I spent much of the day shopping with my daughter. We went with things we needed in mind and came back with none of it. Ironically, we celebrated how well we did. Part of me celebrated that it was over.
I love the idea of shopping much more than the actual experience of it. The usual outcome: less money, tired feet and uncertainty about a bunch of things I will not care about in a day. Doesn’t seem worth it. Perhaps this is age.
I find I am usually only attracted to the colour and pattern of new styles hanging in windows. The styles themselves? Much less often. I like greens I wouldn’t wear. Florals on black. Rusty colours I could give amazing names to – burnt something or other, sienna, cactus flower. I’m not sure what any of those might be but I like to imagine. Again, the idea of all of this is quite wonderful. Much more wonderful than the doing of it: the traipsing from store to store, choosing things, trying things on, standing in lines.
The actual styles often confuse me. How can one hem on a pair of jeans be so popular this season when nobody thought twice about it in another? This no shoulder thing? Oh my. Wrapped skirts, wrapped shirts, wrapped this and wrapped that look all too confusing. And the silhouette of boxy cropped shirts. Yeah. Well.
This is me. Old, I remind you. Can’t keep up. Can’t be bothered to.
Not to say I don’t like fashion. I do. But my fashion sense seems to be summed up by this rule: find something that works and hit repeat. When I shop, I gravitate towards the same things over and over in slightly different variations.
Really long sweaters. Huge scarves. Sleeveless tunics. Dresses I would never wear with bare legs. I like linen. Jersey. Cotton. Never wool. Wrinkles that should be there. Too much grey. Natural colours – muted, nothing bright. Anything printed in serious moderation and ideally, amusing. Ravens on scarves. Giraffes on a silk sleeveless blouse I found at the consignment shop. A blue dress with tiny white stars that can be mistaken as dots. The perfect black everything: summer dress, silky T-shirt, slouchy cardigan. All of this worn over skinny jeans. Ideally soft and worn in. I am constantly searching for the army green jacket that will be my favourite. I have some that come kind of close. I buy too many sandals and not enough closed toed shoes even though it rains here for half the year or more. I have too many over sized bags. No small purses. But I do own the perfect tiger eye ring I have been wearing for decades.
My favourite things have come with me through years and have stories. I keep coming up with new reasons and ways to wear them so that they remain my favourites. Other things that don’t seem to fit my style, I am happy to give up after a season, wondering why I ever liked it to begin with.
My purchases today? Another pair of skinny jeans – soft and grey. A blue linen like dress perfect to wear over pants. Something black and sleeveless – you might call it a dress. I call it a tunic. Sandals for my daughter. Even though today was all about rain. So we also bought her a summer dress. And shorts.
Of course.
How well we did!
I am participating in the Slice of Life challenge to write and publish a post every day in March.
Slice of Life is hosted by Two Writing Teachers. I thank them for the community they provide. Read more slices here.
There's a Book for That 
I’m not good at shopping either, it’s too stressful for me!
I enjoy shopping – but only when I am in the right mood! If I feel like I shouldn’t be spending money, then it puts a damper on the whole event. I mostly shop during major sales or after holidays when I sometimes get money. Glad you had a good time with your daughter though:)
You have a rich vocabulary for fashion -types of clothes, materials, colors. I enjoyed reading your piece. The most important thing is to feel comfortable and happy in what you wear.
I stay with what I like, but occasionally find something newish that works. I dress up so little anymore that it seems I have dresses that are too, too old, somewhat in style, but. . . I laughed at the animals you liked and too much gray. That sounds like my daughter to sticks to the same colors so she doesn’t have to worry about anything matching. A fun post, Carrie and that your daughter stayed with only shoes.
Ooof. I clicked on this post with trepidation. I abhor shopping and the idea of shopping. But I liked reading about your self-analysis and conflict between the drawn-to and the actually-buy.