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What to wear shopping

bridgie

Veteran

I do most of my shopping online, a lot by choice because I like Nordie's and their closest store is in Charlotte about an hour from where I now live. I order and return a lot but I guess the biggest snag with that has just happened since NAS. Just giving you a few details here that may help you relate to what I am trying to do. During NAS I bought the Nutmeg Kenneth Cole lightweight coat with knit sleeves, after trying 3 different sizes and a lot of agonizing. Chris bought the same coat and posted pics of it. You have probably never known anyone who is trying to find something to wear under a coat. Well, now you have--meet me.

A lot of the top I wear will be visible when I have the coat on and if it is not buttoned, then, of course so will the skirt , and I want the top and bottom to be able to stand alone when I pull the coat off. And want to look chic.

None of the tops I have ordered have been a good color to go with the coat, and I have not yet ordered a skirt. (I don't have any skirts, but am thinking I would like to have a leather, faux leather, suede, faux suede a patterned with some nutmeg in it or animal print and a top that goes well with the skirt or maybe even a dress.

My granddaughter has asked me to go to Charlotte with her tomorrow. She will be doing real serious shopping, a dress to wear to her cousin's wedding. She usually helps me shop but this time I don't think she will have time to help me so we are going to split and shop separately. She will be shopping at many other stores as well as Nordies. I have items as mentioned above I was getting ready to return by mail, but now---well, here is the picture, I will be taking those four items either in a Talbots shopping bag or could put them in one of the boxes they were mailed to me in. I am going to call tomorrow and ask if they have the coat in stock there because if they don't I will have to take my coat to assure I am getting something that works O.K. I have at least one more item I will take with me, and keep if I don't find something else or return it later on tomorrow if I do find something. At the top of the list is receipts for everything.

Now, back to my question: what should I wear? It will be hot , predicted 89 degrees. Any comments on anything I wrote about will be appreciated and most welcome. Thank you.

Shopping

23 replies

Latest reply was from bridgie

rachylou

Veteran

Something easy to pull on and off! I'm big on that for shopping - no back zippers, no button fly jeans, no lace up boots, etc.

bridgie

Veteran

Of course, rachylou. I needed that reminder. Thank you!

Greyscale

Veteran

Yes, I always forget how important the shopping outfit is. My best shopping outfit is:

Pants you really like that are fairly plain (for me, my favorite slim-cut jeans) so they go with pretty much any top.

A thin bottom layer (for me, a tee) so you can try on pullovers or jackets easily without bulky sleeves getting in the way. No tunic-length tops (incompatible with trying on bottoms).

A light cardigan, if needed. No pullover! Pulling it over my hair again and again leaves me looking raggedy. Also, I avoid anything bulky that I'd be stuck carrying around if it gets too warm.

Slip-on or easily untied shoes. Comfortable, for walking around the shops.

Have fun!

Joy

Veteran

What Rachylou said. If I think that there will try ons. I like to wear black leggings and a black tank or sleeveless shell, and no jewelry. The black items can be left on under most try on garments. Slip on shoes with Peds or knee-high stockings mean shoes come off easily but no bare feet. I would wear a tunic or dress on top of everything to shop.
Good luck and have fun.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

And after all that...wear something you like and feel good in. I make fewer mistakes when I start with a great outfit I can compare potential purchases to.

bridgie

Veteran

greyscale and Joy, aha, Thank you. A lot of good suggestions. I am beginning to see the light of day. After all I want comfort for shopping, not dressing for a big event.

bridgie

Veteran

Jenn, Thank you. It is important to wear something you like. It has been a long time but I did learn that if I don't feel good in what I am wearing it is a real downer, and I can't stand to look in mirror.

DonnaF

Veteran

No jewelry that can catch, break, or fall off.

Maybe think about a scarf that will cover up anything under the nutmeg coat, including a silk non-bulky one?

bridgie

Veteran

Donna, Wow, that is a whole new take on this. Non-bulky is key here, although I had not thought in terms of a scarf. I will surely add to my list to look at. Do you still like scarves as much as ever? I had read in your profile how much you like them.

rachylou

Veteran

Actually, like Joy, I always wear leggings and a cami tank too. In crazy bargain basement sales, they, not to mention, make it possible to try on clothes in the aisles, lol!

Knee highs or peds are a great suggestion too.

Style Fan

Veteran

For shopping I try to keep it simple like others have suggested. I also make sure I have make up on (this may seem like the obvious but I have gone out without it when I am in a mad rush) and the my hair looks normal. I would definitely take the coat with me. When I am trying to match something or complete an outfit I take the rest of the outfit with me. What if the coat Nordies has sells it by the time you get there? Or you want to try something at WHBM with it. Or Talbots.

The nutmeg coat is a cardigan hybrid (I tried it so I have a sense of what it is like) which makes the underneath layer more important than what one would wear with a full on coat. At least that is my opinion.

Anonymous

I have not read all the comments, but I do feel qualified to offer some advice. First, people in Charlotte dress up to go shopping. Wearing old, casual worn out clothing will likely get you ignored by the staff.

Second, as you mention, the temperatures will be in the upper 80's. A lot of stores, particularly Nordstroms, do not have efficient or effective air conditioning. This means it gets hot and stuffy in the store. If you are trying clothes on, it can feel even hotter. I personally find that my shopping window at Nordstroms is exactly one hour. After one hour, I just can't stand the warmth in the store. I literally start to get light headed. I always schedule my Nordstorms visits to be one hour or less.

