https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/big-mall-madnesssadness Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:12:04 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/big-mall-madnesssadness#post-1889025 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 04:56:37 +0000 Christina F. 1889025@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Living in a big city, I get to pop in and out of stores and don’t have to do all my shopping in one go. I both work and live near a few of my favorites. That gives me leeway to try things on and think about them, or take them home and try them a few ways before deciding. </p> <p>If I am looking for something specific, even from a store that has a b &amp; m location near me, I almost always do better online. The physical store will often not have the item or size I want. In addition, a few stores I love don’t have locations here, mainly Nordstrom. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/big-mall-madnesssadness#post-1889017 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 04:29:51 +0000 unfrumped 1889017@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Suz, you’re so right. I planned to be a tabla rasa with a list, but still was hoping for wonderland! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/big-mall-madnesssadness#post-1888948 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 02:15:05 +0000 Suz 1888948@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Malls are the worst!! Totally, totally. And I hear you 500% on one day of shopping and the FOMO and stress of it all. I have really learned to go looking with zero expectations...just as a look-see -- and sometimes to try on brands &nbsp;-- and then back to online. Because it's the only way that works for me aside for those exceptionally miraculous days that do just happen now and again where you walk into a store and find exactly what you wanted...or better yet, exactly what you <b>needed</b> and didn't know you were looking for!&nbsp;</p> <p>I also feel fortunate to have all the suggestions here on the forum and examples of women wearing items -- it really helps me in my city missions.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/big-mall-madnesssadness#post-1888946 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 02:05:27 +0000 unfrumped 1888946@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Dana, thanks. It’s more than a weekend trip for travel time to the places I’d go.<br /> But certainly the general idea is great and I COULD take a shopping vacay if I really wanted to. </p> <p>My sort of epiphany was that “ once is not enough”. So that helped to deflate, in a good way, my fantasy that that mall run held the answers, or the great treasures! ( I’m exaggerating a bit here, for fun).<br /> My local stores, including a dept store, chains, and some boutiques, do cover a range of brands and it’s perhaps just fine to browse those a few times a year with no pressure and combine with online.<br /> Cardiff girl, I will take my scolding. I was poking fun at myself as well and “ sharing” because I think we all have our moments even though we’re supposed to be above all that.<br /> LBD, that center sound very interesting!<br /> Duplication is good and bad. Complete dupe= bad. Same makers but, ohh, my size! Different color! can be great but exhausting to hunt for. For example I was looking at some Rillen Fisher stuff and Rebecca Taylor and I searched through each stores own little collection when I wished it’d all be in one place. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/big-mall-madnesssadness#post-1888893 Mon, 12 Feb 2018 23:35:33 +0000 Sal 1888893@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I know the feeling Unfrumped...malls can be so disspiriting.&nbsp; And I am not a terribly good travel shopper because of the fear of getting it wrong - which is kind of crazy!!</p> <p>Some of the larger mall stores don't have their full range at their nearest store to me - so looking online and then visiting the store to see the merchandise can be frustrating.</p> <p>I do still shop at malls but I keep it to a minimum.&nbsp; My successes are at independent boutiques - either stocking one brand only, or a variety of brands.&nbsp; But I don't think that type of shopping is as common in the US or in Canada? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/big-mall-madnesssadness#post-1888888 Mon, 12 Feb 2018 23:14:30 +0000 Mary Beth (formerly LBD) 1888888@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@Jussie:&nbsp; I noticed that about every Zara! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/big-mall-madnesssadness#post-1888842 Mon, 12 Feb 2018 20:11:07 +0000 jussie 1888842@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like Dana’s suggestion :). Sometimes it’s so great if you can find some small well curated funky boutiques instead of the big mall. Of course it’s vastly more time consuming- as you have drive around all of them and you still may not find anything... and you have to hunt them out first too.<br /> I also can relate to someone’s earlier comment about “lighting that is by turns too dark and too bright” lol the lighting is just so BAD at my local Zara in the changerooms- you can barely even see the clothes! It’s weird. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/big-mall-madnesssadness#post-1888838 Mon, 12 Feb 2018 19:42:29 +0000 Mary Beth (formerly LBD) 1888838@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@Cardiff Girl:&nbsp; AMEN! