Retired in Costa Rica – Shopping for Ropa Americana

If you’re moving to Costa Rica, or even if you’re just coming for an extended visit, don’t think that you have to stuff your entire wardrobe into a limited number of suitcases.

Before I moved here a year ago, I sifted through my clothes, which have fit me since I was in junior high (41 years ago), and gave away many things. It’s a good thing I did, because I have found a fun pastime in Costa Rica: shopping for ropa americana.

Ropa in Spanish means clothes. There are many stores all over Costa Rica that sell ropa americana. I have tried to find out where the clothes items come from – are they used? Are they new and just never sold in American stores?

It’s a mystery that shop owners can’t seem to answer for me in language I can understand. I have seen items with price tags still on them, and the clothing that I’ve bought is always clean and looks unworn. Plus I’ve never seen a sign asking folks to bring in or consign their used clothing.

The great thing about shopping for ropa americana is that you can find great clothes at very cheap prices. And what woman doesn’t like to shop for fashionable clothes at bargain prices?

One of my favorite stores in Boston was Filene’s Basement (the original store). These ropa americana stores remind me of The Basement, except the stores here have dressing rooms so you don’t have to try on clothes in the aisles. And I have found that, for the most part, these ropa americana stores sell better quality clothing than thrift shops back home. This clothing is stain-free and the buttons and zippers are intact.

Whether you’re a fashion snob or are just looking for a serviceable item of clothing, you can find what you’re looking for in one of these stores. They also sell men’s and children’s clothes, and sometimes you can find linens for the house.

I stopped wearing jeans years ago, favoring instead lighter weight pants. When I moved to Costa Rica, I found that everyone wore blue jeans. So I took myself on a shopping tour of the four ropa americana stores in Santa Ana and found a pair of jeans.

The cost? Only $3.00! Of course they were long (at 4’11”, this is the story of my life), so I had to have them shortened. Not to worry. The saleswoman escorted me around the corner to a house where Doña Soila would hem my pants for 60 cents. In the States, a good price for hemming pants was $10.

As I write this, I am wearing a black sleeveless top with a label that says Il Marchese Coccapani that cost me 50 cents. On the same shopping excursion, I bought another sleeveless top with black and white stripes, also for 50 cents. On my trip to the Pacific coast, I found a Tommy Hilfiger pink boat-neck top for 60 cents and a pair of Liz Claiborne shorts for $2.35. The first and last items, the black top and the shorts, have become two of my favorite pieces of clothing.

Of course there are other types of clothing stores here. You can find high-end chain stores at the malls and independently-owned shops with relatively inexpensive clothing in any town. I just happen to like going into a ropa americana store, and not knowing what kind of bargain I’ll find there.

The biggest obstacle to shopping for ropa americana every day of the week is storage. Where to keep my clothes? I live in a two-bedroom apartment, and both closets – both the hanging section and the shelves – are full, as is the bureau. So now I keep my shopping trips down to what I absolutely cannot live without. But when I need something, I can shop for ropa americana with a clear conscience and not break the bank.

Written by Margie Davis who is retired in Costa Rica.

[custom_script adID=97]

If you are serious about buying a home, apartment or land in Santa Ana or Escazu, then please contact us using the simple form below:

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.