Take the most recent Nordstrom's catalogue, which came in yesterday's mail. The models are all very young--I've pretty much resigned myself to that reality--but the styles were by and large ones I wouldn't have worn when I was younger, let alone now. HUGELY high heels--I could never wear heels more than a couple inches high--they'd all break because I walk a lot. Very short dresses--I did wear those until I started working--then generally one does need to go with near-knee-length at a minimum if one's in a conservative office environment (lots of that still in the DC area). WHERE DO THESE WOMEN WORK? (For clothing catalogues, of course!) So retailers face a self-fulfilling prophecy--they say they don't target older people because they don't have as much disposable income as younger people do. But even those with some disposable incomes--and/or recovering shopaholics like me--have a hard time finding something to buy even when they want to, or when the succumb to a binge.
So now when I get the urge to shop, I'm more likely to go for a new household or garden toy, rather than clothing. My biggest downfalls used to be shoes and purses--especially purses. I've been in search of the perfect purse for several years now, and never seem to find it. One big enough to hold everything I want it to hold, but small enough to carry around without looking like a glorified bag lady. And compartmentalized so I can find everything right away. (HAH!--the biggest downfall of most bags large enough to fit more than a couple of bucks and a pen.)' So I have a closetful of mostly Coaches and Brahmins. But haven't bought a new purse in over a year--quite a record for me. I've looked, but even those styles have changed dramatically. Huge shiny bags with lots of hardware--how do you find anything in it, and don't you get tired of lugging it around after a while?
I have found my shoe store of preference--Comfort One Shoes, which has stylish shoes that also are comfortable and don't appear to disfigure the feet. Like I'm sure those high high heels and "mules" do. I'll bet Sarah Jessica Parker gets bunions if she doesn't already have them! Who knew that bunions were permanent bone disfigurations? I sure didn't--I thought they were like corns or some other temporary sore foot problem. Two surgeries later, my left foot looks normal, but the alteration has hindered my balance.
Several years ago I read an article in the Washington Post about how older women were flocking to a store called Chico's. A store opened up near my house, so I went for a look. I could picture Bea Arthur as Maude wearing them--an attractive, large older woman. Well, I'm small--not height but bone structure and weight--so those styles just don't suit me. I was told by the Chico's sales woman that I would be a size 0 in their store (more size deflation--I'm a 4 most places, and apparently would have been an 8 if I lived in the 1940s). And then she said they didn't carry many size 0s--not much demand. That's how I discovered Ann Taylor Loft--it was right next door and had lots of stuff that fit me. And it's quite reasonably priced. Since then ATL has been more hit-and-miss--it definitely skews young, but I can still sometimes find a nice sweater or skirt.
The store where I do most of my clothes shopping, when I do shop for clothes, is Talbot's. They sell lots of nice sweaters and jackets, and I discovered that if I go with petite size 4 I can find pants that fit and don't need to be hemmed. But I've only gone there recently with gift certificate in hand. These days I still get more excited about a slow cooker than I do a new sweater.
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