Empty Stores - Rant on How I Spent $0 - YouLookFab Forum

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Empty Stores - Rant on How I Spent $0

cjh

(website)

Veteran

Had the day off, so I spent the whole afternoon in the mall today. Really, there are no clothes out there!! I bought a gorgeous pair of pearl and gold (real) earrings, which were rather over the top price-wise compared to my usual jewelry purchases, and the saleswoman sort of flattened the hook part (I noticed after I got home) since she tried to straighten out a "kink", she said. I will probably take them back to be repaired.

Granted we have a limited selection of stores: Macy's, Bergners, Kohl's, JCPenney, GAP, Limited, Old Navy. Most of the selections seemed too young? or casual? for my needs. The blouses were flimsy and wrinkly (that casual unironed cotton look), knits were skimpy fabrics, short-short skirts, items suitable to wear for casual social events, jeans-casual workplaces (not mine), college, MOTG, vibrant retiree/voluteer. But that isn't my life right now... WAAHHH!

What is it with dresses? I can't fit into a dress unless it is 2-4 sizes larger than what I wear in either a jacket or pants. Is it a completely different sizing system? And then usually if the skirt section fits, the top is completely bagging off my top part!

And skirts: gray and black are the only colors allowed?? I have some already.

One item I looked for was a white blouse. In the entire mall, ONE maker had a tailored white blouse, smooth pin-point oxford, but with no darts, curves or details it was just too severe for me! Just a tiny feminine touch, please.

One thing I didn't buy, but maybe should have: I tried on a gorgeous Tahari fitted black cocktail dress at Macy's on clearance for about $45. I might go back and get it tomorrow, since I will attend an evening wedding in Chicago at Germania Place (fancy, I hear) in May.

Although I prefer this one and might order it knowing the one I tried on fit pretty well.
http://www1.macys.com/shop/pro.....sn_results

BUT I was pretty dismayed at the lack of anything of good quality either basic or unique enough to try on. Construction was poor, even in the high-priced items. One place had pants that would be long enough on me, but the hems were crooked and the waistband was not applied neatly - these were marked $80. ?? And since I have not spent one dime on clothing in 2012 (pats self on back), I was willing to pay a little more if I could find good items to fit into my wardrobe needs.

I know you might recommend to shop online, but since I've sent back over 75% of anything I've ever ordered, I have sworn off that for now.

Thanks for listening to my sob story!

Shopping

15 replies

Latest reply was from cjh

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Aww, you poor thing

I share your frustrations in mall shopping - sometimes it just seems like everything isn't your taste!

Are there any smaller stores and boutiques in your area? I have had better luck with them recently!

jenanded

Veteran

How do we have days lke this? Its alter ego is loving EVERYTHING when you have no cash... You have your fabulous earrings (when fixed)... the right thing is coming your way

nancylee

Veteran

Feeling your pain. About a month ago I spent four hours shopping in Tyson's Corner mall in Virginia...suburban DC. Four hours...and a beautiful mall...and I spent nothing! I even had a Nordstrom gift card from Christmas, but everything just seemed sort of awful.

I know it might have been the time of year....but, really, nothing?

It happens.

shoppingisfun

(website)

Veteran

Dude, I had the same problem this weekend! I went out looking for only two things: new loungewear (my sweats all have bleach stains and/or holes), and some shoes. I found neither. All the sweats are on clearance except for the cropped kind, which are stupid IMHO, because they're a hot material, but being short they don't keep you warm! And in the clearance section, they would have, like, 3 XL tops, and one pair of XS bottoms...in a different color. No matched sets! I looked at Old Navy, Aeropostle, and Target.

Yesterday, I went to DSW shoes and found exactly ONE pair of shoes I liked in my size (5.5)...gorgeous suede wedges, perfect, right?? Wrong! As the smallest size, one of them had been the "display" shoe, and had faded to a totally different color than its mate!! Naturally there is never more than one pair in the 5.5, so I was out of luck. I went to Off Broadway Shoes today, and did not even find anything cute enough to try on, except one pair of sandles, but there were none in my size.

I guess we all have days like this...

