Whether you have a job interview or a date, the way you dress makes a clear statement about who you are. Unfortunately, many people make the mistake of overspending their budget to make a good first impression.
You don’t have to break the bank to look great, though.
Today, I’m going to show you some of the top cheap clothing stores in Canada. From brick-and-mortar establishments to online stores, these retailers offer great fashion at affordable prices, so you can shop for your entire family!
The Best Stores For Affordable Clothing In Canada
When it comes to shopping for clothes, I generally prefer to shop in person. Shopping online for new clothing can be a bit tricky, as sizes and fittings can vary from one retailer or brand to another. I’ll usually shop online after I find something that fits me well.
Below are some of my go-to retail stores to find affordable brands and great deals. No matter your age, style, size, or gender, these stores are definitely worth checking out.
1. H&M
- Best For: Low-cost formal wear
- Locations In Canada: 88
- Shop Online: www2.hm.com
H&M is a one-stop shop for all of your clothing needs. These stores are huge and feature a wide variety of clothing categories for women and men and even offer kids’ clothing. Whether you’re looking for activewear, loungewear, the latest trends, or classic formal wear, H&M has everything you need to build a killer wardrobe.
The retailer has great prices and offers great quality for the money. Personally, I’ve found that H&M is an excellent place to find low-cost suits and button-down shirts for work. It also has a solid selection of women’s professional wear as well.
You can spend less than $100 and walk out with several sharp-looking outfits that will impress your boss, date, or make a great impression on your client.
H&M has over 4,800 stores worldwide and 88 stores throughout Canada. If you live near a larger city, there’s a good chance that you’ll find a location near you. If not, you can shop H&M’s full collection online. Shipping is very affordable, and H&M Plus members receive free standard shipping on all orders.
2. Forever 21
- Best For: Accessories and club clothing
- Locations In Canada: 44
- Shop Online: www.forever21.com
Forever 21 is an excellent store if you’re looking for low-cost accessories, affordable shoes, and stylish club apparel. Unlike H&M, you won’t find as many professional options here.
However, if you’re planning a night out, looking for trendy clothing, summer dresses, or a new pair of sunglasses, this store offers great sales.
The retailer definitely caters more to women than men and around 70% of the store is dedicated to women’s clothing. However, there is a small men’s section where you can find t-shirts, hoodies, jeans, and other casual wear and accessories.
Forever 21 also maintains a strong online presence, offering massive sales, including up to 80% off end-of-season items and 50% off new arrivals.
3. Zara
- Best For: Beauty products, accessories, dresses, and shoes
- Locations In Canada: 37
- Shop Online: www.zara.com
Zara is a fashion haven for those looking for the perfect blend of contemporary design and affordability. This Spanish-born retailer offers a broad selection of trendy apparel for all genders and ages.
Known for its timely adaptations of runway trends, Zara can help you upgrade your wardrobe each season without breaking the bank. From chic blazers and loungewear sets to dreamy floral dresses, Zara is the ultimate destination for fashion-forward clothing.
Zara offers more than the latest clothes, though. The retailer also has its own line of makeup, perfumes, colognes, and accessories. Like H&M and Forever 21, Zara has a strong online presence, so you can shop online even if there are no stores near you.
4. Winners
- Best For: Great savings on new clothes
- Locations In Canada: 299
- Shop Online: no online store is available
Since its founding in 1982, Winners has become a staple in the Canadian clothing retail scene, offering discounted prices on name brands. The “cheap” clothing at Winners is far from cheap, though. I’ve found some great-quality casual wear here, and I still have several shirts that are good two years later.
In addition to clothing, the retailer also features a wide selection of accessories, shoes, kids’ fashion, and even home goods. You’ll find low prices on select styles, including major brand names.
The only disadvantage of Winners is that the retailer doesn’t offer online shopping. So, if you want to save money on clothes, you’ll need to shop in-store.
5. Roots
- Best For: High-quality lounge clothes
- Locations In Canada: 121
- Shop Online: www.roots.com
If you’re looking for great-fitting loungewear made with high-quality fabrics, Roots is one of the best retailers on the market. They offer a solid selection for all genders and ages, so you can shop for the whole family.
I still have a couple of pairs of sweats I bought from Roots last year that are as comfortable as the day I got them.
I’ll be honest, though- Roots isn’t the best place to find cheap clothes. Many of their hoodies cost $90+, and a simple pair of sweatpants can run as high as $60 or more.
