Why do people HATE Chicos so much?

[Anonymous]

It is a store for old ladies who think they are "funky" and also want to deny their actual mass with the weird sizing.

[Anonymous]

the sad truth is that most stores essentially suck. nothing has shape, everything is polyester crap and fabrics start piling immediately. i am looking at you, banana, gap and jcrew. i even found polyester theory crap at neiman marcus. just awful.

so i just don't hate chiccos, i pretty much hate most clothes out there these days.

[Anonymous]

Hate the clothes but the necklaces are decent. ESP. When on sale

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because their clothes all seemed to be designed primarily to hide figure flaws. If you had an hourglass shape, particularly with a defined waist, would you buy Chico's?

How many 35+ women really have that shape?

Huh? I'm 47 and have a great figure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just spent a fortune at Chico's after looking at 4 other stores and finding nothing. Couldn't be happier with my purchases.

How old are you and do you work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am 51, tall and slim. Too old for Banana Republic, hate Coldwater Creek, Chicos, and find J Jill VERY boring. So, I hate to shop.

52yo PP here and I completely agree. It is like looking for the holy grail, shopping is.

I buy my clothes at New York and Company.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm 51, not tall, slim and I wear Banana all the time. Also Gap, j crew and sometimes even urban. Chicos and j Jill look like something my moms friends in the retirement home would wear.

I'm 46 and haven't been able to wear Banana for 10 years. My hips are 41" and Banana Republic cuts are ridiculously slim.

[Anonymous]

The secret to looking good in clothes after 45 is spending a lot of money. I buy Milly, David Meister, Eva Franco, etc. Empire waist or other device to hide the tummy.

[Anonymous]

i'm embarrassed to admit that i went through a chico's phase in my 20s! i shudder to think about it, but i was 20 lbs. heavier and, for some reason, thought my mom had fashion sense. anyway, a very good (and brave) friend told me it wasn't acceptable. Thank you. and now i never listen to my mom's fashion advice...i'd be wearing khaki's and a navy blue blazer everywhere with pearls and "cute" shoes. ugh. remember carroll reed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am 51, tall and slim. Too old for Banana Republic, hate Coldwater Creek, Chicos, and find J Jill VERY boring. So, I hate to shop.

52yo PP here and I completely agree. It is like looking for the holy grail, shopping is.

Disagree that you are too old for much of what is in banana republic! Don't put yourself out to pasture!
Its absolutely in the styling of most of those pieces to make it age appropriate. I wish I could personal style the ladies that hate shopping but are still fit 50s- it would be so much fun! (No, I don't do it for a living, just more looking at different things to put together as sort of a hobby, with home interiors too)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The secret to looking good in clothes after 45 is spending a lot of money. I buy Milly, David Meister, Eva Franco, etc. Empire waist or other device to hide the tummy.

The "secret" is a tailor you trust who understands your body and what needs to be done to a garment. My own mother looks fabulous near 60 and doesn't spend $ on designer clothes, the only higher end brands she probably even owns all come from outlets or nordstrom rack or the like.

[Anonymous]

KEEP CHICO ANIMAL PRINTS AWAY from me!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The secret to looking good in clothes after 45 is spending a lot of money. I buy Milly, David Meister, Eva Franco, etc. Empire waist or other device to hide the tummy.

Good solution, if you can afford it. Most of us cannot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm 52yo and wear a 12P. I color my hair and can't see anything without my reading glasses. I can't wear uncomfortable shoes anymore, and I need clothing for a professional work environment. I'm the targeted demographic for Chico's.

I try to stay away from Chico's because I think their clothes are cheaply made and overpriced for what they are. I don't mind their basics (plain-color shells, pants) but their prints scream "And Then There's Maude" to me. (I'm dating myself but you 50+ DCUMers will know what I mean.)

Unfortunately I don't know what the alternatives to Chico's are, without spending boatloads of money. Talbots is cut too slim for me; Lands' End works but is a bit dowdy; regular department stores, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic all seem focused on younger women (unless you look at their "missy" elastic-waisted stuff in department stores, and I'm not going there). I've tried Travelsmith and Norm Thompson for certain things but the overall look there is dowdy. Coldwater Creek stuff is matronly and the clothing is cheap-looking.

So, while I don't love Chico's, I understand the niche it fills.

Have you tried Garnet Hill? It seems to have some stuff that might be what you're looking for - and they have sales all the time.

You'd think some smart businessperson would be out making really good clothes for your demographic.

I do well at J Jill.
~fellow Chico's demographic'er

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is a store for old ladies who think they are "funky" and also want to deny their actual mass with the weird sizing.

Ha! Best description of chicos. Thank you PP. I would say the same thing re: the weird sizing for jjill. What is up with that place?