Every girl who opens Instagram or Pinterest will likely see a screen flooded with pictures of the cutest outfits from the newest and most adorable boutiques. These trendy little stores offer outfits that we all wish we could have, perfectly accessorized from head to toe. However, there are a couple problems with boutiques: the locations and the costs.

When I want a new, cute outfit, I automatically think about going to a boutique. This may sound like a simple trip to make, but it most definitely is not. In order to shop at most boutiques, you have to drive at least 25 minutes and be prepared to spend at least thirty dollars on just a simple shirt. Yes, the quality of the clothing is better than a regular department store and often much cuter, but is it really worth it?

MOD On Trend: O’Fallon or St. Charles
For many, MOD might not have the issue of location because it is only five minutes from school. However, it still has higher costs and a slimmer selection. When walking in the doors of MOD, you can see everything the little store has to offer. In about ten minutes you could look at every piece of clothing they have. Once you do find something that suits your style, checking the price tag will make you nervous. A simple corduroy skirt rings up at $50, an off the shoulder dress at $56 and a plain pocket-tee is $32. Yes, the clothes are very cute, but the small selection and high price tag makes it hard to complete a successful shopping trip.

MOSS Boutique: Main Street St. Charles
MOSS Boutique for many of us is about a 25 minute drive, so making a spontaneous trip a difficult task. However, this boutique does have a much larger selection. When walking through the doors, you see all the accessories and dress-up options. After walking through an archway, there is a section with cute and casual options. MOSS’s selection is much larger than MOD’s and has a wider variety, but you won’t get a break on the prices. A long sleeve stripped dress will cost you $63, a tight turtle neck sweater $44 and a Sherpa $88. Everything in the store would make your social media enviable, but it’ll hurt your wallet in the process.

Splash STL: Ladue
Splash STL is a very trendy boutique in Ladue, about 40 minutes away. Making a trip to Splash is an all day ordeal. But if you do make it to Splash, everything in this little store looks straight off of a fashion bloggers Instagram. From the tops, to the rompers and onto the swimsuits, Splash makes you look like you are photo ready at any given time. Unfortunately, their prices are pretty much unaffordable for a high school student, making a trip to the store almost pointless. A pair of cutoff jean shorts comes to $84, an off the shoulder ruffled top is $64 and a simple swimsuit top is $99. The options here are the cutest, but the prices are through the roof.

Although the items at these boutiques have the newest and cutest styles, they just aren’t always practical to purchase. Before you drive 40 minutes or drop over $100 on a single outfit, try looking to online stores for more affordable options.