Are you new to the Tuscaloosa area or simply looking to level up your closet? This is the blog post for you! There are several different styles on display on campus at the University of Alabama but there are enough clothing stores to fit them all! Whether it is game day, an upcoming date party, formal, or just a new look for class, we’ve got tons of recommendations for you!
There are several stores within just a few miles of campus ranging from boutiques to smaller name brand stores, and larger department stores. One of the major shopping hubs that we recommend within a few miles from campus is called Midtown Village. Midtown Village is a shopping store filled with several different price ranges, tons of different styles, and even food for when you need a shopping break! Some of the most well known boutiques in town are here with always changing inventory and a range of clothing that can cater to several customers. I have had lots of success myself looking at these boutiques for a last minute outfit that I need.
Some of the boutiques located in Midtown Village are Az Well, Fab’rik, Lavish, South Boutique, Sparrow, and Vintage Cotton. All of these boutiques have great options for the more dressier events like a date party, formal, or any school event that would require a more dressier look. Many would say that Fab’rik, South, and Lavish are the most popular by name and when you walk in you are almost guaranteed to see an outfit that you have seen someone in your class wearing. All of these boutiques do a great job at keeping up with fashion trends whether it is dresses, sets, shoes, accessories, etc.
From personal experience, I have had great success looking at Az Well for last minute dresses for both game days and events. They have a wide selection of dresses of all styles at a bit cheaper than the other boutiques. Az Well also has a large sales section towards the back which is great if you are on a budget or looking for clothing for an upcoming season.
If you are in a sorority, any of these boutiques would be a great place to shop not only for event clothing but sorority specific themed accessories as well. There are stickers, bags, hats, and many more themed accessories that would be great if you are looking to get more sorority gear. These boutiques carrya wide range of colors which is helpful for fitting themed greek life events.
You can find perfect game day outfits at any of these boutiques ranging from dresses, to sets, skirts, tops, jackets and more. During game season, these stores will often have a gameday section which has red, white, black, and houndstooth patterned clothing. There are also several different shoe options that fit within the game day colors and beyond. Most of the boutiques have an extensive boot section for all your cowboy boot needs.
Another great store for not only game day but any Alabama sporting event that is located in Midtown Village is Alumni Hall. Alumni Hall has a vast collection of Alabama clothing, stickers, accessories, wall decor, memorabilia, and lots more. A great plus is that Alumni Hall offers a 10% discount to all students with a valid student id. Alumni Hall is a great option for more casual sporty clothing perhaps for an away game, basketball game or for more Alabama gear to wear around campus.
In addition to several boutiques and Tuscaloosa native stores, Midtown Village also has quite a few chain retail stores that you may be familiar with from your hometown. Some chain stores are Aerie, American Eagle, Chico’s, Coastal Outfitters, Francesca’s, Lane Bryant, Old Navy, Loft, White House Black Market, and a few more. These stores are a great option if you are looking for a simple piece or maybe purchasing another of a similar style you bought from a store at home. These chain stores are a great option for reliable, not super highly priced clothing that you are most likely familiar with and able to see what the store has in stock from their website. The great thing about these chain stores as well is that they often have coupons on their website for some sort of promotion or could be doing an event that they are aiming at students.
LuluLemon is also a popular newer addition to Midtown Village with several athleisure options that are very popular around campus. Although the price is higher, their clothing is great quality and allows for students to stay comfortable while being active around campus. This LuluLemon store is only a pop-up shop so it is not as fully stocked as most other LuluLemon stores but still serves as a convenient option instead of having to drive to Birmingham to the next closest store.
Apart from Midtown Village, there are also great options for clothing shopping right in downtown Tuscaloosa at the end of University Boulevard. These stores are easily accessible to students and even walkable or students are able to get a Joyride to bring them to these locations. One of the most popular stores among students, especially those that are from the South, is called The Pants Store. This store is located right on University Boulevard next to Rock and Roll Sushi and definitely a necessary stop to see what is newly trending on campus for both men and women. The Pants Store offers a wide variety of clothing from game day, athleisure, dresses, pajamas, shoes, and more. The Pants Store has a large store containing a range of very different styles. There are so many different types of clothing within The Pants Store, you are practically guaranteed to find something that appeals to you. With The Pants Store being so close to campus, they often host percentage events for greek life, giveaways, or coupons to draw in more students. I am a big fan of the accessory section at The Pants Store because it is extensive, always changing, and has options that you may not see everywhere else.
Another popular option for students to shop for clothes on a budget is stores like Target or Walmart which serve as more of a one stop shop for students where they are able to get both their grocery and clothing needs taken care of. Both of these stores are great options for a specific themed event that you don’t want to buy something expensive for because you are not likely to wear it again. Both of these stores offer simple basics for normal prices that can be easily layered or are great options for a new outfit for class. These stores both have large clothing sections for both men and women with nearly all types of clothing that a student would need. If you are looking to renew your wardrobe, need professional clothing, or just want a new piece without breaking the bank, these stores are a great option for you. Especially when students are in a rush to find a specific piece of clothing they need to buy, Target and Walmart are great because within their vast selection, it is likely to find the piece you need.
