Almost all Forever 21 stores open at 10 a.m., so if you’re serious about shopping, be at the door by 9:50 a.m., Nikes on, hair up in a pony, Starbucks in hand. “If you shop right when the store opens in the morning, everything is organized and in its proper place, and there aren’t usually very many other shoppers,” says fashion expert Stephanie Rygorsky.

Fewer people trying to worm their way through the store means less chaos. Forever 21 is one of those stores that you’re probably used to casually popping into during the afternoon, but you’re much more likely to walk out of there with cuter stuff and better deals if you take an early morning trip.

But just because you get there early doesn’t mean you won’t face challenges. If you really want to get ahead of the game, fashion consultant Lauren Finney recommends browsing the Forever 21 website to narrow down your shopping list before you go. “I will pre-shop online if I know I am looking for something specific,” she says. “Then I print it out and show it to a store associate in the morning” who can show her exactly where it is in the store.

I am so doing this before my next trip to Forever 21.