However, Roots offers incredible deals and sales throughout the year. If you like their clothing, I highly recommend taking advantage of a promotional sale.
For example, as I’m writing this, Roots is offering a 60% off sale and offering an additional 20% off on select styles, meaning you could save as much as 80%.
If you plan your shopping around Roots’ incredible sales (which happen frequently), you’ll be able to save money and some very high-quality articles of clothing that will last you for years.
6. Marshalls
- Best For: Finding deals on major brands
- Locations In Canada: 106
- Shop Online: www.marshalls.ca
Whether you’re looking for a great women’s sale, low-cost activewear, cheap pet supplies, comfortable bedding, shoes, accessories, or cosmetics, Marshalls has it all. It’s hands-down one of the best stores to find cheaper clothes and everything else you need, making it a true one-stop shop.
The retail giant excels in offering a wide assortment of clothing and accessories that are constantly rotating.
You’ll also find big-name brands at incredible prices, which makes a trip to Marshalls feel like a treasure hunt. I’ve even heard of some people flipping products online that they find at Marshalls.
- Best For: Affordable clothing for kids + a great sale section
- Locations In Canada: 111
- Shop Online: www.oldnavy.gap.com
Old Navy offers an all-encompassing selection for the entire family, emphasizing style, quality, and affordability. I’ve found that the retailer is particularly great for finding deals on children’s clothing and high-quality outerwear, such as winter jackets, thermals, beanies, and gloves.
The retailer is generally known for its affordable clothing, but you’ll be able to save even more by taking advantage of its seasonal sales (especially during the holidays). It’s the perfect place to shop for stocking stuffers, find flash deals on Black Friday, or save money on kids’ clothing with back-to-school sales.
8. Simons
- Best For: Affordable, stylish clothing
- Locations In Canada: 16
- Shop Online: www.simons.ca
Simons is primarily based in Quebec but also operates a few stores in Ontario, Alberta, and B.C. I like to think of Simons as a higher-quality version of H&M. Simons’ prices are a bit higher than H&M, but the quality is top-notch and worth the slightly higher prices.
Simons is a great place to find unique clothing that’s bound to get you compliments. From modern-fitting suits and blazers to organic linen shirts and colourful dresses, Simons has an excellent selection.
You’ll also be able to find high-quality shoes and accessories, such as wallets, casual jewelry, and personal grooming products like beard oil, cologne, and more.
Simons offers name brands as well as select styles from partner brands like Adidas and Under Armour. The store offers its full catalogue on its website if you prefer online shopping.
9. Joe Fresh
- Best For: Affordable shopping for the whole family
- Locations In Canada: 8 (also available in over 1,400 partner stores)
- Shop Online: www.joefresh.com
Established in Toronto in 2006, Joe Fresh is a fashion-forward brand that offers quality fashion at affordable prices.
The brand, known for its signature orange logo, has a wide array of apparel, accessories, and footwear with something to suit everyone’s unique tastes. From trendy striped dresses and printed blazers and affordable beauty products, Joe Fresh’s selection has something for everybody.
Although the brand only operates eight free-standing stores, its products are available in over 1200 Shoppers Drug Mart locations and 350 Loblaw stores. You can also shop online if you want to avoid a trip to the store.
10. Urban Outfitters
- Best For: Trendy apparel, jeans, and dress styles
- Locations In Canada: 19
- Shop Online: www.urbanoutfitters.com
Urban Outfitters is loved for its mix of on-trend women’s and men’s apparel, handpicked vintage clothing, and a wide array of lifestyle and home products. The brand is typically associated with hipster-chic fashion and features timeless styles that will still look great next year.
Its prices are fair for the quality. While the store offers some higher-priced items (typically outerwear), most of its selection is affordably priced. Urban Outfitters also runs frequent sales, so you can buy more clothes and save even more.
11. American Eagle Outfitters
- Best For: High-quality denim
- Locations In Canada: 111
- Shop Online: www.ae.com
If you walk into most mid to large-sized malls in Canada, you’ll find an American Eagle Outfitters. The brand markets toward a younger crowd, but its styles and sizes are friendly to all ages and genders.
In my opinion, American Eagle has some of the best-quality denim for the price. I have several pairs of American Eagle jeans that I’ve worn on a weekly basis for years, and they still fit great.
