What have you bought recently?

Decided to have another look at Land’s End. Their coats seem to vary based on sizes and colours. When I found the same/similar coat that I had wanted in red for a much lower price in blue, I ordered it. A size Petite costs Can$30 more that a Regular.

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Total with taxes and duty should be $200.

It’s really a bright blue but my whole reason for this is to be seen on our short, dark winter days. I really hope it’s not quite this bright. Or maybe I’ll love it. I do have shirts and jackets this colour.

I hope I didn’t jinx myself by saying I bought it; they haven’t said it’s sent. I’ve had cancellations after I’ve thought something was on its way.
 

I have no idea why they charge more for petite clothing.. you'd think it would be less because they're using less material... so annoying...


This morning I've renewed my railcard for another year.. It gives me a third off rail travel for 12 months.. and costs £30... .. I was almost tempted to renw for 3 years which is £70, but the rail staff and drivers, are always on strike, so just this year they've prevented me from travelling on several dates, so £70 would be a big waste if I only got to travel a couple of times over the next 3 years..
 
they charge more for petite over here as well, I think it might have to do more with relooading the equipment, they may have to break it down and reset for smaller size of fabric rolls to avoid wasting material.

It was the same sort of thing in the printing industry, it they had to breakdown a press to change paper roll size, change ink color etc, that added to the cost of a project.
 

they charge more for petite over here as well, I think it might have to do more with relooading the equipment, they may have to break it down and reset for smaller size of fabric rolls to avoid wasting material.

It was the same sort of thing in the printing industry, it they had to breakdown a press to change paper roll size, change ink color etc, that added to the cost of a project.
As someone whose entire career was spent in the apparel industry, I can explain why petites cost more than regular sizes. Same with 2X & 3X. Also why little girls' pants and jeans are more expensive than boys' pants.

It's strictly a matter of economies of scale - demands are much lower for all of the above so the quantities are smaller, and it's costly to maintain inventory that doesn't turn over quickly. The difference in the amount of raw materials is minimal, and setting up machines is the least of it. Non-standard sizes (petites and 2X+) are cut and sewn alongside regular sizes.

Nearly all apparel is still sewn mostly by humans at machines - as it's been for over a hundred years - with some automatic pocket setters, button/buttonhole machines, etc., Complex garments move from one specialty sewer to the next (think assembly line), this jacket undoubtedly included. Petites and regulars require all the same operations.
https://www.wired.com/story/why-robots-cant-sew-t-shirt/
 
As someone whose entire career was spent in the apparel industry, I can explain why petites cost more than regular sizes. Same with 2X & 3X. Also why little girls' pants and jeans are more expensive than boys' pants.

It's strictly a matter of economies of scale - demands are much lower for all of the above so the quantities are smaller, and it's costly to maintain inventory that doesn't turn over quickly. The difference in the amount of raw materials is minimal, and setting up machines is the least of it. Non-standard sizes (petites and 2X+) are cut and sewn alongside regular sizes.

Nearly all apparel is still sewn mostly by humans at machines - as it's been for over a hundred years - with some automatic pocket setters, button/buttonhole machines, etc., Complex garments move from one specialty sewer to the next (think assembly line), this jacket undoubtedly included. Petites and regulars require all the same operations.
https://www.wired.com/story/why-robots-cant-sew-t-shirt/
Thanks for that explanation Star.. however I'm still puzzled as to why.. for example in Spain where the women tend to be generally on the smaller and petites sizes.. why clothing there doesn't cost a premium for the same stores as it does in many other places
 
Thanks for that explanation Star.. however I'm still puzzled as to why.. for example in Spain where the women tend to be generally on the smaller and petites sizes.. why clothing there doesn't cost a premium for the same stores as it does in many other places
You answered your own question, HD. If a lot of the women wear smaller, petite sizes, economy of scale comes into play yet again, this time in their favor. No premium necessary on high volume sizes.
 
yes but the same store ? ..:unsure: madness to my mind tbh
Are you talking about different stores within the same chain? Like Costco, H & M and others with lots of retail outlets?

Perhaps each store or district sets its own prices based on what they expect their turnover to be. Or they may just be greedy and taking advantage of prevailing practice in the area.

So, if it's general practice to charge more for petites in London but not in Barcelona, the London may charge more even the wholesale price of the garments is the same. Conversely, Barcelona may charge the same for petites if that's the practice in Spain, even if the store itself pays premium for petite sizes.
 
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...this large picture and frame along with a matching one ...
 
Warm Toes pads from the company that makes Hot Hands. Warm Toes go in the shoes between the socks and the shoe. The floors at work are tile over concrete and very cold and tolerable in summer, but it didn't take long after I started working in November last year to realize that I needed Warm Toes until spring. Yanno, when your feet or hands are cold, there's just no getting warm.

Now if somebody would just come up with a nose mitten... My mother used to tell me that she was going to knit me one but never got around to it.

Hm. I'd really rather have something (anything) from Balenciaga and a PA to carry it to my chauffeured limo. Toe warmers and a nose mitten just don't resonate like Balenciaga, a PA, a limo and a cute driver... KWIM?
 
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After another errand, I tried to go to a grocery store for a couple of items I wanted. Absolutely impossible to park. Decided against it and went to drop off donations. Bought a scarf and glad I did because that wind is cold. Since I was travelling solo I spent extra time just moseying about. Also found a nice sweater in another store. It seems that almost everything I saw today was the wrong size.

Yesterday a pair of dress pants arrived. Even though they should be my size, they don’t feel quite right.
 
While at Costco yesterday, one of the food sample stations was promoting a quite delicious olive tapenade spread on a small chunk of their bakery's ciabattas. Since I need to bring an appetizer to share (and need it to cover omnivores, vegetarians and vegans), this ticks every box. Bought the tapenade and the ciabattas.

Will also offer shmears of regular and vegan cream cheese that guests can layer on the bread before they put on the tapenade.

I greatly missed Costco food samples during the pandemic and am glad they're back! Those samples induced me to purchase many foods that I'd not have put in my cart otherwise.
 

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