Since when are the opposite sex allowed in non co-ed fitting rooms?

[Kathi OD]

If you're in the stall, what difference does it make whether you are trying on pants, skirts, bras, whatever????

If I was in one of those small/broken ones and wanted an opinion from mom or sis......who BTW are women and know how such things should fit better than DH.

 

[agnes!]

Re: trying on bras...
Maybe the customer needs fitting by an attendant and doesn't want members of the opposite sex overhearing how big/small her breasts are, how many inches around she is and how big or how small her cup size is.
Maybe there aren't fitters/salesladies but she has a friend helping. She's not sure what her size is anymore and the friend brings her different sizes/styles so she doesn't have to get completely dressed to get different items to try on.

If I'm going to a brick & mortar store, Nordstrom's has a women-only lingerie dept and fitters.

But then there's always an online vendor like breakoutbras (they also don't have shared dressing rooms ).

agnes!

 

[ilisao]

It's just not that the doors don't always close properly, but many of those fitting room stalls barely hold one person, let alone two.

And what if I'm trying on bras? No way anyone I know is going to be comfortable w/ strange men in the dressing room area when I'm doing that.Let's be honest, co-ed dressing rooms were established by stores so that they could increase sales floor space or eliminate a couple of attendants. It wasn't done for the comfort of the customer, that's for sure.

Are you walking around outside of your stall with just a bra on? If not, then who cares if another man is in the area. Believe it or not, he probably doesn't care about you.

 

[ilisao]

It happened with us at JC Penney, only it was my son in the fitting room and another kid's mom in there. I wanted to yank her out. Geez! She also ran back and forth taking the kid whatever other sizes to try on. I'd never set foot in a men's fitting room. I was shocked when I saw it. What disregard for other people.

Was the woman watching your son putting on clothes? Did she look into his stall? She was helping her son, not there for a peep show. Who else was going to get him the other clothes. In all likelihood, she didn't give a rat's patootie about your son and barely noticed his presence.

 

[Planogirl]

Why is it so often about "my" comfort level here? If others are uncomfortable in certain situations then why can't there be a little respect for their feelings?

 

[Kathi OD]

Are you walking around outside of your stall with just a bra on? If not, then who cares if another man is in the area. Believe it or not, he probably doesn't care about you.

I probably am. See this post:

Re: trying on bras...
Maybe the customer needs fitting by an attendant and doesn't want members of the opposite sex overhearing how big/small her breasts are, how many inches around she is and how big or how small her cup size is.
Maybe there aren't fitters/salesladies but she has a friend helping. She's not sure what her size is anymore and the friend brings her different sizes/styles so she doesn't have to get completely dressed to get different items to try on.

And to be honest, I know he doesn't care about me, but I certainly care about him being there and that's the point. I should be able to be comfortable trying on clothes in a department store.

 

[bicker]

Let's be honest, co-ed dressing rooms were established by stores so that they could increase sales floor space or eliminate a couple of attendants. It wasn't done for the comfort of the customer, that's for sure.

Figure that everything a store does is aimed at enhancing shareholder value, and that's the way it should be. The issue, therefore, is simply whether or not each of us will choose to patronize a store that has co-ed dressing rooms, or not. If it matters enough to enough people, perhaps some stores will back-pedal. As long as folks buy clothing on the basis of price, I suspect we'll see more of this stuff, not less.

Actually, we can genericize that: As long as folks buy XXX on the basis of price, I suspect we'll see more of this stuff, not less.

Comfort, per se, is irrelevant. What matters is purchasing behaviors.

 

[DaisyD]

I've seen this in our Macys fitting rooms and they are not co ed fitting rooms. These are just ignorant people that think nothing of letting their male friends into the fitting area. Sorry, but unless they are co ed fitting rooms, men should not be in there. I don't care if you can see anything or not. Ladies fitting rooms are for LADIES, not men!

 

[Planogirl]

Figure that everything a store does is aimed at enhancing shareholder value, and that's the way it should be. The issue, therefore, is simply whether or not each of us will choose to patronize a store that has co-ed dressing rooms, or not. If it matters enough to enough people, perhaps some stores will back-pedal. As long as folks buy clothing on the basis of price, I suspect we'll see more of this stuff, not less.

Actually, we can genericize that: As long as folks buy XXX on the basis of price, I suspect we'll see more of this stuff, not less.

Comfort, per se, is irrelevant. What matters is purchasing behaviors.

I agree up to a point. I think that the desire to have a certain brand or name can cause people to accept a little more discomfort too. For example, Abercrombie & Fitch devotees might be OK with some hassle regardless of price (to some degree) just to have the product. Those who go to a more generic store such as Kohl's might not think the hassle is worth it unless price is what they are really concerned about.

