Wardrobe Prescription Needed

[Deleted]

I need to smarten up my wardrobe and need some help.  I don't enjoy shopping, so doing endless rounds of browsing and trying on are not an option!

I need very good quality wash & wear slacks.  I am slightly taller than average, so tend to do better with Tall sizes.  I am also a rather straight figure so don't have hips to speak of.  I have zero interest in having any additional dry-clean in my closet.  My go-to black slacks are no longer made :-(

Anyone out there have success in finding a brand that makes slacks that last (that you have purchased in the last year)?

[milee]

No fashion advice here.  (My friends claim that if I could buy lingerie at the marine supply store I would.)  But I am giggling at the use of the phrase "slacks."  You're not old enough to refer to clothing as "slacks".  Even the 70 year olds make fun of the 75 year olds for using that phrase.

[Deleted]

milee - what's the current lingo?  dress pants?

I need workplace casual, but NO jeans allowed & I don't want pants that need ironing (what a thankless task).

[Shooby]

Yes.  I despise clothes shopping!  I hate it!  I need the Fashion Police to come update me as well.

[kittensaver]

Well you're probably not going to like this answer, BUT - - hit-and-miss finding a new brand of dress pants that you like is going to be just as frustrating as shopping and trying (and just as expensive, if you're only trading gas mileage for shipping costs).

But to really be happy with the fit, a little shop-and-try is what you need to do right now. Then when you find a brand or a line within that brand that you like, order online and skip the stores.

[kittensaver]

Do you have any nice department stores (Nordstrom, Macy, Needless Markup) with a personal shopping service? Those ladies can be life savers. Yeah it takes time and ya gotta tip them generously, but they shop the store FOR you.

[Shooby]

  I would think buying online clothes would be a nightmare.  It seems things aren't really made consistently and you could try on 2 identical items of the same size and they will both fit differently.  And, depending on brand, i have a vast array of sizes in my closet.

[milee]

Aug 4, 2013 8:45:55 GMT -5 @rockit said:

milee - what's the current lingo?  dress pants?

I'm sorry I didn't adequately convey just how fashion challenged I am, but you'd be better off asking a guy at Auto Zone than me, unfortunately.  

It's not that I don't want to help, I just don't know how. 

[Shooby]

  I pretty much buy everything online except for clothes.  I have never had good luck with that.  If i order shoes, they never fit right, same with other clothes.  I even order some groceries online.  But, this is the one area that i find most difficult for online shopping.  For those of you who do online shop, how do you assure the fit before buying?

[servant_of_dog]

Aug 4, 2013 8:31:21 GMT -5 @rockit said:

I need to smarten up my wardrobe and need some help.  I don't enjoy shopping, so doing endless rounds of browsing and trying on are not an option!

I need very good quality wash & wear slacks.  I am slightly taller than average, so tend to do better with Tall sizes.  I am also a rather straight figure so don't have hips to speak of.  I have zero interest in having any additional dry-clean in my closet.  My go-to black slacks are no longer made :-(

Anyone out there have success in finding a brand that makes slacks that last (that you have purchased in the last year)?

I have been really pleased with the Halogen brand pants (Nordstrom's carries them).  I'm also rather straight-figured through the hips, and the Quinn style is flattering and comfortable.  The regular length has a 33" inseam.  I wash mine on cold, tumble dry, and no need to iron.   I'm pretty hopeless fashion-wise, so bear that in mind, but I've been happy to make these a staple in my work wardrobe.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Aug 4, 2013 8:53:06 GMT -5 Shooby said:

  I would think buying online clothes would be a nightmare.  It seems things aren't really made consistently and you could try on 2 identical items of the same size and they will both fit differently.  And, depending on brand, i have a vast array of sizes in my closet.

Actually, buying clothes online is a very good way to go.  A couple years ago, I needed a dress for a wedding and there was nothing in stores.  

I ordered 27 dresses online from 4 sources, returned 26.  Some I ordered in multiple sizes because I wasn't sure hat size fit.  Didn't have to fight with mall parking and could try the clothes on when I felt like it.  Most companies have made returns easy, pack the ox back up, slap their label on it and drop it off.

When I was ill and couldn't get out last year, the combo of losing 40 lbs plus not having a lot of clothes out here had me scrambling for clothes.  I placed a huge order, several sizes in some items, chose what I wanted and returned the rest.

I've also done this hen shopping for dress slacks for meetings.  Once I found a style that I liked and that fit well, I ordered multiples in different colors or duplicates in basic colors.

[Deleted]

Dockers are my best pants and they make long sizes. I get mine at Kohls. Eddie Bauer pants are good too.

[Peace77]

Landsend.com has some nice slacks on sale now.  They take returns for any reason or no reason.  I love their sport knit pants.

[sarcasticgirl]

finding the perfect pant is a nightmare for me. I  always tend to be between sizes. I wear a lot of dresses and skirts. my office is business casual so for summer i stocked up on those cotton foldover skirts- so comfie. i can wear them to work and on the weekend. super versatile. 
not that that helps with pants... but honestly, I don't know any two friends who wear the same pants. everyone is shaped differently and everyone wears a different brand so even if we all tell you a brand, chances are none of them will fit you properly. it's one of those suck it up and try on 2938420938402 things until you find one you like and then STOCK UP!

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Aug 4, 2013 20:35:21 GMT -5 sarcasticgirl said:

finding the perfect pant is a nightmare for me. I  always tend to be between sizes. I wear a lot of dresses and skirts. my office is business casual so for summer i stocked up on those cotton foldover skirts- so comfie. i can wear them to work and on the weekend. super versatile. 
not that that helps with pants... but honestly, I don't know any two friends who wear the same pants. everyone is shaped differently and everyone wears a different brand so even if we all tell you a brand, chances are none of them will fit you properly. it's one of those suck it up and try on 2938420938402 things until you find one you like and then STOCK UP!

And then you hope that the company does not change things!

About 8 years go, I found Eddie Bauer's khakis.  I must have bought 6 pair of them, they are my summer work uniform.  Before I got sick, I noticed that the waist and hem were fraying badly, so ordered several more pair.  They didn't fit the same way....dammit.

I took them back to the outlet store and realized that there were some on the 75% off clearance rack in the back for $7 each of the old style.  I bought every pair that they had in my size, regardless of color.  I think I was able to score 6 more pair.  Don't know what I'll do when these wear out.