Shopping Wears Me Out

By Cheryl Mattox Berry

Once upon a time, the only things I hated shopping for were jeans and a bathing suit. That list has grown to include just about everything I wear – casual pants, dress pants, suits and dresses.

Now that my body has morphed into my mother’s shape (sorry, Josie) shopping isn’t fun any more. It’s a chore. I have to get a good night’s sleep, work out and eat a protein-heavy breakfast before I hit the mall and outlet stores.

I try not to shop on weekends when the mall is crowded with amateur shoppers, moms maneuvering SUV-sized strollers, and teens laughing and talking in their outdoor voices. If it’s an emergency and I must go on those days, I’m the first person through the door.

For me, the best time to shop is mid-morning early in the week. It’s peaceful, and I can meander through the store. When I find something I want to try on, the fitting room isn’t overflowing with clothes tossed on a chair and spilling onto the floor.

However, it takes me a good fifteen minutes to decide whether an item is worth a trip to the dressing room. I ask myself the following questions:

  1. Is it true to size?
  2. How many sizes should I bring to the dressing room?
  3. How much will it cost to alter the waist, sleeves or hem?
  4. Will the cost of alterations drive up the price too much?
  5. If so, is this a classic piece that I can wear for a few years?

While I believe in getting clothes altered for a better fit, I’d like to spend more on clothes and less on alterations this year. That means sticking to designers who make clothes that fit my body.

I’ve also put an end to the style vs. comfort debate that has been raging in my closet for the last few years.

Comfort wins.*

My new go-to pieces are skirts and pants with an elastic waistband. They’re easy to put on and don’t dig into my stomach and sides when I sit or eat too much pizza. Skirts and pants with zippers have moved to the back of the closet.

I’ve even found elastic waist jeans (Cookie Johnson and Nygard) that look good and feel great. I wear them along with my pull-on NYDJs, which I found fit better when I buy one size larger. I hate feeling like a sausage when I wear jeans.

Ponte knit dresses, pants and skirts are also flattering and provide a little stretch when needed. I’ve never had to alter a ponte knit piece.

Buying suits is still a dilemma because the upper and lower parts of my body are different sizes. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I’ll still need to take new suits to the seamstress.

If I stick to what I know works for my body, shopping won’t be such a headache. However, I get sidetracked when those glossy store catalogs arrive in the mail. I dog-ear the pages with outfits I like and then head to the store.

I soon come face to face with the truth – most of those outfits ain’t for this body. Then, I slink over to the shoe and handbag departments where I know that I’ll always find the perfect fit.

 

*Let’s get real. Sometimes, you like an outfit so much or it looks so good on you or you paid so much for it that you can put up with a little discomfort for a few hours.

 

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