Tell me where you love to shop!

[Anonymous]

I lost weight (40 lbs!) and am now allowing myself to use a CD I put away just for this purpose. Sooooo, I have over $1000 to spend - on myself!
I've never been able to figure out my style, but l'm open to anything. Where are your favorite stores - online and not?
TIA...

[Anonymous]

Congratulations on your weight loss! No real store recommendations, since it largely depends on body type and taste (I shop at Victoria's Secret...). Slim clothes are a good idea, because it will motivate you to stay at your target weight. Do you want to buy a few good pieces, or repopulate your closet?

[Anonymous]

I'd set aside a chunk of that to work with a wardrobe consultant. They will help you direct the money to the pieces that will make the most of your new figure and will mix and match well. They will also help you figure out your style. In the long run I think it will help you save money.

That said, I'm a big fan of online shopping, but it only works if you know your size in that particular brand. Having a whole new shape, you probably don't know what fits you best yet.

I'd start at Tysons, since there is a large number of stores there. I'd also start with just a few basic items on your list and have the time to try on a bunch of things in a lot of stores. Put things on hold, or buy them with the intention of returning whatever isn't the perfect item at the end of the day. Maybe start with black pants, jeans, white shirt, maybe a jacket. Good basics that will give you an idea of how different labels fit you.

What stores depends on your body type, style and life--SAHM, WOHM, casual office, suit office, volunteer....

I have a weird body type: straight through the waist-hips-thighs, very busty, strong arms and shoulders. I favor J Crew and Banana Republic for pants, Gap for jeans. Ann Taylor for dresses and petite tops. I like Boden tops and dresses and some of their skirts. Skirts are hard to find that fit off the rack. I can't wear Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein or Jones New York, except for their cocktail dresses.

Which brings me to.... set aside some money for tailoring. A good seamstress can make a big difference in the fit of clothes. I've lost maybe 5 lbs, but it was enough to make some of my pants saggy in the butt. Since they were parts of suits, it was worth it to take them to the seamstress to be taken in.

Have fun dressing the new body!

[Anonymous]

get a personal shopper at Nordstrom in Tysons -- they have a private dressing room area and can make clothes shopping very pleasant

[Anonymous]

I second the wardrobe consultant and nix the store personal shopper who is not professionally trained and makes a commission off of what they sell you.

You have a new body and claim above that you don't know your style. A professional wardrobe consultant will help you understand what flatters your body and determine the style that works best for you. They'll keep you from wasting money on clothing that doesn't live up to its promises. You'll end up saving money.

I'd check out www.aici.org - the association that oversees the profession - and call a couple consultants to chat about your needs and determine who would be a great fit for you.

[Anonymous]

oh screw the wardrobe consultant. get some friends with good taste and hit a mall. i wouldn't shop online until you figure out what looks good on you.

[Anonymous]

They say you should never go shopping with friends or family. I would never trust any of them to help make me look good. Everyone inputs their own baggage and preferences. You need a trained and unbiased opinion, OP.

[Anonymous]

oh please. not all friends have "baggage." if you have a somewhat stylish friend who is good at figuring out clothes for other people i would go with them over someone who's paid hundreds.

[Anonymous]

Most women I know don't want their friends looking better than them. Sad, but true. PP, you make this sound like anyone really can do this. If so, then why are most women out there dressed inappropriately or simply OK looking? I see very few women who look great. If you're not getting regular compliments on yourself (not on your clothing), then you can benefit from expert advice. Must be a reason why there are so many wardrobe consultants out there....

[Anonymous]

i think wardrobe consultants are just another example of the outsourcing craze and it's getting a little ridiculous.

if those are your friends, you should probably find some new ones.

what makes an expert clothes consultant an expert anyway? sounds as hokey in terms of "standards" as life coaches do.

don't mind my attitude. i just think this is one of those things that people do NOT need to waste their money on.

[Anonymous]

Get a few magazines and find some looks you like. Copy them. Also, when you buy clothes, have someone take a photo of you from all angles, in the dressing room or at home. Also, those makeover shows on cable often have good tips.

[Anonymous]

If you go to aici.org, they will explain accreditation. What interior designers do for homes, they do for people.

I've used one and wouldn't live without one. She made me look 10 pounds thinner and I wear 100% of what is in my closet. I've read that women wear only 20% of what is in their closets. I feel great about what I wear every day. I'm buying less, saving money and have more outfits.

Saved scads of $$$ too. No more shopping mistakes. No more rummaging through the closets trying to figure out what to wear. Totally worth it if you hire a qualified consultant.

[Anonymous]

I agree with 11:32. I would take a friend whose judgment I trust and who I know will tell me that something looks like crap on me, and yes, I do have them. I would also go to a personal shopper - I used one at Lord & Taylor in Chevy Chase. I didn't rely on them for their expertise in what would look good on me, but their ability to fetch clothes, and find similar fashions while I was trying on 20 different suits was invaluable.

As for stores I like: I am a 38 yo lawyer who has had two kids - I am 5'8, 155, size 10/12 and somewhat chesty. I like Lord & Taylor's suit selection, and I also like Ann Taylor's selections. I like J.Jill for casual clothes, and I like the Lauren line and the Jones New York Line. I have yet to find jeans that don't end up sagging in the butt, so if you do, please post! If you are chesty, I would highly recommend trying on all shirts with the proper bra - some shirts - even within the same product line, just don't quite reach across the great divide.

Good luck, and well done!

[Anonymous]

I found the N'strom personal shopper fetch and retrieve to be very valuable. Part of what she knew was where things were from across departments in the store, so the cheaper items from one department, mixed with the more expensive suits from another, were really valuable.

Yes, she makes a commission, but so do the folks on the floor, and they only sell from within their department.

N'strom personal shopper also fetched things like panty hose, jewelry, scarves, to put together full outfits.

All that said, I'm intrigued by the idea of hiring a fashion consultant. On my list of will do after the next 10 pounds. .. .

[Anonymous]

The last two posts bring up some interesting questions. One is habits - you really need someone to break you out of the stores you feel comfortable shopping in. The lawyer seems quite accomplished but Ann Taylor is really more for those starting out professionally. I would think a store that is more sophisticated would be more her speed. As we all get older and more accomplished, the stores we frequent should also change for the most part.

I'm also a firm believer that there is no one store in which you will find all your solutions.

And shouldn't you know how to create outfits and not just buy pieces? Most closets I've seen are long on pieces and short on outfits. You really need someone to go through it and help you understand what goes with what while editing the contents. A really good idea to have them create a shopping list for you so you buy only what you need. Friends can't do that.