Ladies - Ever notice how a guy can usually go into a store, ANY store, and find pretty much just about the same looking shirt he bought 5 years ago? Yet, a woman CAN'T find the same great looking shirt, skirt, pants, jacket - NOTHING - to decently replace what they purchased 5 years ago?

I have two old, all-cotton chenille bathrobes. One was purchased in 1990 (JC Penney) and the other in 1996 (Spiegel catalog). Both are pretty much ready for the rag-bag but I cannot find another replacement. Simple, white, all-cotton, chenille bathrobe that wraps around your waist, you tie with the attached belt or matching belt, has two (2) sideseam pockets, goes all the way to the floor - and the traditional collar that goes all the way to your waist.

One company in NY appears to sell on-line, but they look rather cheap (the chenille is spaced further apart).

My hubby has been able to find pretty much the same stinking bathrobe for YEARS on end!

you're right, but that's because women constantly want new styles, so they can shop every few weeks.

It's like shoes, most guys have 2 or 3 pair at most. Most women buy 2 or 3 pair every month.

I wear 8" Boots all of the time. I might wear a shirt and tie from the waist up; but it's jeans and boots from the waist down so's I'm ready to stumble around in the woods or a cow barn . . . . but I can still sit down in a bank's conference room for a closing.

My problem (if I really have one) is that it takes months to really make boots comfortable. Just about the time they're broken in and feeling comfortable, it's time to throw them away. I always have three generations of boots in various stages of being broken in; but the "most comfortable" aren't really very presentatble amongst gentle company.

Well, it's not really a serious problem . . . . but my feet think so.

Vermont, do you often get drunk in a cow barn?

makes one wonder what you're intentions are with the cows. :O)

I have my old REO sneakers (I HAVE been able to get that style for probably the last 20 years, surprisingly). I have my good sneakers (that I trip on-don't know WHY they're called New Balance!). I have navy flats, tan flats, black flats, and dried blood-color flats. Now, that's only 4 pair of dress shoes. I am not one of those women who have to have a pair of shoes for every danged outfit - I'm not into consumerism like most women (thank goodness).

I, too, have a pair of old cowboy boots (only worn maybe 15 times or so). My feet are too wide now. Couldn't even get them sold on eBay a few years back. Love those boots which is why I still hang on to them. They were very useful for stomping on lewed, lascivious men when I was single.

My hubby has the most gorgeous dark green tailored trench coat that I wished I could find for women.

Women's clothing, for the most part, is not very practical either. Most pants, skirts don't have pockets. We all know in real estate you've GOT to have pockets.

I bet men don't have the problem of finding pants that actually hit at your waist line. Women's pants seem to be going below the waistline - I don't even know how they STAY on their bodies! All I have to do is hold up a pair of pants - see a 3-inch zipper instead of a 7-9-inch zipper and I know they aren't going on THIS body.

That is a sweeping generalization that is not true, except perhaps with women who have money to burn.

I have a pair of rubber boots for when I go kayaking.

I have 3 pair of crocks, two that look like Keds and one is the traditional pair. These are the only shoes that I can consistently wear day in day out without foot pain.

I have a pair of black dress shoes, and a pair of brown dress shoes, that I wear rarely and won't need to replace for years considering the amount of time I wear them.

I am not a "buy clothes for the sake of buying clothes" person. I like classic styles and yes, pants/skirts with pockets!!! I hate dress pants/skirts without pockets!!!!! WHAT is UP with that?!

I tend to wear my clothes until I wear them out. I have some slacks & blouses that are comfortable and dressy enough to wear to the office or to church. I wear jeans whenever I can, or capri pants if the weather is warm.

My complaint is how difficult it is to find clothes made in the U.S. I was on a big kick to "buy American", along with a group of gals I hang around with. I needed a couple of shirts this fall to make the transition from hot to cold . . .and I couldn't find American made tops. I finally settled for a couple of pullover tops made in Mexico of fabric made in the U.S.

Perky, do I have to mark my posts as sarcasm from now on?

Ive been shopping Goodwill lately...4 dollar jeans rock my world...and right now Im wearing my best friends sweater...she pasted away about 2 years ago...so VA I guess Im stuck in somwhat of a fashion timewarp...LOL...something to think about...PS...Barbies kinda creeping me out...LOL...I bet shes stuck in a time warp too...LOL

I'm not so sure barb43 is in a time-warp. I just purchased 3 new pair of fleeced sweatpants and two sweatshirts. The pants had the requirement of not too long (5'2" person), grey, elastic waist, and side-seam pockets.

