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The best and worst Clothing to shop for...

Sal

Veteran

And I include footwear and accessories in the clothing. No more than three per category!

Best
Shoes - for me they are fun, an easy fit and I can usually find plenty I like.
Dresses - I love them! An instant outfit - no mixing and matching.
Sunglasses - such an impact on your look. I have a wide face and I find lots that I want!!

Worst
Shorts - too short or too long, too tight in the thigh or too loose. 95% are unflattering.
knitwear-will it last or is it a total waste of money? Worst chance of longevity in my opinion.
Smart trousers - finding them is hard to start with. I think tailoring skills are disappearing and stretch fabric has led to poor design.

Funnily enough I have plenty of shoes, dresses and sunglasses and am quite short on knitwear, shorts and smart tailored trousers!! Luckily a dress sunglasses and shoes are an acceptable outfit.

Over to you - what are your favourite and least favourite things to shop for.

Shopping

41 replies

Latest reply was from bronx

kellygirl

Veteran

Worst: Jeans (Except for GAP denim.)
Loafer style shoes (Narrow heels make everything slip)
Jackets/Blazers (Boulder shoulders make everything uncomfortable.)

Best: Shoes (excluding loafers)
Sweaters/Knitwear usually always fit my shoulders.
Gym clothes

nemosmom

Veteran

Oooh, let's see...

Best:

- Denim - it's rare that I can't find at least ONE pair to come home with me. The challenge is staying OUT of the denim racks when I shop in store...
- Jackets - So many great styles and fabrics and details and I love how they can completely change a look. They are like a brilliant big hug.

- Denim - can I vote for denim twice?!!

Worst:

- Trousers - Ugh, why are great quality, great fitting ones so hard to find?? They never fit off the rack, and I ALWAYS have to get them tailored.
- Dresses - It is challenging to find BOTH the right neckline and length in a dress. When I do find one that works, I tend to keep it for a long time.

- Shoes - I seriously think I would go barefoot if I could... Shoes give me major anxiety - I never know what style looks good with an outfit, what to pair with various pant lengths, what color to get or wear, etc. Store window mannequins don't wear shoes; why should I??

Honorable mention in the "worst" category goes to swimwear....

Molly Mac

Veteran

The Best:
-Shoes. I love all the variety and how a great new pair of shoes can freshen up almost any outfit.
-earrings. They can be dressy or fun and bring the fancy to even a tshirt and jeans kinda day.
-PJs-There is nothing better than slipping into a comfortable but luxe lounge set at the end of a long day.
Worst:
Bags-I want one purse/backpack to do everything but so far I haven't found that magical unicorn bag
Swim suits-for all the usual reasons
Coats-I love outerwear but after 6 months of wearing the same darn coats I get so bored. Yet when I go to buy a new one, they all seem to look exactly like the ones I already own.

Gail

Veteran

Best: Dresses, Instant outfit
Earrings, Fun update to an outfit.
PJ's, Soft and cozy.

Worst: Slip on shoes, won't stay on.
Bras's, never fit and are always uncomfortable.
Bathing Suits, enough said lol.

Brooklyn

Veteran

Best:
Jackets - love them all
Boots - ditto
Knitwear - love the feel of knitwear. It’s very comforting. I can always find something I like at Cue, Country Road or Veronika Maine.

Worst:
Jeans
Shorts
Swimwear
(Everything is too short and too tight and I always come away feeling terrible about my legs.)

Sal

Veteran

Kelly - I like shopping for gym gear too!!

NemosMum - you wear denim so well......I will let you have two votes. And swimwear is not great but in my view not as bad as shorts.

MollyMac - I understand re the bags and have accepted about three day bags is right for me now.

Gail - haha, bathing suits are not great are they!! But at least they often represent a holiday.

Brooklyn - no surprises on your list. You are the boots queen!! I should check out Cue for knitwear - I tend to forget about them. Bathing suits are hard - thank goodness I have a one piece and a bikini that I like so no need for one this year.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Best: Shoes.
Worst: Bathing suits.

smittie

Veteran

BEST: jeans. there are a lot of options and I just like denim. Shoes! I seem to love everything the footwear world offers (with one exception, see below).

Worst: loungewear, puffers, winter boots, gear. I don’t enjoy buying these things. They’re purely “head” purchases.

Susie

Veteran

Best:
Shoes, especially boots
Jackets and blazers
Jeans

Worst:
Bathing suits
Gear
Shorts

rachylou

Veteran

Hands down: proper trousers are depressing rotters. Glasses are also never quite satisfactory.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Best: Bags!

Worst: Socks

deb

Veteran

Best - Shoes, bags, glasses
Worst - bras, bathing suits, bras.

Anonymous

Best : shoes , workout stuff , jewellery
Worst : swim suits , jeans , trousers , blouses

Anonymous

Best-

Jeans- I wear jeans so often I know what to pick out, so buying them is very easy except if my size isn’t sold.
Belts- A stylish accessory, I also wear them often and it’s fun to shop for more belts to add to my wardrobe.
Short sleeve tees- I love the heat so I wear short tees almost daily in nice weather, plus there are so many options to buy every trip to the store I find new ones I like.

Worst-

Bras- Nothing fun about buying bras, it’s more of a need than a want.
Underwear- Same reason as bras
Dresses- I hardly wear dresses and if I have to it’s always hard finding ones long enough for my tall height, they almost always are too short. I avoid them as much as possible.

