I won the Talbots essay contest!

[TillyGalore]

But the outlet in Smithfield wasn't a clearance outlet. It was an outlet for a lower quality tier of clothes manufactured only for that outlet. I hated that store and those clothes.

I am so bummed about that!

Charlotte is still a clearance outlet, maybe someday we can all make a trip there together.

Can't wait to read about your trip.

[CathyCA]

But the outlet in Smithfield wasn't a clearance outlet. It was an outlet for a lower quality tier of clothes manufactured only for that outlet. I hated that store and those clothes.

I am so bummed about that!

Charlotte is still a clearance outlet, maybe someday we can all make a trip there together.

Can't wait to read about your trip.

I'd love to go to the Charlotte outlet sometime soon!

I'm gathering pictures and collecting my thoughts on my trip. I promise to put something up soon! It was fun.

[TillyGalore]

I'd love to go to the Charlotte outlet sometime soon!

I'm gathering pictures and collecting my thoughts on my trip. I promise to put something up soon! It was fun.

Was your trip to Talbots in NYC filmed? I saw a show a few weeks of what looked like a woman who had won a contest last year (the dress she bought was from last years line).

[CathyCA]

I'd love to go to the Charlotte outlet sometime soon!

I'm gathering pictures and collecting my thoughts on my trip. I promise to put something up soon! It was fun.

Was your trip to Talbots in NYC filmed? I saw a show a few weeks of what looked like a woman who had won a contest last year (the dress she bought was from last years line).

No. I told them that I would rather not spend my time filming the commercial and doing their "Style By Design" since my time in New York was so limited. I wasn't sure what my friends would do while I was doing the commercial.

The lady who won the trip last year didn't get to bring anyone along. She is the person who suggested that the next winner get to bring friends, so we are indebted to her for her wonderful idea!

[TillyGalore]

I'd love to go to the Charlotte outlet sometime soon!

I'm gathering pictures and collecting my thoughts on my trip. I promise to put something up soon! It was fun.

Was your trip to Talbots in NYC filmed? I saw a show a few weeks of what looked like a woman who had won a contest last year (the dress she bought was from last years line).

No. I told them that I would rather not spend my time filming the commercial and doing their "Style By Design" since my time in New York was so limited. I wasn't sure what my friends would do while I was doing the commercial.

The lady who won the trip last year didn't get to bring anyone along. She is the person who suggested that the next winner get to bring friends, so we are indebted to her for her wonderful idea!

I love that they listened to her and acted on her suggestion.

[Ima Facultiwyfe]

I'm reading with great interest all these shopping notes. I wish I enjoyed clothes shopping like you guys do. I just HATE it! The agony of that dressing room mirror, getting undressed, dressed, undressed dressed, the sales lady popping in to say "How are WE doing?" , rarely finding my size (whatever that is this week). Sometimes my daughter just takes me out and MAKES me buy something. Talbot's got a little more tolerable for me when they started up what I call their "junior plenty" department......that's the Women's Petite. It's still a challenge, though. You gotta just love the concept of a size Large Petite! ;)
Love, Ima

[windsor]

I'm reading with great interest all these shopping notes. I wish I enjoyed clothes shopping like you guys do. I just HATE it! The agony of that dressing room mirror, getting undressed, dressed, undressed dressed, the sales lady popping in to say "How are WE doing?" , rarely finding my size (whatever that is this week). Sometimes my daughter just takes me out and MAKES me buy something. Talbot's got a little more tolerable for me when they started up what I call their "junior plenty" department......that's the Women's Petite. It's still a challenge, though. You gotta just love the concept of a size Large Petite! ;)
Love, Ima

I hate clothes shopping with the heat of a thousand suns. Seriously. GIve me jeans, t-shirsts & tennis shoes. I do not like to dress up. I do not like to wear make up (the last time I wore any was November '09 at my step daughters wedding). I care that my clothes a) clean b)in good repair and c) comfy.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

I walked by the Carnegie Deli this morning and took a few pictures. I didn't go in and order anything.

We were too full from our brunch at the Essex House.

Now you're just teasing us!

Glad you had such a great trip! I look forward to seeing the pictures you post.

[devildeac]

I walked by the Carnegie Deli this morning and took a few pictures. I didn't go in and order anything.

We were too full from our brunch at the Essex House.

Now you're just teasing us!

Glad you had such a great trip! I look forward to seeing the pictures you post.

Tormenting would be a better choice of wording.

[devildeac]

I walked by the Carnegie Deli this morning and took a few pictures. I didn't go in and order anything.

We were too full from our brunch at the Essex House.

Now you're just teasing us!

Glad you had such a great trip! I look forward to seeing the pictures you post.

Ha! See if we bring you any clothes the next time we visit NYC.

