STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Kelly · Hermes

Is anyone else frustrated with shopping right now?

relrel · Marc Jacobs

Is it more a weather issue than a clothing issue? I find that when I feel most blah about shopping is when I'm stuck between seasons.

One thing that I do when I know that I need to shop (like only have one pair of pants that fits kind of thing) but can't find anything is peruse fashion blogs and yes, Polyvore and Pinterest. It sometimes helps to narrow down what you're looking for, you can go from "work tops" to "blue" to "blue t-shirt" to "blue t-shirt with shoulder detailing" if you just follow that rabbit hole.

Also, sometimes when I keep looking and looking and just nothing is yelling at me, I buy something small. Shoes or nail polish or jewelry.

But yeah, nothing is really shouting at me at the moment. Except, actually, these pants at Zara.

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Boots · Gucci

I haven't been able to get a free day to go shopping for Spring yet, but I understand your frustration. It's either feast or famine with me and clothes shopping. I usually go out with general ideas too because if I try to shop for something specific (like a pair of green jeans which I really want by the way) I get obsessed with the details of the item and question whether I should just keep looking for the "perfect" pair. But if I go shopping thinking that I'll just try on things that catch my eye, I sometimes find items that I absolutely love.

I also have been known to buy myself an inexpensive accessory when a shopping trip is bust. FF21 is great for this. Plus a new fun accessory sometimes is just what is needed to freshen up outfits I already have.

This Spring I'm absolutely loving all the colorful clothes I see in the magazines, but so far I haven't really seen anything viable at on-line stores in my price range. Maybe as it gets closer to April & May the stores will start carrying these items?

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

Having trouble too!

I tried on a ton of things at Anthro a couple days ago, and the only thing that worked was a turtleneck on super-clearance (not very spring-like). Oh, and a dress that I have no where to wear.

And, once again, (like Kelly said), there's no happy medium between dressing a 30-40-something who is interested in fashion and doesn't make $200K/year. It's either Ke$ha, Miley Cyrus, or Dr. Ruth.

I'm also having trouble finding stuff to buy because I don't work, all my classes are online, and I've seen turds with more vibrant social lives than mine! I'm like, hmmm...what about those housecoats over there?.... Mumu and slippers? Why, yes!

I think what I need to do is stop (at least temporarily) trying to find clothes that are out of my comfort zone. You can't go wrong with my default style. It is so basic and clean that the worst someone could say about it is that it's boring. Well, my life is kinda boring right now (fashion-wise, anyway), so it's all good. Because my style is basic and clean, it is important that I keep my pieces in good condition and try to buy quality in the first place.... having an epiphany here, people!...

Okay, so there you have it. I'm going to continue buying what I always buy (v-neck, boat neck, and the occasional scoop-neck, basic tees and tops, jeans (skinny and boot), plain trousers (wide-ish leg), but I'm going to try doing it at different stores and better stores. So sick of Gap and BR. There.

One more thing: Designers and mall stores seem to be all about the high-cut crew neck! Crew necks do absolutely nothing for my appearance. It has been so hard to find anything (interesting or not) that isn't crew neck. Just look at Jason Wu stuff, Philip Lim, Vince, etc. Ugh. (not that I can afford that sh*t anyway).

I didn't realize I was so up in arms. Good luck with your spring shopping, Ladies.

Boots · Gucci

**Raises a glass to Pollyjean** Speak it, sister!

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

Off topic: I could have one helluva blog right now if I consolidated all my commentary from StyleThread and Facebook. Lol.

Kelly · Hermes

I went shopping again this weekend. Arggggh! I tried to take everyone's comments to heart - trying to think very specifically about what I want while still being open to just finding something I loved and buying it. I looked around online for inspiration before I left. And actually in doing that, what I realized I wanted most was just some neutral basics, which seems like it would be relatively easy. But I still came home mostly empty-handed. I bought some flats (which I actually do love, they're a colorful leopard print), sunglasses, and a shirt. It's a start. I keep trying to tell myself that I'm just being too picky, but I also can't bring myself to spend my money on something I don't even like just because it fits my lifestyle/body/budget! I lost about 15 pounds last fall too - which is nice, but now it's getting warm out and I'm finding that a lot of my old warm-weather clothes are a size or two too big now and just look dumpy, so I kind of need to go shopping more than usual for this season.

Ugh.

