Deflating in-person shopping experience after a long time away from it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Size 6 is pretty large in the fashion industry.

She wasn’t shopping on a runaway in Paris, moron.

[Anonymous]

I've given up shopping in person because like others said, the stock is depressingly low, at least in Bethesda/Chevy Chase - I'm a sz 6-8.
What I found interesting is that at the Stanford Shopping Mall, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's actually did have a fair amount of things for me to try on.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Weird post. I have noticed a dramatic change in “size inclusivity” of the past five years. Now there are mannequins and models of all shapes and sizes. The local athleta regularly displays skin tight spandex on a size 22 mannequin.

OP here, and I have barely been shopping in the last 7 years. I known size inclusivity is a thing in the industry and I've noticed it in ads, but I gotta say when I was at the mall yesterday, I didn't see much of it. It definitely felt like a throwback to the 90s when clothes were only advertised on impossibly thin 15 year old models. I felt extremely old and huge (I am a size 4).

Welcome to middle age, I guess. Ads were much worse 10, 20 years ago. It only bothers you know because you are no longer young and in the age used to sell clothes. Nice dig at Chicos, by the way. Maybe a bit of self reflection might be in order?

No one has to self reflect on not liking chicos. If you like it, fine, but it's not fashionable and tends to look women look older and fatter. It's okay to say "no way, not for me."

It’s possible to not like things without dumping on the people who do. Not for the OP, but for normal people.

Chicos is a total cliche of "we man who has given up on looking fashionable or wearing anything without an elastic waist." Culturally, that's what shopping their means. I know there are women who find that empowering, like they look forward to wearing comfy clothes that don't adhere to fashion trends. OK. But it's also okay to decide, nope, I'm going to keep working to fit into clothes with non-elastic waists, and want to look fashionable even at middle age.

It's also just annoying when the response to someone saying that it feels like the fashion industry doesn't have anything for them is "just shop at Chicos." This really contributed to the perception that it's about giving up.

When was the last time you actually looked at the stuff there? I just looked at the all the sundresses people posted in another thread and considering the oversized, shapeless, waistless stuff that gets posted (just from socially acceptable stores, I guess), it doesn’t seem like you have an actual argument, just a boogeyman.

I'm about to make you so mad: You think that because you don't have good taste or an eye for fashion. You look at the clothes at Chicos and say "whatever, how is this any different from that other stuff" because you don't notice details like how a sleeve is fitted or how a few inches difference in a hem can make something look chic or dumpy, or how the styling of an item can totally transform it.

You're also all up in your feelings because you self identify as someone who shops at Chicos so if someone says "Chicos sells ugly, unfashionable clothes," you take that personally. But if I said "Forever 21 sells cheap, poorly made crap that rips of trends," I bet you wouldn't yell at me that I'm hurting the feelings of the teens and 20-something stocking up on crop tops there. Or if I said "Lululemon sells overpriced athletic gear to rich suburban women who need people to be able to see how many hours they spend in barre class," you'd probably chuckle to yourself. Why? Because while these assessments are harsh, they are also true.

Well the harsh but true assessment of Chicos is that it's for older women who have given up and like elastic waists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weird post. I have noticed a dramatic change in “size inclusivity” of the past five years. Now there are mannequins and models of all shapes and sizes. The local athleta regularly displays skin tight spandex on a size 22 mannequin.

OP here, and I have barely been shopping in the last 7 years. I known size inclusivity is a thing in the industry and I've noticed it in ads, but I gotta say when I was at the mall yesterday, I didn't see much of it. It definitely felt like a throwback to the 90s when clothes were only advertised on impossibly thin 15 year old models. I felt extremely old and huge (I am a size 4).

Welcome to middle age, I guess. Ads were much worse 10, 20 years ago. It only bothers you know because you are no longer young and in the age used to sell clothes. Nice dig at Chicos, by the way. Maybe a bit of self reflection might be in order?

No one has to self reflect on not liking chicos. If you like it, fine, but it's not fashionable and tends to look women look older and fatter. It's okay to say "no way, not for me."

It’s possible to not like things without dumping on the people who do. Not for the OP, but for normal people.

Chicos is a total cliche of "we man who has given up on looking fashionable or wearing anything without an elastic waist." Culturally, that's what shopping their means. I know there are women who find that empowering, like they look forward to wearing comfy clothes that don't adhere to fashion trends. OK. But it's also okay to decide, nope, I'm going to keep working to fit into clothes with non-elastic waists, and want to look fashionable even at middle age.

It's also just annoying when the response to someone saying that it feels like the fashion industry doesn't have anything for them is "just shop at Chicos." This really contributed to the perception that it's about giving up.

