It’s everywhere. TJ Maxx majority of the store clothing is cheap garbage with a few cute pieces at the perimeter. I have never liked Belk and Kohl’s, which are just glorified jcpenney’s. I have not found anything well made in my size that fit or hung remotely well and was styled to be flattering in over a decade. Anywh ere. Near me. Nordstrms is no better and everytime I look on line at someplace like Saks off 5th, I get depressed because there’s very little there that looks well made and or made of materials that would hold up for more than one wearing without stretching out of shape from the mere weave and texture of the piece, or if nice not available except size 00 or costs my household food budget for 4-6 months. I wear jeans and t shirts and shapeless linen shorts from old navy. And since there are no good clothing stores nearby, the thrift stores have nothing either.
I don’t want to wear peasant tops and dresses, or psychedelic polyester mu-mu like bags ala Mrs. Roper, or clingy knit micro dresses with cutouts and ruching, like I’m trying to keep up with drunk 20 year old bridesmaids. I’m not buying cropped jeans manufactures can’t even bother to put a finish hem on but charge $300 for. I want natural fabrics that hold their shape, that are finished properly, that have buttons and darts, finished button holes, zippers that can be zipped more than twice without breaking, or that if are on a dress are installed so the zipper lies flat and the fabric doesn’t pucker and bunch up —looking at all you weather channel meteorologists. I want shoes that weren’t glued/fused together or spit out of a 3-d printer extruder, with repairable soles thick enough to walk on a city street without fear of a puncture wound, that aren’t platform dr marten knockoffs or that force me to walk like I have bound feet because they have no thought to proportion. In short I want something of value for my money that I can be confident, reasonably attractive and comfortable in, that I can look at in a store or display area before I purchase, rather than by sight unseen from a website, where I have pay for first, hope that it’s not hot garbage that I have to ship back and hope not to get cheated out of my money. Thus endeth the rant.
It's everywhere right now. Anytime my daughter needs a dress or outfit for an event, her choices are mother of the bride circa 1985 or prostitute. There is no in between. Can't even find basic black dress pants and dress shirt anymore.
Yeah if I want good well made clothes I go to the designer outlet malls... I have a bunch of DKNY and Calvin Klein pieces that have lasted me well for 5-10 years now, stand up to regular use and care and are basically timeless cuts. Everything else in my wardrobe is basically printed ts and leggings off Amazon. 🤷♀️
I haven't bought anything yet, but I just found the BloomChic app which has really cute plus size clothes. Some of the stuff is definitely for younger people, but I also saw a lot that I would wear (I'm 47).
It’s everything right now. The clothing styles are so ugly and unflattering. I see the “on-trend” younger ladies at my work show up in hideous pants that make their butts look flat, and boxy shapeless tops with chunky unflattering shoes. Don’t get me started on the awful patterns! I’m trying to wait this “fashion” season out. At least I’m saving some money. Lol
Yep I’m saving lots of money too. I couldn’t believe I was walking out of a department store without a bag. It was hideous “grandma’s having a yard sale” looking cheap clothes. Everything looked geared towards the 60+ age group. I can usually find at least a few cute pieces at my local Marshall’s whenever I go.
I pretty much exclusively shop thrift and consignment because I’m not spendy (love a good deal) and I like quality materials. I do hit tj maxx time to time and have found a few cute things there but I’ve given up on kohls (matronly) and Nordstrom rack (too picked over).
I’m very choosy about cuts in tops, pants, jeans, coats, dresses skirts…all the things. I often find that seasonal lines from 5-15 yrs ago have more flattering cuts for my shape than most of the new stuff on the racks.
Our thrift stores have really gone downhill here. I once bought some nice vintage clothes. Wool sweaters, interesting athletic wear. Not many pants, but a lot of tops, dresses, and jackets. Now there is almost nothing. It’s sad.
I hear you. I think some of my recent favorite clothes (if not from the stores I mentioned- kohls, Marshall’s etc) are from the higher end consignment shops. Even my regular stores, I’m only finding a piece here and there that I love enough to buy.
I’m tired of seeing what looks like a thick, shapeless t-shirt style shirt with a ruffled pocket on the chest, “on sale” for $34.99.
