I need new clothes, which means the mall. Ugh.

[oregano]

I suppose it's a good thing that I've lost so much weight that I will need new briefs and pants, but that means going to the mall. Shopping malls always make me think of the old Onion article about a Tenth Circle being added to Hell.

I try to wear clothes for as long as possible, and only own 8 briefs, 8 pairs of socks, 8 shirts, and 2 pairs of khaki pants. I own 8 so I have clothes to wear during the weekly laundry. Did I mention one of my shirts is falling apart and will need to be replaced too? And I need new socks since mine are getting full of holes again?

I realize that clothes today are made to last as little time as possible, and that modern fashion dictates a full wardrobe replacement every month or so. (This last part seems directed primarily at women.) I still try to make clothes last anyway.

So it's off to a gigantic barn specially made to strip dumb people of money they don't have for clothes that last 30 days. Muzak, terrible food, and groups of young NT women dragging around their latest "finds" while giggling and texting. The last time I had to go to a mall I wound up just sitting in my car with the AC running for a half hour afterwards until I felt well enough to drive.

For some reason, shopping at a mall has long been the favorite "relaxation" for young NT women. I'd rather be among the racks of electronic parts at Fry's.

 

[OkRad]

Yikes! The mall! I never go there to shop. Can you go elsewhere? Maybe online? I hope you make it out sane!

 

[Pats]

I'd go anywhere but. Kohl's. Target. Marshall's. So many other options.

 

[oregano]

I don't like shopping at Amazon since while it may be easier on me personally, they treat their workers as if they are lower than whale poop. Also they usually turn out to be more expensive than the mall anyway.

Clothes from discount stores like Target tend to be made even worse than stuff from the mall.

So no, no real options.

 

[Gritches]

If I must buy clothes at a brick-and-mortar store, I go to sporting goods stores. Tends to be spendier, but it's better quality stuff.

 

[GrownupGirl]

When I have to get new clothes my mother usually takes me shopping for them. She once told me I was worse than my father. Maybe because I was blunt with my criticism of many of the clothes and current fashions, and mom would go "shhh". But I feel the public has a right to know the truth.

I HATE trying on clothes in the dressing rooms. But I have to do it not only to find out if they really fit because you so can't go by the tags, but I also have to be at semi-satisfied with how they feel. Most clothes become more comfortable after you've washed and worn them a few times.

 

[the_tortoise]

Malls are a nightmare....shopping for clothes is awful. I avoid it until I can't avoid it anymore.

 

[DCA]

I almost never go to the mall for anything. Last time I went someone threatened my life on top of the stress of being inna very crowded mall (for me its the noise that gets to me!), almost lost it. So I always go elsewhere

 

[Progster]

I agree with @Mia. If I want tough, good quality clothing, I would go to a specialist outdoor clothing shop. They might be more expensive, but they last longer.

 

[NothingToSeeHere]

Relate. I've needed a new pair of jeans for months now. My current pair have a hole on the bum. A rapidly growing hole. Everyone can see my knickers, but I just can't bring myself to venture into the dreaded clothes shops.

 

[Mr Allen]

I hate clothes shopping unless it's in fancy dress shops.

Then again, you know that formal "Cosplay" Ball I went to last week? I actually wanted to go to a local Bespoke Tailor's and have a formal suit made, but my Parents said it would've cost £500 plus for something I'd wear literally once a year, I'm on benefits, I don't even have £500 to spend.

 

[Misery]

I don't like shopping at Amazon since while it may be easier on me personally, they treat their workers as if they are lower than whale poop. Also they usually turn out to be more expensive than the mall anyway.

Clothes from discount stores like Target tend to be made even worse than stuff from the mall.

So no, no real options.

Stuff from "supermarket" stores is essentially the same as what you'd get at a mall, though. These big stores, whether at malls or not, know full well that they will not get away with ONLY selling special expensive brands of products. They wont. Particularly with clothing. So certain brands (as in, most of them) will be extremely common, even if you dont realize it. Many of the same sorts of things you'll find at a mall will be of equal quality to what you'd find at a Target. I say this as someone who usually buys birthday/christmas gifts for immediate family from places like Target because I dont have the patience to drive to the mall itself. The clothing is fine, it doesnt fall apart or rip or anything.