[lawgrad91]

I'm reading with great interest all these shopping notes. I wish I enjoyed clothes shopping like you guys do. I just HATE it! The agony of that dressing room mirror, getting undressed, dressed, undressed dressed, the sales lady popping in to say "How are WE doing?" , rarely finding my size (whatever that is this week). Sometimes my daughter just takes me out and MAKES me buy something. Talbot's got a little more tolerable for me when they started up what I call their "junior plenty" department......that's the Women's Petite. It's still a challenge, though. You gotta just love the concept of a size Large Petite! ;)
Love, Ima

I hate clothes shopping with the heat of a thousand suns. Seriously. GIve me jeans, t-shirsts & tennis shoes. I do not like to dress up. I do not like to wear make up (the last time I wore any was November '09 at my step daughters wedding). I care that my clothes a) clean b)in good repair and c) comfy.

Count me in this as well! I have never enjoyed shopping. I turned down a job (and a substantial raise) where I would have had to wear dresses or skirts on days I had court. I only own one skirt, which is several sizes too big. I DESPISE dresses and skirts. When we got married, I wore a Caribbean shirt (one that matched Bruce's) and capri's. He wore shorts, if you were wondering....

[CathyCA]

I'm reading with great interest all these shopping notes. I wish I enjoyed clothes shopping like you guys do. I just HATE it! The agony of that dressing room mirror, getting undressed, dressed, undressed dressed, the sales lady popping in to say "How are WE doing?" , rarely finding my size (whatever that is this week). Sometimes my daughter just takes me out and MAKES me buy something. Talbot's got a little more tolerable for me when they started up what I call their "junior plenty" department......that's the Women's Petite. It's still a challenge, though. You gotta just love the concept of a size Large Petite! ;)
Love, Ima

I would love to take you shopping, Ima.

Everyone feels the agony of the dressing room mirror. The reality is that most clothes aren't tailored for the bodies of American women. Most clothes are mass produced somewhere else, and I shudder to think that some kid is making pennies a day sewing clothes for women, the likes of whom he or she will never see. Not every garment that hits the rack will fit every customer. The retailers hope that teenage girls with bodies shaped mostly like ironing boards will buy the clothes which will wear out in a year, anyway.

Most women have difficulty finding clothes that are well-constructed, which fit well over all of our fabulous womanly curves and that will last more than one season. Fortunately, I enjoy the thrill of a scavenger hunt. Therefore, I love shopping.

I enjoy accessorizing and putting together outfits with the different pieces I buy. Jewelry, scarves, shoes, and stockings are all part of the process. So are hair and makeup.

It can be fun if you turn it in to a game. It's not fun to shop when you go out to look for something specific. Then, shopping becomes agonizing.

[CathyCA]

I'm reading with great interest all these shopping notes. I wish I enjoyed clothes shopping like you guys do. I just HATE it! The agony of that dressing room mirror, getting undressed, dressed, undressed dressed, the sales lady popping in to say "How are WE doing?" , rarely finding my size (whatever that is this week). Sometimes my daughter just takes me out and MAKES me buy something. Talbot's got a little more tolerable for me when they started up what I call their "junior plenty" department......that's the Women's Petite. It's still a challenge, though. You gotta just love the concept of a size Large Petite! ;)
Love, Ima

I hate clothes shopping with the heat of a thousand suns. Seriously. GIve me jeans, t-shirsts & tennis shoes. I do not like to dress up. I do not like to wear make up (the last time I wore any was November '09 at my step daughters wedding). I care that my clothes a) clean b)in good repair and c) comfy.

Windsor, what do you wear to work? Is your office a jeans and T-shirts kind of place? I would enjoy wearing jeans and T-shirts to work, but I can't.

I don't like to wear tennis shoes because I would rather enjoy slipping on a pair of flats as I run out the door. Tying shoes takes too much time, and my feet feel so confined in tennis shoes.

[CathyCA]

I walked by the Carnegie Deli this morning and took a few pictures. I didn't go in and order anything.

We were too full from our brunch at the Essex House.

Now you're just teasing us!

Glad you had such a great trip! I look forward to seeing the pictures you post.

Would it have been worse if I had skipped the Carnegie Deli altogether? Wouldn't you have been disappointed if you'd found out that my hotel was 2 blocks away and that I didn't venture down there?

[CathyCA]

I walked by the Carnegie Deli this morning and took a few pictures. I didn't go in and order anything.

We were too full from our brunch at the Essex House.

Now you're just teasing us!

Glad you had such a great trip! I look forward to seeing the pictures you post.

Tormenting would be a better choice of wording.

Yes, I'm tormenting you guys.

[CathyCA]

I walked by the Carnegie Deli this morning and took a few pictures. I didn't go in and order anything.

