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Shopping report

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I had an entire 3 hours of shopping time in the big city today and yesterday, whoo-hoo!!!

Except it didn't turn out to be quite the spend-a-thon I might have hoped for. I went to Bloor Street for about an hour on Wednesday evening and the Eaton Centre from 10 until noon today.

Friends, I am learning why I shop online!

In all seriousness, it was lovely to have the time on my own to wander. It was great to be there in the morning today, when everything was quiet and serene. I got great service and had lots of space around me. It was fun to finger things and see colours in real life.

But apart from my fun new jacket, I found nothing worth bringing home with me.

I had ordered a few things from J. Crew but nothing worked except for a pair of shorts and a metallic tee. Either the size was off or the cut wasn't right or something. I will probably re-order the popover in a different size. It was not available in store. Nor were the Rayner jeans in my size. In fact, almost nothing was available in my size.

I went to BR in two locations, in hope of finding those fun linen pants LisaP discovered -- no luck. Did not find anything else I liked, either.

Went into both Zaras (Bloor and Eaton) and liked a few things in both stores, a least in theory -- but they did not have my size.

Went into Massimo Dutti and saw gorgeous orchid coloured sweaters, etc., but do not need.

Went to the new M0851 and enjoyed looking but was not crazy about unlined bags.

Went into Club Monaco and was not tempted by anything.

Went into Ann Taylor and did not fall in love with anything; went into Loft and tried the toile blazer but I needed a size down (or was between sizes) and they did not have it. It didn't look as good on me as the tweed jacket I ended up buying.

Went into about 8 shoe stores and could not find bright shoes apart from a few total flats or sky high heels. Lots of lovely neutral shoes but I want a bright colour.

So, what think you? Was this a fluke, or what? I'm going to get busy with some serious online shopping this weekend!!

Meanwhile, you see below the sum total of my spring/ summer refresh so far!

What I want:

Wide leg crop jeans/ pants (either, or more likely, both -- for pants, linen would be great or light cotton).
A few short boxy tops to wear with them.
A bright red or fuchsia shoe or sandal, not a flat, not a loafer, but not a high heel.
A red or fuchsia or yellow bag (should be easier to find)
A top with interesting sleeve detail

Emerson Rose Zip Front Tweed Jacket

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Linen boatneck T-shirt in metallic

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Ecco Soft 8 Sneaker

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7" stretch chino short

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Shopping

39 replies

Latest reply was from Jennib12

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Woohooo. Bringing home a Killer tweed jacket is prize enough. Love the sneaks too.

Online shopping is simply getting better and better. I've done more of it over the last few years because of my size and fussy feet. I love to shop in stores - but there is soooo much more online.

And isn't CM looking below par this season. Disappointing. I'm hoping it will improve next month. I liked a lot of J.Crew a few months ago and bought then. AT looks amazing but it's stuff I don't need right now.

Enjoy shopping online, Sensational Suz.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, Angie. I do feel lucky that online shopping is so much easier than it used to be, and with your recommendations, it's a lot less risky, too. I can also probably call Nordstrom and get things that way, which I might do after combing over your roundups. Zara is usually a great bet for me for trend items. I'll keep you posted!

JAileen

Veteran

Suz, I love your jacket. After seeing Angie's ensemble, and several people's outfits (kkards in particular) I *really* wanted a tweed jacket. I looked and looked online. I never saw yours, though. On a whim I went to a consignment store and found one from Ann Taylor. It's a little more colorful than yours, so I'm still trying to figure out how to style it.

Runcarla

Veteran

Suz, did you cross the 2nd floor tunnel into The Bay? The shoe department (best-in Canada) is across from Top Shop, which always has cool stuff. H&M has some intriguing stuff. I speed window shop during lunch once or twice a week, but need an afternoon to really explore (I'm a slow shopper.). You did amazing for 2 hours.

PS pic of what I bought yesterday!

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Emily K

(website)

Veteran

The stock (or lack of it) situation is real! Yet, it is still fun to go to the store to look at (and touch) items IRL.

Jennib12

Sorry to hear you didn't find everything you were looking for. I don't often have success downtown either. Yorkdale is my fave destination, although lately Square One in Mississauga has been good. It used to be my most hated mall, but I find it's improved and not too insane on weeknights, when I can swing it. Have you checked The Bay online for shoes? I find they have a better selection and the shipping is reasonable and fast!

