I like nice clothing, but I’m not really a big shopper (even though I did just buy that Lululemon top, lol).
has anyone bought exercise clothes at athleta?
^^I’ve bought workout clothing from Athleta and have been pleased with the quality of it. I’ve also started buying from Lucy and an online retailer (they have two stores in the US)–Sweaty Betty. I like Lulu exercise clothes too, but I feel like every woman in my gym is wearing Lulu clothes.
Athleta is excellent. The prices are creeping up towards Lulu, but it’s good stuff. It’s owned by Gap, by the way. They have great swimsuits, too.
I was in there the other day with a friend. She bought- I didn’t .
MOWC- I got slammed the other day by some poster who took umbrage at my tongue in cheek comment related to the fact that the OP, a “new” poster, started the same silly thread in 3 places. Someone else called those posts “inane”, but used better humor than I did, so I got slammed for daring to comment about the sincerity or uniqueness of a post of a " new" poster. And so it goes…
Another tip for the OP that relates to shopping is keeping clutter in check. If I buy something new, something I already own has to go, unless the new item is supposed to complement an existing one.
I hate shopping, it’s so exhausting. Foot arthritis makes slogging around very difficult. If I am going to be on my feet all day I want to be in the woods, not in a mall.
I find that racerback sports bra tops fit me better than actual sports bras, and I’ve gotten some I like from Athleta & Prana. But with my boobs, I never was really much of a runner, and after the knee replacement, the most I do now is skip!
( now if the mall would only polish their floors a bit more, I could skip while the seniors are taking their walk)
Both my youngest and I have always been interested in fashion when we were younger, even though our chosen activities ( mostly outdoors), requires sturdy shoes and fast drying pants, even the kind that zip off to make shorts, not exactly fashionable.
I did have several suits from Athleta, and they were very cute, but they are not made for swimming in pools at all.
I have had one of these for a while, and it has outlasted all of my other suits, so I just bought a couple more.
( I swim in a pool 3x a week)
http://www.swimoutlet.com/p/speedo-color-blocked-cross-back-one-piece-42815/?color=9325
I am enjoying this thread!
RE: Athleta—excellent bathing suits for lounging, at least. You might have to try a variety to styles and sizes of both tops and bottoms, but I love the coverage and the fit, and the patterns. The only true exercise clothing I buy is tennis and have stuck with Nike as the compression shorts in their skirts work best. I wear what is sold as regular clothing when walking my five miles/day. (Cotton tank tops and short shorts in summer and layers in winter. Much more attention paid to the Thorlo socks & Saucony running shoes.)
We all find that one thing that we don’t mind spending money on and for each, it can be different. My aching feet require Tod’s loafers for the fall & winter months, but I would never spend that amount of money on a summer sandal, other than to wear to a wedding or event. I want/need a better coat but haven’t put the energy into finding one. I add several (a dozen?) new pieces each season, and rarely discard anything, unless the style has truly changed. Have purchased more blazers from J. Crew during the past two years than I wish to admit out loud! Am wearing in lieu of cashmere cardigans in fall/winter and over tank tops or tee shirts in summer. Seems a more finished look and no more expensive, just tricky to wear with coat in winter.
I find it impossible to buy pants this year b/c of all the skinny legs. Am hoping that dies out (probably not) and that higher waists do not catch on.
Am reluctant to order anything online that I cannot return in a retail store.
I have heard about a lot of brands / stores I never one existed from this thread
BB, I’ve heard about this “one in, one out” rule many times, and it makes a lot of good sense to follow it, but also a lot of discipline. But I am trying my best, just finished a major closet cleaning several months ago. I do enjoy the tips posted here, it feels very reassuring. I would not mind paying for some pieces I like, as long as I make good choices. I also noticed recently that I can only shop with a clear head when I am not tired, otherwise everything goes right back into the store the very next day. Internet shopping definitely helps a lot with both pricing, selection and the convenience factor. And I also create wish lists with my favorite choices, then check back when they go on sale.
I believe in 2 in, 1 out. 
One pricey brand I got interested in a few years ago that didn’t work out that well for me was Tory Burch. I thought the flats were so cute (and the driving moccasins) but they just weren’t all that comfortable. I finally settled on Tieks flats, which are pretty expensive but SO well made and comfortable.