We were too full from our brunch at the Essex House.

Now you're just teasing us!

Glad you had such a great trip! I look forward to seeing the pictures you post.

Ha! See if we bring you any clothes the next time we visit NYC.

I'm not sure I would trust you guys to bring me clothes. How about a gift card instead?

[CathyCA]

I'm reading with great interest all these shopping notes. I wish I enjoyed clothes shopping like you guys do. I just HATE it! The agony of that dressing room mirror, getting undressed, dressed, undressed dressed, the sales lady popping in to say "How are WE doing?" , rarely finding my size (whatever that is this week). Sometimes my daughter just takes me out and MAKES me buy something. Talbot's got a little more tolerable for me when they started up what I call their "junior plenty" department......that's the Women's Petite. It's still a challenge, though. You gotta just love the concept of a size Large Petite! ;)
Love, Ima

I hate clothes shopping with the heat of a thousand suns. Seriously. GIve me jeans, t-shirsts & tennis shoes. I do not like to dress up. I do not like to wear make up (the last time I wore any was November '09 at my step daughters wedding). I care that my clothes a) clean b)in good repair and c) comfy.

Count me in this as well! I have never enjoyed shopping. I turned down a job (and a substantial raise) where I would have had to wear dresses or skirts on days I had court. I only own one skirt, which is several sizes too big. I DESPISE dresses and skirts. When we got married, I wore a Caribbean shirt (one that matched Bruce's) and capri's. He wore shorts, if you were wondering....

See what I wrote to Ima above. I would LOVE to take you shopping and get you outfitted for court. I promise that you would be comfortable, and I wouldn't make you dress like a guy, either.

You could pay me a slight commission from that substantial raise you'd get. ;)

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

Everyone feels the agony of the dressing room mirror. The reality is that most clothes aren't tailored for the bodies of American women. Most clothes are mass produced somewhere else, and I shudder to think that some kid is making pennies a day sewing clothes for women, the likes of whom he or she will never see. Not every garment that hits the rack will fit every customer. The retailers hope that teenage girls with bodies shaped mostly like ironing boards will buy the clothes which will wear out in a year, anyway.

Most women have difficulty finding clothes that are well-constructed, which fit well over all of our fabulous womanly curves and that will last more than one season. Fortunately, I enjoy the thrill of a scavenger hunt. Therefore, I love shopping.

I enjoy accessorizing and putting together outfits with the different pieces I buy. Jewelry, scarves, shoes, and stockings are all part of the process. So are hair and makeup.

It can be fun if you turn it in to a game. It's not fun to shop when you go out to look for something specific. Then, shopping becomes agonizing.

In addition to your analysis of how the clothes on the rack are tailored, Cathy, I would add another point based on my knowledge gained form actually sewing and tailoring myself.

Today's clothing is less structured and more poorly fitted than clothing was some years ago. Today's clothing isn't really fitted very well at all. Look at the array of sizes, too. There's a trend to sizing like small, medium and large with each covering a range of traditional sizing rather than differentiated more like 6, 8,10,12, 14, etc. Where there once were fitted or shaped midsections, now there is gathering and/or elastic or just extra fabric. Where once there were darts or tucks to fit, now there is nothing. It would be easy to dismiss these changes as solely related to the trend of obesity in our society, but it is more closely related to simplifying and making clothes more cheaply to increase the profit on each garment. Simple assembly fits outsourcing and higher profits.

[windsor]

Windsor, what do you wear to work? Is your office a jeans and T-shirts kind of place? I would enjoy wearing jeans and T-shirts to work, but I can't.

I don't like to wear tennis shoes because I would rather enjoy slipping on a pair of flats as I run out the door. Tying shoes takes too much time, and my feet feel so confined in tennis shoes.

My previous company we wore jeans....here only on Friday. The other four days I am dockers and polo type shirts....in the winter long sleeve shirts.

Apparently the fashion/clothing/make up thing is a generation skipping gene in my family. My mother & daughter are clothes horses. They love to shop, put together outfits...both wear make up darn near every day...they got the fashonista gene...I got the whogivesashit gene

[lawgrad91]

You could pay me a slight commission from that substantial raise you'd get. ;)

I work for the state. We haven't gotten a raise in 4 years.

Seriously, I normally wear Clarks or other very comfortable shoes, trouser socks, pleated trousers, and an oxford shirt with a blazer. If I'm feeling REALLY dressy, I wear a linen blouse. The courthouse is too chilly most of the year for a shell or anything thinner. I tend to wear wool blazers even in the summer!

Our boss blew up one day about polo shirts (who knows if we might end up in court, even if we aren't scheduled!) but our resident Golden Boy wears one on the few hours of Friday when he's here.

Maybe we could plan a shopping trip in about 25 pounds!