STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

honey · Gucci

fashion confessions

halleybird · Hermes

1. I am a total cheapskate. I refuse to buy anything that's not on sale. I would seriously be hard-pressed to find much in my closet that was full price.

2. I think about my outfits a lot. I refuse to wear the same outfit twice within a 6-month period

3. I plan my outfits for the week. I keep all my workweek outfits logged so I don't repeat.

4. Despite 2&3, my outfits are still pretty boring.

5. I own a faux Louis Vuitton. It was a gift, and I carried it before I knew better

6. Up until about a year ago, I wore my pants too short. (Thanks FH for setting me straight!)

-- Edited by halleybird at 21:00, 2004-12-13

Elle · Hermes

Fun, fun, fun!!!

1. I never buy anything that's not on sale or clearance. Ever. Seriously. It's a sickness .

2. I HATE clothing that is lined. All the linings in every lined piece of clothing, pants/coats/skirts/etc that I have ever owned has ripped. WTF ?

3. I have never taken anything to the drycleaners in my life. I will almost always decide against getting something that is dry clean only. Or I wash it on delicate in the machine, even though you're not supposed to .

4. I buy things and don't tell my fiance about them. He never notices.

5. At 7:00 am when I am getting dressed for work, all of my interest in fashion flys right out the window. It's dark. It's cold. I DON'T CARE! Then 8:00 rolls around and I get on Stylethread and my faith is renewed!

6. I don't own anything cashmere.

7. I have never paid more than $15 for a purse.

That's all I got for now!

sfclinevandy · Coach

1. I lie to my friends about my shopping. They'll ask me if something is new and I'll say no even though it is because I sometimes feel guilty about how regularly I shop.

2. I go to the mall by myself without telling anyone sometimes because its my favorite way to distress.

3. When I gained the freshman 20 (my version of the 15) I cut out the sizes in my clothes so people wouldn't see what I wore and so I wouldn't depress myself. Luckily I lost it all (and then some) by senior year so I don't do this anymore.

4. I love to buy evening clothes even though if I don't have anywhere to wear them anytime soon.

5. When I was younger (like 6), I would get embarrassed walking through the lingerie department.

6. I used to be so snobby about clothes. Now that I am older I have no problem admitting I buy lots of stuff from the Juniors Department or stores like Forever 21. The key is to mix the cheapo stuff with my good stuff so no one can tell.

7. I blame the internet for making me shop as much as I do.

CarrieS · Marc Jacobs

OMG Honey, #'s 2,3,4,5 and 8 on your list are things that I could have written myself, down to every last word.

A few things of my own:

-I love the men's department at stores like Target. I like to look a little funky when I'm casual, so I always buy the men's L beaters (I like my shirts really long and like it when these hang out a good 4" below my tshirts), the S v-necks, and tube socks (my legs get cold in the winter). Actually, I pretty much refuse to wear ANY socks that go much lower than my knee...

-I wear my Uggs with pride :)

-I worship the Olsens as my fashion icons and try to emulate a lot of their (casual) looks in my own wardrobe

-I also like to match my underwear and bra to the rest of my outfit, even though no one is going to see it

Hmm, I think that's it for now

-- Edited by CarrieS at 22:54, 2004-12-13

tosh · BCBG

This is hilarious....not only do I as do almost everyhting that's been said, but....

1) I too, sadly, own a fake LV. It is was the result of a misguided ebay impulse buy. **hangs head in shame**

2) I am way OCD about my underwear and socks matching my outfits. It doesn't have to be exact, but if I'm wearing tan pants I can NOT wear a black bra or panties. Likewise, if I'm wearing black boots, there can be no camel socks underneath. oy...likely need some meds for that one...

3) I have 2 large closets filled w/ clothes, but I pretty much hate everything.

4) I am so picky about the way pants need to fit, that I have actually spend over 45 mins in a dressing room looking at them in different angles.....and then putting them back....went home to get the correct shoes for said pants....try on again...examine all angles....and still not purchase....

