I flipping hate clothes shopping 😡

[losenotloose]

I've just spent 2 and a half hours trying on clothes and come away with hardly anything. I desperately need new stuff and have come away feeling depressed. What do I do next? I'm going away to stay with in-laws in 3 weeks and, as shallow as it is, would like to feel good about myself.

Is online shopping better?

I have ‘safe’ brands and just online shop from them.

It's miserable isn't it? Do you have a Debenhams near you - I can pretty much always find something in there, it's my go to shop when all else fails.

If you can afford it then I’d hire a personal shopper, quite a few department stores and malls have them now.

I've just been round Debenhams, top shop, new look, zara, h & m. I find it hard to know what looks good, and have been eating really sensibly and working out since the beginning of January so was under the illusion I'd magically look better now. But no, still saggy.

I hardly find clothes in high street shops. I'm slim built with a pretty big bust so nothing ever fits right.
I do most of my shopping online. Also I hate trying clothes on in tiny changing rooms so this works for me. I used to buy two sizes and send back the one that didn't fit but now I know what sizes I am from different websites so I get it spot on most of the time.

Yes, online shopping is far, far better. But you do need to know, or be prepared to experiment with what suits your size and shape. And it helps if you have a good awareness of fabrics, manufacturing quality and the rhythms of your preferred shops' sales strategy.

Don't limit yourself to high street brands - take advantage of the ability to shop across Europe - while there's still time ...

Couldn't afford a personal shopper. That's part of the misery, everything's so expensive! I see people looking effortlessly cool and trendy. I want to be them!
What online shops would you recommend? Is very any good?

It is shit.
I am six feet tall with large narrow feet. There isn't one shop in my very large city where I can buy trousers or shoes.
I buy online and return loads.

And what I don't understand is if the average British woman is size sixteen, why do some of these shops have hardly any bigger sizes but loads of 6/8s. I'm only a size 12 but come away feeling like an elephant!

Some places do free personal shoppers - don't assume you can't use them.

Are the shops you mention an indication of your budget - or just what you have available locally?

I hate clothes shopping too. Online is not much better for me. I'm below the average UK size too but I'm tall with long legs and arms and while a 12 might fit me in one shop I'd need a 10 or 14 in others.
I just can't be arsed with it most of the time.
Urgh!!

OP, ask the big department stores like v Debenhams have free personal shoppers! You just need to book an appointment.

I've given up caring about "the decline of the high street" and have written about this before. Every time I go clothes shopping, the shops are full of badly-made clothes that don't fit. And then they wonder why they're not making any money

www.debenhams.com/content/personal-shopper

I suppose an indication of my budget. I was planning to go to primark too but I couldn't cope with anymore. As pathetic as it is I feel like crying. If I'd at least come away with what I needed I could overlook the feeling of self disgust but now I have to go and do it all again. What is making me particularly sensitive is that my brother in law has recently married a glamourous size 8 woman and I can't help but feel inferior. I know I shouldn't compare etc but it just feeds into my insecurities. Ahhh!

How does it work with a personal shopper though? Do they recommend what you should wear or do you tell them? Can you give them a budget? I think I need a stylist as well as a personal shopper!

I find real life shopping difficult these days - crazy at it sounds, I feel equally that there isn't the choice / I get overwhelmed.

I want to be able to weed stuff out quickly, so for example, I generally will only wear natural fabrics - I find real life shopping is over-run with pricey polyester, and I find it a struggle to find the stuff I actually want to consider.

A personal shopper will help with this - I've done it with John Lewis in the past - all free, and they bring everything to you.

I've also signed up online with Endource which sends edited suggestions, which is quite good.

What kind of thing are you looking for? Casual/event/budget etc. Style & Beauty board could help too.

But when I do online shopping, I drop A LOT of money on things, knowing I'll be returning the majority, but at least I can try lots of different things in my own home. personal shopping is the same concept, but without having to drop the money temporarily!

Do you have a good friend who could help you OP? Someone who wouldn't mind traipsing around with you and could help you to see what kind of stuff looks good. I often go to the shops and see nothing and then go later with a friend and they spot stuff I never would have seen.

I have ‘safe’ brands and just online shop from them.

^this.
I shop mainly at boden (I love their breton t shirts and Richmond trousers for work), hush (mainly for weekend and holiday clothes), and then only go irl shopping to primark for their basic knitwear, plain tees and tanks although I'm a bit annoyed with them changing their sizing recently.
Find what suits you and you feel comfortable in and just stick with that.

I always shop at Matalan. Lots of choice & reasonably priced plus they often send out vouchers so I hang on til a voucher arrives then go & buy what bits I need.

I can relate to your need to feel good about yourself whilst spending time with family.

The only advice I can offer is always go for comfort. Flats instead of heels, covered up rather than showing flesh. I think looking effortless comes with being comfortable. I also order the Next catalogue every Spring/Summer & Autumn/Winter & use it as a guide to how to put outfits together. I then shop at Matalan as I can't afford Next prices.

I hate high street shops and I hate the faff of returns with online.

All the clothes I’ve bought recently have been from charity shops - I like that there’s clothes from lots of different shops together so o get a good range and don’t go in and out of heaps of shops. If I haven’t got the energy to try on I don’t bother and just take the hit if it doesn’t fit - only one thing I’ve bought recently have I had to send straight back. Otherwise I’ve found some great stuff I’ve worn a lot, and nothing over a tenner.

Just to add - for things like coats and shoes I’ll invest more as they go with everything, and can lift an outfit up. I don’t feel bad about spending £200 on a coat that’ll last 5 years if I’ve only spent £12 on three tops or whatever.

How does it work with a personal shopper though? Do they recommend what you should wear or do you tell them? Can you give them a budget? I think I need a stylist as well as a personal shopper!

You sit in a swishy private room where your sit down with them and say "I need a killer dress to impress the in-laws, and two nice tops to go with my jeans". You can indeed give them a budget, as long as you're realistic about which labels are sold at Debenhams. (Don't bother with Selfridges as they have a minimum spend of £2,000!) Then you sit there with a magazine and they go around the shop finding things for you, bring them to you and you try them all on. There's no obligation to buy. The first time I went there I must've tried on about twenty things and ended up buying two which I returned for a refund the next week as I decided I didn't like them

Oh I hate shopping 🛍
I go once every few months and that’s it.

I like Uniqlo, Monki and Gap.
I’m 5ft11 and about a size 12-14 so nothing fits me in Zara or Topshop. I have a love hate relationship with H&M because of the quality.

I like Cos but I can only afford that every now and then.

I agree Emma. Things that used to be made of cotton are now viscose or they are mixed with Modal.

The small sizes are limited to try on and the clothes are expensive for tat.

I sometimes buy from fat face in sales or White stuff but the quality is nothing to shout about.