Anonymous

Oh that stinks! I'm proud of you for not buying sub-standard clothes. Basics are very hard to find and most retailers don't buy for our age group (not to mention good work clothes). Is there a big city nearby where you can go shopping? Their department stores tend to have buyers who seek out better and more fashion-forward items than you'll find in the suburban version of the same store. I feel your pain though. Seriously.

Mander

(website)

Veteran

I have this problem a lot. Plus-size clothing has improved in recent years, but it is still very difficult to find anything in my size that is at all appropriate to my taste or a professional wardrobe. Add in my unemployed student budget and the situation becomes very dire indeed!

I frequently find that my choices are almost always either far too casual (sweats and tees), way too matronly (cutesy appliquéd sweaters and polyester double knit pull-on pants in horrible colors), or excessively trendy and casual (Beth Ditto at Evans, I'm looking at you!). I'm kind of picky about what I like in any case, as well as very self-conscious, so it can be very difficult to find just what I am looking for.

Every time I write a rant like this it makes me want to get busy and learn to sew properly. It would be so much easier to just *make* the perfect item to match the idea in my head!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

It's between seasons right now, so the stores are pretty empty. Give it another month and they will be filling up with new stuff!

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

I am sorry to hear about that!! Isn't it always the way that when you are really looking for something specific, you can't find it.

There are some great things out there. Try some new fits and colors. If you expand your comfort zone just a bit it may open a lot of options.

My problem is the opposite. I like everything I see!!

rae

(website)

Veteran

Oh, I definitely feel you on this! I've been searching for colored skirts, too, and come up empty but for the Halogen pencil skirts and two options at AT - the former didn't fit right, and I have to wait for the latter to go on sale. BR and other stores even advertise Brights! Colours for work! and so on, but don't deliver.

The lack of crisp shirts is a mess as well. Even in stores like Express etc. that more or less provide career wear, I was not impressed by the fabrics. I had to buy some BB shirts off Ebay before I felt the product was actually worth the cost.

Don't *even* get me started on pants. I dragged DH to look at pants at Express with me, and he said, "Why are they all made out of yoga pant material?" Why, indeed.

I hope the other ladies are right that a greater selection is on the way!

Anonymous

That's the story of my life, so I feel your pain and frustration. It's even harder to find nice clothing when you wear a petite size, even though there are many petite women in the U.S. We are the forgotten ones.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

The gals are right. March and April is prime season.

It's nice that you didn't spend a cent! Save up for something that's top notch.

JennyAnne

(website)

Veteran

Bummer that it was a diappointing trip, but now you have even more to spend for spring! I don't know where you live, but could you drive further for better stores? I have a mall much like yours 15 minutes away, but if I drive 40 minutes, I can get to a nice mall with Nordstrom, BR, J Crew, Saks...

Jewell

Veteran

I feel your pain! I could've written this rant myself a few weeks ago. I went to the mall and was SO disappointed with what was there. And, like you, I'm over shopping online for the time being unless I find something that is unavailable in my local store. Hubby was a sweetheart and drove me out to the Tanger outlets this past weekend, and I only found one measly thing that I liked enough to buy.

Victoria

(website)

Veteran

Ruth: welcome to the Petite Club! I have pretty much resigned myself to having almost everything tailored unless I find something in junior section. Express does have jeans that fit me pretty well right off the rack and they even come in short lengh that is just right for me so I have to give them that. Although I have to say that I find more things in smaller sizes where I live now. Before I lived in MN and finding a size o in BR was about as likely as finding a unicorn.
Ladies, if you can shop for clothes online, I seriously envy you. Nothing ever fits my "weird" figure(I can fit anything from 0-4 depending on the brand) so I don't even bother. The only things I buy onlne is maybe accessories

cjh

(website)

Veteran

Lyn, there are a few other choices in another shopping plaza, probably what you would call better quality, namely Chico's, j.jill, Coldwater Creek, and Ann Taylor Loft, but for some reason their styles don't appeal to me that much. One store I haven't shopped lately is Von Maur, so I will give them a shot. Thanks for reminding me there are more fish in the sea!

I live two hrs. From Chicago, and there are some other mid-size towns an hour way in several directions. I love to go on shopping trips to all of them, however when I am busiest at work and seem to need more choices, I have less time to do shopping trips.

Thanks for all your sympathies and commiseration, and yes, I plan to look again as the spring items start filling the stores. Maybe it was just bad timing.