By Wesley Anderson, Brenda Bridges, Kimberly Keys, and Ashley Lane

Statesboro, Ga. – When it comes to general fashion, you can find plenty of places to shop in an intimate town – you just may have to look at bit more. Statesboro is full of specialty and corporate stores. Students and Statesboro civilians utilize them both, and even unexpected places, to find all aspects of fashion and keep their closets up to date.

According to Georgia Southern University student Holly Simon, the local Goodwills are great places to shop.

“Believe it or not, they really have some cool stuff; and it’s usually one of a kind so nobody else has it,” Simon said.

Shoppers of Statesboro search “Statesboro Only” stores for special needs. Such a store is Bella Bikinis – a swimsuit shop that just reopened on February 1.

There, a variety of swimsuits, sun dresses, shoes, purses and jewelry can be found.

“I really needed a cute and tasteful swimsuit for a pageant, and I found suits I never would’ve found anywhere else right here in Statesboro,” said GSU Junior Kyla Clark.

Shoppers also can find one-on-one attention and plenty of smiling faces to greet them when they open the door.

Other coveted specialty items, like evening gowns, can be found in Statesboro as well. Stop by Frills ‘n Fancies, Bridal Creations and department stores like Belk and JC Penney if you desire a more formal look for the night.

Frills ’n Fancies is a multi-story refurbished building and home of bridal, bridal party, prom and pageant formals with a wide range of sizes and colors.  It’s a given that bikinis and beaded gowns are not worn on a daily basis; so for the everyday fashionista, you’re in luck as well.  Special everyday clothing can be found at Citi-Trends, Paper Doll and Cobbler’s bench, and of course there’s Statesboro’s mall.

The mall is a place where you can go to find items that are necessary, such as suits for work, brand name t-shirts for school and, of course, for everyone jeans.

You love them and you live them, but you’re still always looking for the perfect pair of jeans. This season more women want jeans that can take them from day to night, weekday to weekend.  In other words you need a 24/7 pair of jeans. They need to look good with heels as well as sneakers.

A good pair of jeans is all about disguising the good and bad.  You want your jeans to be flattering.  This can all be done by adding a few tricks such as darker rinse, bi- level waist jeans that are lower in the front so that the front of the jeans sits on the hips, and higher in the back to ensure full rear coverage.  Other styles are low rise, stretch jeans and flare jeans.

Once you’ve decided on a style for your jeans, you must find a pair that fits. If you have a doubt about the fit of your jeans, use these tips when shopping:

• Look for a waist that buttons easily.
• Make sure your jeans are just long enough to lay flat on the shoes you plan on wearing with them.

Now with these thoughts in mind you should be prepared to go out and shop for those perfect pair of jeans.

After people check you out in your new jeans, their eyes move down further to see you shoes.

Shoes in Statesboro are diverse, mainly because everyone is from a different city than others.  Usually everyone from Atlanta is wearing FILAs. There’s the saying “Forever I Love Atlanta,” which is FILA abbreviated, so people tend to represent their city by wearing those. Another popular shoe brand in Statesboro is Air Force Ones, especially the white pair.  Air Force Ones go with anything.

People also tend to wear sandals or slippers, especially tired college students. Reebok classics are seen around here, but not often.  New balances are popular because they give comfort to a person’s feet and are soft on the feet when walking.

Although shoes can make an outfit better or worse, other accessories usually add greatness when used in moderation. The perfect combination of jewelry, purses, hats, belts and sunglasses can add flare to otherwise plain attire.

Depending on the attire you want to wear, there is usually a store just for that purpose. For instance, in the Statesboro Mall, Sunglass Hut is a place where seekers of sun blockers can find the trendiest of shades. Also Claire’s Accessories Boutique has necklaces, earrings, rings and much more to polish off the look of any get-up.

Sharesiya Rush, Statesboro resident by way of Decatur, Ga., enjoys spending time at these stores to maintain her fashionable appearance.

 “I wear accessories because they highlight the clothing on my body. It makes you look better with what you wear,” said Rush.

For men, there are many specialty stores, such as Lids, to find the perfect hat with the perfect fit.

GSU student Omar Gibson visits this and other similar stores regularly in hopes of finding that perfect accessory for his daily garb. He even has a discount card for being such a valued customer.

 “I wear hats because they make me look good,” Gibson said. “I like to dress right from head to toe, and what better way to top off my gear than with a hat?”

All in all, accessories are the spice in the life of your outfit. There is a time and place for different types of accessories, whether it is a simple string of pearls or extravagant rings. The next time you get dressed, remember one key element: accessorize.

So, if you want to be one of very few with a hot new swimsuit you may want to splurge at Bella Bikini. If you want to make an old outfit new, add an accessory. And if you want to go for a one of a kind find, try one of the two local Goodwill stores.  Whether you’re on a budget or you’re a big spender, Statesboro has all the right places to get your fashion fill.

Relevant Links

§  Statesboro Mall

§  Frills ’n Fancies

§  Goodwill Industries

§  Superpages Statesboro