Women and clothing stores

[brentspeak]

What is it about women spending an eternity shopping in clothing stores?

I remember as a little kid being bored out of my mind, waiting for mom to finally finish looking through clothes at the clothing outlets. I've had girlfriends who've spent lifetimes sifting through clothes at stores.

You have no idea how boring it can be hanging out in a clothing store. :boring:

[SOteric]

1. Tsk. Of course we know how bored you guys are in clothing stores.

It is directly on par with how bored we are in hardware stores.

[dawgmom]

3. Ummm.....I LIKE hardware stores nt

[SOteric]

4. And some dudes actually like clothing stores.

The broad-brush generalisations suck in both directions.

The point is still valid.

[Liberal_in_LA]

11. or auto stores. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[dawgmom]

2. I don't know why women take their men with them

I have always recognized how deadly-dull it is for them, and I never take my SO along. Never.

[BarenakedLady]

5. I hate shopping

It's not all women.

[brentspeak]

7. I can tell by your nick that you're not into clothing stores

;)

[MineralMan]

6. Dude...drop her off and head for the Bass Pro Shop.

Just tell her to call your cell phone when she's about to check out...then head back to pick her up. She'll thank you and you'll have some new Rapalas for your tackle box.

If fishing's not your thing...well...there are other places you can go. Let the cell phone set you free!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

8. I shop alone.

If I take anyone with me, I won't focus on my shopping.

Why do we take so long? Because we aren't just "buying a shirt". We're buying a shirt to go with as many pants, skirts, vests, jumpers, and sweaters that we already own as possible. If you buy a shirt that doesn't go with your other clothes, then you have to buy other stuff that it will go with...and maybe accessories, too.

[ThomCat]

9. I like going shopping with friend

helping them pick out stuff that will look good on them. That's a good way to spend an afternoon. :)

[Lyric]

10. Because women are expected by society to adhere to certain standards.

No two companies make women's clothing sizes exactly the same--a 6 in one brand might equal an 8 in another. So first, we have to try to figure out what's going to fit and what isn't, which often requires trying-on, because we can't depend solely on labels like most guys can.

Next, we are expected to dress in at least a moderately fashionable, well-dressed, modern way by our peers, our SOs, and our bosses. It's a long, painful process to find clothes that fit all of those criteria, as well being simultaneously well-fitting and flattering. Not every item of clothing looks good on every woman.

Next, we are expected to accessorize to a degree that men would find astonishing if they knew the gory details. Most of the time, you guys never seem to notice the minutiae--the carefully selected jewelry, the scarves, gloves, coordinating watches, nylons, leggings, hair accessories, shoes, ad infinitum. But if we *don't* do it, then the girl down the hall who's ten years younger and spends more time/money on her looks is going to get the promotion over us, because sadly, looks can matter as much as competence and seniority. Oh, and our male SOs will bitch that we're "letting ourselves go."

Lastly, we have to try to do all of this economically, so we aren't just looking for clothes that are well-fitting, flattering, reasonably fashionable, appropriate for the occasion, and match well with our accessories...we're ALSO looking at prices. The vast majority of us are in no position to just pick out whatever, regardless of price. We have to find the best value for our dollars. And we STILL get griped at about how much we spend by males who have no idea how frustrating it is to be a modern woman.

It's even worse if your body happens to be slightly larger or smaller than the "norm." Good luck finding ANYTHING affordable that meets the required criteria. It can literally take hours of frustration and disappointment, and all too often, there's a man standing near the door tapping his watch and rolling his eyes.

This is one reason that I like being with another woman. She doesn't give a damn how I look, she understands the unfairness of what's expected of women, and she can empathize without being judgmental. There are probably plenty of guys out there who are like that, too, but I've only personally met one or two of them.