Shopping for Clothes

are there some type of clothes you just hate or have a hard time shopping for ? and for any type of reason.

i think bras would be one of the things at the top of the list for most women.

jeans takes a while for me since i always wonder which brand, style etc looks the best before deciding on which one to get.

shoes, especially for more formal occasions take a while since i don't really wear high heels and am not used to it but i'm not that tall either so i usually need some type of heel. so i need something that is comfortable enough while still looking nice.

and just shopping in general. I tend to stick with brands and labels I know - buy my bras and undies at VS because I went through the ordeal once and know what size fits, I'm a big fan of JJill and again, their sizes are consistent so I can order on-line or through the catalog if something strikes my fancy. Jeans? I'm a Levi's girl although I have to buy them in the boys department since they changed the way they size the women's jeans...

I simply won't go shopping if there's nothing in particular I want / need. It's not a passtime for me.

I generally don't shop until / unless I have a specific idea in mind, what I want (item, style, etc). This gets me in and out of the stores fast enough, and if I see some extras that appeal, I'm fine with it.

It's when I can't find what I want, nor anything that appeals, that's frustrating.

I'm pretty close to a size 6p, and can eyeball dresses, skirts, tops -- even bras. I've gotten pretty good at eyeballing boot-cut jeans, too.

Pants are another matter. I'm 5'2", and most of my lack of height is in my legs. They're short and stubby.
Skirts/dresses have a bit of a margin of error -- if they hit an inch or three below where they should, so what? Most of the skirts I wear have a forgiving line, too, so they look reasonable.

But pants need to be more exact, and it's frustrating.
I rarely wear pants these days.

Jeans are the worst, since those need to be particularly fitted (without being too tight), adding another huge problem to the problem of length. Most of the petite pants are even too long for me. Petite is supposed to be up to 5'4", and I think most of them are made for that top height. It's gotten to the point that I just hold the pants up to me and if they're hitting the floor I put them right back. As you might guess, I don't end up finding many pairs to bring into the dressing room. :shrug:

I thought I'd look horrible in them, but I don't, and I find there's more of a margin of error (assuming I wear them with appropriate footwear -- boots, yes; platform sandals, believe it or not, yes; flip-flops, well, no ;-)).

I can't wear much of a heel, have to wear flats if I have to walk much at all. This makes it difficult for my footwear to compensate for some length.

I either don't like the colors or the fabrics or the fact that they are all cut for women who weigh 90 lbs.

I used to shop a lot at Lerner/New York & Co. but they have changed a lot and I don't like their stuff anymore.

My oddly-shaped body makes shopping difficult. I have a poochy belly and an almost non-existent butt, so elastic waist jeans and slacks look best on me. I get those mail order, mostly through Roaman's or Lane Bryant.

The last time I needed bras, I wanted to be measured. I went to both Sears and J.C. Penney, and in each store, the lingerie sections were like ghost towns. Belk was having a sale on Wacoal, which I've heard is a great brand, but when I went, guess what -- no one there. I saw there was a new Lane Bryant near me, so I just walked in, got measured, and in no time had perfect-fitting bras.

I don't know if I would love shopping if I were built like a toothpick, but it sure would be easier!

I occasionally end up with some purchases that I might not have made if I had tried the clothes on ahead of time but for the most part, it is painless and works out well. Almost everything I get is on sale, too.

Since I've gained some weight that I don't plan on keeping, I just bought a bunch of clothes through ebay. They were so inexpensive, if I don't like them, I'll take them to Goodwill.

If I find something fabulous that I know I can wear & is a fabulous deal, I buy it.

I like Levi's 550s, and NYC dress pants. I can wear a 3 size range on them, so I can order them and be okay.

I like Doc Martens for shoes, and if they don't have something I like, I don't buy. I live in my 3 holes, my bucklers, and my mary janes.

I like Mervyn's French Laundry line for shirts and skirts.

I hate shopping, so when I find a bra that fits, I buy six of them and rotate them. Unfortunately, I'm changing sizes right now.

I don't mind shopping for knickers or socks.

I'm 4'11" w/a 28" inseam. I can't find a damn thing, almost all "petite" pants are too long, same with skirts and dresses. On top of that I can never find bras, sometimes I don't need to wear them other times I do.

are why I have a sewing machine and a serger.

Haven't tried making bras yet but they're next on my list.

I have to try on so many because the sizing is so inconsistent with women's clothes. Also, I generally wear smaller than a size 4 (like a 2 or 1) so I usually have to go to special clothing stores to get something that fits right. Rarely can I find my size at a regular department store like Target. It's really annoying when I find a style I like but I can't buy it because it's not in my size, or I find something that fits well but I hate the style.

So forget anything that fits tight around them, like those cuffed capri jeans. Knee high boots are out. Sometimes even regular straight leg pants squeeze them too much. Thank gawd for bootlegs! Skirts that fall a little above the knee look great. Below that not so good. Shoes look good if the heels are a bit thicker. I also like wedgies. Small dainty heels or flats make my calves look huge. Well, because they are. I'm such a freak :cry:

Oh well, at least we have choices.

Most of the time I go I come home with nothing but yesterday was one of those successful days. The planets must have been lined up right or something.

I got 5 shirts (nice plain t-shirts in pretty colors), a skirt and 2 pair of pants...and I only spent $127.00!!! I had a 20% coupon for Macys and a $20 coupon at New York & Co.

Love days like that.

However, I went shopping to try and find a dress to wear to a wedding later this month.

oh well.