As a college student, sometimes getting around to shop for clothes can be challenging, especially without a car. However, San Luis Obispo has a fantastic public transit system that makes it easy to get from the downtown area to the Madonna Plaza. Three great stores to check out include Bella B and Charles Shoes in downtown, and Forever 21 over by Madonna.
Take a trip through these three friendly San Luis Obispo clothing stores by visiting my interactive map below.
Bella B is a quaint boutique shop located in downtown San Luis Obispo. They have a variety of clothing at affordable prices, but still give shoppers the unique boutique experience. Amy Tan, a frequent shopper at the boutique, says Bella B is a “super cute little boutique! The sales always keep me coming back for more, and the staff is always so friendly and helpful.”
The next store is something more unconventional than the shops I’ve written about previously – a men’s shoe store. Charles Shoes is the perfect store for the dapper college student, or well-dressed businessman. While the prices are not within the traditional definition of a “college budget,” it’s the perfect place to pick up a new pair of leather oxfords or Clarks suede desert boots. Daniel Potts, a freshman at Cal Poly and Charles Shoes fan says “it’s one of my favorite stores downtown because it’s not like the others. It’s definitely a more upscale shop, but their prices are solid and they also carry things like weird printed socks.”
Forever 21 is a shopper on a budget’s dream, and the one we have here in San Luis Obispo is ecstasy. It was previously a Macy’s, so it’s the size of a department store – much bigger than traditional Forever 21 stores. Like many others, they also feature a men’s section. Moses Howard, a customer at Forever 21, says “I really like the men’s section because there aren’t a lot of stores where you can find men’s clothes with prices that are this cheap. I just bought a pair of black leather combat boots for less than $40. It’s almost unheard of to get a pair of shoes that cheap.”
If you’re ever in the San Luis Obispo area and are in the mood to shop (and let’s be real, who isn’t ever in the mood to shop?), I encourage you to check these stores out or find your own equivalent shops near you.
Dress Relief 