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I tried on tons of fall clothes at my local Walmart — here's what I decided to buy
A shopping editor shares the hidden fashion gems she found hiding at her neighborhood Walmart store.
Never in a million years did I ever think I'd find myself in Walmart shopping for clothes, but that's exactly what I was doing last week. I went to get groceries for dinner one night. A sweater caught my eye as I walked to the checkout line; it looked shockingly similar to a J.Crew style I loved, so I said, what the heck, let me just take a look. 50 minutes and two trips to the fitting room later, I'd bought ingredients for tacos and a bunch of really cute clothes ... from Walmart.
Free Assembly Welt Pocket Cardigan Sweater
Free Assembly Women's Plus Patch Pocket Wide Leg Jeans
Free Assembly Women's Half Zip Pullover Sweatshirt
Time and Tru Bootcut Ponte Pants
Time and Tru Space Dyed Pullover Sweater
Sofia Jeans Relaxed Straight Super High Rise Cargo Pants
I can see the naysayers shaking their heads and turning up their noses. I was once one of those people, too. But after a successful online shopping haul during Walmart's Holiday Deals event, I've come to see the light. Walmart's fashion selection is pretty darn stylish and the prices are really affordable. What's not to love?
Now, before you think every single item in the Walmart clothing section is amazing, that's not what I'm saying. I probably tried on close to 20 items and only decided to purchase seven. What I'm getting at is that there are hidden gems at Walmart if you have the time and patience to search the racks, try things on in different sizes, and find the pieces that work for your body. Or if you don't have that patience, here's what I found.
Free Assembly Welt Pocket Cardigan Sweater
I'm ashamed to admit how many J.Crew Emilie lady jackets I bought when the style went viral earlier this year. I don't regret the purchases at all, but if I knew such a good lookalike was hiding at Walmart for a fraction of the cost, I would've saved myself a lot of money. Because this style is cropped, I decided to size up and I really like the fit. I thought I wouldn't love the synthetic fabric blend of this sweater, but I have to admit — it's really soft and it hangs very nicely.
When I couldn't decided between the black and red, I threw caution to the wind a bought both. And you know what? No regrets! In fact, I'm hoping the navy and white striped comes back in stock in my size because I want that one, too.
Like me, lots of Walmart shoppers recognize how awesome this sweater is. More than 100 people have given it a perfect five-star rating. "The quality of the sweater is amazing from the button details to the stitching," one person wrote in their review. "It definitely gives the vibe that it's from a higher-end store. This is one of those pieces that can be styled casually and dressed up. This is closet staple for me. I totally recommend it for the fall and the winter."
Free Assembly Patch Pocket Wide Leg Jeans
I've been wanting a pair of patch pocket jeans for a while now. I love denim in general, but I normally don't buy trendy styles that may go out style in a few months. When I saw the price on these, I couldn't resist. When I put the jeans on, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality. They're thick and sturdy, just like some of the more expensive pairs I already own. I also found the pockets at the front and the wide legs really flattering.
Good news, bad news situation with these jeans. The good news is they're available in lots of sizes and three different colors in plus sizes. The bad news is they're completely sold out in regular sizes. That said, my local Walmart had a ton of the rack, so it's worth checking your store if you like this style.
Given the limited availability of these jeans, it's not surprising that shoppers have lots of great things to say about them. "I can't say enough about these jeans!!" one fan raved. "Seriously, these jeans are so amazing — the quality of the material, the construction and the overall style. I am a woman that shops at Nordstrom and I wear very expensive jeans, so I saw these and I just could not help myself. You have to try them for yourself."
Free Assembly Women's Half Zip Pullover Sweatshirt
You know the "rich mom" aesthetic that's all over social media? That's immediately what I thought of when I saw this green sweatshirt on the rack at Walmart. I'm not usually an athleisure gal, but hey, who doesn't want to look wealthy while also feeling super comfortable? I really like this top for running errands and hanging around the house, but I did need to go up to a size large (I'm usually size small) for my ideal fit.
I plan to wear my olive green zip sweatshirt with jeans when I'm out and about and leggings when I'm curling up on the couch. If you like the matchy-matchy look, then don't miss the coordinating cargo sweatpants.
Time and Tru Bootcut Ponte Pants
If anyone would've told me I could find perfect black work pants at Walmart, there's no way on earth I would've believed them. But now that I've seen them with my own eyes and actually worn them on my own body? I want to shout it from the rooftops: Go buy these pants! They're soft, stretchy and they even have an elastic waistband. They look and feel so incredible. I can easily dress them up with a blazer if I need to go to the office, but they're also comfy enough to wear in my regular life with sneakers and a sweatshirt. I decided to get the short version for a slightly cropped look, but if you want full-length pants go with a longer inseam.
Whoever invented ponte, thank you. The fabric is very forgiving, and these pants fit like a dream. They hug your curves without being too tight and they're thick enough to not show any lumps or dimples. Yes, they're like magic.
Walmart has a few different versions of these popular pants. The pair I purchased appears to be almost sold out, but you can find a similar pair here.
Time and Tru Space Dyed Pullover Sweater
I live in the Northeast and I've convinced myself that you can never have too many sweaters. If we have to suffer through brutally cold temps, might as well look cute and feel cozy while doing it, am I right? I was instantly drawn to the pretty colors in this space-dyed pick. And when I felt the soft material, I knew this baby was coming home with me.
Sweater weather is here, so it's time to stock up. This under-$20 style at Walmart comes in three pretty shades and will look great with jeans, joggers or leggings. I purchased my usual size, and the fit is slightly oversized which I like in case I want to layer a turtleneck underneath on frigid days.
Sofia Jeans Relaxed Straight Super High Rise Cargo Pants
This is the one item I'm most surprised I liked. I would've never considered myself a cargo pants person. In fact, I actually put these back on the rack. But as I continued shopping, I kept thinking about them... and eventually went back to grab them before someone else did. I will say, the inseam on these is crazy long — I'm definitely getting them hemmed. These have turned me into a cargo pants convert.
I was lucky enough to snag one of the last pairs of these pants at my local Walmart. I didn't see many on the rack, and it looks like the army green color is also sold out online. That said, there is a fab faux leather black version you could try. Pair them with a cute going-out top, your comfiest heels and you're ready to hit the town.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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