Shopping for New Clothes Can be Pure Torture

I used to love clothes shopping but I don’t anymore. I love Chico’s and they are standard in size. They are expensive so I wait for sales. I often buy online and most of it fits.

We have a local store so returning is easy if I need to. I purposely keep my wardrobe small only dedicating half of one closet with a double rod for my clothes and one dresser. Most people only wear 20 percent of what they own so less is more:)).
 
I used to love to go to the mall. Now, I hate to. The prices are too high and the clothes are made for anorexic 18-year-olds. I absolutely WILL NOT pay those prices unless I am beyond desperate.

I do like thrift shops, though. I like getting bargains. I'm not even hitting those much any more, because I really don't need any more clothes. I just need to wear the ones I have. I find myself wearing three or four outfits, washing them, and wearing them again.
 
Things were kind of sparse when I was growing up. I had four shirts and two pairs of jeans, and they often had a patch when needed. My wife realizes that is why I tend to buy clothes and shoes beyond my needs. She is a very caring and loving soul in many ways, I'm pretty lucky. Huh?
 
Aunt Bea said:
I never had any fashion sense but I was able to find a basic, slightly intimidating look, that served me well during my working years.

After I retired, I gradually developed a very basic inexpensive wash and wear capsule wardrobe that works for me and the way that I choose to live.

These days I just restock a few basics every year to keep things looking fresh.

My best fashion tip is to find your ideal weight and do what you can to stay reasonably fit.
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KSav said:
I'm like several others here: I stick with easy separates that are comfortable if not the height of fashion. I tend to order from the same places online where I know the sizes (i.e., know the size I order will fit). I always am in jeans or leggings and tunics.
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I've spent over 50 years in the apparel industry, but even before that time I knew better than to be a slave to fashion. Can't say "retail therapy" ever did a thing for me.

Like Aunt Bea and KSav, through the years I've found styles that worked for each life phase and embraced them fully. My wardrobe could be described as narrow and deep and it has been thus since I was in high school.

These days my cooler weather "uniform" is full length jeans and dark colored pants. Slim fit (but not skinny fit or leggings) and a long sleeve traditional or v-neck tee shirt in a wide variety of colors. Sometimes layer a bright color short sleeve tee over a light weight neutral long sleeve tee. Top with a navy or black cardigan or sweatshirt.

In warm weather I wear short sleeve tees (crew or v-neck) and skorts (rarely shorts) whose hems hit a few inches above my knees. I still have good legs thanks to good genes and controlling my weight.

I don't like or wear capris, cropped pants or ankle pants.

I have about 8 pairs of pants, a dozen-ish brightly patterned skorts (the kind that look like skirts but have attached shorts underneath), and about 18 each of long and short sleeve tees.
 
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robin416 said:
I detest those things. Remember when that's all you could find in the stores unless you hit a thrift store? No idea if they quit only carrying short pants because I haven't been in a store store in quite a few years.
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There are still a lot of them in stores. Hard pass.
Very baggy pants are back in style again. Not gonna bite on that hook either.

Following trends means within short order you'll be wearing out-of-style, dated clothing.
I stick with casual, timeless basics.
 
robin416 said:
I think you all just confirmed what I was thinking, they're cheaper to make for the manufacturer and cheaper for the stores to buy.
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Large apparel manufacturers don't dictate fashion, they merely offer what customers are demanding.

Trust me, the difference in a couple of inches of fabric for an ankle pant or capri versus full length pants doesn't affect the price. If it did, size zero pants would cost 1/3 less than size 16 regulars, because 16s require at least 1/3 more fabric. But they're priced the same.

Style trends start on the streets, in magazines, on social media, via influencers, and sometimes on fashion runways (though John & Jane Public prefer greatly toned down versions of extreme runway nonsense).
 
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