When was the last time you actually looked at the stuff there? I just looked at the all the sundresses people posted in another thread and considering the oversized, shapeless, waistless stuff that gets posted (just from socially acceptable stores, I guess), it doesn’t seem like you have an actual argument, just a boogeyman.

I'm about to make you so mad: You think that because you don't have good taste or an eye for fashion. You look at the clothes at Chicos and say "whatever, how is this any different from that other stuff" because you don't notice details like how a sleeve is fitted or how a few inches difference in a hem can make something look chic or dumpy, or how the styling of an item can totally transform it.

You're also all up in your feelings because you self identify as someone who shops at Chicos so if someone says "Chicos sells ugly, unfashionable clothes," you take that personally. But if I said "Forever 21 sells cheap, poorly made crap that rips of trends," I bet you wouldn't yell at me that I'm hurting the feelings of the teens and 20-something stocking up on crop tops there. Or if I said "Lululemon sells overpriced athletic gear to rich suburban women who need people to be able to see how many hours they spend in barre class," you'd probably chuckle to yourself. Why? Because while these assessments are harsh, they are also true.

Well the harsh but true assessment of Chicos is that it's for older women who have given up and like elastic waists.

Lol, I don't even shop at Chicos. You don't make me mad at all. I don't think it's a flex of any sort to notice hems or sleeve fittings. You waste your energy. But go ahead and continue to think you are fashionable. All I see is an aging mean girl.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weird post. I have noticed a dramatic change in “size inclusivity” of the past five years. Now there are mannequins and models of all shapes and sizes. The local athleta regularly displays skin tight spandex on a size 22 mannequin.

OP here, and I have barely been shopping in the last 7 years. I known size inclusivity is a thing in the industry and I've noticed it in ads, but I gotta say when I was at the mall yesterday, I didn't see much of it. It definitely felt like a throwback to the 90s when clothes were only advertised on impossibly thin 15 year old models. I felt extremely old and huge (I am a size 4).

Welcome to middle age, I guess. Ads were much worse 10, 20 years ago. It only bothers you know because you are no longer young and in the age used to sell clothes. Nice dig at Chicos, by the way. Maybe a bit of self reflection might be in order?

No one has to self reflect on not liking chicos. If you like it, fine, but it's not fashionable and tends to look women look older and fatter. It's okay to say "no way, not for me."

It’s possible to not like things without dumping on the people who do. Not for the OP, but for normal people.

Chicos is a total cliche of "we man who has given up on looking fashionable or wearing anything without an elastic waist." Culturally, that's what shopping their means. I know there are women who find that empowering, like they look forward to wearing comfy clothes that don't adhere to fashion trends. OK. But it's also okay to decide, nope, I'm going to keep working to fit into clothes with non-elastic waists, and want to look fashionable even at middle age.

It's also just annoying when the response to someone saying that it feels like the fashion industry doesn't have anything for them is "just shop at Chicos." This really contributed to the perception that it's about giving up.

When was the last time you actually looked at the stuff there? I just looked at the all the sundresses people posted in another thread and considering the oversized, shapeless, waistless stuff that gets posted (just from socially acceptable stores, I guess), it doesn’t seem like you have an actual argument, just a boogeyman.

I'm about to make you so mad: You think that because you don't have good taste or an eye for fashion. You look at the clothes at Chicos and say "whatever, how is this any different from that other stuff" because you don't notice details like how a sleeve is fitted or how a few inches difference in a hem can make something look chic or dumpy, or how the styling of an item can totally transform it.

You're also all up in your feelings because you self identify as someone who shops at Chicos so if someone says "Chicos sells ugly, unfashionable clothes," you take that personally. But if I said "Forever 21 sells cheap, poorly made crap that rips of trends," I bet you wouldn't yell at me that I'm hurting the feelings of the teens and 20-something stocking up on crop tops there. Or if I said "Lululemon sells overpriced athletic gear to rich suburban women who need people to be able to see how many hours they spend in barre class," you'd probably chuckle to yourself. Why? Because while these assessments are harsh, they are also true.

Well the harsh but true assessment of Chicos is that it's for older women who have given up and like elastic waists.

Lol, I don't even shop at Chicos. You don't make me mad at all. I don't think it's a flex of any sort to notice hems or sleeve fittings. You waste your energy. But go ahead and continue to think you are fashionable. All I see is an aging mean girl.

Now I'm curious about where you DO shop. If you see no difference between Chicos and other brands, but don't personally shop there, what even is your investment here?

The problem here is you think it's "mean" to simply point out obvious things about different clothing brands.