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/big-mall-madnesssadness#post-1888836 Mon, 12 Feb 2018 19:19:09 +0000 Mary Beth (formerly LBD) 1888836@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Unfrumped, I hear ya and I feel ya - I really do!&nbsp; &nbsp;I am fortunate enough to live in an area that boasts several very nice malls, and a shopping center that has high-end luxury stores.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>But.</p> <p><u>I hate the whole mall experience.</u>&nbsp; Haaaaate it.&nbsp; &nbsp; I used to love it.&nbsp; &nbsp;Then I moved to Okinawa for six years, where the 'malls' were the size of a multi-story department store here, comprised of small open-plan boutiques that sold everything from clothing, hosiery, handbags, to stationery/novelty items, 100-yen items, and housewares.&nbsp; And as I type this, you're probably thinking, "HEY that sounds <u>just like</u> a department store" - yet it wasn't.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p>There is an economy of scale that goes with taking a mall's worth of store varieties, and putting them into a three- or four-story department store-sized space.&nbsp; &nbsp;Each boutique had its own unique flavor, felt very specialized, and was carefully curated.&nbsp; There wasn't a sense of filler items, or endlessly repetitive items that I see when I go from store-to-store at the mall.&nbsp; &nbsp;Everything is kept fastidiously tidy, and well-lit.</p> <p>When I go to a mall here, or a big-box store (Costco, Wal-Mart, etc)... I feel anxious, vaguely resentful, and visually bombarded.&nbsp; From negotiating the parking lot (I still cannot get over how many people will text on their phones while their car is rolling through the lot)...&nbsp; to lighting that is too bright and too dim by turns, to the echoing noise throughout.&nbsp; And having to negotiate through racks of merchandise, much of which caters to a far younger woman who isn't bothered with how high the hemline is, or whether she can wear a bra underneath.&nbsp; &nbsp;It's a big MEH for me.</p> <p>It isn't that I can't go into just about any store and find something pretty good - I just feel like it usually isn't worth the time and effort.&nbsp; &nbsp;At least, not on a regular basis.</p> <p>That being said, I do LOVE Dana's idea.&nbsp; Research online, plan out the must-sees, budget some time for other stores that look tempting, and stop for refreshments.&nbsp; &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/big-mall-madnesssadness#post-1888833 Mon, 12 Feb 2018 18:56:23 +0000 Cardiff girl 1888833@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ladies,I m afraid I’m going to have to be a bit stern here.l am detecting a little bit of body dislike ,this is not on,it’s not you,IT S THE CLOTHES.well cut ,well tailored garments should always flatter.It s not your job to make the clothes look good ,it’s their job to make you look good.There were obviously no such clothes on sale the days that you went shopping which I agree can be dispiriting but think of all the money you saved to spend on nice ,flattering clothes the next time you see them and you will,as Angie said in her post today sometimes it takes time to build a wardrobe.Try and enjoy the process not just focus on the end result.O.K the lecture’s over ,you can go now. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/big-mall-madnesssadness#post-1888831 Mon, 12 Feb 2018 18:50:51 +0000 Dana 1888831@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Unfrumped</b>, it occurred to me while I was reading...do you ever have the opportunity to take a weekend trip to the city for shopping? You could check out the stores online that you want to make sure you visit, and feel more relaxed into the whole process. If you buy something the first day and change your mind, perhaps you could return it the next. And of course, you'd be able to build in lots of time for meals, coffee and snacks.&nbsp;</p> <p>I'm getting pretty psyched up for this trip! What city is your big mall at? It would be fun to join you! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/big-mall-madnesssadness#post-1888827 Mon, 12 Feb 2018 18:32:35 +0000 Style Fan 1888827@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't know what to think about the whiskering on denim.&nbsp; It showed up on the Anthro skirt that Anna tried on, which was disappointing because I loved that piece.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/big-mall-madnesssadness#post-1888804 Mon, 12 Feb 2018 16:13:25 +0000 Thirkellgirl 1888804@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm glad it's not just me. I spent most of a Saturday shopping with my adult daughters last month, and they found several things each to spruce up their wardrobes, but they're tiny and young and can afford to wear a shirt from NY&amp;Co. and I just can't bring myself to do that anymore. I keep an eye on JJill and LL Bean and TJ Maxx once a month or so&nbsp;but mall shopping is just not satisfying nor productive for me. My husband and I find our way to a large mall near DC a couple times a year and I have high hopes every time but rarely find much (sometimes nothing) that's "me." There are a couple stores in the Minneapolis area I like but I only get there once a year now that my daughter has moved back east. We're planning a trip overseas in the autumn and I've already started looking for the few wardrobe items I will need for that because I know I can't just walk in anywhere and find what I want. