A Shocking Discovery...

... or maybe not so much a discovery, but a realisation that's been creeping up on me over the last few months. 

source


Readers, I no longer enjoy shopping for clothes!

I used to LOVE clothes shopping, could spend hours at it (and frequently did).  But now, not so much. 

I think there are several reasons for this.


Pretty much everything looks the same.  Whether it's one shop from one corresponding season to the next, or different shops in the same season, I find that if you don't like what's in one shop, you won't like what's in any of them.  I know this is a huge generalisation, but it does seem that there's nothing individual or different available, unless you've got a huge budget (which I haven't). 


Lack of shops catering for my age group.  I'm 43 (although I was recently asked for ID to prove I'm over 25!) and sometimes feel I don't really fit the target audience of many clothes shops.  I'm too old for the younger, fashionable ones, and find that many of the other garments are too frumpy.  I'm not talking about clothes for old people, just ones that aren't aimed at the under 25's or so.  Does this also depend on your budget?  I think it might.


I'm much less ready to accept a less than perfect fitting garment than I used to be.  Before I started sewing so many of my own clothes, I'd try something on, the fit would be OK, and I'd think "that will do".  Now I won't.  Any weirdly fitting part really stands out now and I know that if I bought the garment it would annoy me and I wouldn't wear it.


I'm also much less ready to accept poor quality or poor finishing.  I was out shopping with my mum earlier this year and I tried on a dress that she thought looked lovely.  So did I, until I looked down and noticed a tiny pucker on the neckline.  Immediately I went from totally ready to buy, to "no way am I buying this".  My mum thought I was mad! Picky maybe, but again I knew that it would annoy the hell out of me and wouldn't be worn. 


I could make it - whatever it is - better myself.  I always find myself thinking, "I like this dress but wish the neckline was a bit lower, or the skirt fitted differently", or something along those lines.   Or I could finish it more neatly, or line it, or whatever! 


I've always been fussy, but I'm definitely getting worse. 

In a way I'm disappointed.  As I said at the start of this post, I used to love shopping for clothes.  Although I love making things for myself, I have absolutely no desire to make EVERYTHING.  I can't see the fun in making a pair of jeans, exercise wear or underwear for example, and sometimes its lovely just go into a shop and buy something that fits without all the faffing around with muslins etc. 

How do you feel about shopping for clothes?  Is it something you enjoy, used to enjoy before you started sewing, or have never enjoyed.  I'd love to know.  Why don't you take my poll, and if you want, leave me a comment below. 

As someone who makes their own clothes, how do you feel about clothes shopping?

25 comments

  1. Hi Sam,
    I totally adree with you. While reading I affirmed all your points.
    Especially the: I could do it better myself. There is always something wrong or the sewing-work isn't good enough for me...
    Thank you for your opinion. It's good to know there are other, who have the same opinion! :)
    Have a great day,
    Stefanie

    http://seaofteal.blogspot.de

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    1. Thanks Stefanie. Yes, I think the finishing/quality is one of the big turn offs for me these days.

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  2. Hi Sam - interesting post, I have voted :) I'm in the 'never liked it' camp, I'm happy to shop for other things if we need them (and my definition of 'need' doesn't match Paul's!) but clothes shopping has always been a painful experience. Shoes, on the other hand, I love to buy - whether I need them or not!

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    1. I remember you saying you'd never liked clothes shopping! I'm totally with you on the shoe shopping though. Shoes and handbags are things I love to buy.

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  3. I've always had a mixed time with shopping for clothes. At times I couldn't get enough of it but that's changed since I started sewing. I went at least six months without buying anything except those items I couldn't make. I recently went holiday shopping and found I didn't enjoy it as much as I used to. I did get a couple of tops that fit quite well. Quite being the key word. I bought them because I like the fabric and I can get away with the fit but I wouldn't stand for it in a hand made item!

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    1. I've bought very little in the last few months, I think just 2 pairs of trousers and a top. Before I got back into sewing again I'd have bought much more than that!

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  4. I have never liked shopping either - never did - I could never find things that would fit my strange shape. I also like very plain clothes and not fashion that is made to fall apart after a few wears. I also hate changing in the change rooms, carting things here and there.

    I also like to buy shoes. I used to love buying jewellry too, but seem to stick with my plain studs now.

    I also hate to shop for other things!

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    1. Jewellery is another thing I like buying Sarah Liz - only cheap costumey bits normally, but I love unusual pieces.

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  5. I don't enjoy shopping because I can rarely find anything to fit. Today I had to go shopping for a cocktail dress which I need in two days time - not enough time to make it myself. It took me all day going from place to place but eventually I did find something I am happy with - but the price! I could make it for a quarter of the money I spent and that would be with high quality fabric. I hope I will have more time in the future because it really annoys me.

