Anyone else just HATE clothes shopping?!

[MyMaiTai]

Hi,

Already have this running in Chat, but hoping a wise and stylish MNetter might be along to help.

Just this really. I just bloody hate it! Always come back depressed with a huge downer on myself.

I've never really enjoyed it tbh - have an awkward inverted triangle shape, but now I'm approaching late 30's, it's virtually impossible for me to findanythingthat suits me!

I spent almost 4 hours in town yesterday and really threw myself into it. I deliberately tried clothes on that were put my comfort zone andtriedto stay away from my usual skinnies, black tops etc.

Everything just looked shitI'm not overweight, I'm a size 10, with a very slight muffin top I suppose, as my shape means I'm high waisted and clothes just aren't designed for me at all! I used to like my legs and could get away with minis, but now I feel a bit mutton dressed as lamb, although I'm not sure I'm not being hard on myself there.

Having a day and night out in London in a few weeks and going to a very swanky restaurant and so I really wanted to find a gorgeous outfit. Absolute fail.

Does anyone relate? Or maybe even have some advice?

FYI, I bought a black top and a pair of converse

Op, get mad by all means but please, there's absolutely no need to be hard on yourself. You're not even an unusual size or shape and it is not your fault that the high street has lost its way. Oh and if you like your legs then for fucks sake show them off.

I hate it. I am almost 30, and I feel like nothing is for my age group. Also I think I must be in between sizes because I put stuff on and it's too tight and too baggy at the same time. I just don't think there are any shops that have what I need and want. I used to love oasis and warehouse. Now I seem to get most of my stuff from Mango. I got some decent trousers from Tesco actually which are nice.

You're not even 30 and you think there's nothing for your age group??

@Milomonster

I dislike shopping in stores but am fond of online shopping for bargains and unusual pieces (just bought the most beautiful coat from Net a Porter , which was 900 down to 180; still trying to work out how they sold it so cheaply). Online is great as you have access to incredible designers from all over the world. I try stuff in shops but will buy online.

This is me, exactly! I absolutely love the boundless horizons the Internet affords us in terms of window shopping. (As well as actual buying.) I used to spend half my life trying on clothes (I couldn’t afford) in concrete shops. So I don’t feel I need to do it much now. Although the Margaret Howell next door to Wigmore Hall is always a draw if I’m in London and have time.

I do empathise with what applesandpears33 says about one’s colouring changing over years. I have a Jil Sander coat from the mid-nineties (when my bank thought I had a prosperous future) that I wore regularly until a few years ago when the lining died and it started to look a tiny bit shabby and out of fashion. I carefully preserved it, reasoning that eventually I’d get it all revivified and wearable again. Few weeks ago I suddenly felt it was exactly what I wanted to wear, in preference to a ridiculous shiny, puffy thing that makes me a stranger to myself. Wore the old coat happily for a week on a short country break, then caught sight of myself on FaceTime. My now ancient face and grey hair just don’t suit the colour or shape or indeed anything about my lovely old coat. It was a real shock. I always used to wonder why the venerable elderly women photographed in The Sartorialist (when it was good) and elsewhere on Insta wore such bright colours. Now I know.

No advice but I agree with you, because of the awful high street retail offering.

I love window shopping online, but I find buying online so joyless. I always end up taking more than one size into the changing room in a stor and really CBA with the toing and froing down to the post office for returns. I would never buy from ebay because I doubt that anything would fit properly.

Everything is geared towards the majority, which is pear shaped, with brown hair and eyes and muted colouring.

It makes commercial sense obviously but does leave us blonde/blue/inverted triangles (& other less common types) out in the cold.

I cant find anything that doesnt have puff sleeves, frill shoulders and a high neckline.

I quite often eye the menswear with envy.

I've never enjoyed shopping though I do like lovely clothes that fit me and work together and are easy to maintain.

I've had things made, which was brilliant but expensive and had in person and on line shopping help from https://www.kerrieellis.co.uk/women/

It's much more fun if someone with an eye for fashion does a pre-select for me. Even found a pair of M&S jeans which really do fit me and work well. Who knew.

@Notthatapple

I've seen personal shoppers be recommended on these boards. Not the kind you pay for, I mean just the in-house ones somewhere like John Lewis. I half intend to do that, but am held back by the worry that they'll suggest a load of things I don't like, or bruise my delicate ego!

I hate shopping so much but have done the JL stylist thing and it's brilliant. Came away with lovely things that suit me and I feel comfortable wearing. It's so worth it! I am never shopping any other way ever again.

@allmysons, do you work for JL?

[quote MyMaiTai]@allmysons, do you work for JL? [/quote]
I honestly don't! I'm sure there are other stylists appointments that are just as good but this is the most convenient shop for me.

@allmysons, I wasn't really being serious

I hate it with a passion and haven't done it for years.

Last time was the personal shopper service in Debenhams. The lady was fine with all my suggestions. I think the point is, they can nip round the shop and find stuff really easily. So she was back in a flash with choices to match my requests.

The friend who came with me used the service more recently - maybe five years ago. She bought about eighteen items, nearly everything that was recommended. Done and dusted in two hours. Only thing she wasn't prepared for was needing a cab home.

I am trying to get new stuff online but might try this again.