If you go to some of the most popular malls here in Santiago de Chile, you’ll realize that most clothing items have been marked up when compared to prices in the US. This is usually the norm here either because of import taxes or simply huge profits for the stores. So buying a new wardrobe just after arriving can definitely make a dent on your savings. However, Santiago has an excellent selection of 2nd hand or used clothing shops downtown that are worth checking out…
50% across all imported brands including Zara, The North Face, Columbia, etc.
There’s a huge street in the downtown area called Bandera (not too far from Bellas Artes / Plaza de Armas) that has dozens of second-hand clothing stores. Most of these clothing items come from Europe, Canada, and the United States and they tend to be 50% to 80% cheaper than their retail price. Some of them are in mint condition without any use at all and it’s really common for the owners to misprice some amazing clothing pieces because they’ve never heard of the brand before. I bought the most amazing Zara leather jacket for around $7, kept me warm throughout all winter while looking stunning. Even the wealthy come down to these shops to get the best bang for your buck.
However, if you’re not comfortable with buying used, there’s still H&M which you are more likely to be familiar with 🙂