Clothes shopping? A joy or a Royal Pain?

JupiterKid

So I'm down at the posh Kildare Village outlet place and getting a few new pairs of slim fit jeans in the Levis store. I really hate clothes shopping - I know what I need, go in and get it and get out quickly and do it as little as possible - but my OH loves the whole shopping experience...especially shoe shops. He cannot just walk past a shoe shop.

The only shop I can lose myself in is a good bookstore. The rest are just a place to go into, get your stuff and go. Plenty of guys my age (early middle age) with their wives and kids looking bored out of their tree and acting as bag carriers but one thing that's changed since I was a young lad in the 90s are the number of younger guys who have loads of bags and are obviously really into their clothes and fashion.

So, AHers...do enjoy a bit of retail therapy or it it a chore to be endured?

gifted

I hate it.....I buy...I take home...I try on....I hand them to herself to bring back....

Edit....if something fits I buy 3 pairs ....

Ted_YNWA

Same as you, hate it with a passion. Hate having to deal with crowds of dawdling people too.

So am very much an in, get what I need & out as quickly as possible.

BDI

I wish I had time to get drawn on, or to go shopping like these Facebook people do today. Ferrying kids around when I’m not in work. Brought two of them for a haircut a few weeks ago and didn’t have time to get my own cut.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Chore,,..a pain....hate it....

What's to like about clothes shopping? Nothing.

Deja Boo

Pure chore - it's put off as much as humanly possible.

Zaph

I hate clothes shopping, and shopping for shoes even more.

Loveinapril

I think I love it, I look forward to a shopping trip, then turn into a horrible grumpy bitch an hour in. I buy most of my stuff online, it is so much easier trying on clothes at home with your own realistic mirror!

Voltex

Every time I go clothes shopping with the wife and kiddos, I invariably find myself muttering the mantra "F**k My Life". I think its a coping mechanism.

Day Lewin

Pain in the neck and everywhere else. A dismal chore.

gmisk

I don't mind shopping as long as they aren't too busy and I am not looking for something specifically.

I know most of my sizes in superdry, topman, Hollister etc so buy things like shirts and t shirts online as well.

Leg End Reject

I hate large shopping centres and large shops where you have to look for things. I don't mind a smaller shop where things are clearly laid out and easy to see, but shopping wouldn't be a hobby. It's done on a need only basis.

Kildare Village is one of the most soulless places though, complete with faux Amercian customer service. You can't walk into a shop without all the staff tripping over each other to ask if you need help.

Seamai

I hate clothes shopping but I think part of it is down to such a poor selection that is available for middle aged men, in Cork it's woeful with torn jeans at one end and Farah slacks at the other and not a lot that I want to wear in between. Shirt collars are a real bug bear of mine, I'd say 8 out of 10 shirts I try go back on the rail because the collar doesn't sit right (M&S are particularly bad on this front). I've tried buying on-line a few times and ended up sending them back as the didn't look anything like the did on the site. Was in Italy recently, it was impossible to find a trousers that I could get into without a coat hanger and talcum powder.

Ken.

I love my job. If I won the euromillions I'd find it hard to give up. I would, if I won it hire a shopper. Someone to go get me stuff. If I never had to set foot in a clothes shop again I'd be happy.

whisky_galore

Easy.
Research clothing needs, i.e. new trousers.
Find out online if in stock.
Go for same brand and size as last time to avoid wasting time in changing rooms.
Voilà.

Military operation, in and out. None of this window shopping bullcrap.

TheValeyard

I absolutely hate shopping. Especially clothes shopping

Alun

whisky_galore wrote: »

Military operation, in and out. None of this window shopping bullcrap.

Exactly. Back in the days of the Travel 90 bus tickets, I used to pride myself on being able to get into Dublin by bus from Bray (up to an hour on a bad day) and be back on the bus to get home before my 90 minutes were up!

pinktoe

I like buying suits/getting them tailor made etc

Absolutely hate jeans shopping or shops with a large footfall. I hate all shopping centres in Ireland but am fairly content in them abroad.

Wayne Jarvis

Anyone who actually enjoys going into a busy shopping centre is irredeemably psychotic and should be put down.

corner of hells

I hurt my back years ago , had surgery and was prescribed oxynorm to deal with the pain.

Nowadays, if she wants to go shopping , I drive to the destination take two oxynorm and off we go .
The day passes pain free and happy.

The only condition is she must drive home.

Thargor

Where do people buy tshirts these days?

There used to be loads of websites selling tshirts but even Ebay and the Chinese sites seem a bit pricey for the crap they're selling nowadays.

Is there some big tshirt retailer selling good stuff for low prices Im missing out on?

PowerToWait

The IG generation appears pathological in its vanity. The lads are simply absurd, the peacocking is bemusing and quite often hilarious to me.

