Located in the Tucson Mall at 4500 N. Oracle Road, DownEast Basics is a women's clothing store that has been open since May 2011. (In addition to their Tucson location, DownEast Basics has 5 other stores in Arizona, and you can also shop on their website.) Describing itself as "boutique clothing at affordable prices," DownEast Basics is a small store full of beautiful clothes. Their customers include college students looking for business attire, moms wanting to dress up their wardrobe options, and older women looking for something new and fresh.
Ranging in price from $10 to $75, pieces include t-shirts, jeans, dresses, cardigans, skirts, swimsuits, and accessories. The average price of shirts and skirts is about $20, and there are lots of clearance items, making the clothes quite affordable. They specialize in layering options to keep your wardrobe varied, so there are lots of different styles of camisoles and cardigans.
DownEast Basics gets new clothes every month, with themed sets of attire (February is swimwear!). Each new month has fresh styles and colors, but items coordinate with previous months' sets. Popular items sell out fast, so it's a store to visit often.
The staff was helpful in assisting me to put outfits together, and getting me clothes in different sizes and colors to try on, and they gave me a gift card to make some purchases. I ended up leaving with several cute tops and skirts (quite over the gift card total!), but I just couldn't resist the lovely clothes. I liked that they have lots of tops that are comfortable but still a little dressy -- like lace-edged tank tops and shirts with flowers or detailing on them.
I would definitely recommend DownEast Basics, whether you're looking for a few fun pieces or a full wardrobe. It's the perfect blend of style and comfort, and the ever-changing inventory means that you'll always be able to find something new!