Question from the Anti-Shopper

<p>What kind of clothing stores are around the Penn area, especially for the...frugal? I've got one suitcase to move all of my necessary belongings across the entire United States and winter clothing takes up too much room. So, what's available?</p>

<p>Most of the stores right around Penn are not cheap-Gap, Urban Outfitters, A Taylor- but there are always sales. There are many stores in Center city (a walk or bus away)- dept stores, the usual and unusual- and always sales. Target is a cab ride, and the other cheap stores (Wal Mart) are in S Philly which will take you a couple of buses to get to.
Best thrifting is on the "Main Line"- R5 train from 30th Street Station.</p>

<p>There are also tons of cheaper stores in center city, like Old Navy or a Gap outlet.</p>

<p>And honestly you'll get tons of free shirts on campus (if you're really cheap). Also, don't forget that you can pack something up in a box and then ship it to Penn if you have stuff you'll need later. This is usually pretty cheap if you ship ground.</p>

<p>Have to ask - why do you only have one suitcase? If you don't own another one definitely going to be worth buying another...</p>

<p>To be more directly helpful - stores in the immediate area are definitely not cheap. Best places are mentioned around - or Franklin Mills - outlet centre a couple bus rides away. Alternately could just start ordering random things online for discounts (Amazon... Macys...)</p>

<p>if you're really cheap, there's a goodwill store down in 32nd I think</p>

<p>If you're willing to search around a little further away from Philly, I remember there being tons of really cheap outlets in Reading, Pennsylvania (about 2-3 hours away from Philly, depending on traffic).</p>

<p>Well, sdong, the fact that I have only one suitcase is insignificant really. The real problem is that I purchase clothing seasonally; i. e. I have no winter clothing at the moment. I'm actually leaving in July because of one of the early freshman programs, so winter clothing isn't even a thought on the shelves of stores yet.</p>

<p>Wrong. Winter clothing usually arrives in the middle of the hottest weather (like now. It's in the 90s). May be a little later this year due to the economy and trying to move more summer clothes out before the fall/winter,but expect clothes for colder weather soon. Not so good economy= more sales, sooner. You won't need cold weather clothes until Oct/Nov.</p>

<p>I leave next week. I was just shopping and LO! No winter clothes, at least here in good ol' Oregon.</p>

<p>ooh props for the use of "lo!"</p>

<p>As a fellow west coast inhabitant - I would imagine that there must be an outdoor store somewhere around that would sell clothing that would work well in the winter. Philadelphia is definitely way colder than what I was used to for my winters - but it is also closer to the coast and most importantly the southernmost limit of the north-east. Basically - the winters aren't that bad.</p>

<p>Also some outlets (I know for a fact these are in Oregon) might have some surplus stuff left over somewhere in the far back. Otherwise though - you might be looking at trips to buy your clothes later (again, from all the above places)</p>

<p>ya try old nay and gap</p>

<p>Buy the clothes off a hobo for a quarter.</p>