STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Kitty · Hermes

Do you browse in stores where you can't afford anything?

calichic · Dooney & Bourke

Often times I just don't go bc I won't want things that I don't know about. I do sometimes go and browse, but I keep in mind that I can't spend the money and somehow that works for me. But browsing gives you the chance to see things that you could find a cheaper version of somewhere. Oh and if you can't get those boots out of your mind, then you could save up and/or wait for them to go on sale...

lynnie · Chanel

yea sometimes. I go in high end store like barneys, jeffrey etc and almost never am i like, wow, i wish i had $6000 for this dress. i just think, well thats nice, but you're only paying for the name...plus, if i had the money, would i even want to spend it on that. The answers always no. What always strikes me off guard is when i go to boutiques that are just slightly more than i'm willng to pay- where i think, hmm i technically COULD buy this $250 dress and its beautiful, but thats still a lot of money and do I want to spend that? I dont really bother lusting after things i could NEVER afford.

erin · Chanel

there really aren't too many stores like that around here, but when i am in cities with more expensive shopping (like new york) i think it's fun to just look. i guess it doesn't depress me not to be able to afford stuff at barneys, because i think it's just nice to look at gorgeous clothes as art, plus be able to get inspiration for a "look for less."

zeitgeist4 · Gucci

Going to Stanford Shopping Center is torture, isn't it?

I go into stores with high-end stuff all the time, but never have to worry about wanting the stuff because:

most of the stuff won't fit me anyway
I don't "do" drycleaning, so that rules out most clothes
for some reason I can drop money on a handbag, but clothes don't seem worthy
ETA: I usually stain or snag clothes, so I would be upset if I did that to a $$ item

I like a lot of the clothes I see, but I still don't want them, if that makes sense.

Now when it comes to the bag department, that is a whole different story.

-- Edited by zeitgeist4 at 11:50, 2006-08-04

Kitty · Hermes

zeitgeist4 wrote:

Going to Stanford Shopping Center is torture, isn't it?

I go into stores with high-end stuff all the time, but never have to worry about wanting the stuff because:

most of the stuff won't fit me anyway
I don't "do" drycleaning, so that rules out most clothes
for some reason I can drop money on a handbag, but clothes don't seem worthy

I like a lot of the clothes I see, but I still don't want them, if that makes sense.

Now when it comes to the bag department, that is a whole different story.

Ha! Yes. I work within walking distance of Stanford Shopping Center and it kills me :(

You have such an awesome bag collection - where do you get most of them from if you dont mind me asking?

I'm totally the opposite - I'll spend a small fortune on clothes but usually just buy cheap bags because I'm so hard on them and they get ruined easily.

My goal for the upcoming year is to actually build up a bag collection.

zeitgeist4 · Gucci

Kitty wrote:

You have such an awesome bag collection - where do you get most of them from if you dont mind me asking?

I don't really have a usual place I get them, it varies. Some of the cheaper ones I get from TJMaxx or Marshalls. I found a couple of my Cole Haans and a BCBG there. I also hit up website sales of the particular brand (Cole Haan, Kenneth Cole, Gucci), or Bluefly. Or I find a code from a place like RevolveClothing.com. A couple are from NM/Nordies too.

Cortney1982 · Chanel

Really don't have good shopping close by, but nothing is going to stop me from going into a store I think I may like no matter what their price tags are. Who knows, you may find something fabulous on a good sale!

Lilykind · Hermes

Yes, although after a certain price point I think it's all about the name.

I love going into Barney's even though all I ever buy there is makeup and stuff on MAJOR sale.

CheryleB · Kenneth Cole

My son and I were in Honolulu last year and I was too intimidated to go into most of the high end stores along Waikiki and there is a whole floor of Ala Moana center that I shun. If they have a man in a tux or black suit just opening the door, I know I can't afford anything there. I do occasionally try on some of the middle of the road clothes just to see how they look. Once in a while I even buy something.

luckylily · Gucci

Sometimes. I don't usually feel bad because I can't buy anything, I usually think the items are overpriced.

Similar to what Lynnie mentioned, I have a harder time at boutiques where I probably could afford the stuff, but it wouldn't be budget smart.

Elle · Hermes

I don't, ever.

I don't care to look at any items I'm not willing to pay for, which sometimes even means that I even pass by 'regular price' racks in many stores. I find it depressing, especially since it's also a slippery slope. If I see something I can't afford but like, I might talk myself into 'just trying it on'. If it fits really well and I end up actually wanting it, then I'm in a pickle either way. If I don't get it, I'm depressed that I couldn't get it. If I do get it, I feel guilty that I did.

Another reason I don't go into very expensive stores - it seems to me that their SAs have some kind of radar. When someone walks into their store, they know if they're actually shopping/buying or if they're obviously 'just looking'. After being on the receiving end of my share of disdainful looks, I just don't go into those stores any more.

cahabo · Kate Spade

I do just in case a windfall comes my way! That way I already know what I want! Plus I like to see something expensive and find a cheaper version.

TheLovelyLady71 · Hermes

I think if I did, it'd totally bring me down. It's so many I'd love to go to (Saks, etc.), but I know until I get some of this debt paid off, I won't be able to afford not even one piece, w/out going broke. So I just spare myself.

Kelly · Hermes

I do. My favorite is to try on overpriced evening gowns. I feel so beautiful, even if just for a few minutes. I have no need for them, so I don't feel so bad putting them back on the rack. But I still go in stores and look at regular stuff I can't afford. I don't know why I do it - maybe its because that way, I'll spend less money (by buying nothing) than if I went into a store I could reasonably afford and end up buying a lot. But sometimes it backfires and all I do is lust after something that I know I can never have.

BeauteJilly · BCBG

Yes I do go in. I just have self control. I set this rule of my own, I browse everything and whenever something really catches my attention or I "gasp" I would look at it twice and figure it out. Often it doesn't happen because I lust for unique stuff or designs.