Another reason retail is down: The clothes are UGLY!!!

[missypie]

I've been trying to buy some winter clothes for my daughters. First let me say that even though we're in Texas, long sleeves can be necessary. I can't tell you how many stores only have Ts and cammies. And it's IMPOSSIBLE to find church dresses or skirts. 98% of the dresses are "party" (sequins, spaghetti straps, etc.) But basically the clothes in the stores are flat out ugly this year....it's easy to save money and not buy because we've gone into all of their regular stores and the girls don't even want anything.

 

[Justanopinion]

How old are your girls and have your tried resale shops.

For younger ones I always find good stuff at Once Upon a Child but for teenagers try Plato's Closet.

I am very picky as to how my children dress. For my little one, I want her to look like a little girl and not a mini teenager.
For teenagers, I know they have certain styles they like, but there are times and occassions where I put my foot down and say no hip huggers or what not.

Yes, finding church clothing is hard these days, try resale.

 

[minniebeth]

DD11 has a band concert coming up the first week in December and they have to wear dress/church clothes. Went out this weekend and could NOT find ANYTHING appropriate or pretty to wear. She is in between the kids' and the junior dept. sizes. Last spring at Kohl's I found her some pretty dresses, but ugh, nothing for winter!
I've tried Kohl's, Macy's, JC Penny's, Limited Too, Aeropostale, and nothing!!!
Our culture has definately gone to a mostly casual stye and it is hard to find more classic dress clothes.

OP, I'm SO with you!

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[HelenePA]

Have you seen the clothes at Old Navy? Who wears those??!?! UGLY!!

 

[SDFgirl]

I don't look forward to this stage. It seems like ALL the pre-teen clothes I see are made for tiny party girls and miniature socialites!

Why don't the clothing makers take notice???

GOOD LUCK! You'll find something, you just have to hunt around!

 

[missypie]

How old are your girls and have your tried resale shops.

For younger ones I always find good stuff at Once Upon a Child but for teenagers try Plato's Closet.


Yes, finding church clothing is hard these days, try resale.

My girls are 16 and 13. The 13 year old is very thin (and stil flat chested). She's outgrown Justice and Limited Too age-wise, but teen sizes don't fit.

We used to go to Plato's Closet but they made me mad. The "first straw" was when we took DS's jeans in to sell...they refused all of the jeans from Gap. They took the ones from American Eagle - paid me $1.60 a pair. For that, I'd rather donate them to our local clothes closet.

The "last straw." DD wanted a top. There were two registers open. I waited behind two other customers and when it was my turn the girl left and did not return...no "sorry" no explanation....nothing....that was about 18 months ago and we haven't returned.

 

[missypie]

DD11 has a band concert coming up the first week in December and they have to wear dress/church clothes. Went out this weekend and could NOT find ANYTHING appropriate or pretty to wear. She is in between the kids' and the junior dept. sizes. Last spring at Kohl's I found her some pretty dresses, but ugh, nothing for winter!
I've tried Kohl's, Macy's, JC Penny's, Limited Too, Aeropostale, and nothing!!!
Our culture has definately gone to a mostly casual stye and it is hard to find more classic dress clothes.

OP, I'm SO with you!

Anyone have any suggestions?

We typically don't shop at Kohl's for the girls' stuff, but I had had some luck in the past with Easter dresses, so we went over the weekend. The junior dresses were 100% "party" - strapless, shiny, sequins, etc.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Totally agree. My DD9 is actually a size 14 (she's tall) and the clothes are either Shirley Temple or tramp.

 

[eliza61]

GIRLS!!!
Heck, I'm darn near 50 and can't find any thing in the stores. Can I please get a pair of jeans that are not Skinny legs, please. pretty please. I'm sorry unless you are a 6ft tall 100 lb super model age 18 or less, you probably have some sort of shape. Do I really need to see my middle age body squeezed into some low rise jeans (or is this a cleaver ploy to keep therapist in business?)

There has got to be some thing in between matronly grandmother and Hoochie video queen.

 

[missypie]

GIRLS!!!
Heck, I'm darn near 50 and can't find any thing in the stores. Can I please get a pair of jeans that are not Skinny legs, please. pretty please. I'm sorry unless you are a 6ft tall 100 lb super model age 18 or less, you probably have some sort of shape. Do I really need to see my middle age body squeezed into some low rise jeans (or is this a cleaver ploy to keep therapist in business?)