Chic · Marc Jacobs

1. I still love LV and always will, they are the only expensive things I own, I have 7 bags, and 2 pieces of luggage. I am not trying to sound snobby, I am seriously addicted, it did start 10 years ago though. I think to myself that I could always sell them if I really, really needed money. But I hope to give them to my daughter one day, if I have one. Who else has a bag from 10 years ago that still looks new and fresh?
2. I wait for something to go on sale at Marshalls, sometimes $19.99 is still to expensive.
3. I always have my big Herve Chapier bag in my car, so I can hide my bags of purchases.
4. I return all the time....and I worked in retail for 10 years.
5. I have 2 closets of clothes, but I think that I wear the same thing everyday.
6. I have bought new underwear and socks versus doing laundry.
7. I hate ponchos and uggs now, but I still wear my Juicy Couture sets, Lacoste shirts with pride.
8. I buy at waist pants now, I am 28.
9. When I go shopping at Saks, Neimans, and boutiques. I wear my most expensive items so the sales people will be nice to me.

Mia · Kate Spade

1. I really like Juicy Couture even though part of my brain is always whispering "over, over, over".

2. I am not a snob about brands or prices, but I am a snob about style. I definitely catch myself 'looking down' at people who are dressed boringly. Wild/crazy dressers don't bother me but boring? Yeah, that sucks.

3. I lie all the time about the cost of the clothes I buy. I also hide my purchases from friends/family and will pretend something isn't new even when it is. I take a lot of sh** for my shopping habit.

4. I am the queen of impractical purchases.

5. I do what Chic describes - wear my 'it' pieces to shop at expensive/snobby boutiques because I really, really hate snotty saleswomen patronizing me because I'm wearing a cheap sweater or something.

doveanunu · Dooney & Bourke

1) I never answer the outfit polls b/c chances are that I am in my pajamas.

2) I am a major bargain hunter. I rarely buy things at full price, and feel very guilty and regretful if i do.

3) I shop and thrift stores alot.

4) I have two MJ Stella knock-offs, one black and one pomegranate.

5) Sometimes I go commando.

6) I don't seperate my laundry at all when I wash it. Colors and whites all go into the machine together....luckily I have yet to pay the price for this.

Lilykind · Hermes

At some stores, I will buy out the place if I see the word "sale!". Like I blew a ton of money at French Connection a month ago when they had a 20% off sale sign in front. I just strolled past the store this weekend and it's now 25%. Which leads me to...

...I am always pissed if I don't get something for the cheapest price possible. I have my favorite print skirt that I got at Nordies 50% off only to see it at Loehmann's 6 months later at 75% off retail and that put me in a bad mood for the rest of the day. I also literally will put down something at BR or Gap if it has only one markdown sticker on it.

I never buy "going out" clothes, and then when I actually have to go out, I end up in a mad frenzy trying to find something.

If I could afford to, I would own a million screen print tees with funny sayings on them.

I am a Juicy Couture addict, despite the voices in my brain saying "over! over! over!"

I wear my best clothes to places where I'm afraid of getting bad service from salespeople. Or when I'm going to big sales where I know half the hipster population of Los Angeles will show up. I always feel like I have to measure up to the "LA hipster sheep". And oftentimes, I never feel like I do, because my skin isn't as perfect, my tan isn't as even or I'm not nearly as skinny as they are...(mind you, I can lift my BF and the sheep who I'm intimidated by probably haven't lifted so much as a hairbrush...)

I go commando occasionally too (but only with pants so don't worry).

I used to buy thongs at Family Dollar/Dollar General.

I go shopping to expressly try on clothes. And half the time I can't afford the stuff I try on.

I have a closetful of clothes, but I find myself hating a ton of things in my closet.

I go to the mall without telling anyone because it's my land of least stress. And "anyone" includes my BF.

I carry my LV Speedy 25 with extreme pride and love, even though everyone has fakes up the wazoo.