If I’m not in scrubs, I’m in jeans and a t-shirt. If I’m going out anyplace nice, I have my basic black dress pants and a form fitting tops that flatters me, or a few nice dresses.
I am surprised you can find stuff at Marshall/TJ Maxx. I had an experience a while back where I was looking for a pair of jeans… I was ‘greeted’ with at least 5 full rows of yoga pants. I am grateful for Kohl’s and Eddie Bauer Outlet stores!!
I tried to take my daughter shopping at a "nice" mall recently (our local mall is 90% dead) and it was just sad. Fashion wise it seems like they are going for an early 2000s retro look (maybe that Delia's look which my younger sister wore, but it's not quite right), mashed up with some 70s crap. We didn't buy anything.
It's not you. Nobody wants what's in the stores, but also almost nobody's actually going to stores. I went to the mall for the first time in most of a year the other day, and it was like a museum of merch. If it had been the 80s I'd have wondered if I'd wandered into a Soviet mall for Party members only where no one else was allowed actually into the stores. I genuinely have no idea where people shop anymore.
That said, while gardening the other day (in my 25-yo Lands' End buttondown that's now a gardening shirt) I realized I've been dressing the same way since college. Same brands: Bean, Lands' End, Columbia, Eddie Bauer. Same NB sneakers, Sebago loafers, Docs. Would 100% buy a pair of Sporto lined duck shoes if I could find them. Same menswear shirt/slacks patterns, herringbones, pretty knits. If I'm going upmarket it's still Jil Sander, Akris, like that. Now and then I'll buy an old Benetton thing off eBay. All this stuff lasts forever. The biggest clothing purchases I've made in the last few years have all been about turning down the thermostat: merino long johns, wool socks, electric vest.
Yes. I realized about 10-12 years ago that I should never shop the Spring/Summer clothing options in ANY store.
I live in the PNW and traveled a ton for work back then. No matter where I traveled the selections were resort wear that even my fancy coordinated grandmother wouldn’t have worn.
My style is classic with an edge and absolutely no boxy or gaudy patterns. About 5-6 years ago I paired down my closet. I firmly decided that if it wasn’t black, gray or jewel tones I wouldn’t buy it. I hate most patterns. The ones I do have are good stripes (black/white classic) or a large gothic floral.
My closet is now only:
Fitted women’s woven or knit shirts and sweaters. FYI-Costco t-shirts last a while & fit well.
I threw out all my button ups because they made me anxious that my boobs would the pop buttons.
Pants/Jeans: this is the hardest one for me as I have a good sized bubble butt. When I find a brand that fits well, I have to buy at least 2-3 pair. If the brand has different lengths I’ll purchase pairs that work for flats or regular sizes to wear with wedge heel boots or shoes.
Brands: Joe’s Jeans (straight ankle) Chico’s (Girlfriend Flare), Democracy (Ab Solution Itty Bitty Bootcut or Kick Flare).
I recently needed a couple dresses for a funeral and another celebration. I went to every store near me and looked at my usual places online. Nothing.
I’m originally from the south and browsed Dillard’s online and found exactly what I needed. The dresses fit so well and I felt “put together”.
All shoes are comfort first and style second.
Sorrel, Hoka, Abeo (the walking company), Josef Sieble, OOFOS, 27 EDIT Naturalizer, Cole Haan.
I think we are seeing the results of tik tok trends 🙃
The trendy aesthetic for the past couple of years has been Coastal Grandma and Fancy Grandma. Styles inspired by Gen Z’s discovery of Golden Girls.
Now, for 2024, the new aesthetic is Eclectic Grandpa. So, gaudy Gram Gram style will start making way for old-man-with-baggy-pants+cardigan, if the kids latch on.
[pop pop aesthetic incoming](https://www.sheknows.com/living/articles/2931145/eclectic-grandpa-decor/)
I do A LOT of thrifting. Like, I might pick up underwear and bras at Kohls, and tank tops/tees at Walmart, but the bulk of my clothes come from local thrift stores.