There has got to be some thing in between matronly grandmother and Hoochie video queen.

That's a constant problem... dressing if you're over 30 and under 80. But this year I see that as a blessing...I'm not tempted to buy anything for myself. (Unlike my girls, I actually have clothes I can wear. Even if they're a few years old, they're better than what is in the stores now.)

I've always had this idea that would make a designer rich: Go to a middle class mall on a Saturday afternoon and stop the first 10 adult women that walk past you. Design a line of clothes that looks good on them. Chances are, they'd be over 30 and would not be 6' tall and 100 lbs.

 

[Kirby]

Do you have a Bealls? We have them here and have had fairly decent luck finding stuff for my daughter there.

 

[wickey's friend]

There has got to be some thing in between matronly grandmother and Hoochie video queen.

Amen, sister. I sometimes see things in magazines that I might like, but never anything much like that in stores. Gonna start wearing sacks soon.

 

[missypie]

I've always hated how short waisted I am, but it is coming in extremely handy with jeans....the ultra low rise jeans that they are selling come just below my navel.

 

[eliza61]

I've always hated how short waisted I am, but it is coming in extremely handy with jeans....the ultra low rise jeans that they are selling come just below my navel.

Ok, you're offically my hero. I'm 5'8. low rise sit way below my navel, which means my "love handles" flop over and after 2 kids, the button gets lost in the belly flab.

 

[clarabelle]

I like Lee Riders Jeans for myself they have a stretch jean that is low -but not really low.

For my DD (13) we are skipping the Jrs for dress clothes and going straight to adults. I get her stuff from Penneys. They have a pretty good selection of small ladies sizes.

I agree with you about the short sleeves. Really why can't they make a long sleeved dress for Juniors?

Also -I am sooo over this cami thing. My DD is not overweight -she is normal for her height -but she is not thin and has a little bit of a tummy.
The ultra tight shirts with the cami thing does nothing for her -In addtion to me
being tired of washing all the "layers"

 

[missypie]

When I go into American Eagle and Aeropostale, they might as well have neon signs that say "Our strategy is to make you have to buy lots of pieces." Instead of one long sleeved top, they want you to buy 1) a cammie, 2) a short sleeved top, and 3) a hoodie for warmth. That's really all they sell.

 

[clarabelle]

missy pie -what kind of shoes do your girls wear when they dress up?
Mine won't wear hose anymore. Some shoes however seem to need something.
Do they go bare legged all year round?

 

[SydneyBristow]

We get most of DD(12) clothes at a Goodwill a town over, they have great stuff and it's a really nice store. When my mom comes down to visit she takes her to Justice, she loves that store but it's out of my price range. We also find her some stuff at Walmart & Target. My mom also sent her a bunch of stuff from the Childrens Place that fit her great. We tried Plato's closet but DD is still in kids sizes so most things were too big or too older looking. We did have some luck at Once Upon a Child though.

 

[ols386]

Have you seen the clothes at Old Navy? Who wears those??!?! UGLY!!

I totally agree. I go into Old Navy with my daughter (she's an adult, age 26), and I very seldom see clothing that appeals to me. She will buy something there once in awhile, but not real often. I like WalMart clothes. That's where I buy almost all of my clothing. I don't see that it's put together any better or worse than clothing at the more expensive stores. Most of their closthing is casual, which suits my taste, because I dress pretty bland, casual pants and tops.

 

[imabrat]

OMGosh I know exactly what you mean! My big stuggle this back to school season is tops. For the winter, all I want is some plain coloured sweaters. In fall or winter colours only, not this bright blue and puke green colours they have out now. Just give me some black, brown, navy, maroon sweaters. No scoop neck, no low rise, just a sweater. I actually resorted to uniform style this fall, polos and twill pants.

Aeropostale has nothing cute as far as tee shirts go. American Eagle is kinda expensive for those thin shirts, and I'm not even daring to go into Hollister or Abercrombie. Kohls is good for somethings, but I've resorted to shopping online at unknown stores.

I am TIRED of wearing the same things everyone else in my high school has. I hate being caught wearing the same shirt as someone else.