“I believe in 2 in, 1 out”
LOL, the 1 in 1 out only applies to my closet. I did not say anything about my exercise clothing drawers. 
I cannot wear Tory Burch shoes. They just don’t agree with my feet. I do love her dresses, especially the ones made from silk jersey. So easy to wash, hang to dry, and wear without any ironing or fuss. DVF is another favorite for the same reason - ease of care.
H SAYS 1 in and 2 out, but honestly I haven’t seen him implementing it. We understand the theory but it’s hard to part with “perfectly fine” clothing that is in great shape.
The Tory Burch Revas hurt my feet, but I found a great pair of black suede TB flats with the silver buckle - that aren’t the elasticized heel that can be so painful - for $100 and I have worn them to death, even gotten them resoled. They’re a real go-to shoe - casual and dressy.
I hate shopping for clothes so if I need them I’ll do a binge shopping trip - j jill, talbots, nordstroms are my usual haunts. I can do a lot online. My feet are very particular, narrow heels, weird toes that tend to hurt in most shoes. I’ve found stuart weitzman must have gotten a hold of a mold of my foot, they’re nearly the only shoes that don’t hurt me.
I so detest shopping I just about don’t care about the price. I would not just go browse to the stores, I would never go to goodwill. Unless I was a paid shopper I just have no interest in hunting for a bargain.
I wear dresses, dress pants and tops/sweaters to work. At home I dress like a slug. On weekends I’m pretty casual, shamefully being more into these ‘dress’ leggings I found at j jill. In the summer I wear capris and tops on my off times. I may be the only person on the planet who doesn’t find jeans comfortable.
I like nice purses, but I don’t like to advertise for free, so no mk or C’s on my purses. I love my shoes, quite a fancy collection, the requirement being they don’t hurt my feet.
@eyemamom – I live in jeans during the winter months but cannot bear the thought of them from say April through October. It kills me to put them back on each fall, but then I wear them daily. Summer is for cotton dresses and skirts in fun colors.
I don’t detest shopping but there must be a purpose and I rarely pay retail. On-line is wonderful for many items.
I also buy at Athleta, and like it a lot. I think they have a variety of stuff to appeal to various age levels. I’ve discovered with their clothes, if I buy something I take home, wear and really like, I’ll see if they have it available in other colors. I’d say 60% of what I’m wearing around now, in the winter is Athleta stuff. I love their Chi tanks, and probably have 7-8 of them in different colors and patterns. When I work out wearing one, I wear a sports bra under it; when I wear it just to hang out/run errands, etc., I wear a racer back Victoria’s Secret bra that hooks in the front. If it’s cold out (or cool), I’ll where something on top, then take it off when I warm up.
I (obviously) like shopping. But I do understand those of us who hate it. Many stores have personal shoppers.You do not pay the personal shopper, the store does. Each store is different but call and make an appointment. Speak to the shopper, tell them what you need, colors, price point, allergic to fabrics or no, occasions and your top budget. I have been placed in a dressing with sparkling water. I usually shop on my own but I had a Bar Mitzvah and buried my mother and the Bar Mitzvah was in a week.
Total cost? Zero. My shopper told me that nothing would make me smile and that I probably wouldn’t find anything. She also knew that I would find something in my closet…I did…she was correct.
I love clothes and fashion, but don’t really enjoy shopping. I would love a personal shopper.
I hate shopping for shoes because with narrow feet the selections are limited and almost always ugly “old lady” styles.
Outlier here, but I’m mostly with FallGirl. I started to get into clothes and style at about the same time DD left for college – and we had tuition to pay for, lol. She’s a junior now. I don’t buy expensive or designer stuff; it’s mostly Nordstrom on sale. I put stuff in my Nordstrom wish list and then watch for it to be marked down. I’d previously gone decades without buying much, and it showed. My size and weight hadn’t fluctuated too much so most items fit but were in outdated cuts.
In reviewing what I’ve sent off to Goodwill, I’ve learned that Ross, TJ Maxx, and thrifted items are rarely bargains for me. For every one item that is great, another three or four turn out to be duds. And those rare items that I’ve purchased at full price have turned out to be a true workhorses that have earned their place in my closet by number of time worn. Unfortunately, I still can’t predict which things will become workhorses and which things will tend to languish even if they fit well and are comfortable.