Please don’t bother hitting me with the Socrates quote either. This crowd are giving the Italians a run for their money in the dandy stakes.

Church on Tuesday

I love clothes but hate having to buy clothes in actual shops.

I just buy online from places I know that will have my proper size. Perfect. Works out a bit cheaper too.

RhubarbCrumble

I hate Kildare Village. TK Maxx makes me want to murder someone. I'm female. My male other half loves both of them, but falls to pieces if he has to step over the threshold of Penneys.

Lithium93_

Church on Tuesday wrote: »

I love clothes but hate having to buy clothes in actual shops.

I just buy online from places I know that will have my proper size. Perfect. Works out a bit cheaper too.

As someone who just comes in height wise at just under 6'6", I can most definitely relate to this, it's easier online (if ya have your sites) instead of spending hours traipsing around the shops.

Hobosan

Online shopping is problematic too. Poor standardisation in sizes, product not what was displayed, the hassle of posting it back after waiting a week for delivery, lower quality clothing across the board. It's a lottery sometimes.

But then there are **** all mens clothing shops in most towns and of the few that exist near me, a shíte jacket will be a few hundred euro.

Then you have all the bizarre expensive clothing that takes up valuable shop space, though most people I assume are looking for no nonsense clothing. Remember that thread a while back with a €1000 coat in Brown Thomas that could double as a lagging jacket? That's the shíte you have to wade through.

Badly Drunk Boy

Leg End Reject wrote: »

Kildare Village is one of the most soulless places though, complete with faux Amercian customer service. You can't walk into a shop without all the staff tripping over each other to ask if you need help.

I live a few miles from Kildare Village but still have only been there twice, and the only money I've spent has been in whatever coffee shop I was dragged into (another type of shop I don't like). The shops in those sort of places are fairly alien to me, so I avoid.

I know it's not great for the local economy but I prefer to buy online (sometimes from Irish sites, sometimes further afield) but when I get something I like, I buy in multiples. It's surprisingly hard to find a plain black shirt (for example) without a logo/extra stripe/stamp of some sort so when I do, I run with it! Of course, my main point is that buying this way, I get to avoid the harrowing experience that is shopping in a shopping centre/designer outlet.

I also have the height issue so regular shops don't have clothes for my size.

Leg End Reject

Badly Drunk Boy wrote: »

I live a few miles from Kildare Village but still have only been there twice, and the only money I've spent has been in whatever coffee shop I was dragged into (another type of shop I don't like). The shops in those sort of places are fairly alien to me, so I avoid.

I know it's not great for the local economy but I prefer to buy online (sometimes from Irish sites, sometimes further afield) but when I get something I like, I buy in multiples. It's surprisingly hard to find a plain black shirt (for example) without a logo/extra stripe/stamp of some sort so when I do, I run with it! Of course, my main point is that buying this way, I get to avoid the harrowing experience that is shopping in a shopping centre/designer outlet.

Logos! One thing I hate, ostentatious bs.

twignme

I hate clothes shopping. Would rather stick pins in my eyes. I also hate online clothes shopping, all the shipping and returning aggravation. In the shops, the mirrors and lighting in the changing rooms (make that tiny cubicles with nowhere to hang your clothes or sit to take off your shoes) that make you look 200 lbs and with cellulite like the surface of the moon. You’re a size 10 in one place and a 14 in another. It’s all just rather a chore.

Lewis_Benson

Clothes shopping is grand......


When you buy online.

Bobblehats

Lewis_Benson wrote: »

Clothes shopping is grand......


When you buy online.

Until it arrives in the post...

and that 22” across is actually 21”.

Strumms

I neither hate it or love it... it’s a necessity.

I just make sure I’m doing it on a weekday as every borderline lucid thick fûckwit with no sense of direction, personal space or personal hygiene seems to populate the shops on a Saturday.

meeeeh

I actually don't mind Kildare Village because you get fresh air going from shop to shop. But I wouldn't overly clothes shop there, it would be more household items, runners and shoes for kids although Clarks is a hell hole.

I do vast majority of clothes shopping online and avoid most shopping centres. If I can I go alone, I don't like shopping with kids and husband would be horrified if he was told we are doing family shopping. I despise TK Maxx, Penny's and similar shops where stuff is just thrown in a pile like clothes don't matter.

hank scorpio89

Havent bought clothes in ages..no money these days.there was a time.when id order online and half the time the stuff wouldent fit.of course.i wouldent return it.someone else always benifited tho.

MuffinTop86

I really enjoy it. I have to be on my own though, hate when you have to wait for others or go to crap shops you normally wouldn’t. I like men’s clothes shopping too so will usually pick up things I think my OH would like

I despise food shopping so I make a list and he does it so it works out well.

Weltsmertz

Most people these days have a lot more clothes than they actually need. I assume most of the people posting in this thread do too. If you "hate" clothes shopping there is a very easy solution. Don't do it. Just wear what you have.