 

[bicker]

Time will tell.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Some fitting rooms have poorly fitted doors and flimsy stalls. I see a lot of problem with men being in those areas. I agree that those that have actual closed off stalls are no big deal though.

My question is why in the world do women want to drag their boyfriends/husbands/whatever with them to shop for clothing? DH would drive me crazy.

exactly.... and that is my plan. If my wife even attempts to try on clothes when I'm around I go so nuts that she stops.... Today, I found someone to watch the kids all day and overnight, while I am at work.... she's going shopping all day....

 

[bicker]

By contrast, my wife greatly values my perspective on some of her purchases. I must have excellent taste!

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I'm in the "I don't see the big deal" side. And yes, I have read every single post.

I do understand someone's concern if its a dressing room that has a curtain that just may get pushed open or doesn't close all the way, but most stores around here, especially stores like Victoria's Secret have very nice dressing rooms where the door closes all the way and locks as soon as you close it.

Its not like I would go out of the dressing room parading around in a bra or lingerie anyhow even if I knew there weren't any men anywhere near the dressing room.

 

[GJM]

I also in the "I don't see what a big deal it is" - granted unless it is a curtain that closes off the dressing room, but if it is a door I don't care. Most dressing rooms I have been in lately the doors close well with no gaps.

When I take my DS to Kohls, he is 8 - I go in the dressing room with him, it is in the kids section that has a door that will close. I need to see if the clothes will fit him, if he went by himself he would come out and say everything was great and it wouldn't be.

 

[Papa Deuce]

...
And what if I'm trying on bras? No way anyone I know is going to be comfortable w/ strange men in the dressing room area when I'm doing that.

What if they're "normal"?

 

[wishspirit]

Which may be why Abercrombie & Fitch, Aeropostale, and Hollister Co., play music so loud!

Yep, when my class went to the one in New York we called it the Nightclub with clothes!

I try and be respectful as possible when i am clothes shopping. I dont see the problem with moms going in and out to give their sons stuff in the changing room, it seems sensible to me.

My DBF often comes shopping with me so i can ask an opinion, however he very rarely sees me if i am lingere shopping, and thats only in specialist bra shops where there is usually only one of two changing rooms.

If i am in a big shop i will step out of the changing room so he can see the outfit and comment (usually asking first if their is an attendant) as he will wander near the changing room entrance.

As long as its done with all modesty its fine! Whats worse for me is if i am shopping where moms let their little 'treasures' run riot, bang on doors, open curtains and generally misbehave!

 

[bicker]

The example of a "wrong gender" parent going into a non-co-ed dressing room devoted for use by the children's section of the store sounds reasonable to me. By contrast, a "wrong gender" parent going into a non-co-ed dressing room intended for use by adults and children is only as appropriate as a boyfriend helping a girlfriend pick something to buy is. Y'can't have it both ways. Either dressing rooms are for one gender, or not.

 

[Disney Doll]

If I go to a store that has a coed fitting room, I choose to take my business elsewhere, to a store that will give me a ladies only fitting room.

I see no reason for men to be inside the ladies fitting room, just like I see no reason for women to be inside the mens fitting room.

If I go shopping with DH for mens clothing for him, he puts it on and then comes out to ask my opinion.

I generally don't have DH with me when I know I am going to try something on. However, there are those moments when we may be at the store for a different reason and something catches my eye and I want to try it on quick. DH waits outside the dressing room door, usually far enough away so he won't be considered a stalker perv, and if I want his opinion I go out to him once the outfit is completely on.

Now, if the male in the dressing room is a young boy with his mother...different story. I can understand a mother not wanting to leave a young child outside a dressing room.

But a grown man...boyfreind, husband, whatever...no need for him to be in there.

 

[Papa Deuce]

....
Now, if the male in the dressing room is a young boy with his mother...different story. I can understand a mother not wanting to leave a young child outside a dressing room.

But a grown man...boyfreind, husband, whatever...no need for him to be in there.

So, I have twin 7 year old daughters. I have - infrequently - taken them out for clothes. What should "I" be doing with them?

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

OP - I agree with you. I hate unisex fitting rooms and men don't belong in the ladies fitting room area.

This is why I've become queen of the returns. My DD and I no longer try things on in stores - there are a couple of stores I no longer shop at because of it.

The top store on the list was one that didn't care about a liason in the dressing room 2 doors from where I was trying on clothes.
Couldn't find a security guard and the people working didn't care so that store has lost my business. I let the manager know and emailed corporate but they didn't seem to care either since the manager just shrugged and I never heard a thing from corporate.

Thank goodness I didn't have DD with me that day.