It's nearly impossible to find numerous clothing made in U.S.A. My sweat pants and shirts were made in Honduras and I got them on sale for $6.99 each. My last 3 pair I have had for at least 12 years. I needed new ones because the cotton wore out in the knees and only the polyester was left.

When I can't find at least 90% of what my requirements are, then, I don't buy. I will not cater to the manufacturers and distributers who 'believe' we'll settle for anything. If you've noticed the recent boost in sales to our economy, it's because I finally found something I like.

I'm a 'basic', conservative person - sometimes will go outside the box. Purchased two dress jackets this year that wouldn't qualify as a basic, never-ending style but are still conservative but with a little flair, are very tasteful from Coldwater Creek - of course, on clearance sale - I always hit the clearance racks and clearance pages before I hit anywhere else.

Now, dress pants - I can't find any that go at the waist or just a pinch above, with side-seam pockets in a cotton blend that don't fade at the seam lines after several washings and for petite (short) people. I used to buy Dockers' cotton pants with pleats - VERY comfortable but they dropped those in favor of tight pants, lower waist line, and a dinky little pocket that only your car key could fit into.

Perky - I'm not saying EVERY woman buys, buys, buys; but, I will say the women in the in-law side of the family - that's their passion - as though you can't be seen wearing the same thing twice in one month.

I knew a woman who, every time she had a date with a new guy, she bought a new outfit! She had a completely full closet that stretched at least 15 feet across (single rod) and yet she had to purchase a new outfit for each new date - the guy never saw the clothes she already owned.

ditty! What did I do to give you the creeps? lol

Yeh, I am kinda stuck in the 80s, although I don't wear shoulder pads any more (I have always had linebacker shoulders - I don't need any help there. ). Miami Vice . . . Magnum, P.I. . . . and all the time I spent in combat boots back then . . . It was a wonderful time! *nods head, sniffs back a tear*

hehe

sorry...It VAs Barbie that gives me the creeps...LOL...

Hahahaha, I get what you mean now!

Why, ditty, Barbie's a classic! She's even wearing pearls.

edited to add: And yes, that prolly would make her stuck in a time warp, wouldn't it? Kind of like Beaver Cleaver's mother.

Now there you go barb43, except I think June Cleaver was just a tad stuffy. I did have a dress very similar to one she wore on the show.

Mine was pale pink, woven jacquard cotton, lapel collar, a patch pocket on one breast, side-seam pockets, and a matching belt. It front-buttoned all the way to the bottom. The skirt was VERY full - very 50's-looking. In fact, I still have that dress. Have had it since 1988. I have another (since 1990) very similar in a woven polyester (it's something that needs drycleaned) and it's in navy, long-sleeved - almost identical but it only buttons down to the waist. I still have this dress too and still wear it on an occasion, but, I rarely wear dresses now.

Then, there's another dress was very similar to original Barbie's polka dot sheath dress, except mine had long sleeves. It was white with navy dots on the top and the skirt part was navy with white dots, front slash-seam pockets, matching navy polka dot belt, tight fitting with a kick pleat in the back. I wore two-tone mid-rise heels (white with navy) - styled like the saddle shoes. Definitely a 50's look. Felt like a million bucks in THAT outfit. I wonder if it's in the basement.

It's hard to part with 'classics' when I can't find decent, suitable replacements; junk clothes whose life is only good for a year or two - you won't find those in my closet.

And hey, that classic wool sweater and pearls I am wearing in my photo - those will NEVER go out of style. I've had those for at least 50 years now!

sorry... but Barbie still creeps me out...I was a Jane West kinda gal! She had accessorizes but her clothes were permanant! LOL...

We were at a short sale yesterday to turn on the water for a home inspection today (I have the buyer, Sweetie is the lister). While I was inside checking faucets, Sweetie opened the meter box to find a Barbie. She's in pitiful condition - mud & twigs in her hair, looks like her legs have been spray painted black. He teased me about not wanting to bring her home to clean up. Haha. I left her on the front porch.

What year do you think she was manufactured?

I'd love to find a page-boy Barbie in wonderful condition but those babies go higher than I like.

Trekked over to K-Mart and found no good snow boots. Walmart was pathetic too except I did pick up a grey sweatshirt for $6.05 including tax - made in El Salvador - a Hanes product to-boot. I've looked online at LLBeans' and Land's End, but I haven't liked the reviews, plus, trying to find something season-specific like that at this time of year - the supplies go fast in the style and color I always want - it's incredible.

