Frustrated with winter clothing

Kirti

I know I've been MIA for a long time, but here's why - I'm not having fun with fashion this winter.

Here's a long list of my woes:

1. Sweaters - I can't seem to find non itchy yet warm sweaters. I bought three sweaters - a black shiny drop shoulder one and purple and red scoop neck sweaters, all of which are cotton and reasonably warm, but I'd still love to find something warmer! I want to add atleast 1 or 2 V neck sweaters plus a chunky sweater to the existing 4 sweaters that I have, but NO luck so far.

2. Dark coloured jeans/trousers - After months (about a year) of searching, I finally bought a pair of light wash skinnies from Levi's today. These are currently my only pair of jeans (not counting the coloured ones) and I'd love to find a darker pair or even try my hand at trousers. But I've had no luck so far, even at Levi's. It is so frustrating because my bright pants (red and yellow, plus my floral pants) are feeling too bright this season.

3. Long sleeve t shirts - This is my worst wardrobe hole. I have just three of these and two of those have gotten a bit short. I just can't seem to find t shirts that aren't super flimsy!

4. Boots - I've tried a few pairs so far, but nothing is comfy/the perfect fit. I'm so demoralised that I don't want to try any more. I'd love a black pair.

These are the essentials that I'm lacking. Apart from these, I'd love a pair of winter shorts, a cardigan or two that pair well with my dresses Of course, I haven't found these either.

GAH! I'm starting to hate shopping, since no matter how much I try nothing I find is perfect. I know PPP is important, especially when on a budget and I'm trying my best to stick to it. But it can get so annoying sometmes.

Sorry for all my whining. It's not like I've bought nothing at all - my sweaters are fab, I got two fab scarves, my one pair of jeans is perfect and I just bought a pink cardigan, but the one time that I am sensible and make a list of needs, instead of random shopping, why can't I find stuff?!!! :'(

13 years ago

Shopping

12 replies

Latest reply was from cheryl

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Kiriti - I forget; are you a Canuck? I can point you towards a few non-itchy sweaters (that are cheap!) but they are found in Canadian stores - I found that the cotton-based ones at Superstore (Joe Fresh) are quite non-itchy and hold up well in the wash; and also some of the ones at Reitman's are also quite soft.

@ Trousers - I saw some really nice coloured ones that aren't as bright at Zara yesterday; I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for?

@ Long Sleeve T-shirts - I find that Rickis and Smart Set (again; Canadian stores) carries nice long-sleeve t-shirts if you can find your size!

@ Boots - I can't find a black pair either

We should go shopping together and if we can't find anything, get coffees and muffins!!!!

13 years ago

Adelfa

Veteran

Sometimes everything just clicks, shopping-wise. Sometimes there's an entire season of frustration. (For me there were years during the boho period.) I think this is normal. Wear what you've got that's fab and live to fight another day!

I have no idea what you're looking for but my daughter and I are getting a lot of use out of these both with skirts and pants (both over and under):

http://m.nordstrom.com/s/3298548/

Comfy, get tons of compliments, and don't break the bank!

I feel your pain! Awful to know what you want, have money to spend, and not find anything!

13 years ago

Niefern

Active Member

I do not shop too much, actually it seems I have been shopping too little as my modest closet is full of old, dated and worn out things. But it is true that whenever I go shopping with something very specific in mind (clothes or other things) I often come home empty handed as I do not find it. It is frustrating!

13 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, Kirti - that is so frustrating.

Are you able to wear wool? If so, it is warmer than cotton, and you might find a wool blend sweater at this time of year.

If you can't wear wool or cashmere, then you might have to consider other ways to layer for warmth. For example, you might need some thermal underwear or underlayers. Or camis to go under tops.

For jeans, can you find some in the same brand as your bright skinnies that fit you so well? Or are those not available in a dark wash? Do Gap jeans fit at all? I know jeans fitting can be almost as big a pain as boot fitting, and I do understand your frustration with that.

Speaking of boots, are you looking for flat black boots (like a riding style)? If so, you might check Clarks.

For long sleeved Ts, how about Lands End which I think you can get in Europe? The cotton modal ones are not too bad. http://www.landsend.com/pp/wom.....57_59.html

13 years ago

Anonymous

Chin up beautiful girl, and congratulations on making a real-live list of your clothing needs! That's quite an accomplishment. Being cold will make you miserable about everything else, so let's get you warm first. Can you tolerate cashmere? Maybe you could if you wore a long sleeved T or turtle neck shirt underneath. Even a tissue thin T would help get the wool off your skin. I can't remember if you have a copy of Parisian Chic, but I just looked on the V-necked sweater page, and Ines recommends Eric Bompard and even the Monoprix chain. Maybe you could find some good year-end sales right now. As for the boots, wait until you are in a better frame of mine and then try again. You're got to get something warm and comfortable for your feet. Once you get your basic needs met (warmth) you can start having fun with fashion again.

13 years ago

NancyLee too

Active Member

Like Angie said, leave no retail stone unturned! Sometimes you have to get out of the mall and the usual chain stores. I found excellent tees, sweaters and jeans at - wait for it - Mark's Work Wearhouse! They carry casual and career as well as more gear/outdoor work women's clothing. Of course, things may be fairly shopped over right now, just after present-buying season. But hopefully they will restock such basics soon. Most years they have stylish as well as good-quality warm things. I also found my favorite black suede knee boots there last year, although they don't seem to have as much selection in footwear this year. Again, maybe just bad timing on my part.