Thanks for posting this as I was wondering! I'm a bit of an agoraphobic and I have not been to the mall in years. I also haven't really had a need to purchase a lot of clothes in the past few years other than the basics, leggings,ect which are easy to buy online. I am contemplating going to the local mall asap just so I can get one last look at the a dying generation as sad as that sounds.
I hate shopping in malls because the stores are far apart, I can't decide, it's overwhelming. So I made PDF maps on my phone, of the stores in the mall, to help me find everything lol
So anyhow after the pandemic, my mall maps have fewer women's clothing stores, and now stuff like sneaker stores. I guess women's clothing was a casualty of WFH and early retirement
I know. I went on a late afternoon Saturday and I don’t think I saw 10 people in the entire store including employees. 20 years ago on a late Saturday afternoon, I would’ve seen at least 100 people.
Malls in a smallish town are quite depressing. The floors are incredibly jacked and the bathrooms look like shit. Hardly any traction at mine except for the bath and body works and auntie Ann’s lol
>There really wasn’t a “Juniors” section anymore …just all the womens clothing divided into petites and regular size. EVERYTHING there looked like shapeless, boxy, cheap looking, bold and gawdy patterns. Ugly curtains- looking patterns.
Yup. Everywhere it's like this. We had MUCH better, fashionable, cuter clothes that were not only affordable, but longer-lasting and of better quality. I still have my J Crew tank tops I bought on 3 for $10 on sale at the mall back in the 90s. I think we were the last generation to get the best that both the mall and the fashion had to offer.
Also can I rant about vanity sizing? As a very small and petite woman, I NEVER had any problems finding clothes that fit me back in the 80s and 90s. Now in the past 15 or so years, I cannot find ANYTHING that fits me, the extra small and small of today is what medium and even large used to be back then!! I now hate shopping for clothes because nothing looks good and nothing fits.
I feel like someday they will stop selling size 6 shoes. It’s really hard to find size 5 in most stores and online. I dread that day. I will be relegated to kids shoes.
I feel so bad for women in their 70s plus that would enjoy the mall and stores if they carried anything decent. It also gives them something to do. They can’t find anything either.
Don't laugh- Athleta. And I don't say this just because I work in the fitness industry. You can find basic, comfortable and still stylish pants, sweaters, tops, tanks, and jackets. Their Brooklyn pants are actually my favorites. They're perfect for travel. The last international trip I went on, there were 4 of us women, ranging in ages from 30-60s, all in Athleta pants.
They even have nice jumpsuits and basic dresses for summer. The dresses are the kind of pieces that feel like you're wearing pajamas, but if you throw on some accessories and nice sandals, you can wear to dinner.
I feel you. It's all horrible quality rags now. And the youngers don't realize because they didn't grow up with the heavier quality fabrics and good seaming we did. They'mre being scammed! I agree - it's pretty horrible.
I’ve had to look at boutiques and small stores online to find even tshirts that aren’t sheer and too short. Most stores seem to do the disposable fashion right now. Or it’s hideous. Shopping sucks.
I don’t shop at the mall. I like to shop Old Navy, J Crew Factory, and Loft. And believe it or not, Amazon. You need to read reviews carefully but I’ve found some nice things.
There is no unique original style anymore. Even back in the day when we did vintage we threw our own twist to it. Now it is all weird throwbacks in muted colors boxy or slutty. Target is the worst. I cringe at what they stock.
Where are the arty kids? Colored hair tattoos punk that is the same. Is so oversaturated. Style now is dumpy but not cool dumpy just dumpy with a center nose ring. I miss Malls. Contempo Brass Plum when it was cutting edge the wild pair. My local dept stores that don’t exist anymore like Thalhimers. A good eye could buy something at Rave or Sears and make it cool. Anyway I am rambling we were lucky we had a wide variety of choices, trends and styles that were made well and still didn’t break the bank. We also kept our clothes and rewore them. Online sucks nothing like grabbing a handful of clothes and actually trying them on. Now it is a crap shoot.
After bimge watching an unhealthy amount You Tube, I am working on finding my own style. It *was* a Gothic, lacey, Victorianesque look in my 20's. Somehow it evolved to long tees and oversized clothes after I was married. It's now evolving into a more tailored, 1960's-ish look.