I think the most I've ever paid for a puse on my own is probably $70.

I shop at the boys and girls departments in Target regularly. I've bought a ton of shirts at the girls' dept and I would buy the pants if I didn't have cameltoe in the largest size.

Despite all the cool stuff I know I own, I end up looking like a USC student sheep since I can't find anything to wear in the morning except my Juicy, a t-shirt, a scarf, jeans, and Uggs.

smash · Dooney & Bourke

oh, jeez. i can relate to a ton of these! especially everything honey wrote about feeling intimidated or pissed off by certain types of NY people ("pollyannas" and bitches with clothes that i covet particularly). aside from those, which are definitely at the top of my list!, here are my confessions -

1. i am completely unable to dress stylishly for colder weather. once daylight savings hits in october, i basically wear pants or jeans, a turtleneck sweater or tee/blazer, and trainers or boots every day until mid-march. i have tons of adorable fall/winter skirts, patterned tights, non-knit tops and they hang in my closet unworn every year.

2. i have very few pieces of black clothing (actually, i have 4 -- ss tee, ls tee, cowl-neck sweater, t-neck sweater), but i actually wear those 4 pieces A LOT, especially in the winter.

3. the fact that the dress for my job is casual has made me extremely lazy. i can completely relate to lilykind's race to find something nice to wear to go out. i do the same thing whenever i have to dress up for a meeting, a night out, or a wedding. i never have the right thing to wear for anything other than day-to-day work/weekend.

4. (this is a big one, and i'm ashamed to write it!) in general, i hate shopping. i love clothes, shoes, and accessories, but i HATE the shopping process. i hate the crowds at stores i like in NYC, i hate overbearing and/or snooty sales people, i hate standing in a dressing room with 15 pairs of pants that don't fit me, i hate the guilt i feel standing at a cash register spending money, even if it's on something i need or at a store like h&m where the purchases are by no-means budget-breaking. i do about 80% of my shopping online to avoid all of these things. even at places like banana republic, where i could easily avoid shipping charges and shop at one of the thousand b&m stores in the city, i still order things online.

5. probably about 60% of my wardrobe was gotten on ebay. definitely 90% of my accessories.

6. about 4/7 days in any given week, i leave the apartment without a single accessory other than a handbag. no necklaces, no scarves, no pins. just clothes/shoes/bag. this is also a result of my recent fashion laziness.

7. i don't own a single matching bra/undie. i have two cami/undie sets that sit in my lingerie drawer. but none of my bras and undies match at all. and i actually wear the same ratty old comfortable bra almost every day (hand-washed in the sink every evening). contrary to the girls who posted about their underthings/socks matching their outfits, i am the opposite. for example, today i am wearing grey pants, olive green socks hidden under black boots, a lilac colored sweater, pale pink bra, and blue/white striped undies. i'm like a clown under my clothes!

bliss · Dooney & Bourke

This is a good poll:

1. I don't buy anything that is not on sale or clerance, like ever and I too am obsessed with getting the very best prices, I will travel to the ends of the earth for a price adjustment.

2. I never respond to the outfit polls because all I wear are suits and the likes to work. How spiffy can you be in a cardigan and a skirt?

3. I don't shop at high end stores with famous designer names, really Macy's and Strawbridges are good enough for me.

4. I wear sweatpants when shopping all the time, cause I like to feel comfortable and they're easy to remove when trying clothes on. I also wear my fuggs a lot while shopping cause they're comfy too. I always think the saleswomen think I am buying clothes for someone else, someone with an ounce of style.

5. When buying outfits I like to envision what I will do while wearing them. I have a lot of shirts and sweaters that I only wear to certain places like events and professional meetings. It's very sick.

