Tuesday, March 12, 2024
I don’t know where to shop anymore. Maybe this is a good thing. Maybe this means I should just be happy and wear what I have?
Every time I say, “Oh, I don’t shop there anymore” something happens, and I have to eat my words. Are you also like that?
I guess I’m having a hard time figuring out where I fit in with retailers lately.
Here are some favorite outfits I’ve worn lately that feel like me:
Here is a favorite Walmart.com purchase in 2024. This breton striped shirt is so well made. I say Walmart.com because I don’t go in the store and only order online. Their website is really, really bad. I have learned that I really like Free Assembly and Scoop brands from Walmart. When you see my stats below, you will see that I have had a lot of luck with this retailer in 2024!
I ordered white wide legged jeans from Chico’s and they were just too voluminous in the legs. I went in the store to return them and looked around and it just didn’t feel right to shop there. I have loved some of their pants for basics in the past, but nothing this season appealed to me at all!
I went in Old Navy to see if they had the $15 sale on a button up like they did online and they didn’t. Why are the prices so drastically different online versus in store? But, more than that, I had to get out of there. Everything looked so cheap, felt so scratchy, and just oozed fast fashion.
I am super happy with my two button ups I ordered in 2024, but shopping in the store was not pleasant! Like I said, it just felt too fast fashion for me.
I bought button ups in blue/white and pink/white online and washed them and shrunk them a bit on purpose and now I love them:
Target clothes don’t feel right now. Exception, I did buy the A New Day muscle tee in black, white, lime, and yellow. I thought it would be great for under cardigans, shirts, and even alone.
Is it me? Am I in a weird age for fashion?
Let’s look back at my January and February purchases and where I have been shopping:
Consignment: 4 items – 2 handbags, black sweater vest, black jeans
Carly Jean Los Angeles: 2 items – white kimono, blue and white boyfriend tee
Walmart: 5 items – pumpkin spice clearance sweater, striped breton, striped short sleeve sweater, navy tank swimsuit, green/white heart cardigan
Old Navy: 2 items – the blue/white button up, and the pink/white button up
Gap: 1 item – silver clogs
Dick’s Sporting Goods: 1 item – Adidas Gazelle platforms
Amazon: 3 items – fun print blouses and bright blue leggings with pockets
Marshall’s: 1 item – pink bird shirt
I like looking online and it’s so tempting to order online, but I hate returns with a passion.
I like ordering from places that have a brick and mortar to return to, but still, I don’t have unlimited time to make returns nor do I want to spend my time that way.
I have been happy with Nordstrom.com in the past and have found many great things that way! I can return to my Nordstrom Rack, which is the only Nordstrom we have.
I am super impressed with ordering from Walmart.com. They are so quick and communicative. They let you know the status of your order multiple times! This is a big plus for me. They are way better than Target.com who yanks my chain about when my orders will arrive.
Every now and again I find something at TJ Maxx or a local boutique, too.
Is it them or is it me?
Do you feel the same?
It’s like – I am a woman of a certain age with a woman-sized body, but I want to be modern, trendy but classy, and feel like myself. Does this store exist for me?
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
I really don’t have any “go to” stores for clothing. Much like you I find bits and pieces here and there. More and more I rely on Stitch fix for my wardrobe and have gone online to place my own orders between “fixes” often finding that many of my favorite pieces come in different colors and prints and I end up ordering multiples since I already know I like the fit/style and material.
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I’m afraid to try Stitch Fix again because I think I’m hard to fit! Great idea that you learn your brands and order on your own!
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I agree!! I feel like all the stores I used to love have started selling things for women in their young 20’s and that isn’t what I’m looking for. Other people can rock a crop top, but I’d be sooo uncomfortable in that. I agree about Old Navy feeling significantly cheaper than it used to. Ugh!
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Right? I’m not going to wear super high waisted jeans or crop tops that work with them! Maybe this is a sign for me to pursue my consignment stores more since their stuff will be at least a season behind!
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I understand. In fact, I am at the point that I do not shop in store. Where are the classic clothes for middle age women? Also the pink bird shirt is my favorite! The other day I went into our local Wal*Mart which is small and grabbed a $5 heather gray sweatshirt. I figured I could not go wrong with that. But still it is frustrating.
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Yes! I wouldn’t call my style classic but I get what you are saying! Thank you! I like my bird shirt. Kinda wish I had sized down one, but can do a bit of a tuck. You can’t! I love a sweatshirt. I can’t find anything in store there, but the website is awful!