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    1. Shopping for a specific item to a deadline is the worst kind of clothes shopping! I always end up with something I'm not happy with if I have to do that.

      You're right about being able to make things cheaper with nicer fabric too.

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  6. I used to adore clothes shopping -loved coming home with lots of carrier bags. Now I just don't go! I agree with everything you say , especially with wanting to alter garments to make them fit better. We wanted to buy our niece a dress in a well known store -every one had a broken belt loop. I do wish I could buy some of the fabrics used in rtw though!

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    1. I still go, but not as much as I used to. As you say, I wish it was possible to buy some of the fabrics used in rtw.

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  7. Oh me too!! I've actually never been a fan - I've always been torn between "I could make that" or "if they just changed this..."
    I do love shoes though and don't think I'll be over that in a hurry. But bags and jewellery - I just love both but after my last few months am thinking more and more - I could make that...
    I'm the same age as you - maybe it is a bit of age. Plus, I rarely get a chance to pop off to the shops without a kid in tow. That is pretty off-putting!!
    I do have one gripe about make it yourself though - where are all the super fabulous fabric stores?! Bring them back to the high street!!

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    1. Mmm, shopping with kids in tow must taken even more of the fun out of it!

      We definitely need some fabulous fabric shops, it would be my dream to open one.

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  8. I feel the exact same way. Part of the reason I have such a massive closet to choose from is that I used to be quite the shopper (and I haven't changed sizes in several years, so it all still fits!).

    When I signed up to do the Seamless Pledge in Jan. 2012, I really didn't think I'd be able to make it for 6 months. It was a little hard at first, but after completing the first 6 months successfully, I decided to make it a year. And over the course of that year, a lot of things changed. My sewing skills improved; I started to develop a better eye for fit, so I wasn't willing to accept ill-fitting garments off the rack. But nowadays my biggest sticking point is quality of construction and materials. Two years ago I would have been OK with spending $150 on a haphazardly-made dress of polyester blend because I didn't yet have the skill to do it better myself. These days I just find it shocking!

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    1. I don't think I could totally stop buying clothes, so I'm impressed you did the Seamless Pledge. When I was much younger I used to buy something new every week. Mind you, that was when I lived with my parents and basically all my money was pocket money.

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    2. The Seamless Pledge really helped me "reset," because over-shopping had become a bad habit. After I quit teaching elementary school, I started working in an art studio, and my Hubby told me I should just use my earnings as mad money. Thing is, after a while I was making an average of $1000 per month! That's a lot of shopping, and it became a habit that I didn't make an effort to break until doing the Pledge. I truly thought I'd fail within the first couple months, so no one was as surprised as I when I went a year plus!

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  9. I used to love shopping. Then I gained a weight and it changed my body shape. Standard RTW sizing no longer fit. That's when I turned to sewing my clothing. Funny thing is that as I found myself happier and happier with the clothing I made for myself, I began to lose weight. Now I'm mixing my love of shopping and sewing, but my shoppping habits have changed significantly. I check construction and fabric before I spend money and often, I think - well, I can just make it! :)

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    1. How funny that you lost weight as you got happier with the clothing you made for yourself. Goes to show sewing does wonders for your self esteem!

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  10. SO interesting!!! It is amazing to me, How many people love to sew , once they try it. I think my lack of wanting to shop for clothes, is not being able to find suitable clothes for my age.And also the fit.
    Enjoyed this post.

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    1. I'm glad you enjoyed the post. Yes, I feel I fall between the young and old age brackets that designers/stores work to.

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  11. You know - I am finding the same myself. I didn't love shopping before but didn't hate it either. It all depended on if I could find something I liked. But now I keep thinking - I can make that! Good feeling isn't it?

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  12. I've never liked clothes shopping - I can find clothes I like and clothes that fit, but they're never the same clothes! I can find things that I like the style of (sharp and tailored, fairly butch/androgynous) on either the men's or women's racks, but they're usually cut for an androgynous figure and I have very serious hips. Conversely, RTW stuff that actually accommodates my shape is usually more feminine, and built to accentuate those curves, which isn't really my thing ...

    I've only been sewing my own normal clothes (as opposed to costume) since the start of this year, and clothes shopping has lost pretty much all the little appeal it ever had.

    (Hello from a new reader, btw! Got here via Did You Make That? and the Dreaded Jar.)

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    1. Hello there, nice to meet you!

      That's the great thing about sewing your own clothes, as I'm sure you're discovering, you can make things you love that actually fit you!

      I'm off to check out your blog now.

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Thank you so much for your comment, every one is read and appreciated. It means a lot to me that you take the time to read and comment on my posts.