Clothes shopping for girls...

[Wisconsin Beth]

Aug 10, 2015 9:43:17 GMT -5 The Captain said:

Aug 10, 2015 9:34:04 GMT -5 busymom said:

Warning:  they're beginning to make boy's clothing out of flimsy material, too.

Here's my rant: DS needed a new pair of jeans, & he DOES like Levi's, so I let him pick the "shade of denim" that he wanted (denim comes in so many shades of blue now it's CRAZY). Anyway, I get the jeans home to wash, and the fabric is REALLY thin. I mean, this is supposed to be denim, right? It's about 1/2 the thickness of the usual denim material I buy, & the jeans are all wrinkled coming out of the dryer.  Since Levi's has increased their full price to $50 per pair of jeans, they'd better be using the same quality denim we're used to seeing.

BTW, DD & I occasionally shop for t-shirts with slogans in the Men's department, because we don't like the fitted t's that they sell for girls now. When it's hot & humid out, I don't need to be wearing a shirt that "clings" before I even start to perspire.

DD started doing this when she was around 8 and realized there were no Star Wars, Avengers, or snarky saying shirts in the girls section.  I've been doing this since HS.

I do have a few women's t-shirts.  They last, on average, maybe 2-3 years before getting too thin or piling up.  I have mens t-shits that are a little thin, but over 20 years old and no piling.

I told DD that it was perfectly fine to get t shits anywhere.  She commented on it while we were discussing a Minion tshirt she liked.  I ended up buying 2 - 1 for each kid.  It's the Minions though the Ages shirt, if anyone cares. 

[chiver78]

nancy!

I VF bras as well, I'm going to need to buy a couple more soon too. was hoping to be able to buy the next size down this time, but not quite yet.

as far as better coverage clothing, have any of you tried Bass or Eddie Bauer? I've had good luck with button-downs from both places.

[Pants]

I think dress codes are out of control right now. I went to high school in the 90s and I wore short-ass skirts, shirts that showed my midriff, tank tops or even tube tops where you could see my shoulders. And I was one of those that matured early. Noone at school ever said boo about it - I don't ever remember hearing anything about a dress code for girls or boys being too distracted. I wore this stuff all the time (including without a bra, oh to be young and perky again!) and never had a problem with guys ogling me in a way that made me uncomfortable. I never heard of any girls getting busted for a violation of the dress code at all. The only part of the dress code I ever heard about and saw enforced was the one that said you couldn't have clothing that promoted alcohol or drug use. 

FWIW, I have two daughters. If they end up similarly shaped this will be an issue. And I will lose my fucking shit on anyone who tries to push modesty nonsense on them because the boys "can't" control themselves. 

[The Captain]

FWIW my thought process is that school is the kid's job.  They should dress for it appropriately (just like adults have work clothes, and clothes they would never wear to work, I feel the same about school).

So (my opinion) I don't think tube tops, short skirts, wife beaters, and cutoffs are appropriate for school.  Just my opinion but like I said, DD is pretty modest so there's been no issues with this (thank goodness!).

And yes, I do show cleavage at work.  No, I do not consider myself unprofessional.

[NancysSummerSip]

Aug 10, 2015 10:01:41 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

nancy!

I VF bras as well, I'm going to need to buy a couple more soon too. was hoping to be able to buy the next size down this time, but not quite yet.

as far as better coverage clothing, have any of you tried Bass or Eddie Bauer? I've had good luck with button-downs from both places.

No longer an Eddie Bauer here, though as I recall, they did have excellent button downs. Have not seen Bass brand around, either. When we travel next month, I will be on the lookout for some. I may have better luck checking out of state.

And yes, I do show cleavage at work. No, I do not consider myself unprofessional.

I think some is fine; I show some too. Heck, I paid five figures to have mine fixed! I think I should show at least a bit of it! My standard is this: if what you show jiggles, you've probably got too much on display.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Aug 10, 2015 9:55:38 GMT -5 NancysSummerSip said:

I've not seen Haggar for women anywhere. I don't wear men's clothes - they do not fit correctly. Well, sometimes, the jeans do, but nothing else does.

Funny story from this weekend. I bought new bras - six of them, all the same kind, just different colors. Because after a few years, you really do have to replace bras - they stretch, your size changes, the underwire (if present) no longer does its job, etc. This one style, a Vanity Fair, is just wonderful! When I explained my (very sound) logic to DH, he could not understand why I just did not wear bras until they wore out. "I wear my underwear until it wears out," he said.

