Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Clothing woes

I am in desperate need of a clothing makeover. I haven't bought any new clothes, other than a few solid-colored shirts, since before I was pregnant with Elizabeth. I have one pair of jeans that fits, and I'm in imminent danger of wearing them to shreds. I also have one pair of khakis that kind-of fit, maybe, and several pairs of shorts that also kind-of fit.

I'm tired of living in shorts and jeans and solid-colored shirts, even though they are very comfortable. I'm feeling frumpy and old and drab.

It's not like I haven't tried to buy new clothes, because I have. I've gone shopping three times in the past three weeks with every intention of buying something new and fabulous. And each time, I've come home empty handed.

Part of the problem is that I just don't see anything I like. Too much of what is in stores today is either a. a flashback to the '80s, and to paraphrase a friend, if I wore it the first time it was in style, I'm not wearing it the second time, or b. something that one of the Real Housewives of Wherever would wear, and I'm just not into bejewelled silk tank tops or clothing that looks like lingerie.

Capri pants appear to be a hot trend right now, but I just can't bring myself to wear them. Each time I try some on, I think about the little old ladies who wore pastel capris while walking the beach in Florida, and I take them back off. But one of my friends has a pair of cute cargo capri pants, so I tried on a similar pair the other day, only to discover they had a pleated front, and the pleats combined with the pockets on the side made me look like a clown.

The next time I went shopping, I decided to just look for jeans, on the advice of the same friend, who told me never to shop for tops and bottoms at the same time. But then I got in front of the wall of jeans and freaked out. There were too many choices - boyfriend cut, diva cut, low rise, high rise, boot cut, slim fit. I left in defeat.

I do have two friends who are good at picking out clothes for me. I need to bribe one of them with dinner and drinks in exchange for acting as my personal shopper. Otherwise, I fear I may spend the rest of my life wearing my one pair of shabby jeans.

Plus, I'm going to see OK Go in May, and I want to fit in with all the cute twenty-somethings who will be at the show, not look like their mother.

13 comments:

Tina said...

Do you have JC Penny's down there? I swear that they are the place I can go when I am looking for something. Usually can find a cute top for sure. Jeans on the other hand is harder. I hate shopping for jeans. But I do love Gap's Long and Lean jeans. A favorite.

Karen said...

Apparently Land's End is having a decent sale right now.
Also, have you checked out Mir's sale blog? http://wantnot.net
She posts all the time about good clothing sales from various merchants. Being tall I am not sure how much you like online shopping, but it is worth a shot.

Unknown said...

sounds like a job for clinton and stacy!!!

donna said...

Uggggk...clothes shopping stinks. If I could afford a personal shopper that would be top of my list....that and someone to clean my bathrooms.

calicobebop said...

I <3 OK GO!! So jealous!

Also, if wearing solid colored tops and jeans/capris is wrong - I don't wanna be right. That's my uniform and I'm too lazy to change.

Seamus O'Pine said...

Go immediately to by george. Matt and katie will help you. It's expensive, but you don't have to buy but one or two outfits. See where they steer you, then go copy that advice at the less pricey places.

and there's always that sequined Calvin Klein tube top . . .

Seamus O'Pine said...

Also, I've seen really cute stuff at Kohl's.

Seamus O'Pine said...

Or, just get on a plane and come here and we'll go shopping. : )

Dee at Pedestrian Palate said...

The only thing more intimidating than being in a room full of 20 somethings is a room full of teenage girls. Good luck!

adrienne breaux said...

Ugh, I feel like I woke up one day, hate everything in my closet, and don't know how to dress myself. I need a personal shopper for sure!

-adrienne
http://wearegoodkin.com/

anymommy said...

I hear you, I hate shopping. Except on the jeans thing. I love jeans and I have a little bit of a jeans habit ;-)

Baino said...

You sound a bit like me the jeans and t shirt queen or scruffy yoga pants on the weekend. I get sick of being 'suited up' during the week and turn into a casual nightmare. Being a size 16 doesn't help. Designers seem to think we fuller figured ladies like purple swirls and horizontal lines! As for the concert, can't beat a singlet top and a pair of jeans and a comfy pair of shoes.

Jami said...

Kohl's and Penney's both do have cute stuff but the hard part is finding cute stuff for yourself. Or that's the hard part for me, at least. Well, that and finding cute size 11 W shoes.

I'm tall, too, (4' 22") but all my tall is above my waist, so I'm probably not a good one to ask about finding tall clothes. I'm a jeans & sweaters in the winter and shorts & t-shirts in the summer kind of girl.