Have not had a chance to check out On 34th. But a quick Google yielded images of several smart-looking purses at a good price, so I would check it out.

Angie--can you tell me anything else about Talbots? I know the brand, but have never worn it, and find it appealing. I think of college when my roommate said, "my mother is a Talbots woman," and we giggled, because to us that meant fussy sweaters and modest skirts. Today, at 43, it definitely looks like a great American sportswear company.

Angie, Boden had all your colors this summer! Fab pieces.

Angie, I 100% concur with your observations. I'm done with purchases, but J Crew, Anthropologie, and especially Talbots have so many tantalizing items! I believe Marks & Spencer acquired Jaeger a few years ago. So it's not surprising they have excellent merino wool knitwear. Now i wish I had kept my ivory, tie-front merino pullover from Jaeger. Macy's is always on my radar. They got it right with On 34th because they listened to what customers want. I absolutely love the black tiered tulle skirt I purchased. Totally agree about alpaca and mohair. Both were banned from my knitwear years ago. Merino, cashmere, or cotton/cotton modal knitwear for me. Finally, a message for Nordstrom. Please, please, please keep Wit and Wisdom around for the long term! Do not let them suffer the discontinuation fate like Classiques Entier, Trouve, and Sejour.

Thanks for sharing your observations. I have done only a little in-person shopping lately, as typically they still don't carry the stock/sizes Im looking for. But loving the metallics, urban/grunge & leathers, reds/pinks/plums and patterns! As Ive been getting more fit I am needing to replace much of my wardrobe, so lots of time browsing online & ordering things to try.

Ironically, I have had good luck with the new direction of Banana Republic--loving the linen fabrics, more generous cuts in the bust (yay!) and the darker color offerings. I've added a couple of pieces this fall.
And love my new Tees from Boden--the fit all my criteria: fluid fit, elegant neckline and cool fabrics.

I noticed Nordstrom Rack had TONS of inventory, lots of jackets, boots (several versions of the over the knee Stewart Weiztman ) and designer. was fun to browse.

I've suddenly had terrific luck with Boden, but instead of fluid fits finding fitted shirts! They've been hard to find for many years (it seems) with most things being fluid or boxy. I'm just so much happier with more tailored fits, whether I tuck or not.

I've also suddenly had revived interest in Banana Republic myself. The color palette isn't totally mine, but I can cherry pick what works. And I love the vintage adventurer style aesthetic.

Rachy, browns are in abundance! Milk it.

Staysfit, fun to shop your closet for the trends

I was just at our local mall this morning. If red is the colour of the season it wasn’t very prevalent here in Montreal. I’m noticing far more forest green, beige, black and brown actually.
I agree that the prices are definitely going up but the quality is certainly not any better. I saw lots of longer cloth coats but they aren’t even bothering with linings in some of them and the fabrication is not great either. Cost cutting measures I’m sure.
Simon’s is one of my favourite stores here in Canada but the quality is even slipping a bit here too
Sequins and velvet are everywhere now, in tops, skirts, pants, jackets and dresses. The festive dressing season seems to be in full swing.

Thanks, Dee! Good to know what retail in Montreal looks like now

Isn't it strange that red is quite absent? Sequins have taken the place of red!

Angie - you are In Seattle! Yeah for PNW style. Enjoy all your thoughts and comments! I’m across the pond - Lake Washington.

Been scouting some malls - Portland area for Nordstrom loyalty days this fall and a chill trip to Bellevue Square yesterday before the holiday rush.

Sparkly is everywhere. Come January there will certainly be a lot on the sale racks. Glad I picked up sequin joggers post holiday last year - both comfy and current.

Like the bias cut skirt trend in so many holiday fabrics and lengths. BR has one super long for the tall gal. Me at 5ft found an Old Navy petite in a gold mocha color to get me out of wearing constant black. Ok - got the Black too.
Loft has one in brown sequins that’s on point if you like earth tones which are making a come back. Loads of jewel tones out there as well!