Waltzed over to Macy's and bought hubby some fancy sleeping underwear (on sale with a 25% Friends & Family pass card the kind clerk gave me (I had a 20% coupon from the newspaper but he topped me on this)). Course, if I had a Macy's card - I'd get all the Family/Friends passes all the time).

Told him about the days when Hecht's Department Store used to have nice items. Macy's bought out Hecht's and now Macy's is just another junk name as far as I can see. Any brand name clothing is just weird. Not to mention, these 'better quality' department stores, they used to truly have BETTER quality, brand name items and I barely see any of that. Most of it looks like the same stuff you can get a Walmart - which just totally disgusts me. And the men's department - good Lord, the color schemes of the clothing. Names like Tommy Hilfinger (sp?) (I did get hub's sleep undies in a nice, solid navy cotton knit fabric)) and LaCoste, just all those names - the color schemes - are these designers trying to make men look like clowns?!!

Cute little jacket was found (and tempting) - short little jacket in leopard with a big furry collar. Didn't check to see if the 'skins' were real - but, oh, if I were 30 again, I'd have bought that little thing just for the fun of wearing it with some slimming jeans and heels...and, I'm STILL tempted (although the jeans are now wide-leg relaxed and low-heeled flats for this girl). Another good reason NOT to shop very often.

I have sweaters that are 18 years old (just taken real good care of - and, yes, they are worn every year).

What's in YOUR closet?

I'm wearing my snow boots right now! LOL Have had them on all day & just haven't taken them off yet. I got them at Sear's in October. I love 'em - and they're Totes brand, no less.

That Barbie wasn't an oldie - probably maybe 3 to 5 years old at most. I have a black haired Barbie I really like - rescued her from an REO last year. She's wearing a candy-striped halter top w/short denim shorts & a wide silver belt. She's probably not very old either, but I like her and we've had a lot of fun with letting her turn up in surprising locations, y'know, pranks make the job go by easier.

I hate clothes shopping, I really do. Trying to find snow boots is just ridiculous too. So many of them are NOT WATERPROOF. DUH!!!!! Or they're just barely above your ankles...and don't get me started on inexpensive water-resistant mittens/gloves for kids. Most of the gloves available are just those knit sweater-like things that get wet after they are out in the snow 10 mins. Two or three years ago I found them water-resistant gloves and mittens that were like ski gloves but a fraction of the price - only about $5 a pair. Well since then all the kids have grown a lot and the cheapo gloves ripped out by the end of last year...trying to find them this season is impossible. All I can find are $25 ski gloves or the knit sweater like gloves that seem to get wet the moment they step outside.

I hate shopping for apparel anymore. It's more than frustrating. I am half expecting to see swimsuits on the rack anytime now. I guess I should have bought the kids their gloves in June.

LOL! Isn't that disgusting - having to buy clothes in the off-season to get ready for it because if you wait - you'll be too late.

I'm done with buying black leather gloves - every time mine get wet, I end up with charcoal-colored fingers and the dye runs off onto stuff I touch.

I'll have to try Sears for boots - Totes, huh? Like Perky says, it VERY difficult to find boots that when you step in quishy wet snow (the fluffy stuff's on top but the bottom layer has been melting) and your feet get soaking wet - and yes, they need to come to AT LEAST right below the knee. I think anymore they just make 'em for people who walk on shoveled sidewalks. Well, that's not where alot of US go, is it?

My new fleece pants and shirts keep shedding - I hope this stops soon - it's sticking on every thing!

I'm in sears.com right now and they do have a wide selection at reasonable prices - thanks for mentioning barb43! Oh! Too many choices - the $143/pair - those may wait for an after-season sale, but I'll go for the $39.98 boots with the straps for now! Kind of motocyclie looking.

I lived near Atlanta in the very early 80's and picked up a lot of Braves shirts...got married shortly after and gained a few pounds and the shirts didn't fit anymore but just couldn't bring myself to toss them. My youngest son has been wearing them for a couple of years now and they still look like new. Most of the crap that is made now won't last a year.

I've still got my brown leather coat from the 80's but my wife refuses to go out with me if I wear it....looks fine to me.

I think that's a fine jacket - leather is forever. Tell her at least it's not polyester.

I'm quite disgusted that I had to go out to purchase my s-in-law's Christmas exchange gift. She wanted it to be from Lane Bryant and she posted some items she'd like.

