I’ve been someone who has paid for quality for some time, so I have a closet full of clothes in generally good condition and a great appreciation for things that are well made and fit well. BUT.. without a job to go to, many items have little to no reason to be worn. I’m still fine spending for good shoes and clothes, but realistically, it’s hard to get excited about buying things so I can be “all dressed up with nowhere to go”!
I am also guilty of wearing something, liking the outfit, and then wearing it on repeat if I won’t be with the same people.
None of this supports a shopping habit. Plus, I get the vicarious thrill from all of you!
Check out Nordstrom Rack for some F & E styles on greater sale. I have a flannel-ish one that is very soft but none of the oxford or linen ones. I did get one of their travel sets on sale and get compliments every time I wear it.
(Bear in mind that by the time I retired in 2018 I hated my job and dressed as casual/frumpy as I could get away with because I just didn’t care.) I’m spending more now than I’ve done in the past few years. I had a bi-lateral mastectomy and expanders in June ‘22 which kind of changed my top size. Since I was still large everywhere else, I bought relatively inexpensive things or JJill on sale. Beginning in spring 2024, I started losing weight to prepare for reconstruction surgery, which required me to be at or below a certain BMI. That, coupled with regular exercise at the Y, dropped me more than a few sizes. The reconstruction (DIEP) that I had in January changed everything and my shape is really different.
I’d like to lose another 30 lbs, but until then I’m buying clothing that fits in the right sizes. While I still buy tshirts and leggings/running tights and shorts at Costco, I’m enjoying being able to wear regular and petite sizes and have things fit. My next surgery in December or January will clean things up & change my size again.
I think I’m happier buying less, but spending more on well-fitting, well-made clothing.
Thanks for the snap inputs. I have a fun update. In my sewing stuff from my grandmother (expert seamstress), I found a card with one large snap left. Sewed it on a pocket of some shorts that I really like for pickleball, except for the slight risk of cellphone falling out. Wore them while play this morn, worked great! I had been worried about getting correct snap alignment but it turned out fine. (For another pair of shorts I realized there are buttoned pockets, just missing the button on the right pocket.)
Note - for anybody looking for lightweight 4” athletic shorts with zipped pockets, these are nice. (I am keeping the black pair I’ve tried. But phone flops around more than I like, so I’ll return the other colors I bought.)
I really like snaps and also the small magnets you can use to have things fasten nicely. I have removed Velcro from my jacket and replaced it with tiny magnets (the ones that make boxes close nicely). It’s not that complicated and without Velcro near neck, when I wear a scarf, it doesn’t get snagged with the Velcro. Velcro is easy for manufacturers to sew on but I really prefer snaps and magnets to fasten things. They don’t get other things caught up in them and snagged!
I added a snap to a pair of slacks I like to fly with, just for a bit more security that when I put things in the pocket they will stay in the pocket and not fall out. It was just right. Snaps also come in silver AND black—since the slacks were black, I opted for a black snap and it’s pretty invisible.
I used to buy Versed lotion at Target, because they was one of the few places that sold it. I switched to buying it on Amazon ‘cause it’s same product but 1/2-1/3 the price!
You can thank all the influencers and their viral Target TikTok videos singing the praises of Versed, Prequel, Bomba, Naturium and other “drug store” brands. They got me. I use all four of those products now.
This dress arrived yesterday for D1’s baby shower this Saturday. It is very flattering and it was a steal at $38.15. I got it in pink since D1 is having a girl. I also happened to have the exact Sam Edelman sandals the model is wearing (with the pink dress) and they look great with the dress.
@1214mom Last year @Hoggirl posted a Sugarlips dress she bought in white and blue (similar style to this one) and I ended up buying the same dress. I have worn that dress many times over the summer and gotten a lot of compliments. I would have normally have purchased the dress above in blue (my favorite color), but since baby girl is a girl I got it in pink!
I’m starting to pack, or at least I’m assembling, clothing etc. for the long trip I’m a week away from now. My goal is to bring enough for about a week and then do laundry. Repeat as needed for the 7 weeks we’re away.
I have 3 pairs of pants, one short black skirt, and a pair of jeans. The pants are a pair of Woolx black merino knit, a houndstooth check, and the ones I’m on the fence about - a pair of “travel pants”.
They’re the standard performance fabric, will probably shed rain, etc., but they have a zip pocket in an odd spot halfway down my leg, could possibly make some kind of noise as I walk, and so on.
Do we think they’re too old lady travel? I do have another pair of plain black pants I could take or I could find something else entirely.
I’m taking my NB running shoes (sisters convinced me that my pale blue ON trainers are too light), black munro Chelsea boots, Rothy’s sling-back flats that I can wear as house slippers or around a pool as well as out site seeing.
Unless you’re planning on hiking or something you need special pants for, it sounds like the “travel pants” should be stay-at-home pants. You are clearly not enthusiastic! Rather than take something else, why not leave open the possibility of buying something on your trip?
I try to pack lightly as well. Wear a pair of slacks and pack a pair. Only bring garments you LOVE and will wear. Have a wonderful time and save some space for purchases.
@zeebamom i forget where you are traveling to? I saw these pants and thought they might be a good travel pant. I’ve linked the petite length but they will come in a longer version
I have a trip to the Mediterranean in November. I thought my light blue ON trainers would be ok? When I was in Italy in November, the weather was cool but not cold, people dress for the season more than the weather. I found my boots were terrible on the cobblestones, I ended up wearing my trainers almost everyday. I’m debating bringing boots at all.