11 Stores Like Lulu’s, Tobi, and Nasty Gal

Curious about stores like Lulu’s, Tobi, and Nasty Gal? In recent decades, domestic and international businesses have modernized, becoming increasingly progressive in every facet of their operations.  A happy byproduct of this is that women are assuming more positions of power and authority within organizations, earning more than they used to, and becoming more prominent players in all aspects of business decision-making.  An unhappy byproduct, depending on who you ask, is that added responsibility and enhanced roles within any organization generally mean diminished free time.  The consequences of this, as workers in American and pretty much any other westernized business came to realize in the post-industrial era are that many activities that used to be undertaken at a leisurely pace are now being condensed and carried out in fast-forward–almost as an afterthought as opposed to a primary activity.  

This change has manifested itself in myriad ways.  Instead of going to the local farmer’s market (there likely is no ‘local farmer’s market’ anymore) and admiring the fresh produce on display in push-carts and hand-crafted wicker baskets, we bustle to the nearest mega-mart, hurriedly tossing whatever’s on sale into our shopping carts.  Rather than setting aside an evening to prepare a sumptuous, healthy, home-cooked meal, we dart into Chipotle or hire the services of some meal delivery enterprise to feed us from one night to the next.  

Even on weekends, when time is in seemingly vastly greater supply, the invasive tendrils of corporate life often suffocate leisure activities.  Long walks in the park become quick jaunts around the block.   Dates to catch up with friends and family over hours-long meals turn into “let’s grab coffee,” and passion projects routinely end up shelved for Netflix binges.  

Perhaps the greatest casualty of added work-related time commitments is an activity considered sacrosanct within circles of female employees, regardless of the generation to which they belong: retail therapy.  For many, gone are the days where idle hours could be passed frivolously in boutiques and chic couture shops perusing the racks for the latest en vogue pieces and hard-to-find trinkets.  The entire shopping process has changed, moving from stores to cyberspace, and brands everywhere have caught on.

In an effort to keep up with these changes, women’s fashion purveyors have transformed the shopping experience, making stylish items available at competitive prices with delivery options available that are capable of getting orders to their buyers in mere days, if not hours.  

Curious to see which companies were leading the pack in this shopping shift, we did a bit of digging, and came back with three harbingers that sort of trumpeted the arrival of this new trend in the way that women shop for clothes: Lulu’s, Tobi, and Nasty Gal.

Specializing in fashion for young women, with an array of offerings ranging from shoes and jewelry to tops and dresses, each of these stores boasts a considerable presence as retailers domestically, as well as in a plethora of foreign markets.  

If there’s one unwavering truth in the world of business, however, it’s that where success comes to one, competition inevitably follows.  As such, we wanted to know which companies offered the greatest threat to these three leviathans of ladieswear in the coming years.  Seeking out businesses with similar profiles, we came up with a list of eleven, which follow below, in no particular order of ‘threat’ to the aforementioned companies.  If you find this list intriguing, you may also enjoy our ranking of the Largest Online Retailers in the World.  Perhaps you may even find that one of the companies from this list pops up there as well.

At any rate, without further ado, enjoy our list of stores like Lulu’s, Tobi, and Nasty Gal.

 

11. Misguided

Founded in 2008, this Manchester, UK-based e-commerce firm has made a name for itself via its fresh offerings–showcasing new items daily–and attention-grabbing advertising.  The store maintains active contact with would-be consumers through a variety of social media outlets, and has been able to convert this to over $150 million in sales.  With figures like those, it won’t be a question of if Misguided can join the ranks of the online fashion elite, but when.

 

10. Showpo

The first of the Australian-based businesses to be featured on this list, Showpo that ranks 10th on our list of stores like Lulu’s, Tobi, and Nasty Gal was founded out of a garage in 2010, and was actually originally known by the slightly-longer monicker “Show Pony.”  Though the brand initially had an in-store presence much like that of Dorothy Perkins, the online boom of which we spoke drove the shop to put all of its eggs into the online retail basket.  With strong followings on various social media platforms, and a business performance to match, so far so good.

 

9. Dorothy Perkins

Without question the store with the most history among all of those included on this list, Dorothy Perkins is a London-based store, the number 9 on our list of stores like Lulu’s, Tobi, and Nasty Gal that is founded in 1909 as a women’s hosiery shop.  Since then, the brand has expanded to over 600 different outposts, and now offers online shopping offers for the “fast fashion” consumers that clamour for high-end fashion and low-end prices.  From clothing to accessories, and everything in between, Dorothy Perkins serves as a prime example that you can teach an old dog new tricks.