Well, I always thought Lane Bryant was a quality store. WOW! Was I wrong! Sweaters were $59.00 & $69.99 on sale for $39.99. These things, and EVERYTHING in the store, look so CHEAP, I mean trashy cheap. Sweaters are supposed to keep you warm and these things were merely T-shirt material.

I thought...I'll go to the nighties - get her a shirt nightie. Everything looked like something an 9 year old might wear. Stupid prints and saying on the nighties. Even regular shirts were like that. The blouses that had ruffles were so cheap looking. It was all in line with Walmart quality. It was disgusting.

I have to tell my s-in-law that it's time for me to take HER shopping, because that store would be enough to convince me to go on a diet.

I like CJ Banks better than Lane Bryant...but they are still very expensive.

I have to admit s-in-law appears to like cheap clothes because she's ALWAYS buying clothes, shoes, purses.

I believe if you buy quality, it'll last longer - which it does - but, for those who like alot of variety, I guess cheap would be the way to go.

I still have quality clothes in my closet from 16+ years ago - if I could just lose the 16 pounds I gained in the past 2 years, I could squeeze into the pants and skirts. I'm talking Liz Claiborne (although her line is starting to look weird since she died), Jones NY, stuff like that - nothing tremendously expensive. I buy classic styles that don't go out of style, so, hence the better qualtiy to last a bit longer.

Cheaper clothes (I'm talking price-wise) you can also find that have quality in them. I have 2 cardigans that still look great 15 yrs later. Just have to take the defuzzer to them once or twice a year and they look like new again. Love the defuzzer.

Jones NY is very nice stuff. Plus it helps if you avoid the dryer when laundering your clothes except perhaps to "fluff" them...sadly I don't have time for pampering my laundry half the time, lol

I like cheap clothes that don't look cheap (i.e., designer stuff on sale at TJ Maxx, Marshall's, etc...) but it's hard for me to find stuff that fits me (I'm on the plus plus side with a lot of things particularly shirts/tops) that doesn't look hideous or that doesn't look trampy (amazed at the hooker-wear that is out there)

Hooker-wear! Too funny! Any time that I do go shopping (which is rarely...and more so since I've gained weight because I keep telling myself I'm going to lose the pounds, exercise, eat right, stop smoking, cut down on alcohol...every year all year long I tell myself this...duh!), anyway, I ALWAYS go to the sale racks first. There may be something there that will go perfect with my need at the time.

I have several pairs of pants with the tags STILL on them - been hanging here since around 2001. One tag says $79 (liz claiborne) but I KNOW I got them on clearance sale. I was going to take them to a consignment shop; here's Evan Picone wool pants at $48 reduced twice to $19.99 and I'm sure these came from the 50% off lowest ticket price rack. I might be able to fit into these. If I can get them over my hips, I'm half-way there!

I disgust myself having these clothes and not losing the weight - it's the beer and having to sit in front of the computer all day.

I wore a cotton cable-knit pull-over navy sweater today (the cable-knit is on the front,back,sleeves. I hate sweaters that just have a design on the front - like, nobody's gonna care what you look like when you're walking 'away' from them?). I purchased it before 1990 - I remember where I was working when I bought it so I know it's age. Got it a J.C.Penneys in the girls department. I saw it and loved it - I think it was a girl's size 14, but I think it's labeled wrong - has to be! One of the in-law's in-law's (several divorces/marriages) - we were sitting, talking today and even SHE has some clothes that are 15 years old and still wears them. I'm sure my m-in-law (prude) was just rolling her eyes in disgust at us! Ha-ha!

Ya' know...I was so excited finally to have purchased some new sweatshirts and pants sometime before Christmas; but, now, don't get me wrong...I love my sweatshirts and pants from K-Mart - really. It's been at least one month and I wear them every day; BUT, the one and only article I bought from Walmart, a grey sweatshirt is now pilling on the outside - ALL over the place.

Both the K-Mart and Walmart sweats were made in El Salvador (CH means chica-I think that's 'small' talk). K-Mart's has 80% cotton to 20% poly (Joe Boxer brand name) whereas Walmart's is 75% cotton to 25% poly (Hanes brand name). I don't know if that's making the difference or if Walmart has the El Salvadorians using cheaper fabric altogether. (I heard they force manaufacturers to cheapen everything so Walmart can then sell it cheap. You may think you're getting the same product, you're not.)

Thinking about it, the last 3 old pairs of sweatpants (two now have completely worn off ALL cotton at the knees - just poly hanging there now...all 3 of those pants have pilling all over them. Wanna guess which store I bought those from about 15 years ago? Some things never change....