Cake Man

Hobosan wrote: »

Online shopping is problematic too. Poor standardisation in sizes, product not what was displayed, the hassle of posting it back after waiting a week for delivery, lower quality clothing across the board. It's a lottery sometimes.

This exactly is the reason why I never clothes shop online, as much and all as it is effort to go out and try on clothes in shops, I'd much prefer doing that than ordering stuff and inevitably having to send half of it back either because it doesn't fit well or it just looks sh!te on.


Without trying to brag or boast but as someone who's big into weightlifting the last few years, clothes shopping has become a hugely frustrating and draining experience. Normal size fits just do not fit comfortably anymore. Don't get me started on any of those skinny jeans, the only jeans I can actually wear are Levis 541 athletic fit as any other types are painted onto me. For shirts/tshirts, I often find a size M is too tight but a L is too baggy on me (although comfortable) so it's trying to get that balance between something that fits well and is comfortable.
Everything these days has to be slim fit this or skinny that or the opposite end of the spectrum - baggy clothing that most 30-50yo Irish men wear usually with the classic beer gut. There rarely seems to be much in between.
The variance in sizes too is ridiculous. I remember trying on a medium tshirt in Penneys a while ago and it was too tight on me. I later tried on a large size of a different tshirt and that was even more bet on to me. How tf does that work?

freshpopcorn

As a guy I don't mind clothes shopping.
I go to shopping centres,etc a few times a year.
I'm fast tough I walk in straight to the men's section and I walk around and I know fairly fast if I like anything.
If I do I try it on quickly and I might buy it.
I can do several shops in 30 minutes.
I don't spend ages wondering around window shopping.

Arghus

Do not like it all.

ILoveYourVibes

I love it.

Graces7

Guy Person wrote: »

Anyone who actually enjoys going into a busy shopping centre is irredeemably psychotic and should be put down.

I would love to do it! Fat chance! I am at an age when I don't need new clothes and with living deep rural it was always mail order. Or occasional charity shop. Not been in a shop for nearly a year now..

and the cost of new clothes.. OH MY!

LirW

I hate shopping and am not buying new anymore, I thrift everything par socks and underwear online. It is incredible how much stuff people have that end up unworn or worn once and then disappear at the back of the wardrobe.

I mostly look on eBay and even though shipping from the UK can be a lot, if you find a bargain it's still totally worth it!
Last month I got two pairs of Next jeans in perfect condition for 20 quid including shipping. Together they retail for 100 Euro.

It's not for everyone but since I'm doing this I wear nice stuff for Penneys prices.

Hector Savage

My literal vision of HELL!!!!!!!!

A clothes shop - one of those BT2 or some ****e where the average age of the workers there is about 17.
Crappy music playing, and I can't find the exits ... it's just row after row, aisle after aisle of "fashionable" clothes that were made in a Chinese sweat shop for 10c and are selling for €90.

I actually think I would rather kill myself than work in an utter sh1thole like that....

Seamai

meeeeh wrote: »

I actually don't mind Kildare Village because you get fresh air going from shop to shop. But I wouldn't overly clothes shop there, it would be more household items, runners and shoes for kids although Clarks is a hell hole.

I do vast majority of clothes shopping online and avoid most shopping centres. If I can I go alone, I don't like shopping with kids and husband would be horrified if he was told we are doing family shopping. I despise TK Maxx, Penny's and similar shops where stuff is just thrown in a pile like clothes don't matter.

I'm not a fan of large shopping centres but don't mind Kildare Village either, I almost always find something worth buying.

I'm not a fan of buying clothes and definitely not shoes online but what problem have Clark's got with selling their shoes online in Ireland? In almost every country in Europe you can, it might not bother me if they had a decent selection in their Cork stores but they don't, when I questioned this I was told that their stores are franchised and the owners decide what to stock. I noticed earlier this year in Dublin that their Henry St. Store had a far better selection than Grafton St.

Mister Vain

As a short arse its very difficult to find clothes that actually fit so its definitely a chore.

i like having the new clothes but it's a pain to go get them

metaoblivia

I enjoy it, but can only do it for an hour or two and always go by myself.

meeeeh

Seamai wrote: »

I'm not a fan of large shopping centres but don't mind Kildare Village either, I almost always find something worth buying.

I'm not a fan of buying clothes and definitely not shoes online but what problem have Clark's got with selling their shoes online in Ireland? In almost every country in Europe you can, it might not bother me if they had a decent selection in their Cork stores but they don't, when I questioned this I was told that their stores are franchised and the owners decide what to stock. I noticed earlier this year in Dublin that their Henry St. Store had a far better selection than Grafton St.

I don't know about Clarks online, I never tried to buy online but what I noticed is that there is very big discrepancy between their sterling and euro price.