I was walking through several different department stores this afternoon, thinking maybe a nice top/sweater/tank outfit for my sister would be a good Christmas gift. I concluded that I needed to come home to consult about sizes, but not before I saw the prices of some of those goods. Being single, I never buy women's clothing, and I haven't gone clothes shopping with a woman in about fifteen years, so excuse my ignorance, but holy cow! $70 for a thin sweater which looked as though it might unravel after the second wearing? $45 for a tank top weighing about 2 oz.?
I'm not cheap (well, maybe I am), but how do you ladies clothe yourselves? I can buy a pair of slacks and know I'll wear them for five years. I still wear the occasional 20-year-old Aloha shirt, and I've had some pairs of shoes for about ten years. What I'm sayin' is, style is roughly the same for men; how do y'all keep up (stylistically and financially)?
Posted by Linkmeister at December 16, 2004 12:01 AMClothes are probably one of the highest marked up items in the store. No wonder that big department stores have more clothes' sections especially for women (versus children's or even men's clothing) than any thing else. Add the fact that many women tend to be "addicted" to clothes' shopping and that can spell disaster for the pocket book. Most clothing items are now made in foreign countries - where they can be made cheaply but they still are expensive. I think if most women had to do it over again - they would have spent less on clothes over the years - and tried to have had more versatile wardrobes ( me included). For your sister I would perhaps buy something with meaning - either having an old family picture nicely matted and framed - or purchasing something unique that will last over time. Clothes while nice - can easily get shoved to the back of the closet!
Posted by: Nancy at December 16, 2004 03:00 AMOne word: Ross. ;)
My general plan (if I have one) is to stay far ahead enough of the eight-ball that I never have to buy anything that isn't on bigtime sale, and/or to invest in a couple of sturdy pieces that go with a lot of things and will last forever (a nice black skirt and black pumps, for example). But needing an outfit or something for *right now* and not having time to plot and scheme is a recipe for (financial) disaster.
Posted by: Sue at December 16, 2004 08:16 AMtwo words: Tar-GET.
Posted by: Skatemom at December 16, 2004 11:45 AMAlas, Skatemom, Target hasn't yet put a store in Hawai'i. Our first Best Buy won't be here till next year, for that matter.
Posted by: Linkmeister at December 16, 2004 01:18 PMWait until Dec. 26th or shop online at Lands End or Eddie Bauer. $70 is too much, except for cashmere then it's a deal.
Posted by: Karan at December 16, 2004 03:26 PM