6. I am obsessed with anything Coach. I don't care who doesn't approve and how out of style it is, I just feel pulled together whenever I wear it. My sister's and I both have ridiculous collections my sister's daughter uses her Coach bag as a toy, literally, it's used to hold barbie doll heads and cheap lipstick, and I am very proud of that and have told her that if she gets accepted into the gifted program at her school I will buy her a Coach bookbag. My best bargain was a Coach scarf I got for $8.75. I tell everyone I know about it. Oh yeah, point #1 remains the same, I only buy from the outlets.

Meow · Coach

This is too much fun!!

1. I put on a full face of makeup every day first thing in the morning--even when I am going to be in the house all day. I just feel yucky and not ready for the day if I don't. When I am in a store and I see someone with no makeup on, I think ,"please, do something with yourself."

2. I look down my nose at women who have cut their hair short after age 30 --even though mine has just gotten back to the long stage again. (I am such a hypocrite) I think that their husbands sure must be jealous of my husband for having a wife (me) with long hair. (That is so MEAN!!)

3. I can't STAND teacher clothes--shapeless jumpers, appliqued sweatshirts, etc. I mentally turn up my nose when I see someone wearing them.

4. I am very self-conscious of the dark circles under my eyes. I have always had slight bags under my eyes (even in high school). I cover it well with makeup, but I desperately want them removed via plastic surgery. I plan to have it done when I turn 40.

5. I do not get out in the sun because I want to look young. However, I am very self-conscious of my southern belle white skin. When I wear a skirt and sleeveless top, I feel like people are looking at my white arms and calves. I have used sunless tanner in the past, but this spring I plan to get spray tanned.

6. I absolutely love to shop by myself. I am selfish and self centered about it and don't want to have to be considerate of anyone with me. Going shopping by myself gives me a sense of POWER!!! (I have no idea why)

7. I have never bought or owned anything cashmere--I want to, though.

8. I am obsessed with having a flat stomach. I do Pilates, but I never think my stomach is flat enough.

9. I buy stuff on sale 90% of the time.

10. I have never spent more than $99 on a pair of shoes--although I dream of Manolos--I am just too cheap though. As a matter of fact, I have never bought any designer label.

11. I constantly thinking about shopping and clothing and log what I wear so that I don't repeat too often.

12. I have no clue what a boybeater, wifebeater is. I have been to ashamed to ask because I am afraid all of you will think I have been living under a rock.

13. I am very picky about my pants, and I have trouble finding pants to fit me like I want. I want them below my belly button with a slight flare. It seems that when I buy pants, I always get them too big in the waist and too high rise (it is like a sickness). My goal is to replenish my pants wardrobe with pants that fit very well. I also wore my pants too short until a year ago.

14. I work with a girl whose got a 3 stone ring for her 10th anniversary. It is platinum has a 2 carat emerald cut diamond center with 1/2 carat emerald cut diamonds on either side. I want one so badly, but I will never get one. We just cannot afford that and me shop for shoes and clothes at the rate that I do. I am getting over my envy of her, though.

15. I am addicted to fashionhag/stylethread. I feel withdrawal if I miss a day coming to this site.

16. It aggravates me to see someone wearing too many trends at the same time.

Boy, that was cathartic. I feel better.

-- Edited by Meow at 12:06, 2004-12-14

nyc_shopgirl · Dooney & Bourke

This is fun I feel like the book Can You keep a Secret?

1. I like to shop alone or with my mom. I have no patience to shop with friends. If I do shop with them I rarely buy anything. The only exception is my one friend but she moved away and I never see her anymore.

2. I love a good bargain

3. Lately almost everything I buy is from BR

4.I too have a faux LV but when I bought it I thought it was real... It is a good fake

5. I have several faux Kate Spades from the late 1990's that I over paid for on ebay

6.I always feel frumpy/suburban at sales where the NYC fashionistas flock too. (I always feel like I am huge)

7. I have a Kasper suit in my closet my mom bought me in college that I have not even taken the tags off of because I think it is so fugly. It has fringe.

