Shopping for myself is a pain...

[dreamflower]

I *hatehatehatehate* having to shop for *clothes*! That's one reason I learned to sew; but in recent years, all my sewing has been SCA garb; I've never made myself much in the way of *mundane* clothes. Almost everything I own is T-shirts and jeans. So when I learn I have to go to a fancy party with my DH this coming weekend, it meant actual clothes shopping, since I won't have time to sew this week.

First of all, all the really cute stuff is *not* my size! When I look in the Women's dept. there are almost *no* dresses, and what they have are mostly *black*--which is not my color at all. I did finally find a couple of nice things at good bargain prices, but it was such a pain! And now I have to get dressy shoes! Try to find those in flats without pointy toes!!! I absolutely refuse to wear pointy-toe high heels! And I'm tromping around the mall getting more and more footsore, listening to really bad jazzed up Christmas music. And I *hate* to try stuff on, too!

It would be different if I were shopping for gifts for someone else; or if I was trying to find myself something I do like--such as books or music CDs or craft supplies or fabric--but having to spend that kind of money on a dress I will probably only wear a few times just makes me want to pull my hair out. If the ones I bought had not been marked down considerably, I'm sure I could not have brought myself to pay $220.00 for a dress. And some of them were a lot more expensive than that. That's a *lot* of books!

Why couldn't I just wear my 15th century houppelande to the party?

Comments

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Have you got any good thrift stores near you? Particularly ones in or near wealthier suburbs? Because you would be astounded at the kinds of dresses you can get for less than ten dollars if you check the thrift stores on a regular basis. And most of them were things which people bought for special occasions and only wore once or twice.

As for shoes, try some of the specialty stores. If your feet aren't growing much anymore it's worth spending a bit more on a pair of good black shoes that will go with everything. Talk to the clerks until you find the guy or gal who seems to know his/her stock backwards and is willing to take some pains with making sure that you've got a good fit by measuring BOTH feet. The Walking Company usually has good clerks, although not often dressy shoes, but they can recommend brands. New Balance has a good rep. I wear Mephistos myself.

I'll spend a couple hundred on shoes, easy, but what you're really looking for is a lot of experience in identifying what to look for in the shoes you buy. Again, thrift store shoes, bought for one or two occasions, can work if you're careful.

Good luck with it!

[dreamflower]

You know, the thrift store never occurred to me for clothes, even though I go to the one here all the time, I'm usually looking for books, magazines, fabric, etc. I never thought about the clothes, LOL!

The main thing for me with shoes is comfort. My feet quit growing years ago, but I do have a problem with swelling in my feet especially my left one. But I won't have much luck finding a knowledgeable person in a shoe store around here--most of them employ babies who are more interested in their next break than in helping a customer.

Wish I was a hobbit, wouldn't have to worry about shoes.

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

If you google search "womens comfort shoes" there's actually stuff out there designed for folks with foot problems. Don't know how dressy...

[ansostuff.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

I so understand your pointy-toe-shoe frustration! I love shoes, but I don`t like the pointy-toed ones either.

I`m not often thr right size for the nicest dresses either, I`m too little! Well, that goes for most clothes - everything is too long. I can`t sew though, but Mum can and if she started counting all the trousers/skirts/jackets etc she has shortened for me... In London though, there are very nice shops that have my size with short legs and sleeves! I liked that, and came home with a bit more than I intended. :)

Good luck, and I hope you feel well in your new clothes and have a wonderful evening.

[dreamflower]

I think most shoe designers are secretly sadists--I know too many people who hate pointy toes, yet sometimes it seems that's all you can find!

Wish my problem was "too little", LOL! My problem is my nice well-fed, matronly figure.

I did find something nice, and I'll have a little time to maybe put a bit of personalized embellishment to it. I do think I will enjoy the evening; I've met some of my DH's colleagues, so I won't be a total fish out of water. *He* on the other hand hates socializing, and most especially having to wear a suit and tie, LOL! But we'll manage just fine!

[grey-wonderer.livejournal.com]

I hate to dress up. I have the job that I do now because they let me wear my jeans to work and work starts at noon. LOL I am a lazy slob and I am very happy this way. I feel strange in anything that isn't blue jeans.

[dreamflower]

Yes, I can wear T-shirts and jeans to work as well, though my hours usually start earlier than noon. I like my comfort, but I do enjoy dressing every up now and then--only, I prefer not to have to shop for what I dress up in--I'd rather make it myself, and have something comfortable and unique. But when I get home, it's right back into my comfort clothes!

[gamgeefest.livejournal.com]

I feel your pain. I can't even conceive of shopping for fancy clothes. "Dress up" to me is jeans and a nice blouse, and I will tell you right now I do not own a blouse! It's T-shirts for me all the way. And forget about pointy shoes. Sneakers or sandals are all I wear. ^_^

Thank goodness the only places I go are work or to see family and they don't care how you look.

[dreamflower]

LOL! "Dress up" to me is usually a 12th century bliaut or a 15th century houppelande! But I do enjoy the rare occasion to put on a rgualr dress and look "posh"--maybe once or twice a year. The rest of the time, it's T-shirts and jeans for me as well, at work and most everywhere else. But my mother is not so blaisee(sp?) as your family seems to be: when I go somewhere with her, she always gives me the eye and says "Aren't you going to change clothes?" To which, of course, the answer is "No." Then I get, "Well, you are at least going to iron them?" *snort* Iron jeans and a T-shirt?!?! I ask you!!!

[melilot-hill.livejournal.com]

I do like to have new clothes, but I don't like the actual shopping, lol. And as for shoes, I don't want high heels or pointy toes as well. I want to be able to walk in my shoes :)

[coneygoil.livejournal.com]

Clothes shopping is a pain. I don't really mind it (though having to go into a dressing room and junk gets annoying), but my Mum gets so frustrated with it and in turn frustrates me...lol. I think it' be cool to wear a 15th century houppelande to a party! Good luck in finding something!!!

[lilybaggins.livejournal.com]

I'm truly not a cheapskate when it comes to clothes... I promise. :) But I had to find something to wear last year when I found out I was going to a black-tie gala for work---and I had to find it in TWO HOURS.

You'll laugh, but seriously... I went to Wal-mart and found a beautiful velvet dress for $19.99. They almost always have very attractive velvet outfits there, of all sizes, if you're seriously only planning to wear this a couple of times.

Nobody ever guessed where I got my dress, and I never told them, either, though I got plenty of compliments on it. :D