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/big-mall-madnesssadness#post-1888766 Mon, 12 Feb 2018 12:36:08 +0000 unfrumped 1888766@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>-Debbie, I also like seeing the fabrics IRL - fabric content listings alone don’t do justice.<br /> -Gigi, congrats on restraint! WHBM has “ color cycles “ which are great if a best color is trending, but I also can be tempted to buy JUST for color. I bought a deep pink top last summer that had lacing that’s too fussy for me; after getting it home I could see it was “color goggles “ and returned it.<br /> -Jane and Sisi, I had in retrospect a good day<br /> if viewed from “ research” and self- awareness perspective. Online ordering and returning seems to take a lot of time so it was interesting to see how much time it would take ( me, at least) to wirk my way through the B&amp;M side if I did have access to more options.<br /> -SF, what is it with whiskering?! Jeans are on my list but I did not shop for them on this trip. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/big-mall-madnesssadness#post-1888763 Mon, 12 Feb 2018 12:28:26 +0000 cindysmith 1888763@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I live far from everything now, and on the rare occasion when I do get out to shop at a retail mecca, I just don't see much I like. Here lately, it all feels like a sea of sameness.<br /> It probably doesn't help that I'm weird, or that i like a dystopian flavor to my outfits; add that to my geographical location (rural, farm country) and it just makes for a disheartening experience every time I go to the "local" retail mecca.<br /> Dallas isn't far away, and I usually have decent luck there. However, my checkbook and credit card balances aren't exactly up to that right now (building a house is expensive, who knew?)<br /> So I'm trying accessories to freshen my look a bit. I don't guess I have anything constructive to add to the discussion, only commiseration </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/big-mall-madnesssadness#post-1888747 Mon, 12 Feb 2018 10:14:23 +0000 Style Fan 1888747@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I went to a large outdoor shopping centre in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday.&nbsp; The parking lot was full.&nbsp; I have become a much more focused shopper than I use to be.&nbsp; I have a list but I am open to buying something that catches my emotions.&nbsp; I bought nothing.&nbsp; Nothing.<br />I was looking for jeans.&nbsp; All I saw was skinny jeans and a few not so skinny but called boyjeans that had a lot of whiskering on them (Madewell I am talking about you).&nbsp; And could we please have something other than distressed jeans?<br />I did see some T-shirts at J Crew and Madewell that I liked in great colours (olive green and burnt yellow) but the dressing rooms were packed. &nbsp;<br />On a positive note, the shopping centre is very dog-friendly.&nbsp; They have lots of sitting areas that are shaded with dog bowls of water.&nbsp; Some of the restaurants allow dogs on the outdoor patios.&nbsp; Also, they had free portraits of dogs and their people being taken.&nbsp; We had ours done.&nbsp; Very cute.<br />&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/big-mall-madnesssadness#post-1888744 Mon, 12 Feb 2018 09:19:23 +0000 Sisi 1888744@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I agree with everything that you said. Especially "everything just looks awful". That is the reason nr.1 why shopping has become so frustrating for me. But you found&nbsp;shoes! That's already good news. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/big-mall-madnesssadness#post-1888731 Mon, 12 Feb 2018 07:33:44 +0000 karen13 1888731@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I’m doing the same thing tomorrow. I will be in<br /> the big city and have a few free hours. I want to check out some new to me stores, but am also hesitant to buy something I can’t return. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/big-mall-madnesssadness#post-1888729 Mon, 12 Feb 2018 07:07:11 +0000 Jane 1888729@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can sympathise with your experience. Whenever I forget that I have a similar experience to you at a mall, I take a trip to a city a few miles from where I live, but lose my purpose part way through the trip, then I remember why I don’t do it very often! </p> <p>I have amazing shops where I work, which is super. Almost all price ranges, a great Zara, luxury brands, a Boden, lulemon, lots and lots. But it takes up too much time to shop properly, and so I will window shop or just choose one shop after work to go. I prefer online shopping I think on balance. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/big-mall-madnesssadness#post-1888728 Mon, 12 Feb 2018 07:00:08 +0000 Gigi 1888728@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Unfrumped,&nbsp;</b>yes, I struggle with FOMO too. Just today I visited my closest mall (happens to be the Mall of America, which is monstrously huge and exhausting to walk through) to return some online purchases. I'm in the midst of a style shift, so all kinds of things were catching my eye. It was hard not to buy. I was proud of myself that I did allow myself to try on a few things when I was there, for research purposes, but I did not buy anything because I was being extra picky and also wanted time to mull any possible purchases over.