If you’ve ever gone clothes shopping – and I’m gonna go out on a limb here and assume you have – you are likely aware that a size 12 at the Gap fits differently from a size 12 at J.Crew. Doesn’t matter if you’re talking Gap jeans versus J.Crew jeans, which should be a fairly apples-to-apples comparison: There WILL be some variation in sizing. One may be loose in the hips and tight in the waist, while another fits snugly everywhere. And sizing within brands even shifts over time. You may still be wearing that size 4 dress from LOFT that you snagged five years ago, but if you walk in now you could be a 2. Or an 8. Who knows?read more
A while back, reader Emma sent this question via e-mail. I wanted to delay posting it for a bit, until the Target/Missoni furor had died down a bit.
I saw the other day on Facebook that you prompted a short discussion on the Missoni for Target line, but I’d like to hear more of your and other people’s thoughts about the line in general. Most people commented on the quality – or lack thereof – of the line, but what about the entire concept of affordable designer wear? Since the line launched last week I have seen no less than 4 different women in very different settings wearing only 2 different outfits. Although I’m not a person who can, or really wants to be able to, afford high end designer clothes like Missoni I can certainly appreciate the uniqueness and specialness of being able to. Before the Target line if I had seen someone wearing the distinctive Missoni zigzags it would have meant something totally different than it does now. Now all I can about is the LACK of uniqueness and specialness – like the equivalent of having a knockoff hand bag. read more
As I’ve mentioned before, I am brand loyal. I love Fryes, I love Clarks, I love Prairie Underground long cloak hoodies, I love Karen Kane jeans and Desigual everything. As someone who knows firsthand how frustrating it can be to search for a perfect item, and how marvelous it can feel to find it, I am more than happy to trust certain manufacturers based on past experiences. Good experiences. It makes shopping easier when you rely on brand loyalty: Doing so narrows the field and increases your chances of quick success.read more
Originally posted 2012-05-23 06:02:00.
About Sally
Sally McGraw is a Minneapolis-based freelance writer, blogger, and editor.
