With so many shopping choices these days, there are tons of fashion stores to choose from in every budget level.

High-end retailers offer the finest quality merchandise. These upper-end department stores and exclusive designer boutiques offer cutting-edge creations from the best designers.

With excellent service and generous return policies, you can be assured of product quality and a delightful shopping experience. With high-end retailers, however, you get what you pay for. Shopping at these stores will be pricey.

Mid-level retailers are the most common and encompass the majority of clothing retailers, shops, and department stores. They offer a great combination of fashionable designers, reliable quality and overall affordability. While customer service can be a little hit and miss and return policies have limits, the overall shopping experience is usually a pleasant one.

Vintage shops, which offer clothing from 1920 through 1980, are in a class all their own. They offer uniqueness, luxury materials like fur, silk and wool, and wonderful craftsmanship rarely seen today. Vintage sizing may differ from today's sizes, so pieces should be tried on to ensure a proper fit. Also, beware that pricing is subjective and can be disproportionately higher in urban areas.

In this age of sustainability, it's hard to beat the eco-friendliness of second hand shops. For the fashionable and discerning eye there are some great finds not only at brick and mortar shops but also garage sales, flea markets, estate sales, and online auction sites.

The most affordable are the bargain stores, from big box retailers to clearance chains and outlets. With a discerning eye, there are incredible deals to be found, great designs, and fantastic discounts.

The quality, however, can be questionable with pieces often made in South East Asia. Customer service is usually non-existent and stock can often be generic or odd-ball.