Clothing-Challenged: I need help!

<p>I had to laugh at this:</p>

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<p>Because I said the exact same thing about me the other day after leaving my favorite store! In my case, its Ann Taylor’s outlet. I can go in there and do enough shopping to last a year in about an hour, it all fits my body type well, and the colors and styles are consistent and easily mix and match. And going on a sale weekend is such a bargain. My fashion sense isn’t great so this is my way of faking it. </p>

<p>Not sure if this particular store works for you- I think one has to find the right store for their body and taste- but I do recommend finding one such store, and doing all your shopping from there.</p>

<p>Chicago area CCers - the store I’m referring to is Tina’s Closet, in Lisle, IL.</p>

<p>regarding steamers: the URL posted for the Costco steamer
(BB yesterday #60 <a href=“http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=10030824&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|90608|28071&N=4047457&Mo=12&No=7&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=28071&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&topnav=[/url]”>http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=10030824&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|90608|28071&N=4047457&Mo=12&No=7&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=28071&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&topnav=&lt;/a&gt; )showed what looks like a vertical ironing board on a door for use behind the steamer. Looks like a great idea to me! Where is that available?</p>

<p>Any Bay Area folks on here? Would love a recommendation for a good bra fitter locally. I have been to Nordstrom and could go back but would be interested in a non-chain. Can’t think of the name at the moment but years ago I went to an amazing place in NYC. Quite the experience! Anyway, I started wearing a bra from Soma a year ago or so that has a band that doesn’t dig in in the back so no bulges. Really love that feature but i’m realizing that I may need to give that up for more support…just don’t think that Soma bra has my girls up where they need to be! For those who don’t have the ‘need support’ issue as much as a smooth back, you might want to look at the ‘vanishing’ line at Soma.com.</p>

<p>mafool, I think this must be it:</p>

<p>[Jiffy</a> Steamer 0892A Garment Clothes Fabric Vertical Ironing SteamBoard 24x48" Steam Board GarmentClip DoorBracket HangerHook, J2 J2000 J4000 FREE Ship at AllBrands.com](<a href=“http://www.allbrands.com/products/abp02482.html?ppc=goog&campaign=garment_steamers&gclid=CKOqkrno86oCFRt3gwodxz5R5Q]Jiffy”>http://www.allbrands.com/products/abp02482.html?ppc=goog&campaign=garment_steamers&gclid=CKOqkrno86oCFRt3gwodxz5R5Q)</p>

<p>I have no experience with that particular website, but I bet that the item can be found on Amazon etc. </p>

<p>I did a bit of shopping today, and saw 3 Jiffy steamers in 3 different stores! This gave me even more confidence that I ordered the right thing.</p>

<p>BB: You are great! Thanks.</p>

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[quote]
I did a bit of shopping today, and saw 3 Jiffy steamers in 3 different stores! This gave me even more confidence that I ordered the right thing.

[quote]
</p>

<p>Let us know how it works BB–it look. When my oldest D got married, the wedding planner had one of her assistants steam all the bridesmaid’s dresses and my daughter’s dress as well. I think seamstresses use those steamers.</p>

<p>I just got an email from Costco - the steamer got shipped today, so I will be getting it sometimes later in the week. I will definitely give it a try right away and post my review here. BTW, the steamer is NOT super compact. From what I’ve heard, compact units do not hold enough water to work well.</p>

<p>Not to turn this into a thread about irons but…my 17(!) year old Rowenta gave up the ghost last year. I replaced it with the Black and Decker model on Bunsen Burners Good Housekeepink link. I am wild about it and much prefer it to the Rowenta in features (okay duh it has a 17 year technology advantage here) and in handling.</p>

<p>Good to know about that Black and Decker, laketime! Two more days until the arrival of
my Mr. Jiffy. Tracking link says “17 lb” :eek: - definitely not a compact steamer. </p>

<p>The $200 blouse I mentioned earlier? Nordstrom just marked down the light gray one to $118. And a whole bunch of Classiques clothes went on sale, too.</p>

<p>I wonder how our OP fared this weekend? Any updates? Shopping for a whole new wardrobe blitzkrieg style can be exhausting. I do not know how the poor folks on What Not to Wear do it in just 1.5 days.</p>

<p>OP - My opinion (others will disagree)… for heaven’s sake skip anything that requires dry cleaning or ironing! In today’s age of easy care fabrics, it’s hard to justify that kind of hassle (unless perhaps you are a lawyer wanting to look sharp in court).</p>

<p>limabeans, I think my shape is similar to yours. Most of the bras I like to wear come from Targets. I think it’s the Warner’s Elements of Bliss. It’s super comfortable, no wires. When I want a more push-me up type bra which is lower cut I wear a B. Tempted bra, that I put on to try a dress, and it was so flattering I bought the bra too. Naturally I can’t find it on their website, but it was sold as a push up bra I think.</p>

<p>Personally, I do not do dry cleaning or ironing. I do own a few dry clean only jackets and formal wear that I wear very infrequently so only end up at the dry cleaners every year or less (often for H if his suit/jacket smells musty when he used to store it in PLASTIC or NYLON garment bags). Now that we switched to cotton garment bags, things are much better & we rarely need dry cleaners for ANYTHING.</p>

<p>I actually do go to the dry cleaner once or twice a year. I have few old items that are dry clean only, and sometimes my husband needs a suit cleaned. Then I slip in some machine wash things that look better pressed. </p>

<p>OP - My other suggestion is consider pockets. I’ve always liked pockets, but more important now with cellphones.</p>

<p>Still haven’t been shopping yet, but am loving all the suggestions. :)</p>

<p>Check Nordstrom’s website - a whole bunch of nice, business casual things just got marked down! Norstrom now offers free shipping, and things can be returned to stores for instant refunds. Our local Rack is clearing out very nice Classiques and Lafayette blazers, $40-70 apiece.</p>

<p>I like Coldwater Creek. Stock changes frequently - if there is stuff you like , you can put together a couple of outfits quickly. If you don’t like the current colors/styles, come back in a week. Sales are very good there too. Nordstroms is also very good.
Invest in a nice, basic, purse that will last if you can.</p>

<p>BB - Thanks for the Nordstrom suggestion. I will check that out.</p>

<p>I also live near a large outlet center and they are having huge sales for Labor Day.</p>

<p>:)</p>

<p>No nordstroms, saks, or bloomingdales any where near me! I am bereft.</p>

<p>mafool: Nordie’s now offers free shipping both ways, no min. purchase:</p>

<p>[Free</a> Shipping | Nordstrom](<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/free-shipping?origin=header-promo]Free”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/free-shipping?origin=header-promo)</p>