If you are familiar with a particular clothing brand or footwear manufacturer, you can buy online with some confidence. Anyway, just how much new clothes would you need during lockdown, apart from slippers and dressing gowns?
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If you are familiar with a particular clothing brand or footwear manufacturer, you can buy online with some confidence. Anyway, just how much new clothes would you need during lockdown, apart from slippers and dressing gowns?
True - but I'm not attached to any particular label. So it doesn't matter whether it's Loake, Russell & Bromley, or Clarkes for shoes, or Aquascutum, Pringle or M&S for clothes - I still want to see them. "Never mind the quality - Feel the width".
I agree. The only clothes I've ever bought online are Levi 501s, simply because I know my size (34R), and they're so consistent, otherwise I prefer going to shops. And NO WAY would Del buy clothes or shoes online...
A) Because she's so petite, and most women's online clothing outlets are for fatties (especially the catalogues), not much would fit her. Plus she hates anything that's mass-produced.
B) She's MEGA fussy, and only has a select few designer boutiques/footwear shops she'd dream of buying her clothes or shoes/boots/trainers from.
C) She likes being spoiled and TAKEN shopping, usually followed by a 'posh lunch' afterwards. And I get the honour of paying for both and carrying the subsequent bags!:D
Marco.
Happy is the same. She won't even buy from catalogues. Having been a seamstress, she knows what to look for.
We were looking for a long winter coat for her in a well known department store and looked at a coat sporting the label of a well established British brand costing almost a grand. Happy was aghast by the poor quality of manufacture, and saddened to see such a reputable brand 'cutting corners'. Moral of the story - even reputable brands cannot be bought 'on spec'. You need to see, feel and inspect the actual item.
Like Del, she likes to be pampered, and like you, I pick up the bill. :rolleyes:
34R? I was under the impression you were quite tall. Unless your legs are stumpy - I'm also 34R and I'm only 5'10" in the mornings :ner:
Del's approach to clothes shopping is understandable and quite normal (for women).
But the Marco wardrobe surely only needs: wellies and sweatpants for leaf raking/snow* shovelling duties, flip flops, shorts and t shirts for summertime dossing about the house, and an apron for cooking (with nothing underneath). Oh and if you must leave the house for a bit of Acton Park leaf-kicking, a big overcoat to wear over your apron (again with nothing underneath) and worn back to front like Superman's deviant brother :eyebrows:
If you put that much effort into buying top quality, none of the above is going to wear out anytime soon, and I'm sure your garden squirrels couldn't care less if your shorts are 'last season'.
*While on the subject of snow shovelling, is it true that the police responded to complaints from your neighbours about you making "snow angels" while wearing a kilt? Just something I heard.
Lol - absolutely... And I know what Happy's like in that respect, as she's mentioned it to Del, again who's exactly the same. You probably know that she's got a degree in art and textiles, and also owns a loom, so can weave her *own cloth* from scratch, from which to make clothes of all sorts, from scratch from her own designs, and therefore readily spot shoddy workmanship a mile off!
Plus, during her time working as the assistant buyer for men's suits/formalwear, for House of Fraser, at their head office in London, supplying the likes of Harrods (accompanying the buyer on trips abroad to fashion shows, etc), she knows ALL about shoddily made clothes from 'designer labels'... Apparently, YSL were among the worst offenders!:doh:
TBH, if her career path had taken the direction she'd originally intended it to, she'd have become a fashion designer - and no doubt a successful one too, just like her German cousin, who now has her own label:)
Marco.
Lol - yes, I'm 6ft 2 ins, but don't have the longest legs for my height. 32" inside leg. I also 'only' take a size 9 in shoes, not something ridiculous like some of my mates of a similar height or taller, who have size 12 feet!:eek:
My arms make up for it though, as they're rather long, consequently making jackets a problem to fit right. Del calls me 'Neanderthal man'!:D
:nono:Wouldn't be seen dead in flip flops - disgusting things, which should ONLY we worn at the beach, where incidentally I don't wear them either, as I don't find them particularly comfortable.Quote:
But the Marco wardrobe surely only needs: wellies and sweatpants for leaf raking/snow* shovelling duties, flip flops...
I spend 90% of my time outside in trainers, or 'dress shoes' if I'm forced to, but only something that compliments jeans, as I hate wearing formal trousers, or indeed any kind of formal clothing whatsoever. 'Smart but casual' is my default look. I let Del do the dressing up. I like clothes to be loose and comfy. I'm the polar opposite of Barry, in that respect, as he loves being 'trussed up' in shirts and ties!:ner:
<Sigh> you know me too well, shweety....:eyebrows:Quote:
...shorts and t shirts for summertime dossing about the house, and an apron for cooking (with nothing underneath). Oh and if you must leave the house for a bit of Acton Park leaf-kicking, a big overcoat to wear over your apron (again with nothing underneath) and worn back to front like Superman's deviant brother :eyebrows:
However, you'll only see me in a 'big overcoat' if the outside temperature is in minus figures. As a general rule, I don't 'do' hats, coats, gloves, scarfs, etc, as I hate being 'bulked up', and I don't feel the cold much. I don't even like carrying anything in my pockets... So the car keys (about the only thing I carry with me outside) go in Del's handbag!
