I've Been Around the Triangle

Today, I'm tackling the fact that there are no cool dresses for normal women (more explanation to come; stay with me) and I've been around the Triangle hence the Lisa Stansfield video - here are some of my shopping tips and they can be applied anywhere just not here in NC.

First, I'm going to be honest and confess I'm a Fashionista and TJ Maxx is my go to tried and true faithful place to shop.  I have had many a good afternoon, rain or shine mulling around every rack looking for a treasure.  I don't have the luxury of that time currently and really haven't been out shopping in awhile.  I went to TJ Maxx recently to pick up a gift for a friend and basically lost my mind and ended up hitting 4 TJ Maxx's in a 3 day period.  I know that sounds a little loopy, but I'm nothing if not a bit focused when I get started with something.  Side note - I know I'm not alone here.  I will not name names, but I have a very good friend that actually gave up TJ Maxx for lent that how serious the TJ Maxx problem can be.  This particular shopping trip turned into a complete clean out of my closet and drawers with a critical eye'd friend and came up with 2 green trash bags of giveaways.  Take away here: find a friend who has seen you and knows what looks good and who is willing to "gently" tell you what doesn't.  It turns out, I went thru some period of thinking that embroidered clothing was in.  In or not, that period has passed and I'm glad someone was strong enough to say so.  As I'm sure you are aware there are different levels of stores.  There are now TJ Maxx's with The Runway - designer sections (15 501 and Falls of Neuse TJ's) have these.  Sometimes, the clothes appear to be old but expensive because of  the label in my opinion.  Here in NC, I maintain the TJ's Beaver Creek is shopped so hard it has the best selection of new merchandise.  Now, don't take it personal if you own a few of these labels but I'm "gently" telling you to beware of Chaus, Valerie Bertinelli,  and Willi Smith.  You run the risk of looking dated in Chaus and Valerie Bertinelli.  Willi Smith is made for TJ's as is Cynthia Rowley and although the styles are current the clothes are crap quality.  Marshalls is up there with TJ's, but here in Cary we have to venture all the way to Crossroads which in my opinion is a huge deterrent.

After my 4 store TJ's and Marshallls (okay that makes 5) marathon, I had bought and returned for 3 days and had fed the beast and now the shopping beast was looking for more.  I was still empty handed and was laser focused on finding a cute, throw on, dress up or dress down dress.  Decided to forgo cocktails the other night and venture into mall land and see what Dillards, Macy's and Belk had going on.  Shoot me now.  Dillards has minimum racks which I liked, but they consider their own brand of Antonio Melani to be their top designer - no freakin way is that true.  Belk is packed to the roof tops.  I don't know how you can even push the clothes on the racks to see what is there.  Probably best place for dress as they have literally thousands as long as you don't care that 100 people all living in this small town have the same one.  On to Macy's - still love Inc. but have promised to take a sabbatical from anything sparkle or rhinestone which leaves me limited options here.  Besides Inc. there was just a bunch of the same stuff they had everywhere else.  Again, came home with a bag of hopefuls all to be returned.

I lied when I said Kohl's could be an answer.  They keep giving it a good college try with all their new private label designers but when you try on it all looks ridiculous.  I have now had two trips there with a friend with a discerning eye and my best fashion interest at heart and all we have ended up with was a good laugh at each other in the dressing room.  Sorry for the previous wrong information. 

Say yes to boutique shopping if you only need one special thing.  I have had success at Scout and Molly's locally, but usually only go there when I have been the thankful recipient of a gift card.  I had a blissful hour at Cameron Village recently and think that may be the ticket if I hit the lottery or somehow come into an inheritance. 

Today, I anxiously await my online shopping shipment of dresses from Amazon.com.  Nothing sexy, fun, or rewarding about shopping this way but success at this point would be exceptional.

So net, net, net - someone please hear us normal ladies.  We need dresses that don't cost over $100, that don't show our hiney's, have normal arm holes, and don't have animal prints.   I don't think that is asking too much.  Join me in some future successful shopping which also means a clean out of what you already own.  Good news for me, the shopping beast has thankfully gone back to sleep.