Global : Edgy fashion on a shoestring

Unless she''s shopping at H&M. The Swedish clothing company known for its cheap yet trendy styles opened its second Maryland store in Owings Mills Mall yesterday, much to the delight of fashion-minded women like Maier. "This is the only store where you can afford to be trendy, especially on a student''s salary," said Maier, 24, who lives in Owings Mills. Some people have dubbed the clothing retailer the IKEA of fashion, after the affordable Swedish furniture store. Yesterday at H&M, a basic T-shirt sold for as little as $7 while a super-short corduroy mini skirt went for $14 and cargo pants sold for $19. On the higher end, a powder-blue suede jacket was on sale for just under $50.

The low prices and cutting-edge style have made H&M wildly popular in the United States, where it made its debut in 2000 with a store on Fifth Avenue in New York. That store is known for packed crowds and long waits for dressing rooms. And popular sizes run out quickly. "It''s a riot," said New York retail consultant Howard Davidowitz, who lives a few blocks from the Fifth Avenue store.

"People are constantly pouring into the store every day." The 875-store chain, undergoing a rapid expansion, has 59 stores in the United States and plans to open 10 more this fall, including one in Chicago next week. The company opened its first Maryland outpost at Arundel Mills in February.