"You mean, you wear it until your junk leaves the trunk?" I asked.

"Pretty much," he replied.

Can't say as I've inspected too closely, but now I may need to do that - his underwear, that is.

I'm going to use the $120 I have in Kohl's cash in bras and/or undies for me. 

[chiver78]

Aug 10, 2015 10:17:43 GMT -5 The Captain said:

And yes, I do show cleavage at work.  No, I do not consider myself unprofessional.

ditto. like you, I was a full C cup by 8th grade. earlier in my career (before I put on a little weight) before I was taken seriously by some of the guys in groups I supported, I'm not too proud to admit I used it to my advantage.    if I needed something to do my job, and wasn't getting anywhere with it, I wouldn't hesitate to "dress up" in a nice pair of trousers w/a button-down and cami pairing with snazzy heels. buying shirts that fit my waist meant I literally could not button the top couple buttons on shirts from places like the Limited - where the buttons don't go all the way up to begin with! I'd call a meeting and basically lean across the table. did I get what I needed? yes. always.

[chiver78]

Aug 10, 2015 7:21:59 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

So I plug them every chance I get...which is any time jeans comes up. 

Harley Davidson, has full coverage jeans...not mom jeans, but jeans that won't bare the goods. They have both stretch and ...wait for it...100% denim for women. 


House of Harley

totally going to check out this link later. since I can't try them on before buying, how do they run for sizing?

[The Captain]

Aug 10, 2015 10:19:40 GMT -5 NancysSummerSip said:

Aug 10, 2015 10:01:41 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

nancy!

I VF bras as well, I'm going to need to buy a couple more soon too. was hoping to be able to buy the next size down this time, but not quite yet.

as far as better coverage clothing, have any of you tried Bass or Eddie Bauer? I've had good luck with button-downs from both places.

No longer an Eddie Bauer here, though as I recall, they did have excellent button downs. Have not seen Bass brand around, either. When we travel next month, I will be on the lookout for some. I may have better luck checking out of state.

And yes, I do show cleavage at work. No, I do not consider myself unprofessional.

I think some is fine; I show some too. Heck, I paid five figures to have mine fixed! I think I should show at least a bit of it! My standard is this: if what you show jiggles, you've probably got too much on display.

Heh, heh - like I've said - I'm a prude. My standard is - if what you have jiggles, you don't have the right bra (for work).

[grumpyhermit]

I've never had an EB button down, did have a couple of Bass, but I found them too short on the sides.

I recently got a couple from Lands End that are okay. The "regular" is still a bit short, but not deal breaker short. The tall is much better, but I don't like that the sleeve only has one button on the cuff. The regular has both a cuff button, and another forearm button, which I like since I roll my sleeves a lot.

The search continues....

[Chocolate Lover]

Aug 10, 2015 9:24:32 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

Perhaps the teachers need to spend their time teaching the boys not to ogle.   (although a certain cynical part of me wonders if it's the boys that are distracted or if the teachers and staff are)

A coach/science teacher is why I stopped wearing skirts to school. Never thought to complain, just saw how he tilted his head while sitting on his desk teaching and decided no more skirts. 

[NancysSummerSip]

Aug 10, 2015 10:35:52 GMT -5 The Captain said:

Aug 10, 2015 10:19:40 GMT -5 NancysSummerSip said:

No longer an Eddie Bauer here, though as I recall, they did have excellent button downs. Have not seen Bass brand around, either. When we travel next month, I will be on the lookout for some. I may have better luck checking out of state.


I think some is fine; I show some too. Heck, I paid five figures to have mine fixed! I think I should show at least a bit of it! My standard is this: if what you show jiggles, you've probably got too much on display.

Heh, heh - like I've said - I'm a prude. My standard is - if what you have jiggles, you don't have the right bra (for work).

Yup, that too. Or it's the right bra, but not the right one for your girls. I've seen a few of those come through the building (we have doctors and attorneys in the building, so the public is in and out a lot). Seriously, some of these women either 1) do not own a mirror that shows anything below the neck, 2) think that if more is better, way more is irresistible, 3) they had no clean bras of their own, so they are wearing their daughter's training bra. Except that bra is so small, it can't possibly train those tatas.

Another funny story from the weekend. I went to Victoria's (Nothing's A) Secret to get a GC for my niece. Two women were shopping near me, and believe me, neither of them were VS material. Lawd, they were trying, though. They picked the largest size bras they could (in the stores, that's about a 42DD) but there was no way, unless they wanted only one boob covered. The salesgirl wanted to measure them - "to assure the best possible fit" they said. But really, I think they were hoping to talk these women out of even trying these on, and stretching them past the point of pain.