Third, I wear slip on shoes (probably the most important advice I could offer). I wear light-weight, loose-fitting, full-length pants. I wear a shorter sleeveless knit top. All of these items are easy to remove. Deodorant stains don't show on the white. I don't wear lipstick or foundation to avoid getting it on the clothing.

I wear the bra I am most likely going to wear with the garments I am shopping for. I say this because I has an assortment of bras and they have a huge impact on how the garment itself looks.

Enjoy Charlotte. Happy shopping.

Eileen Fisher Silk Georgette Crepe Slouchy Ankle Pant

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JAileen

Veteran

I like Donna's suggestion. That's the main reason I wear scarves in winter. I wear charcoal LS tees every day, and the scarves add a bit of color and warmth to my outfit. Here are a few that might work:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/da.....VY%20MULTI

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ec.....NK%20COMBO

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ec.....olor=BLACK

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Chris987

Veteran

Lots of great advice here on what to wear and I agree that you should bring the coat perhaps carry in a shopping bag. You need to be able to try it on with things if you can stand doing it in poor air conditioning.

I'll be interested to hear what you end up getting! I have the same coat as you said but I already have at some things to wear with it, in dark and Mid wash denim, black, cognac, navy, and camel. I'd like light blue too, as well as cream, white and dark brown. It's been a very warm late summer so I won't be able to wear it for a while.

God luck!

Chris987

Veteran

Jaileen great scarf ideas! Here are more, more classic than jaileen's which look very modern to me. I'd love to find a plaid one in rusts and blues. I have two rectangular cold weather ones, in light blue cashmere and merino, and the floral/animal print one where the rust color is a little more prominent than shown in the find

DonnaF

Veteran

bridgie; yes, I still like scarves. I've discovered that I feel strangled in those skinny scarves and drowned in lot of today's larger scarves. My current obsession is kerchief scarves because my neck gets cold. A lot of my collarless tops and tees don't get worn because my neck gets cold. A little triangular scarf solves that problem and since it's small, it doesn't get in the way; I HATE fuss.

bridgie

Veteran

Hi, I was in the process of replying to everybody on this thread, and poof, it went away. So stay tuned, I will be back tomorrow.

rachylou

Veteran

Oh, you're very sanguine, bridgie

bridgie

Veteran

rachylou, do you ever sleep?

rachylou

Veteran

Um... hehe... no? Lol!

(Yesterday I went to visit my goddaughter. Left at 3 am to meet her at 5:30 am. Went grocery shopping this morning. Worked this evening. And now, I'm waiting for the repeat of Ken Burn's Vietnam so I can discuss with Mother, who's blowing up my phone with text message commentary... My life schedule is nuts! Lol!)

bridgie

Veteran

O.K. Trying again. Last night, after three days absence I had written a lot here and before I could finish it "poofed" away.

My shopping trip was very nice. I wore a black cami and my black Ted Baker floral, lightweight silky cardi, dark wash full length jeans, and lapis blue loafers and neutral colored knee highs. I wore absolutely no jewelry. I missed my rings. I took the coat in a plastic hanging bag, also the bronze top I am considering.

Style fan, thanks for your comments. I did apply make up very carefully. I think that is so important when trying on clothes. Otherwise I don't like anything I try, because I am so washed out. You had the same idea about this coat as I do, and that is that it what is worn under a fuller coat maybe wouldn't work as well with this coat.

Sterling, When I was getting dressed, I didn't give any thought where my clothes were from, but later, on the way to Charlotte, it dawned on me, that all my visible clothes were from Nordies. My good fitting black bra and underpants were not from Nordie's. LOL. My handbag was a recent purchase from there. Navy and cornflower blue saddle bag. You are right on how people in Charlotte shopping at Nordies dress. Very chic, and so are most of the employees. Employees were very nice to me, asking if I needed help, but never being pushy. When I first went in with my cream colored tote bag containing the clothes to return, a lovely, younger (everybody is younger than me, of course) associate met me in the aisle before I got to the service desk and took care of everything.

Sterling, one other thing you said was so right on---it was so stuffy and hot, and yes, I did well to last one hour.

Now, you people who are getting to know the real me, you will not be surprised when I say I did not try on anything and did not purchase anything.

As it turned out my granddaughter had time and insisted on using some of her time to help me. She and I have shopped together since she was a baby, and she now has perfect taste as I see it. She has a three year old daughter, and my son (their father and grandfather) was the babysitter. He majored in interior design, but earns a living as a chef, he also has an excellent eye for fashion color and design, so I was most fortunate to have such good help. We all three agreed on a pair of printed pants and a blush or pink top would work. But, they only had the pants in extra small, so I have ordered my size and will go from there after I get the pants.

JAlleen and Chris I read your posts about scarves after I returned home. Donna had mentioned them also. So I am sure I will want a nice scarf or two. Already looking on-line at what you all have suggested.

Thank you everybody. I could never have done it without your help!!

Anonymous

I am so glad your trip was successful. Your shopping outfit sounds gorgeous!!!! I am a huge fan of Ted Baker, although I don't own any pieces.

I too have had employees ask about helping me with returns before I reach the kiosk return desk. Wonderful service. Wonderful people. I hope you had fun.

Coincidently, I just returned from Charlotte yesterday evening. My goodness, was it hot!

bridgie

Veteran

Sterling, thank you. I hope you enjoyed being in Charlotte in spite of the heat.