I used to really enjoy going shopping when I was in my 20s. I wasn’t a shopaholic but it every so often I would go and usually find something lovely.
but it’s becoming increasingly frustrating. I am finding that because of online shopping, many brands have a very limited range in their actually physical stored. I am in London so in theory I have so many options available to me. But I went shopping with teen dd yesterday so find an outfit for her for some university interviews. We looked online for the items she wanted and decided to go to the stores to avoid having to order online and return given that sizes are so random. We couldn’t find anything ! None of the items we saw online were available in the store. Stores were full of sparkly polyester.
We came home and ordered online. But even that was hard because it seems that the kind of things we wanted are quite scarce and mostly sold out - a nice shirt that does not look like a tent, some tailored trousers that are a bit nicer than really basic ones from next, but are not clownishly baggy.
the other thing is that even 15 years ago I remember going into high street stores and being helped by staff to find things that will fit and suit me. That just doesn’t seem to happen at all anymore unless you go somewhere very expensive and even then it’s not guaranteed.