8.I am a totally brand whore and have been since I was a little kid (I was obsessed with Esprit in elementary school) but I like to get brands at discounts

9. Because of #8 my sisters think I am a snob but I just like to buy stuff I know

10. I hate thongs and only wear one brand of undies... that has since been discontinued

11. I rarely answer the outfit polls because my uniform is pants and a sweater with my bronx black shoes or my rocket dogs. I am so comfy why be uncomfortable at work?

12. I still have sweaters from high school that I wear and I am 24!

luckylily · Gucci

Fun poll!

1. I admire those of you who only buy things on sale. I suffer complete anxiety that something I love will sell out before it goes on sale. I recently went into Anthro everyday for a over a month waiting for a skirt I loved to go on sale, and I was extremely proud of myself for not giving in and buying it at full price.

2. I'm not judgemental about this, but I hate the Gap, BR, Old Navy trifecta.

3. I don't own any brown shoes or any clothes that would need to be paired with brown shoes.

4. I really don't have many clothes at all and most of my outfits are pretty basic. However, I have LOADS of assessories.

5. I walk to work with a backpack. My friends tease me for wearing a cool outfit w/ a backpack. I have to carry my gym clothes, wallet, phone, a few files, and lunch, my walk is over a mile, a backpack is the only thing I've found to be comfortable.

6. I keep a spreadsheet w/ my cost/wear for every item I buy. It helps me remind myself that I have things that I haven't really gotten my moneys worth from yet.

7. I don't own any pants other than jeans and one pair of cords.

8. I don't like to look boring. I would rather look a bit over the top, than boring.

9. I never match my panties and bra to each other or my outfit. I go commando a lot when I'm wearing jeans 'cause I hate seeing other peoples underwear and I don't want them to see mine.

Metric · Gucci

ooh this is good.

1. I love getting things on sale. I hardly ever buy full price.

2. I'm really snobby about the way other people dress but in all honesty, I really don't dress that well.

3. I own a fake Burberry bag. *blush*

4. I do not own any designer peices, the closest I come is a Dior lip gloss.

5. I constantly lie to my bf/family about my purchases.

6. I hate shopping with other people. I am OCD about the way I shop and other people always mess up "the system"

7. My closet and drawers are stuffed but I don't really like my clothes. Actually I do like them I just don't know how to work them.

8. I don't have a problem with my weight (I'm actually quite thin) but I don't like my body.

9. I feel like any second now I might become old and frumpy.

CarrieS · Marc Jacobs

I have another item to add to my list...

-Anyone watch "What Not To Wear"? You know the host Stacy London? The way she comments on what people are wearing (before makeover) is exactly how I think. I mentally make snobby comments to myself on what people are wearing or how their hair is done, etc. It's almost a reflex. In fact, I could probably take Stacy's job. I

'm not, however (just to make it clear), commenting on body size or things like that people can't help.

For some reason, it irritates the crap out of me when people wear horribly unflattering clothes

DC Shopper · Dooney & Bourke

Ha, this thread is making me chuckle.

My confessions:

1. Like many of you, I buy much of my stuff at a discount since I shop online so much, but I don't feel like I save that much money because I buy so much stuff and the discount is usually only 10-20% off. Like luckylily, I tend to decide I MUST have an item of clothing and freak out that it will be gone before it goes on sale. So sometimes I buy at full price, then find that it's gone on sale exactly 15 days after I've purchased - too late for a price adjustment.

2. I own no matching bras and undies and my bras are old lady minimizers in shades of cream or tan.

3. Most of my friends rarely shop and regard me as a big-time spender. maybe they're right, but whenever they make fun of me in my head i'm thinking "you could use a shopping spree, loser". isn't that mean? but it pisses me off when people do this, or ask how much a certain item cost me.

4. i buy a decent amount of stuff on ebay, and usually I'm pretty happy with it.

5. as some of you know, i bought a juicy couture cashmere sweatsuit via a sketchy online transaction and lost $265.

6. I have a closet full of clothes and probably wear only 50% of what i own on a daily basis, and am often stumped when it comes to going out or informal wedding wear.

