Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Went to Banana Republic this weekend and everything was immaculate styling, minimalist, Carolyn Bessette in the 90s type stuff. All gorgeous, expensive!

I remember BR in the 90s. A nice pair of pants for work - good quality wool, full lined - was about $70-80 on sale, so the original price was somewhere in the $100-120 range. And it was a real price, people paid it since the sales usually happened only at the end of the season, and if your size is gone, it’s gone.

Anyway, given the inflation, today’s equivalent of those pants would be something around $300. But people have been trained by the fast fashion to expect $20 pants and wear them a few times before discarding. Places like Shein can probably even offer something for $10. You get what you pay for.

I'm willing to accept that I would have to pay $300 for fully lined wool pants but are they even available? Even expensive clothes are usually made of synthetics now. Where can I go to try stuff on? I don't like online shopping.

I just do streetwear now. Eff it.

On the rare occasion I have to go to a conference or an in-person meeting, I throw on the standard black wool pants and a decent top with blazer or a cashmere turtleneck.

I just don't care anymore.

100% agree that clothes have gotten so ugly. For instance:

Sweaters in a color and knit I like are either cropped or boxy or have a dropped shoulder. What happened to just a standard length? Why is EVERYTHING cropped?

Pants are either too high waisted or too wide legged or both. They look bad on almost everyone.

Jeans have frayed hems - WHY?

Men's clothes are ugly too. The best dressed neighbor I have is a chihuahua.

I don't know just bought two dresses at Target which are really cute. I'm 42.

I didn't buy any new clothes in 2023. I just decided that I had plenty and that what I'd been buying wasn't that great anyway. Add in the environmental impact, and it was a no-brainer.

I actually ended up finding it really easy. Once I broke the online shopping habit, I've not gone back to the amount of shopping I was doing. In 2024, I allowed myself to go back to clothes shopping, but I've bought probably 15% of what I was buying in a year before I did my no-shopping year.

Anonymous wrote:Went to Banana Republic this weekend and everything was immaculate styling, minimalist, Carolyn Bessette in the 90s type stuff. All gorgeous, expensive!

Which BR location?

Anonymous wrote:To the last 2 posters: I like the idea of a clothing shopping ban! I might try that. Seriously don’t need anything.

And I hear several people say they find nice clothing items at Costco.

I still like shoes though lol

I had a ban period! It was great. I was basically disgusted with what I saw in stores and no interest in spending $$ on shapeless junk. I have money to spend and am still happy with my body so it's not that. Just did not see any normal flattering clothes.

I went shopping in my closet thru older stuff and got various items cleaned/pressed and I actually get a lot of compliments on pants etc that are 10-15 yrs old.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, to get High quality middle aged clothes, you have to spend middle-age money. Target is not going to work for your anymore.

THIS!

LOL so true.

But also the quality of clothing is indisputably lower and there is a lot of ugly, unflattering stuff out there.

+1 million. No, I don't want to spend serious $$$ just because your name brand used to be awesome but now it's incredibly thin, wrinkly cotton, rayon you try to tell me is "flowy soft," or an ugly acrylic sweater.

DH pulled out an old college t-shirt from the 90s from his parents' house when we were there recently and I could not believe how thick and well made it was!

Anonymous wrote:Went to Banana Republic this weekend and everything was immaculate styling, minimalist, Carolyn Bessette in the 90s type stuff. All gorgeous, expensive!

I remember BR in the 90s. A nice pair of pants for work - good quality wool, full lined - was about $70-80 on sale, so the original price was somewhere in the $100-120 range. And it was a real price, people paid it since the sales usually happened only at the end of the season, and if your size is gone, it’s gone.

Anyway, given the inflation, today’s equivalent of those pants would be something around $300. But people have been trained by the fast fashion to expect $20 pants and wear them a few times before discarding. Places like Shein can probably even offer something for $10. You get what you pay for.

Went to Banana Republic this weekend and everything was immaculate styling, minimalist, Carolyn Bessette in the 90s type stuff. All gorgeous, expensive!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, to get High quality middle aged clothes, you have to spend middle-age money. Target is not going to work for your anymore.

THIS!

LOL so true.

But also the quality of clothing is indisputably lower and there is a lot of ugly, unflattering stuff out there.

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, to get High quality middle aged clothes, you have to spend middle-age money. Target is not going to work for your anymore.

THIS!

its now november 2024. I despise clothes made today. If its UGLY-its affordable..usually..if it fits nice,is flattering and doesnt have e.g.."vagina motifs..thanks to OP for the amazing post made in 2017..yes everything in womens fashion is hideous.Its NOT because youth like ugly clothes,,thatsbs. Its because thee is some conspiracy to force lower income groups to wear garbage and look "lower class". True even expensive clothes have ugly cuts now and designs..but over all if youre looking for a flattering fit and look be prepared to pay alot more. Remember whe we could buy less expensive versions of expensive looking clothes? No more. Have you tried searching online? Search results will show you garbage over and over and throw in some good items that are just unaffordable. I cant even buy a winter coat. Some of my biggest pet peeves are oval bottom hems on tops, especially the back side bottom hem. The oval dip. Ugh. Tunic length tops no matter what you search for. Crop tops no matter what you search for. The struggle is real. Im older yes, but still want to lwear flattering clothes. Not happening. So i dont buy clothes at all.

Womens clothes have been ugly for more than a decade now. Every year it gets worse. I have lost all hope. My closet is emptying fast. I could find better things in men's department but am tired of trying to find a woman's style that is wearable, good quality and flattering.

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this thread to say I have been searching high and low for a short sleeve blouse or shirt to wear with a blazer and jeans for work in a nice print and cannot find one that is not puffy or ballooned-sleeved or ruffled.

Oh, and everything is rayon or viscose.

This is cute, and washable silk https://amourvert.com/products/renata-washable-silk-blouse-black-pensee-floral-print?variant=42991357919423