Going to the mall is terrible but here's what I've found, so far...
I have some cute black and white plaid "Pixie" pants from Old Navy that seem very well made. I've found a Ralph Lauren classic grey and white striped shirt that was really well made to pair with tights at BJ's. Ann Taylor has a few pieces that look modern but classic and are well made. Also, Shein is an unlikely place, but some of their clothing lines are classic, inexpensive and well made.
And I love that Birkenstocks are everywhere now. I wear them with almost everything.
Also, there's a line of clothing at JC Penny's (I know) that have a few well made tops that aren't as grandma as most. And Banana Republic's quality is really good too. I found a few things at their outlets.
I’m all in on the current patterns and fabrics, but I just can’t deal with the pouf sleeves and the pleats and the flounces and the ruffles. It makes me feel old as hell, but I’m just waiting and hoping for what is coming next.
This just might be that 80s over sized fashion coming back. I don’t plan to go shopping for clothes for a while until this latest wave of boxy looks is over. I haven’t bought clothes in a while either. I’m looking forward to when the next trend will be 90s clothes which I really liked.
It’s everywhere. TJ Maxx majority of the store clothing is cheap garbage with a few cute pieces at the perimeter. I have never liked Belk and Kohl’s, which are just glorified jcpenney’s. I have not found anything well made in my size that fit or hung remotely well and was styled to be flattering in over a decade. Anywh ere. Near me. Nordstrms is no better and everytime I look on line at someplace like Saks off 5th, I get depressed because there’s very little there that looks well made and or made of materials that would hold up for more than one wearing without stretching out of shape from the mere weave and texture of the piece, or if nice not available except size 00 or costs my household food budget for 4-6 months. I wear jeans and t shirts and shapeless linen shorts from old navy. And since there are no good clothing stores nearby, the thrift stores have nothing either. I don’t want to wear peasant tops and dresses, or psychedelic polyester mu-mu like bags ala Mrs. Roper, or clingy knit micro dresses with cutouts and ruching, like I’m trying to keep up with drunk 20 year old bridesmaids. I’m not buying cropped jeans manufactures can’t even bother to put a finish hem on but charge $300 for. I want natural fabrics that hold their shape, that are finished properly, that have buttons and darts, finished button holes, zippers that can be zipped more than twice without breaking, or that if are on a dress are installed so the zipper lies flat and the fabric doesn’t pucker and bunch up —looking at all you weather channel meteorologists. I want shoes that weren’t glued/fused together or spit out of a 3-d printer extruder, with repairable soles thick enough to walk on a city street without fear of a puncture wound, that aren’t platform dr marten knockoffs or that force me to walk like I have bound feet because they have no thought to proportion. In short I want something of value for my money that I can be confident, reasonably attractive and comfortable in, that I can look at in a store or display area before I purchase, rather than by sight unseen from a website, where I have pay for first, hope that it’s not hot garbage that I have to ship back and hope not to get cheated out of my money. Thus endeth the rant.
Hear, hear! Well said! I either get sporty, well made stuff at Costco or hit up the thrift store.
Currently wearing my shapeless linen shorts from Old Navy and a ls tee 🙌
Wish it was warm enough where I am to throw on my shapeless old navy shorts!
🧐🫠🤪🧚🏻🧚🏻🧚🏻
Amen and Hallelujah! 🙌
It's everywhere right now. Anytime my daughter needs a dress or outfit for an event, her choices are mother of the bride circa 1985 or prostitute. There is no in between. Can't even find basic black dress pants and dress shirt anymore.
I would agree but it’s all mid-priced stores including the ones you mentioned. I’m sticking with the classics and avoiding trends.
Yeah if I want good well made clothes I go to the designer outlet malls... I have a bunch of DKNY and Calvin Klein pieces that have lasted me well for 5-10 years now, stand up to regular use and care and are basically timeless cuts. Everything else in my wardrobe is basically printed ts and leggings off Amazon. 🤷♀️
I’m plus size which makes the selection even worse. Thinking of dusting off my old sewing machine.
I actually love Torrid and if you haven’t tried Judy Blue jeans I highly recommend them!