I saw the women in checkout; they each had an armload of thong panties. OK, not a great choice for them, either. But at least those bras survived another day.

[Pants]

Aug 10, 2015 10:17:43 GMT -5 The Captain said:

FWIW my thought process is that school is the kid's job.  They should dress for it appropriately (just like adults have work clothes, and clothes they would never wear to work, I feel the same about school).

So (my opinion) I don't think tube tops, short skirts, wife beaters, and cutoffs are appropriate for school.  Just my opinion but like I said, DD is pretty modest so there's been no issues with this (thank goodness!).

And yes, I do show cleavage at work.  No, I do not consider myself unprofessional.

Enh, I think you're only young enough to look good in that stuff once...  

[chiver78]

so I just wandered around the Kohl's near my office, and dropped $70. you tell me how I did:

$35 - black ballet flats, Croft & Barrow, memory foam!!
$24 - 3pr Maidenform panties
$18 - Apt. 9 blouse
$15 - Apt. 9 black maxi skirt
$7 -  Apt. 9 white stripe on black maxi skirt, clearance

and I forgot my 30% off coupon, but the cashier gave it to me anyway.

[The Captain]

Aug 10, 2015 10:24:21 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

Aug 10, 2015 9:55:38 GMT -5 NancysSummerSip said:

I've not seen Haggar for women anywhere. I don't wear men's clothes - they do not fit correctly. Well, sometimes, the jeans do, but nothing else does.

Funny story from this weekend. I bought new bras - six of them, all the same kind, just different colors. Because after a few years, you really do have to replace bras - they stretch, your size changes, the underwire (if present) no longer does its job, etc. This one style, a Vanity Fair, is just wonderful! When I explained my (very sound) logic to DH, he could not understand why I just did not wear bras until they wore out. "I wear my underwear until it wears out," he said.

"You mean, you wear it until your junk leaves the trunk?" I asked.

"Pretty much," he replied.

Can't say as I've inspected too closely, but now I may need to do that - his underwear, that is.

I'm going to use the $120 I have in Kohl's cash in bras and/or undies for me. 

Does the mental math...HOLY SHIT!!! how much did you buy woman!!!

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I've been buying men's clothes and shoes forever.  

It first started when I was looking on the sales racks for a new pair of sneaks to wear to the gym and was getting frustrated that my size was not available.  I spoke to the salesman and he was really pretty cool about it - telling me that the Ascics that I wanted to buy in size 9.5 in women's were available in 8.5 in men's.   He said he didn't want to insult me.....I wasn't insulted.  Those shoes wore FAR better than the ladies shoes!  I was sold.

My gym wear shorts come from men's Reebok.  They sell shorts that cover my ass and are comfortable....AND they're cheap.  I think I pay about $24/3 pair at the outlet.  I normally buy in navy/grey/black and use colored tops.  Those cheap shorts have worn like iron, the ones I first bought are finally starting to fray.

I hit up Macy's men's section and was able to get some gorgeous cashmere sweaters.  For some reason, men did not want to wear raspberry or turquoise turtlenecks.  Their loss, my gain for dirt cheap.  One of my better deals, along with the Cole Hann loafers.  Not a lot of difference between men's and women's loafers, but the support inside the shoes are MUCH better.

My Columbia ski jacket and my Brooks Bro. pea coat are both men's.  They are waaaay more comfortable across the shoulders, especially if you happen to have a sweater on - like you normally will in winter!

My biggest issue is the t shirts that don't cover my waist and ride up and I don't like the way men's t's fit around my neck.  So this is one place where I buy ladies.  My LS t's are going to be from Duluth though, I've seen the ads and I'm biting!  I need to buy new ones for this winter....

[Wisconsin Beth]

Aug 10, 2015 13:45:58 GMT -5 The Captain said:

Aug 10, 2015 10:24:21 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

I'm going to use the $120 I have in Kohl's cash in bras and/or undies for me. 

Does the mental math...HOLY SHIT!!! how much did you buy woman!!!

Um, a lot.  3 big bags full.  And sneakers for both kids.  But I did fulfill my nieces rule about shopping at Kohl's - your bill must be less than 1/2 of the original prices.  Can I defend myself by saying both kids grew over an inch this summer?  And DD's skorts are basically mini-skorts at this point?