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I can relate! Target feels off to me and so does Old Navy. Loft, JCrew Factory, BRF are all my faves right now. Of course Walmart.com continues to impress me with Free Assembly and Scoop, my favorite sandals right now are from Time and True!
xo,
Kellyann
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I haven’t looked at Loft, JCrewF or BRF lately, so those are good places for me to visit. I found myself wearing two J.Crew items at the same time the other day – one from consignment and one from Factory.
Maybe this is a sign to hold off this season and be content – nah!
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There certainly comes a time, sometimes several times over, when what is in the stores does not compute anymore. My whole life, I have pretty much stuck to classic pieces, so that has made shopping easier for me, I guess. As you know, JCrew was my go-to place for decades, but they have really been changing lately – trying to be more trendy and appealing to the younger generations. Lately, Banana Republic has been providing me with some wins. Their clothing is generally too expensive for me, but if you can catch their 40% off sale in the spring and fall, you can get some good stuff and good prices.
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My friend really likes Banana R Factory! I need to check it out.
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I feel the same way! For example, where can I find a fitted, all cotton white tee that isn’t made out of a flimsy material?! J Crew used to have the best and their t-shirts now are awful, IMHO. Everything just feels off or cheap. Or, the sizing has shifted and what used to fit no longer does, without a weight change. Sigh……
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Try the Target extended shoulder tee! I’m loving mine!
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I will! I like the price, for sure. Thank-you!
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Hope you like them!
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I’m in the same boat! I’ve been defaulting to Amazon lately just because going to a store and trying things on seems so daunting. There is a lovely little boutique here in Crestwood that I really like (Mainstream Boutique) that is run by local women close to our age and I feel like they get it. But it’s a little on the pricier side so I try to only go there on special occasions or when they have a sale!
…. and I haven’t checked out Cracker Barrell’s spring line yet. 🙂
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You beat me to the punch!
There’s always Cracker Barrell!
Lol! You need to check out Clothes Mentor and Sassy Fox!
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I don’t have a set store in mind when I shop, but I’ve gotten good at just looking wherever I go, and if I find something, I snag it up right then. I really don’t shop a lot, though… I will buy something on a Saturday if I love it, but I really go on recommendations, like when you talked about the Old Navy button downs. Thanks for that, by the way! I really used to love a boutique that was near me, The Paisley Rooster, but they closed their doors last year. They have one left that’s about 40 minutes away from me, and if I’m in the area, I’ll stop by there and look, but I know I love everything I buy from them. If I had to nail down some places, I would say that I shop the most at Marshall’s or Walmart.com. I did buy from Shein lately and had great luck with the purchases I picked. I’ll probably look there again soon for some things for the summer months.
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You are a good shopper and good at not making mistakes IMO! I still think I could have sized down in the button ups but I wash and dry and they shrink a bit. I think they are supposed to be oversized. They are really great shirts! So sad about your Paisley Rooster. My friend Beth has found some cute tops at Cracker Barrell – we have enjoyed laughing about that!
Yes to Walmart.com and TJ Maxx for me.
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Why are jeans so impossible to find in person?? I struggle with this, and every time I buy online I end up returning them. There’s a shopping center near me with a J Crew Factory, Loft, Anthropologie, Home Goods, Sephora, and a couple of boutique type stores in it that has recently become my go-to spot. I’m also lucky I have a mom that has impeccable taste and still loves shopping for her 37 year old daughter! She’s a TJ Maxx queen and always somehow finds the best stuff!
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Very true. I had luck ordering Target Universal Thread in a couple sizes and styles and then returning in store. That’s awesome that your mom does that!
For jeans;
Wit and Wisdom from Nordstrom
Democracy (wanting to try)
Westbound from Dillard’s
Target Universal Thread straight leg crops
Those are the ones I’m wearing right now!
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Shopping is so frustrating these days. I feel like everything is sized for younger people and smaller people. All the tops are short and all the pants are high waisted when you sit down in them is just pushes the fat roll up under your boobs. I am short 5/3″ which makes it even harder – pants are miles long. Only a few stores carry petite sizes.
I feel like you that most things are disposable these days. I still have Mosimo shirts from Target that are almost 9 years old and they are still my favorites but these days I find few things at Target that I like. I feel lucky when I find something that fits.
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Right? I agree. It’s a hard season for us. Maybe try consignment stores in your area. There might be last season things?
Oh gosh I miss Mossimo! That is great! If you take care of things, wash in cold, and line dry that can really last!