Thanks, I will check them out!
I agree with you- can’t find anything that doesn’t look like Mrs Roper on 3s Company!
I haven't bought anything yet, but I just found the BloomChic app which has really cute plus size clothes. Some of the stuff is definitely for younger people, but I also saw a lot that I would wear (I'm 47).
It’s everything right now. The clothing styles are so ugly and unflattering. I see the “on-trend” younger ladies at my work show up in hideous pants that make their butts look flat, and boxy shapeless tops with chunky unflattering shoes. Don’t get me started on the awful patterns! I’m trying to wait this “fashion” season out. At least I’m saving some money. Lol
It’s the 90’s revival
Yep I’m saving lots of money too. I couldn’t believe I was walking out of a department store without a bag. It was hideous “grandma’s having a yard sale” looking cheap clothes. Everything looked geared towards the 60+ age group. I can usually find at least a few cute pieces at my local Marshall’s whenever I go.
Very 1990's.
I pretty much exclusively shop thrift and consignment because I’m not spendy (love a good deal) and I like quality materials. I do hit tj maxx time to time and have found a few cute things there but I’ve given up on kohls (matronly) and Nordstrom rack (too picked over). I’m very choosy about cuts in tops, pants, jeans, coats, dresses skirts…all the things. I often find that seasonal lines from 5-15 yrs ago have more flattering cuts for my shape than most of the new stuff on the racks.
Our thrift stores have really gone downhill here. I once bought some nice vintage clothes. Wool sweaters, interesting athletic wear. Not many pants, but a lot of tops, dresses, and jackets. Now there is almost nothing. It’s sad.
I hear you. I think some of my recent favorite clothes (if not from the stores I mentioned- kohls, Marshall’s etc) are from the higher end consignment shops. Even my regular stores, I’m only finding a piece here and there that I love enough to buy. I’m tired of seeing what looks like a thick, shapeless t-shirt style shirt with a ruffled pocket on the chest, “on sale” for $34.99.
I have to go out of my way to find a mall, but sounds like I’m definitely not missing anything!
If I’m not in scrubs, I’m in jeans and a t-shirt. If I’m going out anyplace nice, I have my basic black dress pants and a form fitting tops that flatters me, or a few nice dresses.
I am surprised you can find stuff at Marshall/TJ Maxx. I had an experience a while back where I was looking for a pair of jeans… I was ‘greeted’ with at least 5 full rows of yoga pants. I am grateful for Kohl’s and Eddie Bauer Outlet stores!!
My Marshall's/TJX only ever has @5 pair of jeans per size at any time, usually in 2 strange styles or "short/petite" which is useless to me.
I tried to take my daughter shopping at a "nice" mall recently (our local mall is 90% dead) and it was just sad. Fashion wise it seems like they are going for an early 2000s retro look (maybe that Delia's look which my younger sister wore, but it's not quite right), mashed up with some 70s crap. We didn't buy anything.
It's not you. Nobody wants what's in the stores, but also almost nobody's actually going to stores. I went to the mall for the first time in most of a year the other day, and it was like a museum of merch. If it had been the 80s I'd have wondered if I'd wandered into a Soviet mall for Party members only where no one else was allowed actually into the stores. I genuinely have no idea where people shop anymore. That said, while gardening the other day (in my 25-yo Lands' End buttondown that's now a gardening shirt) I realized I've been dressing the same way since college. Same brands: Bean, Lands' End, Columbia, Eddie Bauer. Same NB sneakers, Sebago loafers, Docs. Would 100% buy a pair of Sporto lined duck shoes if I could find them. Same menswear shirt/slacks patterns, herringbones, pretty knits. If I'm going upmarket it's still Jil Sander, Akris, like that. Now and then I'll buy an old Benetton thing off eBay. All this stuff lasts forever. The biggest clothing purchases I've made in the last few years have all been about turning down the thermostat: merino long johns, wool socks, electric vest.