13 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Kirti, where have you been shopping?

13 years ago

krishnidoux

Veteran

I am so sorry you feel frustrated with your clothes this season. Winter is a tricky season to dress for, since clothes must meet more than one expectation: provide warmth, be waterproof to some extent, be in line with your climate, be comfortable, be practical, be in line with your lifestyle, be stylish AND be to your taste. Phew!

I have found the best strategy for me, be it in Canada, Morocco, Japan or Central America, has been to layer. For example, I have never been able to find a perfect warm wool sweater that was non itchy and wearable inside and out. But I found many options of thinner, softer blends worn with a cami to fit the bill. I recommend a tighter fitting cami, even Spanx, for extra warmth. Layering gives you more leeway in terms of style, but the downside is that you have to "manage" more items on you. If you make each one as simple as possible, it works better. Anything fussy will be frustrating. For instance a looser cami which straps wander around and down your shoulders, fighting with your bra and creating bumps is not good.

As a person who's lived in various places, I have found my frustration often stemmed from the fact that my wardrobe was generally not adapted to the climate of my current country.
It seemed like it was, but really was not. I was living with huge wardrobe holes, in oblivion. Take a look at your wardrobe and purge out anything that does not correspond exactly to what you need for your present winter climate. Take a look at others in cafés, on the street, in public transportation and notice what they are wearing to get inspiration. Sounds silly but sometimes (and I am the first one to be guilty of this) we are so convinced that what we have is good enough, we forget to take note of the actual needs we might have.

Example: In British Columbia, I spent a couple of years freezing everywhere before I realized my Eastern Canada winter wardrobe was not warm enough: it was all made for over-heated dwellings and public places, as outside, super goose feather coats are worn to meet the elements anyway... but in BC now I needed a whole new range of transitory, "half season" clothing that was also waterproof. In Quebec, the "transitory" season is very short, two weeks or so, therefore I had never paid much attention to the corresponding clothing. Now, I realized it needed to be the foundation.

In Morocco, I needed items to stay warm inside, sometimes more than outside! Homes were made of stone and concrete to stay fresh in Summer; in the Winter they were terribly chilly, whereas outside, under the strong African sun, one had to remove a layer (or two) (and them but them back on in the shade). Needless to say, scarves and pashminas were suddenly my best friends.

Back in Ottawa, I have very little use for my wrapping shawls and long vests. I had to re-invest in coats, boots, jeans.

About dark wash jeans, I recently discovered great ones at Talbot ("signature"), if you have access to that store. The price was very decent, actually (CAN $ 100, which is sometimes less than what you'd pay at Levis).

13 years ago

crazyone

Veteran

Kirti, I think your best bet is actually to buy some of the flimsy long-sleeved tees, and wear them underneath itchy but warm sweaters. I rarely wear warm sweaters directly on my skin anyway--this reduces the need to wash them and provides a layer of warmth. You want the underlayer to be thin anyway so it doesn't add too much bulk.

13 years ago

NancyLee too

Active Member

Sorry, Kirti, just realized again from your website that you're based in France. Try asking one of these bloggers or their readers for local shopping suggestions:

http://afemmeduncertainage.blogspot.ca/
http://www.maitaispicturebook.com/

They are both based in France, and although perhaps older than you, I think many of their readers in Europe as well as North America look for the type of basics that you need. (French women of all ages are so stylish Or they will likely know someone over there who has solutions for you.

13 years ago

Kirti

(website)

Veteran

Hi all, thank you so much for your suggestions! I'm feeling much better now and hopeful that I'll fill my wardrobe holes.

Lyn: Thanks so much for the suggestions but I'm in France! Wish we could go shopping and get coffee together though

Thanks for the suggestion Adelfa! Shipping from Nordies is a bit expensive, so I will look out for something similar here!

Niefern: Totally! I agree!

Suz: I can't wear wool at all, even in blends! I should try cashmere though, it may be softer. I usually wear my cotton sweaters with camis/sleeveless thermal underneath, which works but I would love a warm, chunky sweater, you know?
As for jeans, Gap doesn't work (except for the one coloured pair I have), nor does the brand I bought my red jeans from (Promod) - it is freaking frustrating. I'm waiting for the sales here maybe I should try some fancier brands like 7FAM or Diesel.
I will definitely check Clarks for boots, will have to order online and pay for any returns, but they are a reliable brand.
Thanks for the t shirt suggestions as well, will have a look

Claire: I can't wear wool, but haven't tried cashmere yet. Will try at our local dept. store (Galeries Lafayette) and Monoprix too! Thanks for the idea I'm currently managing well with oxfords and socks, so I might just wait until the January sales to give boot shopping another try. Thanks sweetie

Angie: Wherever I can! H&M, Zara, Esprit, Camaieu, Promod; Benetton...!!!

Krishnidoux: Thank you so much for your helpful comment! I do think I should start relying on layering more, since it is pretty cold here.

Crazyone; I'll try this. Thanks!

Thanks Nancylee! That's a great idea!

13 years ago

cheryl

Veteran

I don't have any words of wisdom for you, but i'm sending hugs of sympathy. I very rarely shop with a list because that kind of puts pressure on me and takes the fun out of it. I much prefer browsing and seeing what jumps out at me.

13 years ago

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