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I like Walmart.com and Amazon for online purchases. I also like clothes at Loft, online or instore. I sometimes find good deals at Altar’d State clearance racks. I just recently bought 2 dresses from Old Navy, but returned them because the sizing just seemed off to me….like they were made for teenager bodies instead of my age. I have good luck finding short length pants/jeans from American Eagle, but that has just been in the last few months, so it was good to rediscover a place where I can find pants I like that fit well. Length is always an issue for me since I am short.
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The ON sizing has always been weird and inconsistent to me. I do have a few things from the last few seasons where I think the quality is better. That’s the thing – it’s so inconsistent! I love AE and Am Eagle but don’t shop there often. I think the quality is pretty nice. Right? I love being able to get short length.
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Oh, I feel you on this one! So many stores have “lost me” like Target, Gap and Old Navy. I get most of my clothes on Amazon, Walmart, Sam’s and Costco. I completely agree about the walmart website. I think I would shop online there more often if they had a more user friendly app/website. It can be frustrating!
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Right? Their website is so clunky! I filter by the brands I like and I hate that they are trying to be Amazon with all the obscure brands and obscure sellers!
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it’s hard, and I usually kick myself every time I order something online. It rarely works out. Most of my shirts are from the Ralph Lauren outlet store. I love J Crew, particularly their Liberty print blouses. I like Banana Republic and sometimes Banana Republic Factory. I buy my jeans at the Levi’s store and love them. The Old Navy jeans just didn’t last for me even though I hung them to dry. I like the Gap’s tops sometimes, and I recently bought two tops at The Loft, first time I’ve shopped there. Many of the clothes at The Loft seemed for older women. I used to really like J Jill, but it seems like their clothes are for older women now. I’m trying to be happy with what I have and only buy something if I truly love it.
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I know! It’s so appealing! I need to look more at BR Factory since I really like J.Crew Factory. It’s good you found what works for you so you do you! I think some stores are good in some seasons but not in others, you know? Like you may not like Loft this season!
That is defnitely the way to be – we really only have 7 days in a week and have much more than we need.
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I love that you broke down this post by stores! You are right – Walmart.com is no bueno! I truly mostly shop Walmart or my favorite online boutique SSYS. Apparently, I have no limited on athleisure or dresses but I haven’t bought new pants in years 😆
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Thank you! I filter by the brands I like on Walmart.com. Another issue is that everything seems to be sold out by the time I get to it! Pants are just not fun to buy, right? Ha!
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It’s not you; it’s them! I think the emphasis is more on tweens and their influencer moms these days. I love the look of Altar’D State, but the prices are ridiculous! That aesthetic speaks to me…kinda boho, kinda rocker. I would love to shop at Anthropologie, but those prices are even worse! I do agree about Old Navy stores vs. online. Did you know you can ask them to match the online price? One store associate told me I had to put the item in my cart on my phone and show them. Then, they’d match the price. Another told me not to worry about it. It’s always worth a try, I think.
I keep thinking, at my age, I should know what my style is. But, it, like me, is constantly evolving and changing. I still love dresses and skirts, but I also like kimonos and flowy pants. I think I’m an old hippie (though I’m not old enough to be able to honestly claim that title). My body has changed dramatically in the last couple of years so I’ve had to learn how to dress it…whether to embrace the zucchini shape or camouflage it. Gosh, I almost wish I had to wear a uniform at times! I’m also really thinking twice about buying things because of my (not really being used) excel spreadsheet and the whole sustainability issue.
I think you really know yourself and what you like. You always look fantastic, and that’s what counts. We are just conditioned to buy new all the time!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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Ha! I agree that I really like that style. I used to be like – look what I found that looks like Anthro! I was turned off by Altar’d State because it’s overload to me – the store seems so crowded with people and stuff.
I did not know that about ON!
No, I think your ever evolving style shows that you are staying young and continuing to grow!
You are sweet to say that, but I question myself a lot, too. I really have been working on having perfect 10s in my closet or close to it. I want to gasp when I see something in the store. No gasp – no buy. Same with consignment and it’s really easy to buy just because it’s cheap.
I’d rather have a closet of ten items that are a 10 than a closet of 100 items that are 5s. Does that make sense? I’m rambling!
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I feel the same. For me, every time I was post-partum I felt like I just couldn’t jump on the trends. i.e. crop tops/shorter shirts came back when Sutton was a baby!
So I rely on JCrew Factory and CJLA for work pieces. Athleisure is Costco/Old Navy.
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Trying to embrace what I have since I like it better than what is in stores! Never thought I would say that!
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