Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course of your shopping at H&M etc the fashioned are cheap and trendy. But one can find classic items at places like J Crew and Ann Taylor or Brooks Brothers. Just have to spend a little more than the teeny bopper stores.

J. Crew stuff is bananas lately. You're thinking of J. Crew 15 years ago. Today they offer "classics" like this nutty tunic that ties with a huge bow on the front:

https://www.jcrew.com/p/womens_feature/newarrivals/topsandblouses/embroidered-tiefront-tunic/H0854

Or classics like a lace, see-through, bell-sleeved top:

https://www.jcrew.com/p/womens_feature/newarrivals/topsandblouses/daisylace-bellsleeve-top/G9911

omg, seriously. wth is jcrew doing these days? i want nothing from them anymore. so bummed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course of your shopping at H&M etc the fashioned are cheap and trendy. But one can find classic items at places like J Crew and Ann Taylor or Brooks Brothers. Just have to spend a little more than the teeny bopper stores.

Actually, no, "one" can't. Everything at AT and J Crew and Brooks Brothers has no darting/definition in the waist, haven't you noticed? Seriously, go look at AT blouses/tops online right now. They are all boxy/loose, and have weird colors and prints, and have random tie-things at the neckline.

Exactly and jcrew is terrible quality now.
Brooks brothers does have button down dress shirts with darts.

I buy brands like Theory - I'm slim but curvy. They accentuate my figure but are well tailored and classic. Talbots and brooks brothers look great on skinny models in the catalogue but in real life they are frumpy and boxy. I find Theory on sale a lot and Nordstrom rack but I'll pay full price since they are so nicely suited to me. I think you can still find simple elegant things at J Crew. Cashmere sweaters etc. nice pants. Great shoes. Neimun Marcus and saks carry brands which are similar and classic but with a modern cut. You have to ignore the trendy stuff.

Anonymous wrote:Of course of your shopping at H&M etc the fashioned are cheap and trendy. But one can find classic items at places like J Crew and Ann Taylor or Brooks Brothers. Just have to spend a little more than the teeny bopper stores.

J. Crew stuff is bananas lately. You're thinking of J. Crew 15 years ago. Today they offer "classics" like this nutty tunic that ties with a huge bow on the front:

https://www.jcrew.com/p/womens_feature/newarrivals/topsandblouses/embroidered-tiefront-tunic/H0854

Or classics like a lace, see-through, bell-sleeved top:

https://www.jcrew.com/p/womens_feature/newarrivals/topsandblouses/daisylace-bellsleeve-top/G9911

Anonymous wrote:I love Everlane. Just basic, good quality stuff. I'm a millenial and I hate all of the "funny" slogan teas ("shopping is my cardio," "target is my happy place," "messy bun and getting sh*t done" etc etc etc).

I used to love Everlane. Their stuff is too odd for me now, as a 40 yo woman. It looks very good on the skinny Asian millennial models, but it's not wearable for me. I used to like their T-shirts and stuff.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course of your shopping at H&M etc the fashioned are cheap and trendy. But one can find classic items at places like J Crew and Ann Taylor or Brooks Brothers. Just have to spend a little more than the teeny bopper stores.

Actually, no, "one" can't. Everything at AT and J Crew and Brooks Brothers has no darting/definition in the waist, haven't you noticed? Seriously, go look at AT blouses/tops online right now. They are all boxy/loose, and have weird colors and prints, and have random tie-things at the neckline.

Exactly and jcrew is terrible quality now.
Brooks brothers does have button down dress shirts with darts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love Everlane. Just basic, good quality stuff. I'm a millenial and I hate all of the "funny" slogan teas ("shopping is my cardio," "target is my happy place," "messy bun and getting sh*t done" etc etc etc).

Don't get this. Everlane t-shirts are polyester.

all of my stuff from everlane is either cotton or silk.

Anonymous wrote:Of course of your shopping at H&M etc the fashioned are cheap and trendy. But one can find classic items at places like J Crew and Ann Taylor or Brooks Brothers. Just have to spend a little more than the teeny bopper stores.

Actually, no, "one" can't. Everything at AT and J Crew and Brooks Brothers has no darting/definition in the waist, haven't you noticed? Seriously, go look at AT blouses/tops online right now. They are all boxy/loose, and have weird colors and prints, and have random tie-things at the neckline.

Of course of your shopping at H&M etc the fashioned are cheap and trendy. But one can find classic items at places like J Crew and Ann Taylor or Brooks Brothers. Just have to spend a little more than the teeny bopper stores.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love Everlane. Just basic, good quality stuff. I'm a millenial and I hate all of the "funny" slogan teas ("shopping is my cardio," "target is my happy place," "messy bun and getting sh*t done" etc etc etc).

Don't get this. Everlane t-shirts are polyester.

No they're not! I live in Everlane tees and tanks - 100% cotton. They have other problems, trust me they have other problems, but the materials ain't one.

You might be thinking of their Go Weave (or whatever the f it's called) line?

There are too many wild print tent shirts with poor, see-through material, and jeans have that distressed look with ripped material. It's so hard to find good basics these days!

Anonymous wrote:Plus FIT. Let's just not define the waist anymore. Oh, OK. Because women of all sizes have nice waists, but let's take that away from them. Darts? What are darts?

Right! Elastic waists are in every dress now!

I love this thread with all its being, especially the opening post, but the kick ass sewing aunt is also great.

I am stuck in traffic on the Beltway so read the opener aloud to my husband ... who said "I was in a meeting with someone with the vagina shirt!" He said that when he and his female colleague left the meeting, she turned to him and said, "so who's going to tell her that she's wearing vaginas?"

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.

I am absolutely finding this to be true. I have to spend ALOT! I shop at Worth and Carlyle now. I still love Milly. That said, I am averaging $400 for a pair of pants. I didn't have to do that before. Now, in order to find clothes that are really nice, I have spend serious money.

A lot.

A LOT.

A

lot

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.

I am absolutely finding this to be true. I have to spend ALOT! I shop at Worth and Carlyle now. I still love Milly. That said, I am averaging $400 for a pair of pants. I didn't have to do that before. Now, in order to find clothes that are really nice, I have spend serious money.

Anonymous wrote:Right on, OP.

I stopped buying new clothes because they are such crap. My secondhand pieces are so much nicer (wide range of labels, but mostly 100% fabrics and some have garment union labels). The craftsmanship and quality are eons better than the garbage that's out today.

I agree - I do this too

In other threads, women have mentioned Reiss & Boden for quality clothes that aren't entirely trend-driven. More solid colors than wacko prints, blouses/tops that aren't see through, etc. Plus, a good deal of Boden's clothes are machine washable. These brands are too expensive for me, so I buy these brands through the Poshmark site. You can get really great deals on things that have only been worn once or are actually brand-new.

For work dresses, I like the Tahari line. It has some classic styles, and some of them even include sleeves(!) FYI, this line has some great options for slim petites.

Earlier, someone wondered why in TH designers don't make blouses with darts anymore. I too would like to know the reasoning behind this. Is it all cost-driven, or do people honestly believe that women look great in boxy, shapeless clothes? Unfortunately, I think if you want darts nowadays you either have to shop vintage or pay big money for tailored clothes.