</p> <p>For instance, I was in WHBM, and they have a gorgeous aqua color right now that I love. I had already purchased the colorblock dress and a pair of jeans in the color via an online order, but there is also a colorblock sweater that I would like to have. I saw the sweater in the store and was salivating. Problem is, the colorblock sweater is a short-sleeve sweater, and there is not much of a window to wear that in my climate. Also, how many pieces do I really need with that color before I will get bored with it? So I tore myself away from WHBM and moved on. But it was tough.</p> <p>I think that online shopping fuels the FOMO. We know that there are literally thousands of options available from the convenience of our own homes...so we're always worried that if we buy something on a short trip to the mall, we'll later find something better online and regret the purchase. In a lot of ways I was more content when I was extremely limited in what was available to me!</p> <p><b>Debbie,&nbsp;</b>I have had the same experience at my Macy's. The dressing rooms are an abominable mess, and they smell really bad. I hate trying anything on at Macy's. Our BR is very well staffed and is clean and neat. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/big-mall-madnesssadness#post-1888713 Mon, 12 Feb 2018 04:52:13 +0000 Debbie 1888713@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can visit the mall frequently but find I do a lot less frequently than I did. Several stores that I like will offer on line deals and not in the store so I may go try and then order. Selection at my Nordstrom’s is very limited in comparison to what I see on this forum so I end up ordering. Something I have noticed at Macy’s and BR is the dressing rooms are a mess. Why do people leave the clothes everywhere. I think they need to hire someone just to hang the clothes back up and to me that is sad. I do like wondering through the mall looking at trends and touching the fabric. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/big-mall-madnesssadness#post-1888703 Mon, 12 Feb 2018 04:12:05 +0000 unfrumped 1888703@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I recently had an opportunity to soend several hours in a major city shopping mall.<br /> I’ll tell you what I bought, and you tell me what I was feeling:<br /> Perfume .. and shoes. </p> <p>Well, it wasn’t THAT bad- I didn’t try on bathing suits— but I was looking at pants, trying on a lot of pleated styles- Topshop ( in part because they offer a LOT of high- waisted, pleated styles) , but also Nordstrom, Saks, NM and a host of other stores, and other pants, and I just assumed that I’d find something, but everything just looked awful. As in, I just need to get in better shape— where did my shape go? </p> <p>Aside from the pity- party, I had the following experiences of how frustrating it can be to just “ visit “ a shopping metropolis occasionally rather than be able to browse &amp; re- visit when you want.<br /> - there are so many stores that it’s hard to look for several types of things even on one’ s “ list” and not feel FOMO- as in, I didn’t get to this store or that, or some have the same items but in different colors or sizes,or prices etc, or<br /> — sales goggles are a caution<br /> — many items would be hard to return after doing the “ home mirror” test<br /> — it’s only a “ snapshot “ of what’s available throughout the year.<br /> — there was still a lot of Winter stuff and relative lack of color. </p> <p>I go to this city several times a year but almost never on a schedule that allows shopping. And again, it’s such a “ candy store” that there would never be enough time to check out all the places I MIGHT find something, several times a year, unless I actually lived there. I felt like I could be such a GOOD shopper if I weren’t under time pressure - but maybe that’s a delusion. </p> <p>I did try very hard to stay in the mindset of “ retail research “ as success, and not just that only buying would be successful.<br /> It also got me to thinking about reviewing more critically what I’ve already got and understanding why I do or don’t actually need anything different, and also how not to settle but to enjoy looking but not finding as oh, good, not liking this item means there’s a really fab item in the future. And that maybe online shopping is better than I thought, after all.<br /> As an aside, there was one pair of Topshop paper bag waist pants at Nordies that I almost made the mistake of buying! They really fit and flattered well from most angles so I thought, Eureka! but then noticed that had that way-too-much-fabric-in-the-front thing if I moved a little and I knew that would totally bother me, and that that was The Pants’ problemo and not me. Yes, it’s kind of a pleated- pants hazard in general , but the right pleats at the right place in the right fabric don’t do that, or at least, I know what I tolerate vs not. Saved!<br /> So, that was my mad/good- bad Big Mall day. Back to practicing gratitude and to SYC/outfit creation/ wardrobe culling for a bit. Perhaps I will have some in- home epiphanies or maybe even a Style Shift!<br /> Those of you who either can access vast retail B&amp;M options anytime, or who have occasional visits, please share the good , the bad, the ugly! </p>