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Culture Shifts and Dressing Rooms

Windchime

Veteran

I was recently at a Banana Republic store, and there were two male Sales Associates working the dressing room area, which is now shared by male and female customers. There used to be separate fitting rooms for men and women. These SA's were really nice and knocked on my door a couple times to ask if I needed them to bring anything (the women SA's there are also very helpful). But I felt a bit uncomfortable. And for one item I tried, I might have asked a female SA her opinion about a fit question. But no way was I going to ask these guys, no matter how nice they were.

Our local Gap has also switched to one fitting area for male and female customers. But they don't seem to ever staff it, at least not the times I've been there.

Has anyone noticed shifts in fitting room use and staffing? Are female Fabbers comfortable being assisted by male SA's for trying on?

General

31 replies

Latest reply was from MsGreer

Sal

Veteran

I have been assisted by males when shopping for jeans (a specialist jeans boutique) and I was fine - it was not up close more just bringing items and commenting on fit and style.

In the most part the SA's here are women in the women's shops, and a mix of women and men in the men's shops.

I called in to our local department store in the weekend which I am not very fond of at all (Farmers - there is no service at all, the lighting is horrible, the displays are confusing, the range is broad but reasonable but I can never find anything). I know plenty of other people who have great success there.

I tried on three sports bras, a pair of togs on sale, a full price dress and a jacket on sale and had no help or offers of help at all. I walked out feeling cross and disillusioned, vowing never to return. I rarely shop there but

Classically Casual

Veteran

I've encountered male SA's for awhile now, and am fine with them. Even in Sephora recently, and he was wearing more makeup than me. In my experience they've been professional, knowledgeable and helpful. I'm fine with them working the dressing room areas too. Working retail is not easy, and anyone who is good gets my vote and support.

Joyce B

Veteran

I have never had that happen in a fitting room and I don't think I would be too comfy most of the time, particularly if I needed specific advice on fit. On the other hand, maybe male SAs would be less pushy so that could work to my advantage.

columbine(erin)

Veteran

Hmm. I had a really helpful male SA at Loft recently. If I'd been searching for something personal that would've made me uncomfortable. I was just searching for trousers and he tracked down sizes and fits and colors and hung them on the door outside the dressing room, with plenty of warning.

retailgirl

Veteran

I'm fine with a male SA. And I worked in Menswear in several stores and my male customers had no problem with a female SA. (Me) And I would ask a male SA for an opinion on fit, etc.

Diana

Veteran

I've always had good interactions with male SAs, and I have also on occasion used the men's fitting room when the line for women's was too long. Of course I ask first but nobody has ever said no and in fact sometimes at places like gap they'll offer to let you use the men's if you don't want to wait in line.

Windchime

Veteran

RETAILGIRL--Yes, you make a great point that women routinely assist men in clothing stores!

rachylou

Veteran

Yes. I rather don't like it, but at the same time it makes no difference to me, if that makes sense. I usually encounter them at stores staffed by indifferent college-age kids who can't be bothered in the first place, lol.

Gaylene

Veteran

Gender doesn't fuss me, but I detest messy or dirty dressing rooms. If a male SA cleans up the room before I go in, is helpful when I want another size, and is willing to help me assess the fit, I'm a happy camper.

For what it's worth, my favourite tailor is a middle-aged man with an amazing eye for seeing exactly what needs to be tweaked to turn a nice-fitting garment into a great one His methods involve a lot of hands on touching while folding, draping, and pinning. He'd be devastated to think anyone would feel what he does is inappropriate.

Windchime

Veteran

RACHYLOU--Yes. these two were college aged and young enough to be my sons. I just could NOT ask them if something was too tight on my hips!

GAYLENE--Your favorite tailor sounds like a gem. He'd be my favorite tailor, too.

Gigi

Veteran

I guess for me it depends on the store. If the store seems to be tidy and well run, and not a free-for-all, I am OK with it. So I am OK at BR, Loft, and AT (where I often have males assist me). I actually kind of like having a male's point of view. But if the place is messy and lower end, like my local Old Navy, then I am uncomfortable with the co-ed dressing area, though I'm OK with male salespeople.

DonnaF

Veteran

Doesn't bother me too much and prefer it to those cattle call dressing rooms where everyone changes in a single room. Was it Filene's? This was maybe 40 years ago and I still remember!

Aquamarine

Veteran

I've noticed the change too, but it really doesn't bother me. I'm almost too old to care, I guess It takes a lot to embarrass me these days. The male SAs I have encountered have always been very professional, also.

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

Meh. Urban Outfitters had been doing that for years. One time the guy was literally looking underneath each stall to see if the room was empty. XD it doesn't bother me, but I generally don't ask a SA more than if they will grab me a different size.

Carla

Veteran

Actually, the few times a male SA has helped me, he has been MOST helpful. I got a navy cashmere turtleneck at BR because the (male) SA sourced it out for me, even though a previous SA (female) had said 'if it isn't out, we don't have it.' A good SA is a good SA regardless of their gender, and just maybe, a SA working against type might work a little harder.