7. i don't bother coordinating purses or accessories (other than jewelry) with my clothing. i just grab whatever bag and shoes/belt and hope they don't clash.

8. i wish i could stop shopping at Banana Republic but I can't. it's a sickness.

9. i try to be creative but i suspect i dress rather boringly. i almost never feel put together.

10. this forum is probably really bad for my budget but it's now a community to me and i can't leave.

11. i also do not own a full length mirror and tend to check myself out in shop windows.

rlutz · Chanel

i just had so much fun reading all your confessions...alot of mine are the same as yours....some different ones....

1.I love to shop alone...I do not really want anyone elses opionion...i am the one who is going to wear it and need to feel comfortable in it...

2. I never reaqlly tell anyone how much I paid for something...again, it is my business...i guess i also feel guilty if it was expensive.

3. I hate my boobs, so i dress to play them down, not up...they are too big 36D

4. I do not care what color socks I have on, sometimes they do not even match eachother, as long as they are under my shoes and you cannot see them, I do not care.

5. I love to dress up...even I only have one meeting on a certain day with a casual client, I love to get dressed up in skirts and suits...

I guess that is all I can think of now..

atlgirl · Gucci

I've learned so much about you all, much of it fascinating. I visualize all of you as perfectly dressed / accessorized / with huge shopping budgets...unlike myself

- I don't own any designer clothes, though I would loooove to, I don't have (and have never really had) the budget for them. But I'm curvy (true curvy, not the "fat" euphemism)--36C, 28" (okay, that part is a little large) waist, and 35" hips--so a lot of less expensive clothes don't fit me right, and designer-quality clothes almost always fit like a dream

- I have broad, linebacker shoulders; these paired with my ta-ta's mean I almost always have to wear a "large" top. However, to get the fit in the shoulders / chest means I have to usually have the waist taken in. Fortunately I have a good tailor.

- I have loved clothes ever since I was very young; I remember having major favorite outfits in grade school and being sad when I outgrew them

- Partly because of the limited budget, and partly because I am stubborn, I like to convince myself that I'm so well put together that nobody will realize I shop at Express or some other low- to mid-range quality chain. Sadly, the opposite is more true

- I adore accessories. One of the best days of my life was when I discovered how to make my own jewelry, and I've been doing that ever since. Unfortunately, it means I don't wear as much of all the *other* jewelry I love, becuase inevitably someone will ask me if I made it, and I hate to say no...

- I grew up as a total tomboy, but now love feminine clothes and shoes

- I shop as a de-stresser, as many of you seem to. I've been doing that for 15 years and it still works! One of the best things about my schedule is that it allows me "quiet time" in mall or store during the middle of the week. I hate shopping on weekends, since I no longer have to

- I hate frumpyness more than anything. I'd rather see someone go a little wild with their outfit than just be so blah and frumpy-lumpy. I'd stay home than go out if I had to dress like that.

- Okay, the one thing I hate more than frumpyness is sluttyness. I don't care HOW great your body is, displaying it tastefully instead of trashily will get you a zillion times more respect--from women *and* men

- ~blush~ I have been known to dress sluttily on occasion...I was younger and didn't realize how I looked (and geez, why did no one tell me?!) but I've seen the pictures later and cringed

- I don't own fake bags...at least, not the big, obvious knockoffs. I probably own some very diluted knockoffs simply because I am not as aware of the original designer bag as I probably should be

- I am a sucker for the "one and only" on a rack, in a store, on me. I HATE to wear anything anyone else might be wearing, besides the basics, like denim. Which reminds me...

- I own no designer jeans. Fortunately, Gap and Levi's work (and have worked since I was a teenager) for my body. I'd love to try some of the very hyped jeans, but can't ever see myself spending in the triple digits for denim.

- I am not a sale slut. I love a good bargain, but my feeling is that if I love the item, can afford it, and will wear it a lot, the cost per wearing works out for me and I'd rather pay up at full (or first markdown) price than miss out and regret it later