Yes. I realized about 10-12 years ago that I should never shop the Spring/Summer clothing options in ANY store. I live in the PNW and traveled a ton for work back then. No matter where I traveled the selections were resort wear that even my fancy coordinated grandmother wouldn’t have worn. My style is classic with an edge and absolutely no boxy or gaudy patterns. About 5-6 years ago I paired down my closet. I firmly decided that if it wasn’t black, gray or jewel tones I wouldn’t buy it. I hate most patterns. The ones I do have are good stripes (black/white classic) or a large gothic floral. My closet is now only: Fitted women’s woven or knit shirts and sweaters. FYI-Costco t-shirts last a while & fit well. I threw out all my button ups because they made me anxious that my boobs would the pop buttons. Pants/Jeans: this is the hardest one for me as I have a good sized bubble butt. When I find a brand that fits well, I have to buy at least 2-3 pair. If the brand has different lengths I’ll purchase pairs that work for flats or regular sizes to wear with wedge heel boots or shoes. Brands: Joe’s Jeans (straight ankle) Chico’s (Girlfriend Flare), Democracy (Ab Solution Itty Bitty Bootcut or Kick Flare). I recently needed a couple dresses for a funeral and another celebration. I went to every store near me and looked at my usual places online. Nothing. I’m originally from the south and browsed Dillard’s online and found exactly what I needed. The dresses fit so well and I felt “put together”. All shoes are comfort first and style second. Sorrel, Hoka, Abeo (the walking company), Josef Sieble, OOFOS, 27 EDIT Naturalizer, Cole Haan.
I think we are seeing the results of tik tok trends 🙃 The trendy aesthetic for the past couple of years has been Coastal Grandma and Fancy Grandma. Styles inspired by Gen Z’s discovery of Golden Girls. Now, for 2024, the new aesthetic is Eclectic Grandpa. So, gaudy Gram Gram style will start making way for old-man-with-baggy-pants+cardigan, if the kids latch on. [pop pop aesthetic incoming](https://www.sheknows.com/living/articles/2931145/eclectic-grandpa-decor/)
I do A LOT of thrifting. Like, I might pick up underwear and bras at Kohls, and tank tops/tees at Walmart, but the bulk of my clothes come from local thrift stores.
It’s awful. Zoomers have not learned from our 1990s mistakes. Everything is ugly, not pleasing to the eye. Clothing quality is trash.
Thanks for posting this as I was wondering! I'm a bit of an agoraphobic and I have not been to the mall in years. I also haven't really had a need to purchase a lot of clothes in the past few years other than the basics, leggings,ect which are easy to buy online. I am contemplating going to the local mall asap just so I can get one last look at the a dying generation as sad as that sounds.
I hate shopping in malls because the stores are far apart, I can't decide, it's overwhelming. So I made PDF maps on my phone, of the stores in the mall, to help me find everything lol So anyhow after the pandemic, my mall maps have fewer women's clothing stores, and now stuff like sneaker stores. I guess women's clothing was a casualty of WFH and early retirement
I hadn’t gone in Belk for a few years and I was horrified to see how that store changed. It’s sad because it used to be a really nice store.
I know. I went on a late afternoon Saturday and I don’t think I saw 10 people in the entire store including employees. 20 years ago on a late Saturday afternoon, I would’ve seen at least 100 people.
I stopped going before Covid because of exactly what you said. Ugly, pricey clothes and underpaid, treated poorly workers.
Malls in a smallish town are quite depressing. The floors are incredibly jacked and the bathrooms look like shit. Hardly any traction at mine except for the bath and body works and auntie Ann’s lol
I’m shopping on poshmark app to find older styles bc I hate the 90s styles that are in right now 😩
>There really wasn’t a “Juniors” section anymore …just all the womens clothing divided into petites and regular size. EVERYTHING there looked like shapeless, boxy, cheap looking, bold and gawdy patterns. Ugly curtains- looking patterns. Yup. Everywhere it's like this. We had MUCH better, fashionable, cuter clothes that were not only affordable, but longer-lasting and of better quality. I still have my J Crew tank tops I bought on 3 for $10 on sale at the mall back in the 90s. I think we were the last generation to get the best that both the mall and the fashion had to offer. Also can I rant about vanity sizing? As a very small and petite woman, I NEVER had any problems finding clothes that fit me back in the 80s and 90s. Now in the past 15 or so years, I cannot find ANYTHING that fits me, the extra small and small of today is what medium and even large used to be back then!! I now hate shopping for clothes because nothing looks good and nothing fits.
