capitalism and patriarchal beauty standards to follow

[some_stars]

Did you guys know that Nordstrom offers completely free appointments with personal shoppers? You just sit in a big private dressing room drinking your complimentary bottle of water while they find clothes for you, and then you try on the clothes (they help with zippers and sleeves and hanging stuff back up) and tell them what you like and don't like, and this continues until you want to stop and then they bring in a tailor to do (also free) alterations. It's like a little two-hour vacation in the land of being really rich where everyone treats you like this all the time, and it was the least traumatic way ever to get myself started on a grownup wardrobe. It was pretty expensive--about $85 a piece on average, before tax--but it's actual nice stuff that won't dissolve after being worn a dozen times, and it fits which when you are a size 16-24 (and that's not just "depending on the item," I'm a 16 in my calves and forearms, increasing not quite steadily to a 24 or sometimes 26--all belly, no hips--around the middle) is something rare and amazing and not to be dismissed.

And the shopper they gave me was just really awesome and fun and completely non-judgmental, and she got me to try on leopard print and it looked amazing, and now I just need a few more non-sports bras and maybe five more pairs of shoes (easier said than done, admittedly) and I will be all set for adulthood.

Comments

[inbetweendays]

YAY SHOPPING! \o/

There is a reason Nordstrom has such a good reputation for customer service, and that is because they fucking earn it.

[some_stars]

IT WAS SO GREAT. My stylist went to my middle school! We reminisced!

[inbetweendays]

Heeee!

Also, I demand pictures of you in leopard print!

[some_stars]

As soon as I can be bothered to put a real bra on again, photos are my NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. ...so probably tomorrow night.

[sofiaviolet]

... okay, totally going to Nordstrom next time I need decent and long-wearing clothing (as opposed to trendy crap that can disintegrate whenever, which I get as cheap as possible wherever I find it, or casual clothing). How does one make such an appointment?

There's a couple of really fancy places near me that do high-quality lingerie with high-quality bra measuring/fitting to match - although I'm not in need of underwear and what I have now seems to fit just fine, I would like confirmation I've been correct in buying 32Bs lately.

[some_stars]

Here's the page for the Personal Stylists. I really really recommend it. Bra fittings are also pretty great, especially if you're not in a non-standard size range.

[cyprinella]

Wait, really? Because I am in dire need and usually get too frustrated to continue after about 30 minutes. Hm, thank you!

[some_stars]

doooo iiiiit, it's so great! It's all the good parts of shopping and almost none of the crap!

[ellen_fremedon]

This is useful information to have. I have gotten to the point where I can generally do my own shopping, but I didn't know about the free tailoring. Did your personal shopper have a pretty good notion of what was within the tailor's abilities-- when it was worth getting a garment and altering it vs looking for something else?

[some_stars]

Well, I didn't ask for much--just hemming and having some pants taken in along the hips and thighs--so I don't know if they can do deeper structural stuff. (Also I wasn't paying much attention since it didn't apply to the items I got tailored, but it's possible the free alterations are only for items that are at full price/not on sale? I wasn't really listening.) But it's definitely worth asking about. When you make an appointment online you talk to someone via email and then phone beforehand, so you could ask them then if you know you're going to need some serious tailoring.

[laurajv]

yeah, I need to do this probably next summer. I'm not really looking forward to it, oddly! but it will be DONE.