My aesthetics place has had a male receptionist the past 4 months, and he is great. I don't mind booking my appointments (including things like bikini waxing) with his help.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Bricks and mortar shopping around here is pretty much what Sally describes. At our local branch of The Bay, I'd be happy to find any sales associates!! A clean dressing room would be a miracle.

(And you wonder why I am such a committed online shopper??)

I don't mind male SAs in most circumstances but if I were shopping for a bra or a bathing suit I would feel uncomfortable.

rachylou

Veteran

You know, I don't care so much about physical exposure, but I feel men don't have the same relationship and feelings about clothes. I feel the task of communication is harder. A male tailor is different. The one I've been going to is male. I think it's different because he actually makes clothes and has had the experience of trying to make them fit the female form. It's not just a matter of looking.

Jane

Veteran

I would tend to shy away from male SA and mixed changing rooms. Particularly if the doors aren't close fitting.
I do wonder if this is an age thing, but actually I'm pretty conservative and self conscious, and less than I used to be, so I don't think it's an age thing.

I like being with other women when trying on clothes, particularly if I can engage with a SA in an edgier store like All Saints as I feel i can learn things from them.

Summer

Veteran

I would have felt uncomfortable, too, Windchime. I hope this isn't a glimpse of the future, but suspect that it may well be. If the worst comes to the worst, I will simply do all my shopping online!

bella

(website)

Veteran

I had a sort of similar experience recently. I was in the women's dressing room (so separate dressing rooms for men and women) and this was the part of the store closest to women's lingerie section. I stood in line with all the undergarments that I wanted to try on on my arm and realized that the whole area was being serviced by two male SAs. I did feel very self-conscious and did not ask for further help tracking other sizes.

chirico (Chiara)

(website)

Veteran

I had a similar experience last year. I went to a store to buy a bra. This store is owned to a friend of my husband and his sister. And of course he was the one helping me!
I was a bit embarassed, not because he is male, more because he's husband friend. But he picked up very on point choices after I told him what I needed, and I left with two great bras (I went for one).

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

This is pretty common in my area in free standing stores that sell both men's and women's clothes, like BR and Gap, or H&M. All the dressing rooms are their own independent stalls floor to ceiling/quite high so there are no privacy concerns. I don't usually ask for fit feedback from SAs (honestly, most stores are so busy that the SAs don't have time to do more than let you in and clean up when you're gone), so it hasn't even occurred to me that it might bother me.

I suspect, from a space planning perspective, it's better for the store because they only have to staff one area and they have flexibility as far as the number and gender mix of the people that are trying on things at any one time.

Lenni A

I can recall experiencing this at Gap, Uniqlo, Old Navy, and H&M recently. Several years ago I recall a male SA at the Limited - an exclusively women's store. I remember him because he was extremely helpful in advising me regarding dressing for a particular event. I have to say...I haven't batted an eye at mixed-sex dressing rooms or attendants! It never occurred to me before reading this thread. I'm a 43 year-old mom, so maybe I don't have much expectation of privacy!

Thistle

Veteran

Never had this happen, but like others, trying to find a staffed fitting room is a true HEWI.

I almost never shop in stores anymore. And the last time I did, the fitting rooms were bursting with items and there was no one within yelling distance should I have needed a different size.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I think it depends on the personality and fashion sense of the SA. That said, I really don't want to go into a long hallway of unstaffed fitting rooms with both men and women possibly in them -- so for me, I'd shop elsewhere (or stick to shopping online) if that were my only option. I think stores need to really think about the feeling of privacy all around if they want to sell more clothing and continue with brick and mortar.

rabbit

Veteran

I shop in the same mall stores Laura and Lenni mentioned so I'm pretty used to mixed gender fitting rooms and SA's. But I also don't expect a salesperson to get anything for me or make an exchange while I'm trying on unless the store is dead quiet (and then the fitting room usually isn't staffed anyways).

If I was bra shopping or something I could see how it might be awkward for a minute but not a big deal for me really overall.

Style Fan

Veteran

I have had male SAs and mixed gender fitting rooms at many stores. The Gap, Levis, some small independent boutiques and others. Back in the 1960s I shopped in stores that had one fitting room in England. I remember when I bought jeans in the 1970s there was a change room area that was mixed gender and male SAs. I don't care as long as the SA is helpful.
I also have had make up counter SAs who are male at MAC and other places. They are often wearing make up. I love it.

Dee

Veteran

I've seen this more frequently over the last few years too, but honestly never gave it a second thought until I read your post! In high throughout stores like Old Navy, I rarely ask SAs for assistance anyway and in stores like BR or JCrew, the male SAs have been equally helpful and professional. Including one at the Gap who I asked if I was trying a particular dress on backwards because the shape was so odd...

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I guess I don't shop in the smaller cool stores. The only time I have had a male SA was when I was window shopping/walking and walked into a Tina Turk store in another city. And I wasn't trying anything on, just chatting. That was within the last year.
I guess one advantage with these new style dressing rooms is that it works for people with less conventional gender histories/identities. (Please excuse me if I'm using the wrong language.)

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