Why do people HATE Chicos so much?

[Anonymous]

I end up looking too conservative because I don't want to look to funky; ie Chicos.

[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.

Have you seen the older Project Runway episodes? Back when it was good? There was the dreaded "mom" challenge, and the designers got to pick another designer's mom to design for. Everyone who had priority went straight for the slimmest moms. It's much easier to design for a slim woman. I think overlooking the not-slims is just lazy, but they all do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Huh? J.Jill sizing is the same as it is everywhere else - numbered sizes (2, 4, 6, etc.) and S/M/L. And they have petites.

Their clothing does run large-ish, but the sizing is not like Chico's (1-2-3) sizing - it does conform to industry-standard numbers.

[Anonymous]

Cause that shit is ugly as hell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Have you seen the older Project Runway episodes? Back when it was good? There was the dreaded "mom" challenge, and the designers got to pick another designer's mom to design for. Everyone who had priority went straight for the slimmest moms. It's much easier to design for a slim woman. I think overlooking the not-slims is just lazy, but they all do it.

Oh, I get why designers would prefer dressing slim people - their clothes look better on slim people. But it's so dumb to ignore a huge demographic - i.e., women who aren't in their 20s and 30s - with a lot of money to spend!

[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?

I'm 51 and I do. A combo of genetic/god given and working my butt off in spin class and body pump, often.

[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?

I do, too. Just turned 40.

[Anonymous]

I'm with the "I hate shopping" ladies. The stores all suck. Clothes don't fit, and I'm on a constant quest to find clothes that ARE NOT MADE IN CHINA!!!!!

[Anonymous]

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.

So, SO perfect

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Hit the outlets and the better department stores for sales. Doing that, I get designer for no more than I would pay at Ann Taylor on sale. I've gotten Prada sandals or $60, Vince sweaters or under $100 (the fabric is incredible and they last forever), and lots of Ralph Lauren cheap as hell.

The best thing you can do is watch what you eat, and I don't mean starve yourself. I eat anything I want BUT only usually eat 1/2. I stop when I am satisfied, not full. I sometimes carry around 5 extra pounds, and that's when I'm hitting the sugar hard. If you keep your body in good shape, you'll find you can wear anything you want from wherever you want. I'm 51, and the only thing I watch re: what I wear is to avoid obviously teenage clothing. Having said that, Abercrombie jeans are some of the best fitting around and Express makes some killer jean leggings. And buy good lingerie - nothing makes a girl feel prettier than good undergarments.

Take care of your face as well, and don't be afraid to save to get some work done down the line, if you want to go that route. We only go around once and I'll be damned if I let people tell me how to dress and that I can't lift anything I want, when I want.

[Anonymous]

My mom is 62 years old and 30-40 lbs overweight, yet she still dresses in normal clothes from Gap, Ann Taylor etc. and looks perfectly nice. I could not see her wearing anything from Chicos. Their style just isn't attractive.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, but nobody 62 years old and 40-50 lbs overweight is wearing Gap. Gap 2x? Ann Taylor makes Plus 2x? I think you are overesitmating your mom's extra weight. 200 lbs?

[Anonymous]

It costs more money to wear clothes when you are older, fatter, and saggier (bulges in all the wrong places!) More expensive clothes even for recreational wear. At least you know your style, and can buy what suits you. Oddly, I find Orvis to be a good place for standards -- blouses, jackets, pants. Very conservative however. I used to like Chicos, but lately just too loud, and cheap looking. "Old ladies from NJ outlet store shopping" style.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, but nobody 62 years old and 40-50 lbs overweight is wearing Gap. Gap 2x? Ann Taylor makes Plus 2x? I think you are overesitmating your mom's extra weight. 200 lbs?

I said 30-40, not 40-50! She wears a size 14, not 2x! At her height, an ideal weight is 130, and she is around 165.

[Anonymous]

size 14= 2x.