Tag: clothes

The five stages of shopping grief

I went shopping for work clothes on Tuesday.

Because I own basically two types of outfits: church dresses and skirts, and workout clothes.

Not because I work out, but because I like to slouch around in workout clothes while I’m working.

You get the picture. You’re probably either jealous or appalled.

It’s been a good run. But now I have to arrive at a workplace, for awhile at least, in something presentable. And here’s how it went.

1. Denial: I can’t go shopping. I haven’t been clothes-shopping in ages. I don’t even know where the stores are.

2. Anger: These crappy weird eighties clothes cost how much?!?

3. Bargaining: Do these shirts make me look like a Target mom? I’ll make you cookies if you say no.

4. Depression: How come nothing fits me post-three-kids? Why did my boobs migrate to my hips?

5. Acceptance: Coming home with three bags of clothes, all of which Kate has approved.

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Publish date:
August 30th, 2012
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Thrifting part 2

I took my new skirt in to be altered last weekend, and guess what was next door? Another thrift store. This one is KARM (Knoxville Area Rescue Ministries), which I have mixed feelings about supporting (because I believe in their work, but they’ve been instrumental in establishing a “mission district” just north of downtown Knoxville…near our neighborhood…that attracts tons of homeless people with the resulting drug and prostitution problems).

But I had a coupon! Is it wrong to set aside your reservations about the neighborhood going to pot when you get 20 percent off?

This time I was looking for a cowgirl hat for Kate, for her Halloween costume. Score! A whole stack of brand new kids’ hats, $1.99 each.

I also found a pair of English-style riding boots, size 7.5. Can a girl have too many pairs of boots? Don’t answer that.

Besides, Kate is already in a size 2. It won’t be long and I’ll have to share.

Thrift store: 2. Target: 0*.

To be continued….

*In fairness to Target, I haven’t actually been there since I started this little experiment.

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Publish date:
October 6th, 2011
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Thrifting

I’ve mentioned before that I don’t like to shop.

I’m an in-and-out-with-a-list kind of person, and if I don’t find what I need, I generally give up. Then I order it online.

But it’s hard to buy clothes online. I haven’t found a webstore I love that has just the right sizes and prices. So I decided, in order to avoid looking like a Target Mom (and if you don’t know what that is, just walk into Target on any weekday morning and see the sea of moms wearing solid-colored cotton Merona and Mossimo tops pushing around carts with baby seats), I would start going to thrift stores once in awhile on Jonathan’s and my “day off”–Tuesday. It’s just the two of us, and he’s a party baby who loves to go out and flirt with grandmas, so he doesn’t mind.

This week we walked over to the Habitat for Humanity thrift store. It’s about four blocks from my house, but I’ve only been there once in the almost-six years we’ve lived here. Shame. It’s a great place. Maybe this is a false buildup, but I super scored today. Check it out.

Men’s XXL. Do ya think Derek would look good in this? He’d certainly be showing a different…er…side of himself.

Okay, I didn’t actually buy it, but I kind of wish I had, just for fun. I did get this, though:

A complete dress suit and shoes (with heels!) for about $10. The skirt is a little big, so I’ll probably need to have it altered. And I work from home, so no idea where I might wear it. But still. $10!

Here’s a closeup of the shoes. They have pretty button detailing that channels a tuxedo.

Thrift store: 1. Target: 0. 

To be continued….

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Publish date:
September 29th, 2011
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