BTW, love the jacket!!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, the Bay. Alas, I am boycotting them at the moment. They are usually my source for footwear and summer things. I love your new shoes, Carla! Fun!!

Jenni, I like Yorkdale, too, but not on the weekends so much...too busy then! And that is mostly when I am able to go there.

Emily, you're right -- touching the stuff definitely helps. And seeing the real colours, too.

JAileen, can't wait to see your jacket! I had one in pink tones about five or six years ago and I quite liked it but I admit it was harder to style and in the end it felt a bit too "soft" for me, plus it had a scooped neckline that was even harder to style than the round neck, so I passed it on.

Jennib12

Ugh. Yes. Yorkdale on a weekend is crazy!

marija

Thank you for your story! I really dislike shopping because of my height. And nowadays I rarely have time.

Back in the day I used to live at Bayview and Steeles. Have you ever tried the Bayview Village Mall? They have unique boutiques and some are owned and operated by designers who manufacture their own clothing lines! BV also had some fab shoe stores.

Anonymous

I don't think your experience is unusual , sadly . Winnipeg isn't the biggest city ever , but it is about the 7th or 8th biggest market in Canada - and there are no bright coloured shoes as you describe . Even on-line . I'm after red sandals myself , and they are just not there . I like your new Ecco sneaks , but how did you get them through zappos?
And as I commented earlier , that tweed jacket is a far better score than the Loft blazer ( as nice as that is ) . I agree with your experience at CM - I have gone from having most of my wardrobe bought from there to not having bought a single thing in the last year or so . Something is critically wrong there . Who is making clothes for discerning Canadian mature women ?

Runcarla

Veteran

MWWH, Lisap. They've got Alfred Sung. And, Canadian Tire for belts, plaid, and cameo.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Marija, I have never been to the Bayview Mall. I live about 3 hours from Toronto. I used to live in the city but could always shop downtown or Yorkville in those days (when I could afford to shop at all) so didn't usually go to any of the malls. I will have to try it sometime! Thanks.

Lisa, I nabbed the sneaker Find from Zappos but actually bought from Ingledews. https://www.ingledews.com. Now that Shoeme is gone (gasp!!!!) I will be using it and maybe that other amazing store you just found us yesterday, although I would like to try theirs on first if I could to see about fit. I am lucky to live near Montreal so maybe...

I want red sandals too. I found a possible pair at Nordstrom on the web site (and on sale, too) but the trouble is, the reviews say they are not actually red in person, more brick orange.

I am really not sure what's going on a CM. I used to love them, too. Some of the stuff I saw today was very pretty in a theoretical kind of way, but I couldn't imagine wearing it.

Anonymous

I think CM is going for the 28 year old fantasy customer. I'm done with them . Don't know Ingledews , or much about shoeme- I get what I love and need between Browns and Hudson Bay . I understand your boycott , but IT and her line are only the tip of the iceberg there and with any brand we buy . Anyways , I can imagine you in Eaton Cr with that little time and trying to get it all done . Been there and done that - usually unsuccesfully . I end up in Williams Sonoma and Pottery Barn having WAY more fun

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Your finds so far are gorgeous and will be beautiful on you! It's too bad you didn't find more in person. I far prefer shopping in stores, but I agree that it's often hard to find what I want, except when I'm not looking for it!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Even though I have access to some pretty good shopping, I would love to have easy online ordering and returning. But the jacket and sneakers look especially good.

kerry

Veteran

Well that's disappointing even though you bought a beautiful jacket and some great workhorses. I live in Toronto (west end) but don't often get to the Eaton Centre. I do however have three other malls quite close to me (Yorkdale, Sherway and Square One) and I often find myself leaving empty handed. Since September I've stopped shopping online (trying to break a habit) but succumbed to J Crew online last weekend when they had 40% off sale items and free shipping. I really needed to replenish summer tops (something I seem to need to do EVERY summer). Why are summer tops so fickle?

The other plus about shopping online is the reviews. Sure, when in stores you can feel, see colours, and try on but you don't find out how well something wears or how it launders. Reviews will sometimes share that info. Even when I buy in store, I'll go online and check out reviews to make sure.

