Anonymous wrote:The Chico’s shopper “splurges” on oversized boutique wear she’ll buy once a year (on clearance) from a Rehoboth boutique. She’ll make a point to return to the same boutique the following year, but alas, it will be out of business. She’ll spend the rest of her Rehoboth stay lamenting that that artsy boutique is gone and will begrudgingly find a similar store where she’ll buy a “fun” dizzying-black and white striped caftan she’ll pair with platform, strappy pleather slides.

Loves to wear bright red readers and spends a fortune on “designer” bags like Dooney and Bourke and Coach. Now trying to offload her early 2000s purses to her teen granddaughters, who don’t want the embellished and logo printed bags.

Likes Chicos because the sizing is non-confrontational. Prefers to wear long layers and so most all clothing like this is inherently shapeless and therefore size-less.

Wears Angel perfume to add to her edginess. You can smell her approach, even outside.

Fan of clunky and noisy bracelets and necklaces. Carries oversized purses and layers necklaces. Less is not more, more is more!

Has had the same edgy to spiky flip haircut for almost 20 years. This style is cheap to maintain- she or her DH can just trim whenever. She teases over the bald spot at her crown. Sometimes, she’ll find a beauty school trainee who might be entrusted to trim her hair. Still looking for a colorist - going on 30 years-no one! can do her hair at a decent price.

Hides her clothing purchases from DH. Shops at TJ Maxx mostly and so after a shopping trip there, only brings in one or two items, rest stay in the bag in the trunk.

Never returns clothes. Lots of NWT items that years later she’ll attempt to take to a consignment store (same with purses). Tons of effort and shockingly, walks away with about $100. Exasperated and shocked and angry that she isn’t recouping her losses! These are new items! Now she’s going to attempt to take these unsold items to Rehoboth-area consignment stores! Surely the artsy ladies there will give her top dollar! Packing her SUV now…

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are all depressing me. I am a 63 years old professional woman who worked very hard over the past year to go from a stress-induced size 2x to size 12 (dumped 70 lbs) and am now a perfect Chico's size 2. I work like 100 hours a week and have no time to shop anywhere, but I have to dress professionally. I don't make a 6 figure salary so I am thrilled that I can order stuff online for reasonable prices and it always fits, is well made and I feel good in it. Stop making fun of old ladies, We are all your mothers and you will be one of us one day. "Forever 21" is a myth made up by 21 year old people. Get over yourselves. Someday your kids will laugh at you for shopping at the Gap. So there!

What do you do to be working 100 hours/week at 63???

She wrote that in December 2013 when this thread was started, so she's now 71. I doubt you will get a response.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are all depressing me. I am a 63 years old professional woman who worked very hard over the past year to go from a stress-induced size 2x to size 12 (dumped 70 lbs) and am now a perfect Chico's size 2. I work like 100 hours a week and have no time to shop anywhere, but I have to dress professionally. I don't make a 6 figure salary so I am thrilled that I can order stuff online for reasonable prices and it always fits, is well made and I feel good in it. Stop making fun of old ladies, We are all your mothers and you will be one of us one day. "Forever 21" is a myth made up by 21 year old people. Get over yourselves. Someday your kids will laugh at you for shopping at the Gap. So there!

What do you do to be working 100 hours/week at 63???

She wrote that in December 2013 when this thread was started, so she's now 71. I doubt you will get a response.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are all depressing me. I am a 63 years old professional woman who worked very hard over the past year to go from a stress-induced size 2x to size 12 (dumped 70 lbs) and am now a perfect Chico's size 2. I work like 100 hours a week and have no time to shop anywhere, but I have to dress professionally. I don't make a 6 figure salary so I am thrilled that I can order stuff online for reasonable prices and it always fits, is well made and I feel good in it. Stop making fun of old ladies, We are all your mothers and you will be one of us one day. "Forever 21" is a myth made up by 21 year old people. Get over yourselves. Someday your kids will laugh at you for shopping at the Gap. So there!

What do you do to be working 100 hours/week at 63???

She wrote that in December 2013 when this thread was started, so she's now 71. I doubt you will get a response.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are all depressing me. I am a 63 years old professional woman who worked very hard over the past year to go from a stress-induced size 2x to size 12 (dumped 70 lbs) and am now a perfect Chico's size 2. I work like 100 hours a week and have no time to shop anywhere, but I have to dress professionally. I don't make a 6 figure salary so I am thrilled that I can order stuff online for reasonable prices and it always fits, is well made and I feel good in it. Stop making fun of old ladies, We are all your mothers and you will be one of us one day. "Forever 21" is a myth made up by 21 year old people. Get over yourselves. Someday your kids will laugh at you for shopping at the Gap. So there!

What do you do to be working 100 hours/week at 63???

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are all depressing me. I am a 63 years old professional woman who worked very hard over the past year to go from a stress-induced size 2x to size 12 (dumped 70 lbs) and am now a perfect Chico's size 2. I work like 100 hours a week and have no time to shop anywhere, but I have to dress professionally. I don't make a 6 figure salary so I am thrilled that I can order stuff online for reasonable prices and it always fits, is well made and I feel good in it. Stop making fun of old ladies, We are all your mothers and you will be one of us one day. "Forever 21" is a myth made up by 21 year old people. Get over yourselves. Someday your kids will laugh at you for shopping at the Gap. So there!

What do you do to be working 100 hours/week at 63???

She wrote that in December 2013 when this thread was started, so she's now 71. I doubt you will get a response.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are all depressing me. I am a 63 years old professional woman who worked very hard over the past year to go from a stress-induced size 2x to size 12 (dumped 70 lbs) and am now a perfect Chico's size 2. I work like 100 hours a week and have no time to shop anywhere, but I have to dress professionally. I don't make a 6 figure salary so I am thrilled that I can order stuff online for reasonable prices and it always fits, is well made and I feel good in it. Stop making fun of old ladies, We are all your mothers and you will be one of us one day. "Forever 21" is a myth made up by 21 year old people. Get over yourselves. Someday your kids will laugh at you for shopping at the Gap. So there!

What do you do to be working 100 hours/week at 63???