Wondering

[dampscribbler]

 So, if you were 5'2"  a Size 2, and 45 years old, where would you shop for clothes? (Please keep your responses considerate of my feelings, I'm just as sensitive about my size as most other women are, and given the choice I would be a Size 8.)

Comments

[jelazakazone.livejournal.com]

I'm roughly 5'1", size 12(?) and 40 years old and trying to figure out where to shop too. Is everything too big? Don't like the low waists? What are you looking for? I feel so grumpy and old when I go to look for clothes.

[dampscribbler.livejournal.com]

Yes, everything is too big, most stores carry 4 or even 6 as their smallest size. I like full, flowy clothes and they seem to want to make snug and form-fitting for small women. I also like dresses with sleeves, which no one seems to make in any size anymore, and long skirts, which are tough to find. I'm small-chested, and lots of clothes are busty, so I have to modify them when I do buy them.... oh, I could go on....

I feel grumpy when I shop, too. Sometimes like "I need to hurt someone now, or at least cry." At least I never have to worry that I'll accidentally go broke indulging in "retail therapy," I guess. But I'm tired of looking like a Goodwill reject. (Tonight I'm wearing men's Levi's 501's with holes in the knees and a formless and pilly fleece top from Land's End.)

[jelazakazone.livejournal.com]

Is there an upscale consignment store near you? My mom is shorter than you, but about your size and has great luck at the consignment store.

[dampscribbler.livejournal.com]

Not exactly near, but Portland does have them. Tons of vintage consignment. I'll have to research the upscale consignment. There's plenty of wealthy people here, they must get rid of their clothes someplace....

[jelazakazone.livejournal.com]

If you like the vintage look, I'll bet you would rock it!

[dampscribbler.livejournal.com]

I do!!

I've been shopping at boden.com -- I'm ordering a couple dresses now, but of course there's a lot they don't have in my size -- I love this one in the navy skirt option (Size 16 only):
http://www.bodenusa.com/en-US/Womens-Dresses/Knee-Length-Dresses/WH257-BLU/Womens-Blues-Stripe-Beaded-Fun-Dress.html

[jelazakazone.livejournal.com]

Very cute!

I wonder if www.modcloth.com would have anything that would work for you.

[dampscribbler.livejournal.com]

I've gotten a couple of things there before, I need to try them again!

Maybe the secret is to give up on shopping in stores?

[jelazakazone.livejournal.com]

My husband has given up on shopping in stores. He is small and can never find clothes in a store that fit.

[dampscribbler.livejournal.com]

:-( I'm okay with shopping online sometimes, but sometimes I want to touch what I'm buying before I buy it.

I also wish I could shop in a store like Gymboree for adults, where they provide eight different lines and each has four pair of pants, two skirts, and a dozen tops to choose from that all go together. Plus outerwear and accessories. Gymboree is like heaven for people like me who don't want to figure this stuff out for ourselves! :-D

[jelazakazone.livejournal.com]

There used to be a company like that, but I don't remember what they were called.

[dampscribbler.livejournal.com]

I remember one in the 80's, I think they were called Units. I liked them, but they were oriented toward teens and early 20's I think. I guess I'm supposed to have figured things out for myself by now. ;-)

[jelazakazone.livejournal.com]

Yes! I believe it was Units. I think I was a little young for them when they came out. I'm pretty much like you and still have not really figured out how to dress.

[kaleidoscopeeye.livejournal.com]

My sister is size 0 or 2 and in her mid 30s. She shops at Gap and Limited.

[dampscribbler.livejournal.com]

I haven't been to Limited in years, they were always too big for me in the 90's. I do some shopping at Gap, but the last time I was in there I was intimidated. I wonder if half of the problem isn't that I'm expected to match tops to bottoms to accessories on my own and I don't know how to do that without getting a headache.

I'm not much of a girl. I'd rather shop at Home Depot! :-)

[kaleidoscopeeye.livejournal.com]

haha nothing wrong with that!

[dampscribbler.livejournal.com]

Until it's time to visit the in-laws and you suddenly realize you dress like a plumber. :)

[jillbertini.livejournal.com]

I'm assuming you shop in the petites? Because once I started doing that, things did change for me (somewhat).

Have you tried your local department stores? Otherwise, I have liked Talbot's. I guess it kinda depends on what kind of clothes you are looking for. Half of what I wear I got at REI :P.

Sorry, I have no real helpful information. I think shopping for clothes is painful for most women. I hate shopping, too. :(

[caelista.livejournal.com]

I don't know what style you're looking for but at Washington Square I noticed that Chicos and/or Coldwater Creek seemed to have most of their clothes in the smaller sizes like 2. That rules me out ;-) but you might find something there that you like.

[caelista.livejournal.com]

Oh, Anne Taylor seems to have a lot of small sizes and the clothes have very clean lines.

[lucyshoe.livejournal.com]

It's too bad you're not here - there's a used item shop here called Bibles for Missions (I believe, hopefully, the money goes to development plans and not just into purchasing bibles for Heathens) and I'm absolutely addicted to going there every weekend to pick up stuff. Very clean and well organized. They have a little boutique to separate the everyday used clothing items from the nicer stuff, and clearly they have a size 2 donator who is keeping them supplied with a steady stream of some of the nicest outfits I've ever seen. It's so disappointing to see something super cute on the mannequin and to automatically think "I'll check the rack for 10s!" only to remember everything is one of a kind.

So not very helpful, but wish you were here to come thrift shopping with me!