No, the real difference is selection, not quality. That's what a mall has over a store like Target. But the actual QUALITY? No, dont fall for that one. Just because a store is at a mall, or because it "specializes" in one particular product type, absolutely does not mean it's products are a better quality. They want you to THINK that. In reality it just means that they'll have more types of that specific product.

Now that being said, even if you REALLY dont like Target or whatever similar stores might be around, going to the mall is still not the best bet. Going to a big store like Kohls would be better. That's a *huge* store that's entirely focused around clothing, AND it's usually not in a mall (most of their locations are too big for that!). They tend to be a much calmer environment.


Or, barring that, why not try ordering online from somewhere that ISNT Amazon? I know Amazon would like you to believe that they are literally the only thing that exists anywhere and that you should give them all of your money and your left foot, but no, they're not. Hell, I order random things online all the time, and I *never* buy from Amazon, because screw it. Dont need to. It doesnt matter what you're after, you can get it without going through them.


I will say overall though, clothes shopping sucks. I dont do it aside from the afore-mentioned buying of presents. Pretty much all of my clothing is from gifts I get from family members and I just wear it until it starts to fall apart. Not for any real reason, just... dont care enough. Like you said, I'd rather be at Fry's.

 

[DCA]

I use ebay a lot for stuff, if you don't like Amazon. The only clothes I mail order are geek stuff (though I bought a Flash themed T-shirt at Target & may go back for a Green Lantern one if they still have it...), but I'm sure you can find stuff on ebay.

As for brick & mortar stores. I find Kohls to be pretty good if you have noise sensory issues (like I do to an extent...can barely tolerate the "big" mall around here), since its more low key & far less crowded. I do a lot of shopping at Target since I'm oblivious to fashion, & my clothing choices are either a) comfortable, b) geek themed or c) is adequate for the dress code at work. I almost never go to Wal mart for anything, let alone clothes. That place is just depressing...!

Old Navy isn't bad either. They carry clothes for both. I bought a pair of cargo shorts that have the rip-stop texture (I LOVE that texture!) for not much money. If you have one in your locale.

 

[oregano]

I went to the mall today, but it was at 11:30 am or so on a Tuesday so not very many people there, the few teen girls there were with their moms so they were kept under control. I got what I needed and ate two slices of yucky pizza. I will have to go back tomorrow morning because I bought the wrong size of something and have to return it. Other than that, I doubt I'll have to go again for a while. Mall stores no longer carry traditional style pajamas, apparently millenials like to just wear T shirts and flannel pants to bed, or nothing at all. I don't have to buy the shirt I need at the mall either.

 

[Progster]

Clothes and shoes are things that I would most definitely need to go to a shop to buy, because I need to try them on to check that they are comfortable, it's tactile - I need to feel them before buying.

 

[TempeFan]

After reading this thread, I feel lucky today. Those fashion magazines say that a woman whose top and bottom measurement are the same with the one in the middle 10 inches smaller is a perfect 10. Who makes clothes with those dimensions? I never liked going clothes shopping either, so I'm glad I rarely have to.

Most of my life I have had at least one friend who is a young NT woman my size with good taste in quality clothes. For decades, I have been graciously accepting hand-me-downs to supply them with a compelling reason to rush out and get more new clothes. Nowadays, whenever I wear out my favorite shirt, I go shopping in the comfort of my own home where my wonderful and oh so handy husband built me a 24 foot clothes bar in the attic to store all the garments those fashionistas couldn't live without and then threw out my way.

I tried Amazon but my large Aspie T fits like a small and those knee high socks barely cover my ankles.
I do have a sewing machine in the pantry but it makes me cuss.

Retirement is good. I don't have to get dressed up. I can sit around the house in a soft comfy blanket if I want.

 

[Tesseract]

I may be unusual in this regard, but I actually like going to what you Americans call "the mall" (in Australia we call them shopping plazas).

 

[Just Someone]

I like second hand stores - they are cheap, I can see if the clothes are well made, most things don't smell like chemicals and people usually leave you alone and don't try to sell you things. Con - there isn't always something that fits/looks nice.

 

[OrdinaryCitizen]

If you dont want be around glamorous people or stores you can always shop clothes at walmart that place is full of weird people who have no standards in fashion at all they look like they live in cave, i feel pretty relaxed going there.