Fashion

[KonaKat]

Good morning, shopping friends. It is a beautiful sunny but cool day. I have achieved one of my goals for the day: I went to the Senior Center and spent 45 minutes on the recumbent bike. The other big goal is spending two hours decluttering and seeing what clothes can go out, keeping in mind what I like to wear and the maxim that we wear 20% of our clothing 80% of the time.

I just chose a top to go. It looked great on air; the model looked great in it; I looked decent in it. The problem? I didn't feel comfortable with the material and it was not a "love it" item. With the rising costs of an item, and the cost to return, it had better be the type of clothing I think I will wear frequently. If it is not a "love it out of the box or package," it is going back. The postage back is better than thinking I will wear it or use it in the near future. 

It is great that many live where there are many shopping options. It takes me an hour and a half to get to where a variety of shopping is available. Even then, there is no guarantee that the size or color I want will be available. If I really want good shopping options with better name stores, I have to drive 3 hours one way. Online or TV shopping is a great option for people who have the big expense of just traveling to shopping meccas. Trust me, our local clothing shopping is the Dollar Store or Family Dollar. Wow!

I'm off to fix lunch and then two  hours of decluttering. Have a great day. If you shop, shop wisely.

[Bird mama]

Good Morning Jean @KonaKat

I have malls to the east and west of me.  As a tall woman, I give thanks for online shopping.  I remember at the tender age of 17, shortly before I discovered JCP talls, I went to 'tall girls shop' in a mall.  The store was small and back then, (38 years ago) they had no problem charging $40 or $50 for a pair of dress slacks.   I'm not even sure that my dad was paying that much for his dress slacks for work so there was no way I was going to expect my parents to shell that kind of money out for me.

When I started working the January after my 18th birthday, I knew about JCP which was more in the budget of a file clerk.  

Eddie Bauer used to have some nice tall girls clothing and then the quality took a dive.  I do have a gray/red plaid coat (with hood) that I bought from Eddie Bauer back in 2001 or 2002.  I think I paid around $175 for it which seemed alot at the time considering I just bought a house, lol.  It's got real wool in it and looks great all these years later.  I paid a seamstress almost $50 to put in a new double ended YKK metal zipper in it a year or two ago.    

I could lose track of time in the Spiegel catalog .  I bought a beautiful coat from them in the 1990's.  

Depending on the length of a top, I can get away with buying short sleeve or 3/4 sleeve off the rack.  

I give QVC credit for their garment measurements.  I understand how they measure sleeve length (be in from the center back or cap) and I know what my perfect sleeve length is, so I have been able to buy a few long sleeved items from here with success. 

[LindaLatte]

Good Morning/Afternoon and thanks for getting us started, Jean.  Congratulations on achieving your exercise goal for the day.  I remember when you could not go to the senior center due to their hours and your working.  Nice that you are able to do so over the summer.  Good luck on your de-cluttering efforts.  I know you are miles ahead of me in that department. 

It is a shame there are not more shopping choices in your immediate area.  While there are far fewer here than where I lived in Maryland, I could probably make it to a fairly nice shopping area in an hour or less.  But, I usually chose not to do so.  In fact, I have not been to a "regular" shopping center in this area for more than a year.

It is another hot and dry day here -- not good weather for twinny, but suits me okay.  I had my bloodwork done in anticipation of my annual physical (next Wednesday) this morning.  I found out that it was okay to have black coffee or tea, and I indulged in some tea.  Hoping to avoid a headache which can easily happen if I don't have my caffeine in the morning.

My Lug bag arrived yesterday (Gondola), and I was pleasantly surprised in that it is larger and has more organization than I expected.  So, it is a keeper.  So far, I have avoided ordering or purchasing any clothes or shoes this month, but it is only the 6th.  It should be no problem given all the excess that I have, but......

I was expecting the termite inspector (I have him check once a year) but he just called to reschedule, which means that I will be able to visit DH earlier than I expected.  DH was a bit strange yesterday -- kept trying to talk, and kept pointing out in the distance.  He didn't eat all that well either.  I hope he is more normal today.

Waves to all of our posters and readers.  Hope everyone has a nice day!

Hugs,

Linda

[twinny70]

Jean, good job on getting your bike ride done this morning.  It sounds like you are doing a good job of decluttering too.  QVC was great for me when I couldn't get out to shop or when I was too tired to shop.  I like the idea of shopping, but I am only good for 1 or 2 stores then I am a mall watcher.

Bird Mama. It sounds like you have lots of nice choices for shopping for tall's.  I am always looking for petites.  I have never bought anything from Eddie Bauer, but my mom did order from Spiegel's.

Linda L, I am glad that you are happy with your LUG bag.  Our local clinic/hospital has a very nice gift shop & they sell LUG & Travelon bags.  On Saturdays everything is 30% off.  I never have appointments on Saturday's so I don't think a about going then.  I hope that your DH is more with it today.

It is another nice day. 50's last night and 75° today. I am loving this weather.    I walked earlier this morning and it was very nice.  Then I met my DH  for breakfast.  It is also senior citizens day at Shopko so I  bought a nice free standing tooth brush holder.  It was 50% off & then I got 15% off.  Total cost $8.50.  

I am doing nothing this afternoon except going into the hot tub  & making bar b que. It tastes better the 2nd day, so  tomorrow it will go into the crock pot for supper 

We are going out for lunch tomorrow with friends.  They will be here for supper and if it doesn't rain, we are all going to Concert on the Square.

I am making the most of this nice weather.

Hugs to all of you.

[KonaKat]

Bernie--I can remember as a kid when the family would get the Montgomery Ward and Spiegel catalogs and we would pour through them looking for clothes we might mind. We would likely go to the city in the Fall and Spring to see what was available. We never thought about the cost of shipping then as that was the norm and cheaper than making the trip to the city with car expenses, parking, lunch and related costs.  There used to be a line of clothing Montgomer Ward carried which was made by the manufacturer of bigger name brands sold for much more. The only  difference might be the button style or some other minor thing. The label inside had the brand name and then "a division of....." the more expensive line.

I remember Jill talking about some jewelry items on a Sunday morning silver show. She stated the quality was the same as designer name silver lines made for the Q and  was manufactured in the factory. Obviously not all silver jewelry items was like that but the point she was making that there was no need to pay for a designer name if the quality was the same.

Linda--Enjoy the Lug Gondola bag. I keep getting ads for it on FB and also on the Q. I expect to like the Lug bag as I ordered as it is the same style as the Lug Camper I have but just a little larger. Twinny might not enjoy your temperatures but I would. 

Twinny--I used to enjoy going store to store in the mall when it had some really good deals, but that was when I was young and window shopping and actual shopping was great fun. Perhaps it is age, boredome over the same old, same old from store to store but I don't enjoy malls anymore.

I made it through an hour and a half of declutterig. This is tiring work, so I had to take a break. I have a big pile of clothes to go through again despite having almost a 30 gallon bag full of clothes. I'll do more later today.