[Anonymous]

I don't shop at indoor malls anymore. Most of them are places for teenagers to hang out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weird post. I have noticed a dramatic change in “size inclusivity” of the past five years. Now there are mannequins and models of all shapes and sizes. The local athleta regularly displays skin tight spandex on a size 22 mannequin.

OP here, and I have barely been shopping in the last 7 years. I known size inclusivity is a thing in the industry and I've noticed it in ads, but I gotta say when I was at the mall yesterday, I didn't see much of it. It definitely felt like a throwback to the 90s when clothes were only advertised on impossibly thin 15 year old models. I felt extremely old and huge (I am a size 4).

Welcome to middle age, I guess. Ads were much worse 10, 20 years ago. It only bothers you know because you are no longer young and in the age used to sell clothes. Nice dig at Chicos, by the way. Maybe a bit of self reflection might be in order?

No one has to self reflect on not liking chicos. If you like it, fine, but it's not fashionable and tends to look women look older and fatter. It's okay to say "no way, not for me."

It’s possible to not like things without dumping on the people who do. Not for the OP, but for normal people.

Chicos is a total cliche of "we man who has given up on looking fashionable or wearing anything without an elastic waist." Culturally, that's what shopping their means. I know there are women who find that empowering, like they look forward to wearing comfy clothes that don't adhere to fashion trends. OK. But it's also okay to decide, nope, I'm going to keep working to fit into clothes with non-elastic waists, and want to look fashionable even at middle age.

It's also just annoying when the response to someone saying that it feels like the fashion industry doesn't have anything for them is "just shop at Chicos." This really contributed to the perception that it's about giving up.

When was the last time you actually looked at the stuff there? I just looked at the all the sundresses people posted in another thread and considering the oversized, shapeless, waistless stuff that gets posted (just from socially acceptable stores, I guess), it doesn’t seem like you have an actual argument, just a boogeyman.

I'm about to make you so mad: You think that because you don't have good taste or an eye for fashion. You look at the clothes at Chicos and say "whatever, how is this any different from that other stuff" because you don't notice details like how a sleeve is fitted or how a few inches difference in a hem can make something look chic or dumpy, or how the styling of an item can totally transform it.

You're also all up in your feelings because you self identify as someone who shops at Chicos so if someone says "Chicos sells ugly, unfashionable clothes," you take that personally. But if I said "Forever 21 sells cheap, poorly made crap that rips of trends," I bet you wouldn't yell at me that I'm hurting the feelings of the teens and 20-something stocking up on crop tops there. Or if I said "Lululemon sells overpriced athletic gear to rich suburban women who need people to be able to see how many hours they spend in barre class," you'd probably chuckle to yourself. Why? Because while these assessments are harsh, they are also true.

Well the harsh but true assessment of Chicos is that it's for older women who have given up and like elastic waists.

Lol, I don't even shop at Chicos. You don't make me mad at all. I don't think it's a flex of any sort to notice hems or sleeve fittings. You waste your energy. But go ahead and continue to think you are fashionable. All I see is an aging mean girl.

Now I'm curious about where you DO shop. If you see no difference between Chicos and other brands, but don't personally shop there, what even is your investment here?

The problem here is you think it's "mean" to simply point out obvious things about different clothing brands.

There is a difference between buying select items at Chicos, Talbots or J Jill and buying all of your clothes at these places. I have bought no iron linen shirts at Chicos and linen sweaters at J Jill, but nothing else in these stores.

I do buy more at Talbots because their curvy jeans fit me, as well as the occasional blazer (the petite sleeve length is perfect for me though I am taller than the petite target), and the occasional dress or silk scarf. I bought an outdoor jacket with kimono sleeves there last fall that took me through spring that several sales ladies at Neiman's complimented.

By the way, elastic waists are featured at stores of all levels this year and are a godsend to those with smaller waists because you can buy the right size without having the waist being too big.

[Anonymous]

Some of the best work clothes that I have are from Talbots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weird post. I have noticed a dramatic change in “size inclusivity” of the past five years. Now there are mannequins and models of all shapes and sizes. The local athleta regularly displays skin tight spandex on a size 22 mannequin.

OP here, and I have barely been shopping in the last 7 years. I known size inclusivity is a thing in the industry and I've noticed it in ads, but I gotta say when I was at the mall yesterday, I didn't see much of it. It definitely felt like a throwback to the 90s when clothes were only advertised on impossibly thin 15 year old models. I felt extremely old and huge (I am a size 4).

The world isn't about you and making everything you see look like you. The models aren't impossibly thin, because they are that thin, hence it is not an impossibility.

