I have had to go out shopping recently. In the old days, that would not even be news-worthy but 4 years ago I started The Compact which I have discussed ad nauseum and which also means I don't shop recreationally any more. It's a waste of time, $$, resources, etc. And the truth is . . . I don't need a damn thing. How many of us really and truly need anything? So, shopping is off my list of hobbies. But I have this nephew who is getting married and this weekend we have a full schedule of festivities. Friday night there are showers followed up by bachelor and bachelorette parties, Bridesmaid luncheon, another shower (hosted by moi, Queen B and my sister Bertha), Sunday is the rehearsal dinner and Monday is the Big Event. As you can see this will require a lot of clothes. A lot of different clothes. You can't wear the same damn thing over again to each event and look like a schmuck in all the photos. And I tried to shop at vintage and thrift stores first before I headed to the mall.
Shopping used to be fun. It used to be exhilarating. All those brand new things just waiting to go home with you! Now? Not so much. The store lighting is bad. You can't match colors worth a damn in those lights and you can't take things outside to check them in the natural sunlight. The new clothes smell is not the same as it used to be. Now it is too "chemical-y" and sometimes I have bought things in the last 5 years or so and that strong chemical-y smell never goes away. Wash all you will, it won't go. So those things are a HUGE waste of money and an even huger disappointment. What is that smell? It can't possibly be good for you to wear it against your skin and breathe it in, whatever it is.
And! In case that wasn't bad enough, most everything is made in China. I am trying so hard to live a good life and do the right thing. Buying Made-in-China crap is definitely NOT doing the right thing. You don't need me to tell you all the gazillion reasons why we shouldn't do that. So now try going shopping in a light-hearted mood and think about the fun times you are going to have in the lovely outfits you are trying to buy and then to be assaulted by this smell, bad lighting, salespeople who bathe in cheap perfume and find that 1 out of 10 items is NOT made in China. That one item? It was made in Taiwan. See? It gets depressing.
Are you depressed yet from just reading this? I am sorry about that. I guess my questions here are these:
1. What is that smell? Is it something sprayed on the clothes? Is it in the cloth before it is cut and sewn?
2. Do you like to shop?
3. Do you have certain criteria? Such as no Made-in-China? Or no man-made fabrics? Or only from Vintage and Thrift stores?
4. How about hand-made items? Do you sew? Do you knit?
5. And that brings me to this. What do you do with your old clothes? Do you pass them on, like hand-me-downs for kids? Do you take them to a consignment store? How about thrift stores? Or do you cut them up to go into a quilt or a braided rug?
I get really curious to know how other people do things. Lemme hear from you! And I will post some pics after the wedding so you can see all the lovely non-smelly, non-made-in-China clothes I ended up wearing!
ok, now I am stressed out.... my house is a wreck now that your brother is back to working 5 million hours a day. I was already mentally packing this weekend's schedule, and now I'm confronted with the reality that I need to shop.... sigh.... and I HATE shopping. sigh. I have no answers to your questions but am in total agreement :(
ReplyDeleteHey there! I shop only in catalogs, as I hate the thought of entering a mall or department store. The dressing rooms are so danged hot I'm drenched in sweat and nothing will slide on as it should. I get my arms stuck taking something off because I'm so frantic to get and GET SOME AIR. I hate it. I really do. I give all my old anything (clothes, dishes, towels, etc.) to Casa Hogar Douglas, just outside of Monterrey. What they can't use they sell and use the money to feed the children there (70 precious souls). I also carry the peanut or cheese and cracker combos in my car. Can't do the water thing - plastic bottles, but maybe I can do ziplock bags of water??????? Like runners get in marathons. Much food for thought.
ReplyDelete1. I don't know what that smell is, but I suspect it's some chemical sizing to give cheap, flimsy fabric a nice shape. One wash and the garment has lost its shape.
ReplyDelete2. I was never much of a shopper, but I like it less since I've been on the Compact since January of 2006. Most of the time if I'm in a thrift store or craft store I look around and leave without buying anything.
3. No Made-in-China...but my new laptop is. (the desktop is dying) Rats! Except for underwear and most shoes, clothes only from thrift stores or consignment shops.
4. I knit all my own socks. Haven't sewn for ages, but used to make most of my own clothes. I do get out the machine for mending clothes, an unheard-of thing with most folks, I suppose. And what happened to all the shoe repair shops??
5. All old clothes and other usable items go to the local thrift store that uses the income to purchase materials for wheelchair ramps and home repairs for those who can't pay for the work themselves.