Shopping: Websites with Cute, Cheap Indie Clothes

The internet is probably the best thing that ever happened to my wardrobe. In the bad old days I'd scour the malls looking for a cute, unique dress only to run away tearing my hair out. And then it was off to vintage stores, where scouring the racks to find something I liked was exhausting. And when I did find something I liked, it usually wasn't in my size.

These days are no more, and a whole host of indie-inspired websites have popped up catering to the younger generation with unique and blessedly affordable clothing. Check out some of the sites below if you're looking for the perfect frock:

www.modcloth.com
Modcloth was my first foray into indie-inspired websites, and the sheer volume of stuff they stock is amazing. Everything from jewelry to clothing to apartment accessories. There's truly something for everyone here. They update their site every day, but the down side is they run out of things quickly. If you see something you like, buy it; it may be gone tomorrow. The sizing tends to run a bit big, and the quality can be hit or miss. I've bought dresses that stood the test of time and gotten others that were falling apart after wearing them once. Fortunately, they have good customer service and a fair return policy. They also allow customers to review and "like" the clothing.

www.lulus.com
Lulus is another favorite. Their focus seems to be mostly on dresses. Skirts, shirts, and other items are hit or miss, but the good news is lulus stocks some of the same things as modcloth and doesn't seem to run out of them as quickly. They're probably the least expensive of the indie websites; you can get an entire outfit from them for under fifty bucks, and they have an incredible assortment of floral-themed jewelry made from silk or other fake flowers.

www.southmoonunder.com
South Moon Under is one of the few indie-inspired websites that stocks men's clothing as well as women's, so if you're looking to make the men in life as stylish as you are, you'll have good luck here. Their quality is a bit better than some of the other sites; I've never had anything fall apart after a few washings, but their prices are a bit higher. Don't get me wrong; they're still affordable, but plan to shell out a hundred bucks or so to make a complete outfit. Their selection is generally a bit smaller than the other sites, but they don't seem to run out of things as quickly, and they have an excellent sale section.

www.dakotacollective.com
Most of the other indie websites stock things from BB Dakota, so why not go directly to the source? Their prices are often cheaper for the same items than the other sites, and the number of cute things you'll find there is astounding. They don't update their stock much, but things don't run out quickly, and the quality is excellent.

Happy shopping!