Gigi

Veteran

Best: Shoes, casual tops

Worst: Shorts (always too short or too long, do funny things at crotch area), jeans, pants, toppers/coats/jackets (not very many interesting styles in size PXXS, grr!).

Sal

Veteran

I quite like lingerie shopping. I know Angie and I are in the minority here.

Will respond more later when not on phone.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I'm just returning to brick and mortar shopping. So far the worst seems to be anything that requires effort to try it on. I think my best strategy is to wear a skirt with a close-fitting under layer and topper.

I haven't bought a swimsuit for a while--got too many in Florida, in all sizes. But I admire the way German women wear bikinis that fit them well and look great, no matter what shape their figures. I'm watching for the best place to try them on, with helpful, knowledgeable sales people, whenever I'm ready.

Style Fan

Veteran

I like lingerie shopping too!
Here is my list:

Best
Jewellery - I love all jewellery.
Jeans - Now, if you had asked me a couple of years ago my answer would have been different. I love the styles that are in the stores today.
Blazers - I love them. I haven't bought one in a very long time. I am waiting for a really good one (Veronica Beard or Smythe or something along those lines).

Worst
Footwear - I love looking at footwear but I can't wear any of them. I have so many problems with my feet. I am very limited to what I can wear.
Footwear
Footwear

Sisi

Veteran

Worst: almost anything. I hate shopping.

Best: sandals. I like them and they tell me it is Summer!

anchie

Veteran

I think it depends on the current trends too. Some years pickings are better in some categories, making shopping somewhat easier.

Preppy Pear

Veteran

I like shopping for everything, except bags. I’m too picky and indecisive, so I just don’t shop for them. I always need more than I have.

RobinF

Veteran

Best - shoes by far, all kinds, love
Worst - bras (ugh!), pants (hard to fit) and coats (need petites and hate spending a lot so...)

Theodora

Best-
Pants, jeans etc. I seem to be easy to fit in that area, and hemming is usually the only adjustment I need.
Skirts- again, my lower half. I wear skirts most days of the week actually!
Don’t hate me- Swimsuits. I swim almost daily here in Florida, and have found the right size in one piece racing suits, so I just order online in different colors!

Worst-
Shoes- large and painful feet, back surgery mean many shoes are uncomfortable, especially the ones I would prefer (sobs).
Glasses- I literally have to try on about 200 pairs to find even one that works with my smallish face. My daughter ‘s both have the gift of looking fab with almost ANY pair they try!
Tops- not sure what my issue is here. I so want to get away from wearing tees all the time, but... Large swimming shoulders and smaller waist means woven tops are difficult, as what fits my shoulders is voluminous elsewhere. If I do get one, I often look like a sloppy mess then, and I prefer polished. Don’t want low cut, or see through, and patterns are hard .for me to carry off. So stretchy tees win, especially in my climate.

ophelia

Veteran

Fun thread! What a great topic!
Worst:
Glasses--like Theodora, have to try on tons. I also have a small face, and many frames are too wide.
Foundation--so many seem to oxidize. And orange skin is...let's just say, not my style.
Shoes--I have small but wide feet, high arches, Morton's neuroma in one, and I don't wear leather. I wear a lot of flip flops and sandals--cuz Florida.
Best:
Skirts! Love them, have too many.
Tops of any kind as long as they are in petite sizes to fit my shoulders and arms.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Best:
Footwear
Jackets
Jewelry/accessories

Worst:
Pants/jeans
Bras
Swimwear

Cardiff girl

Veteran

A chance to rant ,how great is that!
Worst:shoes.It never used to be but when shoe sizing went to continental sizing the manufacturers dropped half sizes so I can only buy shoes now from the glorious few who haven’t done this as I take a half size.
Swimwear,l do not feel that this needs any explanation.
Bras,massive groan on this one.l feel too tired at trying to explain why but it’s never a joy.
Glasses,very expensive and never seem to suit me.

Best:knitwear,it always fits , you can get some great colours and I know that I will always wear a jumper
Handbags,they always fit and I will always use them .
New season stock,exciting to see new colours and ideas.

The Cat

Veteran

Best:
Footwear
Reading glasses
Scarves/shawls

Worst:
Pants
Sports clothes
Beachwear

cindysmith

Veteran

Least favorite:
Pants
Shoes
Handbags
With pants and shoes, I have several fit issues. I have a long inseam and a short torso, so finding pants that fit is quite the endeavor. With wide feet and high arches, shoes are a total pain in the arse because it's so hard to find a shoe that i.like that deals with both issues at the same time. Bags are just a pain because I really put my handbags through the wringer, and it's so hard to find one that can stand up to the abuse I heap on them. I think my Celine Edge bag might outlast me, so thank heaven I'm set for handbags for a while!

Favorite:
Tops
Jewelry (of the costume variety, not the fine jewelry items)
Makeup
Tops are a bit easier than pants for me. Knits are my friend, and my short torso means that Tall size tops that fit my arms are generally longer on my body, which I love. Knits are my arms and lat muscles' best friends, because they don't do that boa constrictor thing. Costume jewelry is a fun and inexpensive way to keep things feeling fresh, and I don't have fit issues with jewelry Makeup is fun right now because I have finally figured out my eye makeup, which is mostly the only makeup i wear. When i realized that my liquid eyeshadows didn't sweat off at the gym, i stocked up on my favorite colors. Now i just shop to restock my stash from time to time (which needs to happen soon, I think I'm running low on stash!)

rachylou

Veteran

Best is probably sweaters. White/cream sweaters. There’s always one calling to me

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