Every time I go shopping, I can never find what I need any more! It's so frustrating! It's gotten to where I absolutely dread going shopping AT ALL. I don't always want to order stuff online though. I don't really like buying clothes online, for example, and shoes online is just a no-go for us (we are special needs in the foot department, lol). I'm trying to find a few pieces for my daughters to complete their school wardrobes, and I've gone to six different places, and everything sucks! Decent maternity clothes are impossible to find for me (I'm plus size), and even when I do go shoe shopping, I think everything is hideous and ridiculously uncomfortable (how to women wear shoes that they have to absolutely RAM their toes into?). When I went shopping for stuff for the baby, I couldn't find anything that wasn't either poorly made, or ugly as all get out (color-wise). I know I'm not being picky (at least not unreasonably so), because when I look online I can usually find stuff that looks appealing. It's just store inventory seems to be seriously lacking lately!
Is it just me? Maybe I should just suck it up and shop online more. Seems like every time I go shopping I'm depressed... I need a happy meal.
Theresa-- I agree! I hate the styles now. I went into 'justice' (clothes store for girls), and everything was neon, sequined, and rhinestone. It was like I walked right onto the set of 'Back to the Future'. Oh my.
Well, I agree. But I'm old.
When I walk through a department store like Kohl's or Penny's it's like walking through the set of a bad Star Trek episode.
I cannot stand all the crazy patterns, wild colors, and frumpy shapeless cuts.
:(
This is a BAD year for fashion. The skinny jeans, slouchy tops, and super long tunic sweaters are so unflattering on most people. And those ballet flats are horrible for people (like me) who have wider feet. (I have skinny heels though, so buying a wide shoe doesn't help.) It's not just you :-)
Have you tried Lands End? They have lots of sizes and great sale and clearance prices. I ordered clothes for myself recently, free shipping. I kept the 2 pieces that fit, and returned the 2 other items to Sears. No need to repack or mail. Easy.
I'm a regular at Amazon.com. We don't have tons of shopping options in Bend. And I hate driving all over town looking for stuff. I even order groceries like tea, my vitamins and makeup from them. I should buy stock in their company!
N.,
I hate to shop. Always have. When younger I was very small and hard to fit. Now, at 47, I have that middle aged spread that I am fighting, but very small chest - so still hard to fit. And I hate most of the clothing that I see in the stores.
I also hate shopping for groceries, household decorations, clothing for my teen boy (who can walk through an entire store and find only one shirt he will deign to wear), birthday presents, Christmas gifts, etc. I really hate shopping. LOL
So, it is just not you. Today's clothing manufacturer's are more out of touch with the average woman's wants and needs than ever before. Hopefully, it will cycle back around in a season or two.
Well, the stores stock the items they are told to sell because the store buyers have decided they might be popular. I was just out pre-shopping (read: looking around) this afternoon at a couple of stores, and I don't think I'm going to be buying much either. I'll forever be out of style. The cuts and the current colors are mostly things that won't work for me. I looked at dresses and laughed! Do I really want to appall my poor friends and neighbors by the way I look in a skin-tight dress? I don't think so.
I do some shopping online. I nearly always use Zappos for shoes, because I have skinny feet and simply can't find shoes in the stores. Zappos has a great return policy, too.
Classic, conservative pieces for all family members can often be found at online stores like Lands' End and L. L. Bean. You could try a few pieces for your children, and dress those basics up with accessories.
We have very good second-hand stores here - both consignment shops and thrift shops. That's where I find most of my clothing these days. I also look there for my grandchildren and send them presents; they don't care that the things have been worn by somebody else. Babies and children often grow out of their clothes before they wear them out. My kids, too, grew up in second-hand and hand-me-down clothes and they looked just like their peers for less money.
But you have to have a different sort of shopping plan! Particularly with thrift stores, you may find this week what you can use two seasons from now, so keep the future in mind. It's always worthwhile checking maternity racks in thrift stores, because many women get the expectant clothes out of their closets in a pretty short time and you might (just might) hit paydirt. If you know what brands of clothing usually look good on you/your family, it helps; I love finding pieces for myself from Coldwater Creek that I can't afford to buy new. You also have to act like a miner and go through a lot of "dirt" to find the "gold" - but actually, that's not much different than the first-hand stores, is it? You won't look cutting-edge, but if you can go with a classic sort of style, you may be able to find things that will look well on you.
Oh, well. Who ever said it was easy to be a woman??
(Theresa N., I agree, too! Some ditzy designers must have had nightmares about the late 1960s and early '70s, and went from there.)
I am a big time shopper and I also do not think this is a good season for clothing. I am not at all inspired by anything I see and there doesn't seem to be any deals. I am hoping that the late fall/winter lines are better. I can always find shoes though :-)
I do 90% of my clothes shopping on line. I know what sizes we are at each of the main websites I shop. I don't have time to go shopping...so I watch for on-line sales and free shipping.
For my boys I mostly shop at Old Navy, Crazy 8, Gymboree, Gap and Children's Place.
For me I shop at Loft, Macy's, ColdwaterCreek, Old Navy occasionally, Black and White and FamousFootwear for everyone's shoes.
I weigh, like, 2 pounds. I have to shop in the junior department, because nothing else fits me. I drown in women's sizes, and petites are WAY too short for my long limbs. I am doomed to try things on that look like some Avril Lavigne would wear. (Not to mention, my rear hangs our of everything, and my boobs pop out like they have a life of their own.) I have children's shoe sizes, so there are no heels I can wear. Nothing really adult looking, either.
When I was pregnant, that was GREAT. I could fit into xsmall in women's. I looked like a full grown adult!! That didn't last long, and I'm stuck with hoochie juniors clothing, again. There's a reason I haven't purchased clothing in years. Sigh.
I'm with you. Plus size maternity clothes suck, and I also have "weird" feet. Shopping isn't fun anymore.
I wound up buying a lot of clothes a size or two up for this pregnancy. Like drawstring shorts & long skirts/ long shirts. They were more affordable and more lightweight fabric than typical maternity clothes. I also ordered some pants/shirts from motherhood & old navy. Old navy sizing is very inconsistent tho.
I actually have had a lot of luck shoe shopping online -but- this was after going to a specialty shoe store and finding what sizes/brands fit me best. I tend to order wide widths or a size up in sandals or European brands since they tend to run wider.
My daughter is also a nonstandard size (long torso, shorter legs, wide feet). Plus she doesn't like "cute" clothes anymore she wants all the cheap looking glittery glam stuff I loathe.
I don't mind shopping for baby clothes though because they are so little & cute!
My number one store for kids is JC Penney. They have a lot of the glittery garbage that you're talking about, but beyond that they've got a lot of great basics (jeans, sweatshirts, skirts, sweaters) and a lot of quality name brands, like Levis, Vans, etc. I don't like their kid's shoes though :(
Can't help you with the maternity clothes, I haven't been pregnant in 14 years, though if the clothes are as hideous now as they were then I feel for ya!
If you know what sizes the kids are, consider online shopping for brands you like. I got some really cute stuff for DD off shopko and zuilly's sites. I find it much easier to buy for her than for me. I'm a sale shopper, so I keep an eye on Gymboree on sale. If you are looking for maternity clothes, consider regular clothes, but with an empire waist. It's almost the same thing. I wore just a few maternity outfits. When I get bummed about clothes, I buy socks or pretty underwear. THAT I know I can find.
