Buying clothes, men in black...and blue, also death to the logo I say.

[OUTSIDER]

Today I had to do one of those little things we all have to do, I had to go get some new underpants, that’s not very exciting I know but I got into a conversation with my friend who was there with me she asked me why I always buy black or dark blue clothing.

The answer was I buy black or blue stuff so I don’t have to think about colour combinations or any of that crap, all I have to do is grab something out of the closet and away I go, I also mentioned that I don’t buy clothes with logo’s or slogan’s on anymore because I don’t see why I should act as a walking “bill board” for a company and have to pay for the privilege to.

Now what I wanted to ask was do you have any personal rules or policies when you go shopping and what are they ?

 

[PacificBlue]

Interesting that you should bring this topic up...I just watched a special program the other night on "Hype" and why we buy the things we do.

My rules:

1. I don't shop at grocery stores that require cards to get the special price because they can take an electronic inventory and know what sells, I don't think it's anybody's business how many rolls of toilet paper I go through in a month.

2. I don't buy products with excessive packaging.

3. I attempt to purchase products that are easier on the environment. I've stopped buying household cleaners and have started using more earth friendly concoctions that do just a good of a job are MUCH cheaper.

4. I do not buy antibacterial anything because I'm healthy and I don't need to contribute to the "super bug" problem.

Those are the top 4 that I can think of...

 

[OUTSIDER]

You bring up some good points there PB, I to do a lot of the things you mention but I tend to do them without thinking about it, my personal hate at the moment is trainers (sneaker's), they cost a fortune and never seem to last more than a couple of months, also it's the devil's own work to get any that are just plain black or white, you only ever see them in colours that'd make a goat puke....!

 

[TN_Vixen]

I'm one of those female aberrations

who hate to shop. And, I also hate to get my hair cut.

One main rule when I do go though is that my son can't hang from the mannequins while I try on clothes.

 

[OUTSIDER]

Re: I'm one of those female aberrations

who hate to shop. And, I also hate to get my hair cut.

One main rule when I do go though is that my son can't hang from the mannequins while I try on clothes.

LOL, god bless catalogues I say, and god bless online shops to

 

[shadowsource]

.

 

[Darowyn]

Do any of the othe Lit men bemoan the total preponderance of boring colours for men's clothes?
You walk through the women's department and there is every colour in the rainbow. Cross into the men's and it's like walking into an army quartermasters store - black, grey, khaki, maybe navy blue for the very daring!
Yuk!
Why can't we go back to the days of men in scarlet and emerald
and any other bright colour for that matter?
- oh and if you are curious, I'm sitting here in a bright orange tee shirt and black velvet jeans.

 

[Starfish]

As far as the clothing issue is concerned, I make almost all of my own clothing. Aside from blue jeans and plain cotton shirts. (black, white, grey, olive green, emerald, navy) I save a huge amount of money by making my own skirts, jumpers, dresses and even pants. If I want a nice dress shirt, I make it myself. Most everything out there is crap unless you spend a fortune on it, and even then a lot of it is still crap.

The only logo related thing I've ever bought was an adidias hooded sweatshirt. It is 3 years old and looks as good as it did when I bought it.

 

[Tabby432]

I don't buy name brand clothes... or at least the big names. I buy my clothes from department stores though. You really do get what you pay for. The "Mart" stores just don't have the quality and in the long run you're not saving any money.

One of the things I do waste money on, I can't help myself, are sneakers. I guess I'm not old enough yet... all that goes through my head is the bo-bo song.

I can't remember the whole thing something about "bo-bo's they make your feet feel fine.. bo-bo's they cost a dollar forty-nine."

 

[Starfish]

About sneakers......

I bought a pair of Adidias cross trainers and they are holding up great. Is is me or are Adidias products decent quality? I paid 45 bucks for them and they are going on 8 months and are holding up fine.

 

[teresafannin]

I shop at the department store I work at. Our instore brands are good quality & wear well. I am in charge of the markdowns, so I know where to look. I am a major cheapskate when it comes to clothes. I used to shop at resale stores, but most of the good ones are gone. I do spend more on shoes because I have a bad leg, but even then, I look for clearance sales. I'd rather spend my money on my nieces.