Depending on the style, AE jeans can cost upwards of $60 or more per pair. But if you time your shopping around seasonal or holiday sales, you can easily get up to 50% off, which is when I like to stock up.
The retailer also offers some casual chino-style pants, shorts, button-down shirts, t-shirts, and an assortment of women’s casual clothing, as well as accessories like leather belts, bracelets, and rings.
The Most Affordable Online Clothing Stores In Canada
Not everybody has time to shop in person. If you want to save time, here are some of the most affordable online clothing stores in Canada.
12. Amazon
- Best For: Low-cost everyday clothing
Amazon is a great place to find low-cost activewear and unique styles. It’s like shopping at Marshalls or Winners, but everything is at the tip of your fingers. If you have Amazon Prime, you can even receive free two-day or next-day shipping.
The one downside I’ll mention about Amazon is that it’s not the best if you’re looking for name-brand items.
Although many larger brands sell products on Amazon, I’ve found that the selection isn’t quite as wide as you’ll find on the brand’s primary online store. Major brands tend to push customers towards their own online stores, as this helps them avoid Amazon’s seller fees.
However, Amazon is great for finding lesser-known brands which often offer the same level of quality as larger brands.
13. Fashion Nova
- Best For: Great deals on trendy clothing
Fashion Nova features an expansive style selection for both men and women, catering to diverse fashion preferences and body sizes. From fashionable clubwear to good-quality everyday casual clothing and activewear, you’ll be able to find everything you need to revamp your wardrobe.
Fashion Nova also offers a unique ‘Couple Goals‘ collection that offers options for duo styling.
14. Shein
- Best For: Cheap, trendy clothes
Based in China, Shein has become one of the world’s top online retailers for trendy fashion, accessories, shoes, and more. While the website is a bit cheap-looking, most of the products sold by Shein are decent quality.
With warehouses throughout North America, Shein also offers relatively quick shipping, even if you live in one of the more remote regions of the country.
15. eBay
- Best For: Stylish secondhand items
Although you can find some brand-new items on eBay, I’d argue that the platform is better for finding deals on high-quality secondhand items. For example, you can find very lightly used (sometimes never used) designer shoes, jackets, denim, and more on eBay for a fraction of what you’d pay at the store.
It’s not uncommon for people to declutter their closets and find valuable items they’ve never even worn or only wore once for a special occasion. Instead of giving the items away to a thrift store, they’ll try to get some money, even if it’s just 50% of what they originally paid.
The only downside of eBay is that there are a lot of counterfeit items. To mitigate this, I recommend shopping for items that have passed eBay’s authentication screening, where sellers must send their items to eBay’s screening department to verify that they’re authentic.
16. Pretty Little Thing
- Best For: Women’s fashion at affordable prices
Looking for the perfect summer dress? Need a swimsuit for an upcoming cruise? Pretty Little Thing offers a great selection of women’s clothing, whether you’re looking to dress up or dress down. The brand specializes in chic outfits, activewear, and beachwear, offering a wide choice of sizes and styles.
Pretty Little Thing frequently updates its catalogue, and runs seasonal sales, so there’s always an opportunity to save.
Where Is The Best Place To Buy Cheap Clothes Online In Canada?
I would say that Amazon and Fashion Nova are the best places to find deals on online clothing. Both offer plenty of options, fast shipping, allow you to read reviews by real users, and have affordable prices.
Tips For Finding Great Deals On High-Quality Clothing
Here are some tips to help you save even more the next time you decide to update your wardrobe:
- Take advantage of quarterly sales: many retailers run great quarterly sales when the seasons change to get rid of their old styles and make room for their new collections
- Find pre-holiday and post-holiday sales: to boost sales and get rid of extra stock, retailers typically offer incredible sales in the week leading up to a major holiday and immediately after
- Shop at high-end consignment stores that specialize in designer brands: “high-end” consignment shops typically only accept designer or high-quality clothing items, making them a great place to shop
Where Is The Best Place To Find Affordable Clothing In Canada?
If I had to pick one store on this list, I’d have to go with H&M. Each store has a huge selection of men, women’s and children’s clothing.
The store’s main line is constantly rotating and changing while it retains everyday classics, like high-quality tees, activewear, hoodies, socks, and accessories. H&M also has an excellent online store.
Shopping with a rewards credit card can help you save even more in added incentives and awards. Check out my list of the best store credit cards next!