Yep, this. This thread is so bizarre. I am a late 30s size 2/4 and I feel like I am thin. Pictures of women thinner than me don’t make me feel bad.

I’m a size 6 and feel thin as well. I think it’s bizarre that OP who is a size 4 feels “fat” when looking at these models. OP clearly has some huge self esteem issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The crap in stores today is motivating me to try to fit into my old clothes (from before I had kids and went through some health issues).

Ugh I'm in that phase. It sucks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weird post. I have noticed a dramatic change in “size inclusivity” of the past five years. Now there are mannequins and models of all shapes and sizes. The local athleta regularly displays skin tight spandex on a size 22 mannequin.

OP here, and I have barely been shopping in the last 7 years. I known size inclusivity is a thing in the industry and I've noticed it in ads, but I gotta say when I was at the mall yesterday, I didn't see much of it. It definitely felt like a throwback to the 90s when clothes were only advertised on impossibly thin 15 year old models. I felt extremely old and huge (I am a size 4).

The world isn't about you and making everything you see look like you. The models aren't impossibly thin, because they are that thin, hence it is not an impossibility.

Yep, this. This thread is so bizarre. I am a late 30s size 2/4 and I feel like I am thin. Pictures of women thinner than me don’t make me feel bad.

+1 The extreme insecurity from OP is really strange. When pictures of models cause someone to be so upset, you need intensive counseling.

[Anonymous]

I also tried shopping in person today, at a Target. I’m 41 and a size 0/2, 5’4”, and I also felt bad about myself. I have a 1 year old and a 4 year old, and haven’t updated my jeans since before I had my older daughter. All the denim styles made me feel so frumpy. I feel like 10 years ago everything had a flattering cut and now I don’t understand fashion trends and feel so out of touch. Maybe I should try Madewell. I don’t know. I mostly wear yoga pants and a tank (I work remotely) and am in a real rut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weird post. I have noticed a dramatic change in “size inclusivity” of the past five years. Now there are mannequins and models of all shapes and sizes. The local athleta regularly displays skin tight spandex on a size 22 mannequin.

OP here, and I have barely been shopping in the last 7 years. I known size inclusivity is a thing in the industry and I've noticed it in ads, but I gotta say when I was at the mall yesterday, I didn't see much of it. It definitely felt like a throwback to the 90s when clothes were only advertised on impossibly thin 15 year old models. I felt extremely old and huge (I am a size 4).

The world isn't about you and making everything you see look like you. The models aren't impossibly thin, because they are that thin, hence it is not an impossibility.

Yep, this. This thread is so bizarre. I am a late 30s size 2/4 and I feel like I am thin. Pictures of women thinner than me don’t make me feel bad.

+1 The extreme insecurity from OP is really strange. When pictures of models cause someone to be so upset, you need intensive counseling.

Intensive counseling? It is not weird at all that someone who hasn't shopped in a long time, and is starting a new job in their 40s and is unsure how to dress their body for it, would feel insecure while shopping. This is not some weird outlier experience. It's a freaking Cathy cartoon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The crap in stores today is motivating me to try to fit into my old clothes (from before I had kids and went through some health issues).

Me too. I have very nice clothes that are classic and in great shape. I’ll stick to wearing those. I’ve never worried about being trendy anyway. I hate all the shapeless crap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weird post. I have noticed a dramatic change in “size inclusivity” of the past five years. Now there are mannequins and models of all shapes and sizes. The local athleta regularly displays skin tight spandex on a size 22 mannequin.

OP here, and I have barely been shopping in the last 7 years. I known size inclusivity is a thing in the industry and I've noticed it in ads, but I gotta say when I was at the mall yesterday, I didn't see much of it. It definitely felt like a throwback to the 90s when clothes were only advertised on impossibly thin 15 year old models. I felt extremely old and huge (I am a size 4).

The world isn't about you and making everything you see look like you. The models aren't impossibly thin, because they are that thin, hence it is not an impossibility.

Yep, this. This thread is so bizarre. I am a late 30s size 2/4 and I feel like I am thin. Pictures of women thinner than me don’t make me feel bad.

+1 The extreme insecurity from OP is really strange. When pictures of models cause someone to be so upset, you need intensive counseling.

Intensive counseling? It is not weird at all that someone who hasn't shopped in a long time, and is starting a new job in their 40s and is unsure how to dress their body for it, would feel insecure while shopping. This is not some weird outlier experience. It's a freaking Cathy cartoon.

This is 1000% weird. Especially to be impacted by models who are the less than 1% of the population. Therapy is a good place to work on self esteem and resiliency.