The Walmart Issue

I'm not a particularly big fan of Walmart. I saw that Walmart Watch documentary that came out a year ago and ever since then, I've had an issue with shopping there. The problem is, Walmart is everywhere, and once it has moved into your town, it tends to gobble everything else up and put smaller stores out of business so that you have no choice but to shop there. Well, Walmart came to my town quite awhile ago, and about 2 years ago, our Walmart got supersized. Now, Walmart is full of great bargains, that is indisputable. But when it comes to great fashion, its a lot harder to see Walmart as a viable option. However, by being smart about your purchases, and choosing very carefully, you can make the Walmart bargain system work for your closet as well as your wallet.

What to get from the Walmart clothing section:
*ultra basic structural pieces like solid colored tank tops, tees, or long sleeved shirts
*beach basics like cotton or nylon shorts, two piece swimsuits, sarongs, wraps, draw-string cotton skirts, and sandals
*underwear--they actually have some very cute and sexy novelty lines for cheap--even millionaire actress Drew Barrymore has admitted to buying her underwear at Walmart
*novelty slippers--they're cute, colorful, faux fur covered, and actually very well made
*shoes (see previous posts on shoes)
*winter basics like scarves, hats, and gloves

What NOT to get from the Walmart clothing section
*jeans--they're poorly constructed, often irregular, and ill-fitting
*structured or professional skirts--see above
*blouses--are often made from artificial fabrics that don't breath
*sweaters are woven from unnatural fibers that don't hold up well in the wash


Another place that works to your advantage when it comes to bargain hunting at Walmart is the cosmetics section. They often have great deals on makeups and lotions. In addition to having lower prices than many drugstores, they often have promotions where they sell products in bonus packs. I recently tried the new Pure Makeup by Maybelline (shine free foundation made with water not oil) that came with a bonus gift compact and I also picked up some Maybelline Great Lash Mascara that came with a free eye lash curler.