 

[Never]

Neverwear

Never wear anything on your foot that you couldn't run a block in comfortably.
Never wear anything that doesn't blend in with your surroundings.
Never wear anything you can't wash hot and then leave in the dryer for an hour - things sometimes get in the wrong pile.
Never wear a logo unless that logo means something to you. I don't wear GAP across my chest or a large 'swoosh' but I have a quiksilver T and a Croche Elect. shirt.
Never wear anything that's smaller than your actual size, in fact, it's better to wear clothing that's up to two sizes bigger. That way if you feel the sudden need to dance, stretch, squat, kick, twirl or jump nothing tears, seams don't rip and you can still breath.
Never wear anything 'cute' or 'girlie' - people don't respect 'girls' or expect intelligence from them.
Never wear anything from a country or company that doesn't support human rights and look for something made in the USA first.
Never wear anything that's more interesting than you are.
Never wear anything because someone else likes it.
Never wear anything because everyone else is wearing it.
Never wear anything that makes you 'uncomfortable' because it's 'sexy'.


As the above show my wardrobe is dull and drab.
Just the way I like it.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Never refer to my briefs as "underpants".

 

[OUTSIDER]

Never refer to my briefs as "underpants".

LOL, ok I put "underpants" in there cause in this country we just tend to refer them as pant's and I know "pants" in the USA means trousers.

BTW, over here if people think something is substandard or just plai bad they will sometimes say "it was a load of pant's", I don't know where this came from or why but they do.

 

[Bob Peale]

Hmm, let's see.

Never shop at outlets/discount stores for essentials (dress shoes, athletic shoes, work clothes, underwear). I've been burned several times, in cases where the items were sub par but the defect wasn't discovered initially (like a pair of shoes that started to squeak 1 year after purchase; at a full price venue, they would have replaced/repaired at no cost; apparently, they now mark the items that are sold off price, and the same service doesn't apply).

Never trade off on something you really want because you found a cheap alternative. There is a reason it's cheaper. ( I have an Armani trenchcoat that is 15 years old, still in excellent shape, and still very much in style.)

If you buy designer stuff, check your labels carefully. Chances are, Vouis Luitton wasn't an innocent misprint at the factory!

 

[*bratcat*]

*waving*

 

[OUTSIDER]

Never buy socks that have less than 80% cotton in them, they'll only make your feet sweat like mad.


Pure wool is ok, but to heavy for summer.

 

[Ezzy]

Hey Outsider...

Try the JP sports stores for trainers, they are dotted all over London and the south of England.

They did have plain black or white trainers, at around 14 pounds a pair (Damn Yankey keyboards don't have pounds signs).

There is a JP near the junction of Seven Sisters Rd and Holloway Rd.

OK enough advertising hype for the JP stores, the other place I would look is in the Camden or Stoke Newington Markets. Well it is actually Dalston Market I suppose.




EZ

 

[OUTSIDER]

Thank's for the heads up, I know where there's a JP's near me I've never been in there but I'll give it a try, and they say Swanley market is good to

 

[Barb Dwyer]

If you buy designer stuff, check your labels carefully. Chances are, Vouis Luitton wasn't an innocent misprint at the factory!

I know just what you mean, Bob I find that is true
When shopping for things, you must pay out the wazoo

If it's quality you're after you must pay top price
When things fall apart it doesn't feel nice

Never buy a Rolex from a man on the loose
LORAX isn't right- it's from Dr. Seuss!

 

[Cheyenne]

I refuse to iron. Anything I buy has to pass the "scrunch test." I literally scrunch something up in a ball to see if it wrinkles a lot. Too many wrinkles, it stays in the store. That means NEVER buy 100% cotton or linen.

Even better, I get catalogs in the mail and go online to order from them. I avoid the dressing rooms that way and try on clothes in the convenience of my own bedroom. I can see better there what something REALLY looks like.

 

[OUTSIDER]

These day's I shop like the SAS, I'm in/out and gone before they know whats hit em, all they see is a dark blur

 

[registered "^^"]

Classic Items can

be purchased on line thru L.L.Bean,Lands' End and Eddie Bauer. All have fine quality and long wear, i have canvas and sail cloth shirts bought from L.L.Bean that are in fine shape 25 years later. and most of these maunfactures have the money back or free replacement if not satisfied. For business type oxford shirts Lands' End is hard to beat.

 

[OUTSIDER]

Yeah they are good shops and I do have some stuff from them