Different stores for different folks

Today I took my mom to her nearest Nordstrom - and I almost struck out for her entirely.* She came home with two tops, only one of them from NAS. Serious fit problems - arms of tops too tight, knits too thin, necklines too low...
And then we went to Talbots and she found six things that she loved and fit her well. Even Chico's wasn't that good - too drapey and unstructured for her preferences. If Talbots ever goes out of business my mother will never buy new clothes again - she already had her options cut in half after Coldwater Creek closed.

I am so glad that I don't have to do what Angie does, and work with all ages and styles. It's a lot of work!

* There was very little NAS merchandise left; I was really surprised. They must have gotten cleared out last weekend when the sale opened to everyone.

10 years ago

General

12 replies

Latest reply was from

Anonymous

This year there are so many unstructured drapey things in the shops. Older women want structure and that is hard to find right now, especially because they probably also need machine washable and dryable. It's good that different brands design for different body types. We need variety

10 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Yes, you're right, Joy. There's a lot of arty drape but it's all very thin fabrics which isn't that flattering to older bodies unless you're very thin without any excess skin anywhere. And the more traditionally fitted stuff is rather boring, but at least it fits and isn't so thin it shows your bra.

10 years ago

always trying

Veteran

I am disappointed in NAS this year online. Two things I wanted were not available in my size. From what I am seeing on the forum there are a lot of the NAS online stuff being returnned, so maybe it is not so bad that I did not get them anyhow. I ordered a field jacket from TJMAxx. And love it. Have not been shopping for fall much yet, but so far not very happy with much on line or in stores. Seems clothing and shoes everywhere are getting worse. I have a friend who works at Chicos, and she is of the option that in trying to make garments to fit everyone, they fit no one.

10 years ago

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I think your mom and mine may be twins separated at birth.

10 years ago

Sal

Veteran

Yes I agree. I think there is something to be said for a store knowing their target market and designing for it, both in terms of shapes, colours, sizes and fits. If you are not in touch you may find your market disappears, but I think trying to be all things to all people is more risky.

Here in my city there are a couple of retailers, one a more local chain store, and one a boutique stocking several mid-high range brands, that specifically target older women. They do a stellar job and I imagine make good money. They have great colours, shapes and quality fabrics, and also have pieces that suit women like my Mum who has weak hands from rheumatoid arthritis. Her sizing can be a challenge as she is small everywhere with her largest part being her midsection...and she cannot stand any pressure in this area....

Here department stores are struggling because they have tried to suit everyone. There are one or two doing okay, but I see specialized retailers doing much better.

10 years ago

SandyG

Veteran

I'm not exactly old and I think most knit fabrics are too thin this season!

10 years ago

kkards

Veteran

yes, but even at Talbots my mother complains about the cut of many of the pants…..i'd like to get her to try some of the pants from QVC, (so many options of pants that hit at the actual waist, which are the only things she'll wear), but i can't get past her reaction to buying something "from TV'.

10 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

More adventures in dressing while aging: I helped my mom clean out some of her closet. She recently turned 70 so she's had the post-menopausal thicker waist and flatter butt for a while, but I feel like her shape has shifted some more recently. She's got more 'upper tummy' volume in the top of the abdomen, so tops have to fit well in the shoulders and then fall without clinging. She wears knit tops almost exclusively now, even for dressier occasions. And her thighs are skinnier (even though she's still quite active) so a lot of her pants that strictly still fit in the waist are laughably loose through the legs (some of them are leftover from the 90s and a lot looser cut than these days anyway, which just exacerbates it). And because of her varicose veins she doesn't wear shorts anymore or knee-length skirts, just capris and midi skirts. That's a long list of nopes and can'ts, and not a lot of options from what's in store these days!

10 years ago

Anonymous

Add a Dowager's hump to the list of body parts to dress around. My mother wanted blouses with gathers or some fullness in the back to camouflage this problem. Then there is the dreaded VDL ( visible Depends line).

10 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Yes, my mom's starting to get a bit of a upper back hump too. In knits it doesn't matter that much but sometimes her back necklines gape because of it.

10 years ago

Greyscale

Veteran

I remember shopping with my grandmother decades ago and realizing the same thing. Talbots was her go-to store, too, for her classic and polished look.

My mother, who's just retired, doesn't have fashion as a hobby and prefers very practical casual clothes. I'm hoping LL Bean will keep fitting her needs indefinitely. But I imagine stores are always pulled between changing to appeal to a different generation, staying the same, or changing in tempo with the generation that first loved them as that generation ages.

10 years ago

Anonymous

My oldest sister, now in her 70s, loves Talbot's. She's a classic dresser, too.

10 years ago

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