The girl with an eye for style and a mind for money loves, loves, loves shopping Garnet in Pacific Beach. Nowhere else can you find cutting edge trends at such incredible prices.

Most penny-pinching fashionistas already know the beach-side secret, but some local chickadees are still spending too much on the same garments found off Garnet. Like a neighborhood-size Forever 21, Pacific Beach boutique row is affordable and fun, but can be exhausting, and offers much space for style error and shopping inefficiency. Let us help you focus your mission for fashion in Pacific Beach with these Insider shopping tips.

Discover the top five fabulous boutiques in Pacific Beach.

Forward Footwear
This women’s shoe boutique has mastered the skill of satisfying female style cravings. Putting unique accessories next to footwear from Steve Madden and Chinese Laundry and high-end (looking) hand-bags in one comforting space has made us ladies swoon. Add in sweet décor with memorable shoe quotes, local art and a crazy tree to boot and this super fab and relatively new boutique has carved out its space on this list. Discover more in Forward Footwear Upgrades Garnet Foot Traffic. (pictured below)

The Closet
I’m sorry, but this place is awesome. With ridiculous prices reaching as low as $3 for a perfect pair of hot pants, I bet the clientele of this place doubled during the recession. Classy older women, preteens, party girls and PB scrubs all make up the eclectic customer base of this huge west end boutique. Yes, of course the fabrics are cheap and won’t last. At The Closet, you sacrifice quality and longevity for quick and easy access to hot trends at a super affordable price. It feels like a cleaner version of LA’s fashion district.

Mileage
Whether you visit the clothing or accessories store (flagship boutique expanded into a second accessories shop last year), Mileage provides you with interesting fashion choices. Nowhere else in San Diego can you find party dresses, stripper shoes, sparkly bras, jumpsuits, lizard wallets and an ‘80s inspired blazer all in one place at low, low prices. It gives off New York’s Canal Street shopping vibe with its cool yet sometimes bizarre selection.

Fabulous Rag Boutique
Gone are the days of crammed shopping at this fabulous rag. The year-old boutique is all grown up now with a new large space, higher price points and even more fashion forward pieces for the high style beach gal. I tell you, the shock I felt when I stopped into the place and could actually browse the yummy selection without rubbing up against someone. The wish of every stylish, personal space-loving lady has come true.

Fresh
Although the store’s space shrunk (lime green shop moved west to a petite boutique setting), the fashions are still must-have. The next hot belt, Ed Hardy inspired bathing suits, cutting edge patterns, acid wash cut-offs and the jersey fabric trends that every PB girl loves are all available at Fresh.

Have you discovered a Pacific Beach boutique you love more than our favs? Leave a comment below and tell us where and why.

Discover more of the best San Diego boutiques in our shopping directory, and keep up to speed on style trends in our shopping blog. For more fashion advice or a wardrobe consultation with a personal stylist, visit vanessavaliente.com.