Macy’s Backstage Summer Clothing Haul

I’ll admit: I pretty much gravitate to the same three-ish stores when I’m looking for new clothes. They’re either consignment shops or mark-down stores, otherwise I’ll shop online. Honestly, I hadn’t been to an actual department store in the mall in forever before I decided to go visit Macy’s last week. I had heard about their new Macy’s Backstage floor, and wanted to see what the hype was about.

Macy’s Backstage is the department store’s new “outlet” style shopping experience. You can find clothing, beauty, accessories and home decor from popular brands, but marked down to super affordable prices. Pardon the comparison, but to give you a better idea it has a very T.J. Maxx vibe. It’s really easy to navigate and is organized in a way where it’s simple to find exactly what you’re looking for, at a price that won’t break the bank. You’ll find brands like Steve Madden, Vince Camuto, and Betsey Johnson, along with other brands you’d recognize.

I was given a gift card for $200 with the challenge of refreshing my summer wardrobe on a budget. I was skeptical— that’s typically not a very high budget for a department store. I figured I would probably be able to pick up a top, a pair of bottoms, and maybe some shoes, and have some left over for a necklace or something. I was so surprised how much I was actually able to take home!

As you can see from the video, I mostly focused on picking up tops— I recently went on a denim spree so I didn’t really need any bottoms. But, I did find these really pretty gray floral palazzo pants that I felt could be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. I loved the pattern and wanted it to stand out, so I paired them with a white layered tank top. It has a flouncy layer with criss-cross detailing that makes it interesting enough to pair with jeans on its own, too. The pants were only $16.99, and the top was $14.99! Score!

I took this opportunity to also try a couple new styles out of my comfort zone. This striped off-the-shoulder top is a bit boxy and cropped, which is usually a shape I stay away from, but I thought it would go well with some high-waisted shorts or to balance out tighter bottoms. Plus, it was only $9.99— I had to at least try it on! I ended up really liking how it looked. The material is really light and breezy so this will definitely be a summer go-to, but I can see myself styling it for fall with some jeans or leggings and chunky scarves.

Sidenote: this crossbody purse? Yep, also from Macy’s Backstage. It’s a Nicole Miller New York bag, was only $19.99 and it’s my new favorite. It has two main zipper compartments back-to-back, and I feel like it’s just the perfect size. I can fit my sunglasses, my lotions, my wallet, and my phone comfortably with extra room for other knick knacks. I’ve been using a very similar purse over the past several months, but it was just a teensy bit too small and would be very snug when zipped up. This gives me the same style I love with just a little more space. I love the blush color that matches most outfits and the adjustable strap to keep it hands-free.

Aside from some thin and breezy button downs I picked up for my upcoming vacation (watch the video to see them), I also got three pairs of shoes. THREE. PAIRS. I was so excited that I could fit these into the budget without remotely going over. I picked up some white flats for dressier occasions, which I had desperately needed after tossing my old dressy flats. But I wanted to use the challenge to pick up some other shoes that I could wear with my new summer outfits that added flare to the look.

I’ve been a huge fan of chunky heels lately, so that’s what caught my eye when browsing the shoe aisles. I absolutely loved these cognac heels from XOXO, coming it at $19.99— the straps are actually small flower detailing which I think is so cute. My favorite part of the shoe though? The ankle strap is VELCRO! No buckles or clasps to worry about, making it super easy to get in and out of them.

The other pair I picked up were these slip-on platform heels from Hot Kiss that had the cutout detailing on the front. I actually wore these to a wedding recently, and they were super comfortable. I only started getting sore around the 8-hour mark, which is pretty incredible for heels.

I am still so excited not only was I able to put together a ton of different looks at a low budget for a department store, but now I have a go-to place to shop when I want to add to my wardrobe! I want to give you the opportunity to refresh your closet affordably as well, so I’m giving away a $100 Macy’s gift card for you to use on a new summer outfit or two.

The giveaway is open to residents of the US, 18 years or older. Enter by commenting on this youtube video with what you want to add to your closet with the gift card. Entries close on June 22nd at 11:59PM and winner will be notified via YouTube comment. More details in the description of the YouTube video.

Have you explored your local Macy’s Backstage yet?