon shows off her dress.

Photo: Indigo Baloch/ First Year Meg Scanlon shows off her dress.

If you’ve got quite a bit more money to spend, J. Crew is always an option. It’s the best place on Walnut Street to pick up a chic, high-quality cocktail dress. From chambray to chiffon, they have you covered. The only downside, of course, is the huge price tag. But if you’re looking to splurge and you think you’ll wear it more than once, J. Crew is the perfect place to shop.

As far as shoes go, all of the above mentioned shops carry shoes that usually follow the price range of their individual shops. If you’re looking for just shoes though, there’s always Bondstreet Shoes and Ten Toes. When it comes to prices, Ten Toes is probably a safer bet if you’re looking to save money, but either store will happily help you find your “sole mate.”

When it comes to the style of shoe, it’s really all about your personality—but know that good shoes will take you good places. Obviously, walking up Chapel Hill in kitten heels or wedges through 10 inches of snow isn’t a great option, but what you can do is buy a pair of foldable ballet flats and wear those while walking. You can hide them in your clutch when you aren’t using them and then slip them out whenever you need to walk a lot or your feet just start aching from all the dancing.

If you don’t have time to be running around Shadyside and Squirrel Hill, another option is to take advantage of the shopping shuttles Chatham offers. On the weekends, there are usually shuttles going to malls like The Waterfront, Ross Park Mall, or Pittsburgh Mills. Shop comfortably at stores you know and love like Charlotte Russe, Forever 21, Macy’s and JCPenney.

If you’re the anti-social type, you can always choose the online route and order from a site like Modcloth or Urban Outfitters. Both range in prices depending on each individual product, but you can expect great quality from either shop.

Never feel constricted in your style if you live on campus. There are dozens of stores available to you whether you choose to walk, drive or shop online.

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