No, it was a tutu, darling, not a kilt. Get your facts right next time;)Quote:
*While on the subject of snow shovelling, is it true that the police responded to complaints from your neighbours about you making "snow angels" while wearing a kilt? Just something I heard.
Marco.
...in terms of what?:hmm:
If you mean make her own, she doesn't have the time now. Her job as an English college lecturer is rather demanding. When we first met though, she used to make and design wedding dresses for people, and all sorts of stuff, plus clothes for herself, like rather cute tartan mini-kilts, which still fit her now:eyebrows:
She's a size 8/10, but on past occasions has bought dresses in a size 6, and is only 5ft 2. Just a wee princess, lol!:D
Marco.
I buy all clothes and footwear on line. Have done for over a decade. Never had any issues and you can always send them back if you do. Clothes shopping is the worst shopping to do.
Don't have slippers or a dressing gown. Always get fully dressed as soon as I get out of bed.
Flip-flops, joggers and teeshirt here (no underpants). I wear the same all year round unless going out, it's comfortable and cheap to buy.
It all goes in the washing machine after a day (or two sometimes) and is ready to wear again in an hour if needed. I have loads of joggers and teeshirts.
I agree, I wouldn't have a problem buying online. As you say, they can always be returned. Unless you're a funny shape or super-fussy like some on here :)
I don't own a dressing gown, never have, but i do like my slippers. And they're great for saving money: When we went shopping for a new carpet, we found the really good stuff to be unaffordable. So I "borrowed" a sample, cut it into shapes and superglued them to the soles of my slippers. Job done ;)
Soz, gross things... The fact is, male feet (and toes) are GROSS:spew: so why would you want to show them off in fooking flip flops?:ner:
So, cover them up next time, as I don't want see your hairy toes or bunions!:nono::D
Marco.
Hey, you never said what 'Begs the question' earlier?;)
In terms of buying clothes, each to his or her own.
I prefer shops, because a) I like to browse a 'physical stock', as something might just catch my eye that I hadn't planned on buying (I'm largely an impulsive shopper), b) I like trying things on to ensure that they fit properly, as things can vary rather wildly in terms of that, even though they are the same size, especially things like tops and t-shirts, depending on the cut, and c) I find online shopping a rather soulless experience - I like to get out and about and feel like I'm living in the real world, not cooped up in the house behind a computer.
Different strokes.....:)
Marco.
Del likes her crocs (pink, naturally:D) for around the house, that is when she's not in her bare or stockinged feet, which she generally prefers. She hates wearing footwear unless she has to. At home, I usually always wear slippers (without socks), my nice furry-lined moccasins. In that respect, I find Crocs a bit 'hard' and cold. I like something soft and cosy around my tootsies!:eyebrows:
Marco.
crocs start cold but warm up fairly quick then stay nice n warm. great things for me are they are easy on/off, warmth and are waterproof too. also fairly non slip. as ive wide feet they are also very comfortable for me. i always get the ones with a back on tho. not good with backless flip flop type shoes or slippers.
Yeah sure, mate, whatever works. I just prefer something soft and warm to sink my feet into, not hard plastic, which doesn't 'give', (I don't find it comfy) and that's why I love me furry-lined moccies!:D
During the winter, both Del and I like to feel all wrapped up, warm and cosy indoors, so big fluffy dressing gowns, and for Del jim-jams and cuddling her furry cat hot-water bottle, are the order of the day. so we can cosy up together in front of the fire on cold nights.
In that respect, the thought of wearing 'stiff and starchy' outdoor clothes indoors, like Marty-boy does (and trainers:eek:), would be an anathema!;)
Mind you, my dad's the same, in that respect. He gets fully dressed as soon as he's up and stays that way until he goes to bed.
Marco.
me too. i wear my outdoor clothes til i go to bed. i have a dressing gown but only time it gets used is coming out of shower
Lol - maybe it's a generational thing then? As soon as I get in, I like to strip off into something as loose and comfy as possible, and for me, nothing is comfier than a big fluffy dressing gown, with hee-haw underneath!:D
Marco.
Somebody is trying to cheer us up. As I write the bagpipes are playing "Amazing Grace" down our street,
Lovely song and tune. My Dad's favourite. :)
I just wear trackies and a sweatshirt, not exactly stiff and starchy. And trainers are comfortable and light-weight. Might put a fleece on instead of a tracky top if it is really cold.