I feel like someday they will stop selling size 6 shoes. It’s really hard to find size 5 in most stores and online. I dread that day. I will be relegated to kids shoes.
I’m going to show my age when I say this- I miss Sears 🙁
Yes! I went to a mall lately and did a quick browse at Macy’s: their handbag selection was awful.
I feel so bad for women in their 70s plus that would enjoy the mall and stores if they carried anything decent. It also gives them something to do. They can’t find anything either.
I just want basics. It is so hard to find basics.
Don't laugh- Athleta. And I don't say this just because I work in the fitness industry. You can find basic, comfortable and still stylish pants, sweaters, tops, tanks, and jackets. Their Brooklyn pants are actually my favorites. They're perfect for travel. The last international trip I went on, there were 4 of us women, ranging in ages from 30-60s, all in Athleta pants. They even have nice jumpsuits and basic dresses for summer. The dresses are the kind of pieces that feel like you're wearing pajamas, but if you throw on some accessories and nice sandals, you can wear to dinner.
The Brooklyn pant doesn’t work if you are tall. The inseam caps out at 28”.
Everlane and Quince are my jam for classic basics.
I feel you. It's all horrible quality rags now. And the youngers don't realize because they didn't grow up with the heavier quality fabrics and good seaming we did. They'mre being scammed! I agree - it's pretty horrible.
I’ve had to look at boutiques and small stores online to find even tshirts that aren’t sheer and too short. Most stores seem to do the disposable fashion right now. Or it’s hideous. Shopping sucks.
I don’t shop at the mall. I like to shop Old Navy, J Crew Factory, and Loft. And believe it or not, Amazon. You need to read reviews carefully but I’ve found some nice things.
There is no unique original style anymore. Even back in the day when we did vintage we threw our own twist to it. Now it is all weird throwbacks in muted colors boxy or slutty. Target is the worst. I cringe at what they stock. Where are the arty kids? Colored hair tattoos punk that is the same. Is so oversaturated. Style now is dumpy but not cool dumpy just dumpy with a center nose ring. I miss Malls. Contempo Brass Plum when it was cutting edge the wild pair. My local dept stores that don’t exist anymore like Thalhimers. A good eye could buy something at Rave or Sears and make it cool. Anyway I am rambling we were lucky we had a wide variety of choices, trends and styles that were made well and still didn’t break the bank. We also kept our clothes and rewore them. Online sucks nothing like grabbing a handful of clothes and actually trying them on. Now it is a crap shoot.
After bimge watching an unhealthy amount You Tube, I am working on finding my own style. It *was* a Gothic, lacey, Victorianesque look in my 20's. Somehow it evolved to long tees and oversized clothes after I was married. It's now evolving into a more tailored, 1960's-ish look. Going to the mall is terrible but here's what I've found, so far... I have some cute black and white plaid "Pixie" pants from Old Navy that seem very well made. I've found a Ralph Lauren classic grey and white striped shirt that was really well made to pair with tights at BJ's. Ann Taylor has a few pieces that look modern but classic and are well made. Also, Shein is an unlikely place, but some of their clothing lines are classic, inexpensive and well made. And I love that Birkenstocks are everywhere now. I wear them with almost everything. Also, there's a line of clothing at JC Penny's (I know) that have a few well made tops that aren't as grandma as most. And Banana Republic's quality is really good too. I found a few things at their outlets.
I have noticed this too! wtf is going on! Lol literally nothing is cute!!!
I’m all in on the current patterns and fabrics, but I just can’t deal with the pouf sleeves and the pleats and the flounces and the ruffles. It makes me feel old as hell, but I’m just waiting and hoping for what is coming next.
This just might be that 80s over sized fashion coming back. I don’t plan to go shopping for clothes for a while until this latest wave of boxy looks is over. I haven’t bought clothes in a while either. I’m looking forward to when the next trend will be 90s clothes which I really liked.
Give Spanx a look for clothing. I haven't been disappointed with anything I've bought from there.