Kelly · Hermes

pollyjean23 wrote:
One more thing: Designers and mall stores seem to be all about the high-cut crew neck! Crew necks do absolutely nothing for my appearance. It has been so hard to find anything (interesting or not) that isn't crew neck. Just look at Jason Wu stuff, Philip Lim, Vince, etc. Ugh. (not that I can afford that sh*t anyway).

Seriously, what is UP with that?

Boots · Gucci

Kelly wrote:
pollyjean23 wrote:
One more thing: Designers and mall stores seem to be all about the high-cut crew neck! Crew necks do absolutely nothing for my appearance. It has been so hard to find anything (interesting or not) that isn't crew neck. Just look at Jason Wu stuff, Philip Lim, Vince, etc. Ugh. (not that I can afford that sh*t anyway).

Seriously, what is UP with that?

I have one of those 20% off codes for Piperlime, so I looked around a bit. I love these dresses, but the neckline is just killing me. Why both the high crew neck AND the pleats? Who does this look good on?

Suasoria · Chanel

I feel like I go through this regularly when silhouettes change. Im rather fixed on certain styles/cuts, which means if Im looking for a pencil skirt when a-line is the current shape, shopping is an exercise in frustration. (Maybe cutesy and/or shapeless is the in thing right now.)

This also explains the feast or famine effect Boots mentions. When stuff I like is in style again, its feast time. When its not, its famine.

I'm not in the market for anything major right now - meaning, nothing I feel pressured to purchase; I have a wish list but it's all just "nice to have" versus "must have" items. So Im not doing much shopping other than keeping an eye on my ebay searches and salemails.

To be fair, its also kind of hard to motivate oneself around items that arent especially fun, such as "short sleeved work tops" or "neutral basics!" :)

Suasoria · Chanel

Oh and -- color is the same way. I just ran to Target on my lunch break to kill time, and it is a sea of coral, turquoise, apple green, etc. Good luck finding something in a color that isn't trendy right this second, or a "crazy" color like...ivory.

Kelly · Hermes

Suasoria wrote:
I feel like I go through this regularly when silhouettes change. Im rather fixed on certain styles/cuts, which means if Im looking for a pencil skirt when a-line is the current shape, shopping is an exercise in frustration. (Maybe cutesy and/or shapeless is the in thing right now.)

I think this might be half the problem. Even the basics I'm finding aren't really shapes I want. It seems like it's pretty hard to find a defined waist right now - last year I was all about the flowier/boxier tops, but I'm over it and I want something that hugs me a little more, and that's hard to find right now outside of stretchy knits.

Why can't I just be a millionaire and have someone custom-make all of my clothes?!

carmenb513 · Coach

Same here. It's borderline depressing. And I've packed on 40 lbs that I lost. That doesn't help either.

Signed,

Two Ton Tessy

Hermes

I too put on some pounds. Been on a shopping ban until I can get into the things I already own. Getting close to my old weight again and had to break down and buy some jeans recently...

I've been saving catalogs and marking items I like. Haven't been impulse buying (a good, new habit!)

KaffeeKlatsch · Marc Jacobs

I have major issues when it comes to shopping...window shopping I excel at, mind you...but it's the actual have-money-in-hand-am-ready-to-buy thing that just never seems to work for me. I'll budget and budget and save and save, and then when I finally have enough to go out and buy something I actually need...I can't for the life of me find an acceptable version. Either the price point will seem ridiculous, or the quality will be lacking or the cut will be off.
So back to the thrift store I go...
Lately though, I've found that even the catologue and online window-shopping is boring the heck out of me. Maybe I'm just not in the mood?

Boots · Gucci

I actually found a skirt I liked at Ann Taylor, but was not going to pay full price for it. It's a bright yellow (almost neon, but not quite) with an exposed zipper on the side. I could see wearing it with navy blue, green and pink tops that I already own. It fit perfectly and the length was above the knee but not too short (age appropriate length is one of my resolutions this year.) Of course, now that It's 30% off on-line, it's not on the website.

I think it's a conspiracy.

Hermes

relrel wrote:

But yeah, nothing is really shouting at me at the moment. Except, actually, these pants at Zara.

love these, relrel!

rdfjgf35 · Nine West

-bump-

carmenb513 · Coach

D wrote:
I too put on some pounds. Been on a shopping ban until I can get into the things I already own. Getting close to my old weight again and had to break down and buy some jeans recently...

I've been saving catalogs and marking items I like. Haven't been impulse buying (a good, new habit!)

I have got to get these lbs off asap!