8. Princess Polly

In their words: “Australia’s best online fashion boutique.”  From our point of view, that kind of assertion is probably best left for another day as part of another list.  What we can say about this vintage boutique’s burgeoning business is that it’s quickly turning heads.  In an aggregation of customer reviews, the store has received a 4.8 out of 5-star score, leading one to believe that the combination of low prices and express shipping in tandem with easy 30 day returns may be the recipe to success in business dealings going forward for the store.  What’s more, Princess Polly’s admirable 500K+ followers on Instagram alone provide reason to believe that the word is out on this rising star from Australia.

 

7. Pixie Market

I feel like this shop’s story is the stuff of female millennial wet dreams everywhere.  Two women go on a trip to an exotic destination, have a life-altering revelation, and realize that they want to quit their day jobs to pursue their entrepreneurial passion, which inevitably ends up involving fashion in Manhattan.  Luckily for shoppers in New York and online alike, this wasn’t the script to a Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants sequel, but rather the manifestation of one of the world’s premier fast fashion shops.  A unique offering of pieces that won’t break the bank has Pixie Market primed to make the jump to the next tier of fashion purveyors in the online marketplace. And now let’s see what’s next on our list of stores like Lulu’s, Tobi, and Nasty Gal.

 

6. Mura Boutique

Perhaps one of the most intriguing aspects of this Australian women’s fashion retailer is their social media presence.  Not only do they boast whopping 800K+ followers on Instagram, an account through which they have amassed over 16,000 posts in the mere six years since their 2011 founding, but they also connect with their consumers via Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and–get this–Snapchat.  Add to this the fact that they ship internationally, and you’ve got the makings of a very successful potential women’s clothing distributor.

 

5. Free People

If the cache that accompanies name association is any basis for judging a brand, Free People may have a bit of a leg up on the competition.  The daughter company of Urban Outfitters, this Philadelphia-based retailer has made a name for itself offering bohemian apparel and lifestyle clothing, shoes, swimwear, and accessories, all at an affordable price point.  With over 30 years of experience in the women’s fast fashion space, Free People’s ability to adapt to changing times is part of what has made it such a formidable brand among stores like Lulu’s, Tobi, and Nasty Gal.

 

4. Dissh

We are continuing our list of stores like Lulu’s, Tobi, and Nasty Gal with Dissh that is an Australian young women’s fashion outfitter recognized for their effortless looks, dresses, body suits, and much more.  The tight-knit boutique feel that this brand evokes truly inspires a quality of approachability in all of the clothing that they sell.  No one likes a try-hard (their words, not mine), and with the overwhelming array of simple, fresh pieces they’ve got on offer, Dissh does a great job of ensuring that their customers maximize how good they can look, while minimizing the time it took for them to put themselves together.

 

3. Gypsy Warrior

With collections that feature “Edgy and Vintage-Inspired” women’s clothing, Gypsy Warrior, the next one on the list of stores like Lulu’s, Tobi, and Nasty Gal offers items to their shoppers that simultaneously tick boxes for affordability and flair.  Pieces showcased on the site carry a heavy new age influence, making the shop particularly appealing to those intrigued by the 70s aesthetic.  The New Jersey-based outfit (the store, not a particular combination of garments within it) boasts nearly one million followers on Instagram, making their social media presence alone a force to be reckoned with in coming years.

2. ASOS

This one is kind of cheating in that ASOS has a men’s clothing division as well.  That being said, as far as fast fashion goes, this trendy, UK-based outfitter is up there with the best in terms of offering sleek new pieces at competitive prices.  When you add to this the fact that they’re always posting new deals and discounts, and offer shipping all over the world, it’s tough to beat a brand like ASOS that’s second on our list of stores like Lulu’s, Tobi, and Nasty Gal.

1. Supré

Founded in 1984 by Hans van der Meulen, Supré, the number one on our list of stores like Lulu’s, Tobi, and Nasty Gal has carved out a niche for itself in the global women’s fast fashion market by offering stylish items at bargain bin prices.  The Australian retailer boasts over 130 brick-and-mortar store locations, and has also become a formidable force on social media, amassing nearly 500K likes on its Facebook page and over 300K followers on Instagram.  With affordable shipping and tons of trendy items from which to choose, Supré is a great option for budget-conscious fashionistas everywhere, and a great example of companies like Lulu’s, Tobi, and Nasty Gal.