For outdoors in poor weather a pair of these keks - not cheap but will last 20 years or more - https://www.military1st.co.uk/sp-sfn...top-black.html
Marco through the ages :lol:
https://i.etsystatic.com/6588740/r/i...63448_m41j.jpg
this is more me..;)
https://static.fancydress.com/resour...es-product.jpg
:lol::lolsign:
Marco.
I spend six days a week out in the real world, that's enough for me :) But I find going out shopping for clothes to be a rather soulless experience, thankfully it only happens occasionally, when I'm with Mrs. P. She is quite sympathetic to my plight, and can see when I'm losing the will to live - which is usually during the walk from the car park to the shops.
The only shops I'm interested in browsing are tools, hifi or record shops. For anything else I have a 3-step process: 1. Decide what I want to buy 2. Go to shop and buy it 3. Go home or to the pub.
I'm sure I'm not the only bloke who does this.
I don't know of any shops where you can browse for hifi. When I was younger I loathed shopping for clothes or shoes, now I quite enjoy browsing.
Shopping on-line is no doubt convenient, but as has been remarked elsewhere, you have to know exactly what you want and by whom the particular item is made: there is an awful lot or meretricious poorly made crap available, whose quality is difficult to assess simply by looking at a photo.
Also you loose the 'serendipity' aspect when shopping on line. The likes of Amazon may apply some fuzzy logic algorithms to come up with "Customers who bought (a particular item), also bought this/these". But that only suggests something similar. I like to go into a bookshop (an increasingly endangered establishment) to browse and come out buying something that caught my attention and came across by accident. That is the joy of browsing.
You're right about the hifi shops. It's been a number of years now. Though I do occasionally pop into Richer Sounds if I'm passing...
I actually buy very little online, mostly just replacement blades/bits for my power tools. Usually I look online for which places sell what I'm seeking, then go to the nearest physical shop that stocks it.
That is a sad fact of the times we live in, but I couldn't do that. It offends my sense of fair play.
I rarely do clothes shopping nowadays what with being pretty much housebound through illness. I used to hate sifting through the fat bastards section, a laughable selection of shapeless sacks and totally overpriced rubbish. Then I discovered that buying clothes from the U.S.A. was so simple. The sizes are actually properly worked out and the clothes are not just sized up versions of normal gear. The quality is usually very good and prices are much better than here, even if you include shipping and possible import tax and V.A.T. Delivery times are usually around a week to ten days and if I should need to return anything most big stores cover the return cost. It's quite nice to not need to buy the biggest size and hope for the best too.
That's fine, but we're quite different in that respect, both in terms of the influence of our respective lifestyles, and the things we enjoy. I'm at home most of the time, so like to get out into the 'real world' and interact with my fellow man, which is one of the reasons why I prefer shopping physically, but also because I quite enjoy shopping *if* it's for something I like - and *if* it's a relaxing, non-stressful experience.
And living where I do (largely away from any big cities and their associated crowds) and being able to shop at times outside of when it's busiest, even supermarket shopping is non-stressful and not totally soulless, depending on where I go. And unlike you, I really enjoy trips to places (such as we're discussed before) like Shrewsbury, to do the likes of Christmas shopping, as there are some really nice individual, privately owned shops, selling lovely things that aren't mass produced or available on Amazon, so I enjoy that and the whole 'vibe' of Christmas.
No, you defo won't be. Tools don't really interest me, as I'm not into DIY, so I'm far happier in a bric-a-brac or antiques shop, than in a tools shop, where I'd be bored within 5 mins. Record shops yes, big time. However, sometimes when we're out shopping, I've left Del to it, to wander round, and I wait for her in the pub and read a hi-fi or car mag, whilst enjoying a pint. It all depends on what she's wanting to look at.Quote:
The only shops I'm interested in browsing are tools, hifi or record shops. For anything else I have a 3-step process: 1. Decide what I want to buy 2. Go to shop and buy it 3. Go home or to the pub.
I'm sure I'm not the only bloke who does this.
Marco.
Indeed, and for me that's scumbag behaviour. A big part of the reason why our town centres are dying is because the tightwad/skinflint 'Joe Public' are too obsessed with price and not enough about quality. Everything's got to be cheap, cheap, cheap....!:doh:
Does my fucking head in.
Marco.
Anywhere that's open!:eyebrows:
Marco.
I gather "Madame Fifi" establishments are open to pre-booked 'specials' next week. :eyebrows:
It's a good point though, lockdown doesn't apply to knocking shops as they aren't supposed to exist anyway.
There's one round the corner. It's been there since at least the 1980s although the name changes occasionally, What gets me is that they have tables with parasols and plastic tropical plants out in the rear yard, even though the back lot behind the buildings is otherwise complete Victorian industrial dereliction Think of the cover of 'Crisis? What Crisis?' and you're not far off. It looks really bizarre,
How do you know what they keep in the back yard? :)