Summer

Veteran

That sounds all too familiar, Suz! I love browsing the stores, but I'm much more likely to find what I want online.

I love your current purchases, though.

Chris987

Veteran

I can totally relate to your love of shopping in person for all the reasons you state yet needing to shop on line to get what you really want. I think the stores are catering to younger women and I'm never sure what "type" they are leaning toward but it sure is not me. As more and more women buy clothing online and don't spend much time in stores the selection in stores will just continue to shrink or get even more limited. It's that way for lots of other products too. I can't imagine buying a sofa or kitchen table online without being able to see it first but people are doing that.

You got some lovely things! That jacket is perfect and I love your t and shorts. I wish JCREW sizing worked for me but it usually does not.

Also interesting to hear about Club Monaco. I never paid much attention to them until I visited the store last Jan and do find the clothing lovely but it doesn't seem right for my real life.

kkards

Veteran

sometimes the shopping is good and sometimes its not....and even when its not, IMO its still easier than on line...all that guessing will it fit, should i order size X or size Y or both and know i'm going to return at least 1, what's the "real" color etc.....
and you did get a lovely blazer....

Anonymous

I think you have a lot of discipline, not buying anything (edit: much) on a shopping excursion in TO!

Good luck with online shopping. It seems like you're really focussed!

Maybe "fun" non-neutral footwear is more of a summer thing?

The last time I was in CM was in January, maybe, and I noticed that they have a lot of trendy cuts: cropped tops, cutouts, etc. that are hard to wear except for the younger crowd. But 20 year olds can't afford CM! What are they thinking?!

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Well at least you got a gorgeous tweed jacket! I haven't been wowed by much this spring, maybe summer will be better. I didn't even care for J. Crew's spring offerings, which is a first!
Being focused and not buying things "just because" is a positive thing. Good for you!

anchie

Veteran

I can totally relate. I rarely have time to go to the brick and mortar stores. Week days are out of question because I work late, then it is dinner and homework time. Saturdays are crazy busy at the stores and avoid it as plag. I usually run errands, do grocery shopping and household chores. And Sundays shops are closed and it is family time for us. So I do almost all my shopping online. But recently I had some time off during the week and went to a mall after long time. Was really looking forward to it, but it was a big disappointment. I did not like most of the things. Many shops I entered and left without trying on anything. I did not like colors and materials mostly. I did end up buying 3 items, but nothing exciting, just navy linen suit from Zara and white loafers.

Leinenblazer Details

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Leinenhose Mit Gürtel Details

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Sisi

Veteran

Oh, Suz! How-I-understand-you! "I found nothing worth bringing home with me". Oh, how this sounds familiar! Anyway you made excellent purchases so far.

cindysmith

Veteran

I feel like all the major chain retailers all offer some variation of the same trends in their stores. It's basically a sea of sameness everywhere I turn. I have much better luck online too.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I find shopping such a feast or famine experience -- either everything works or nothing does! You still found some great pieces (lovely jacket and I love the sneaks).

I have barely been in stores this year, but when I have, Anthro has been more successful for me than anywhere else. But more and more, I see why online can be preferable -- so many more options and sizes are available!

Murph11

Veteran

FWIW, these red sandals are my surprise find! Higher heel than I wanted, but extremely walkable.

TUSCANY by Easy Street Susana Sandal

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Staysfit

Veteran

Suz, your new tweed jacket is beautiful and looks like the sort of item that will be with you for many years. It is a clear shopping victory, and so worth the three hours spent.

I do almost all of my shopping online now. It is very hard for me to find items that fit, in colors and cuts that I like, in local shops.

RobinF

Veteran

I find a lot of times when I am looking for specific items then I can't find them. But I much prefer shopping in stores where I can feel the fabric and try things on. It is disappointing to go with great intentions and come home with nothing.

Eliza

Veteran

Nice finds, Suz. Love the sneakers and the jacket looks perfect.

I hear you on starting to find more online. Nordstroms nearby are severely edited compared to the more western locations I have been in, while I like supporting smaller local shops, there selection is narrow by design, and online sites with lots of reviews help prevent many missteps. Keep at it- you'll get there.

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