Will pair the bias skirt with a matching sequin sweater that will be my go to this winter when in need of sparkle other than black.

Bellevue square (10 min away) is getting pricier as a flag ship destination. If you’re in the middle of the bell curve there are loads of choices though. If not, you’ll have to order online, but it’s nice to see, feel and get a sense of the cut before ordering.

Have also been shopped around the off price stores locally and some good look-a-like bargains. Takes more effort though!

Happy hunting-oops shopping!

So interesting and fun to read!

This is really fun [and useful] to read.

I very much appreciated the shoutout to Talbots. I have not been venturing in there, though I like their classic style. Time to pop in!

Sloper, I remember Mickey Drexler well! I soooo wanted to work for him! Glad I didn't....

sabimct, YES to finding fab stuff at Talbots!

JJPNW, that looks like a great little outfit

And a big wave back from across the pond!

Thanks for these fab observations! Interesting.

I have purchased my usual amount of pieces in 2023 - I think 27 or 28 - but have only really spent one morning going “ shopping”. The rest have been either laser targeted or spontaneous decisions.

Retail here does seem to be struggling - my pick is a few will fold - especially those targeting the office worker that doesn’t really exist now.

Brooklyns observations re Southern Hemisphere we’re spot on- linen, cut outs, one shoulder - quite a bit of colour too. Less ruffles and tiers - waistcoats and wide legged pants are prevalent.

I am almost done shopping for the year - I might be up for a new top but that’s about it.

Interesting obs from everyone.Maybe it’s just me but here in the UK clothing prices have increased noticeably over the last year or too and that seems to mean a real battle ground of the mid price retailers with some going under.The lower end of the market and the higher end seem less affected?but maybe that’s just my impression.l have certainly bought less this year because l feel the quality has dropped and the prices have increased .l would not ,for example,pay over £100 for an acrylic jumper even if if is recycled.

Cardiff Girl, similar things are happening in the US - rest assured.

Sal, plenty of retailers here have closed their brick 'n mortar stores, yet seem to be fine online. The US LOVES to shop online. It has the infrastructure - and a lot of shipping is free! I guess not in NZ?

Yesterday I walked through the biggest Macy's and Nordstrom in our area. Macy's I didn't recognize. Where are all the brands I used to shop. I wish I'd known about 34th. I would have taken a closer look. I don't need anything right now, but I used to like to browse there in the old days.

Nordstrom was better stocked than the last time I was in there. Nice to see lots of items to browse, except . . . to get to the restroom in this store you have to walk through the evening and dressy department. I was shocked at how many hideous dresses they had. One side of the aisle was filled with ridiculous fluffy unattractive dresses and tops in patterns and ruffles I haven't seen anywhere online. The other side had slinky dresses in sequins in most unattractive and garish colors and other items I've never seen on a real life woman.

Maybe I'm exaggerating, and now I wish I'd taken a few photos. Of course, I haven't attended a fancy party or even in years, so I'm not up to date on what's being worn. And maybe it's cultural. I also live in the suburbs where anything dressier than jeans or sweat pants is overdressed.

Didn't go into BR--they lost me too. Not enough energy to go into Bloomingdales.

I did find the perfect birthday present to myself at Nordstrom--a gorgeous DY necklace to replace the one that was stolen in a burglary a dozen years ago.

YAY, MsMaven! Please show us your beautiful new necklace! Love the happy ending to your day

Yes, there are sequins EVERYWHERE....

So interesting! I almost never shop in-person anymore, so I find these astute observations fascinating. It's notable how long earth tones and brown have stuck around, and how little red there is in stores, especially since it was supposed to be one of the "it" colors for F/W. TBH, I haven't really noticed a change at J. Crew or BR (I am oblivious, lol): I have quite a few pairs of bottoms from J. Crew that I have bought steadily over many years, and I haven't shopped at BR for a long time--something about their fits and style hasn't quite worked for me in a while.

For Angie, and Cardiff girl: yes the prices seem to have increased a lot here too, but some older stalwarts are doing quite well when other discounters are going under (notably one called Ezibuy which is a good 40 years old and where Fabbers myself, Sal and Anne from Australia have previously shopped).
A very old department store chain in NZ, over 100 years old, called Farmers (originally the Farmers Trading Company) seems to have better stuff than maybe it used to. One brand it has a lot of is Whistles. I’m trying to figure out if this is the same Whistles that is a high street type brand in the UK? But I can’t seem to find out.
I wanted some more shorts recently as sadly I am getting to a point where I really don’t like them above my knees. This is hard to find! I bought my last white linen pair at Ezibuy in 2021, before they went into liquidation, for $35. Those were yellowing but I have since revitalised them with some bleach. The 2020 blue pair also from Ezibuy for $30 is further above my knees so would only wear at home or for exercise walks.
But after much searching both online and in store I found some nice soft “silver birch” colour ( a soft silvery grey) linen ones at Farmers for $52 on sale. In the boutiques knee length shorts were more like $150 which I really find too much for shorts! There are fancier tailored ones for workwear but I am not in that market. No shorts for workwear for me in my health profession!
I wonder if I am just out of step in what I’m willing to pay. But there is a cost of living crisis… I wonder how many Fabbers would happily pay $150 for shorts? Of course our NZ $ is internationally weak…

Oh and I meant to say for Angie that shipping in NZ is only free if you pay over a certain threshold amount, usually, so that would mean spending a fair bit. Since I don’t want to spend over a limit for the sake of it that might mean paying for shipping.

Yes to Talbots this season. I bought 3 basic cotton ribbed crew sweaters and they are good quality and have washed well. Not too tight and not too loose a win for me. They go well with jeans and can be dressed up if needed.
No to BR I have a gift card there for $100 and simply cannot for the life of me find anything that I like also the prices seem to be crazy too.
A surprise for me this year has been LLBean. I bought 2 sweaters there that are cotton and very comfortable both casual. Also got a long camel cotton cardigan which looks great with many outfits.
I haven't bought anything remotely dressy I have all that stuff and rarely wear any of it. Not bought any wool, I still have a small moth problem which I'm battling plus wool can be itchy and I cannot wear it.
Definitely wearing more casual clothes and forcing myself to buy for that life but sometimes my eyes start to wander to clothes that I would wear in a totally other life lol. Having said that I would like a dress to wear with tall boots , more on the casual side though.

Reading your thoughts with interest! Thanks for sharing

Jenni, shorts that are knee-covering are hard to find here too! Goodluck.

Jonesy, Go Team J.Crew! One of my go-to's again, with you

Gail, have you looked at Talbots and Boden dresses?

Angie - yes online shopping is big here. There is a shorter return window though and sometimes a cost.

I like online when I am really focussed - and confident in my choice.

Sal, makes sense!

Brooklyn has captured the Australian summer trends well. I have bought a few summer items that are against the minimal and 90's revisited trend - items found in local boutiques and the denim skirt greatly reduced on Yoox. It looks like this summer I will be doing my own thing and not trendy!

Oh Bijou what pretty items! I especially like the Phoenix shirt and the toning Johnny Was jacket. I would happily wear either of those.
For Angie, I bought 4 items of clothing for baby granddaughter for Christmas, just arrived. Prices were very reasonable from a similar store to Ezibuy, called Postie Plus, but shipping was $8. I don’t think I need to return any of the 4, a couple might be a bit too big for her, all size 2 and she is 2, but she will grow into them. Think I would have to pay for shipping if I returned them, but overall the convenience was worth the $8.

I've been a big Talbots fan since college 30+ years ago, when I wanted to adopt a more "grown up" style. I am going to say, with some reluctance, that I believe Talbots quality has declined since the mid-aughts. Fabrics thinner, no lining on garments that should have them, etc. I still shop there regularly and do love some of the clothing I've bought, but my expectations are lowered these days. The same is true with almost all retailers!