Bottoms

I’m not quite sure when the clothing industry decided to refer to pants and skirts as bottoms. This is the category we have to click on when shopping online.

Ok. These articles of clothing cover the lower half of one’s body and also cover (we hope) one’s literal bottom. But I am not comfortable saying, “I’ve got to run to the store and buy some new bottoms.” There is just something wrong about that statement.

Pants are a good option for the lower half of the body, but pants can be difficult to shop for.

Do we even need to discuss the issue of skin tight pants that show the contour of every muscle or lack of muscle on our bodies? I will wear leggings to a yoga class or under a skirt. But there are approximately three women my age who look good enough in them to wear them in public.

The other extreme is baggy sweat pants. When I see a woman in sweats, I almost always think, “She looks comfortable.” I never think, “She looks great.” Pajamas have traditionally been worn for sleeping. Some traditions are worth keeping.

Somewhere in between there must be a pair of well-fitted, comfortable pants for me.

Skirts are also a great choice for the bottom part of the body.

Any length of skirt goes these days. Some skirts are so short that should you drop something on the ground, you’ll have to leave it there or risk exposure.

I like a knee length or long skirt. At this point in my life, I don’t feel the need to show off my knees or any area above them. And I am referring to a comfortable skirt in which I can walk with a normal stride, not one which will force me to take little, dainty steps against my will.

Shorts are another type of clothing in the bottom category.

I have looked at shorts in stores. They are little squares. It looks as though the manufacturers have run out of fabric. If you happen to be a marathon runner, which I am not, these short shorts may be appropriate.

I tend to shy away from shorts these days. The whole knee issue comes into play. If I need something light like shorts, I wear capris. I imagine that capris were invented by some brilliant person, about my age, perhaps living on the Isle of Capri, who decided to cut off a pair of pants below the knee. But I digress.

Anyway, best of luck with all the shopping problems in this area. Sooner or later we’re bound to get to the bottom of this.

 

Consignment Shopping

I love going to consignment shops. It’s always a thrill to find an item you know you will enjoy which would cost much more at a regular, retail store.

I’ve gone to a neighborhood consignment store for a few years now. I keep waiting for the day when a neighbor says, “Those are cute pants; I used to have a pair exactly like those.” or, “That sweater looks really familiar; I think I had one just like it.” And then there would be an awkward pause. But, so far this has not happened and I happily outfit myself in these gently worn clothes.

There are pros and cons to shopping this way. There are some negatives. There is no saying to the salesperson, “I like this skirt. Do you have it in a size 10?” It is a matter of potluck as to what is available on any given day and you have to enjoy the search.

Another negative is that there are no returns; you literally pay for your mistakes. There have been times when I have gotten home with a lovely new purchase only to realize exactly why the person wanted to get rid of the item in the first place.

But the positives outweigh the negatives. Some items are brand new and yet are sold for a third, or less, of their original price. This is a huge score.  And even if items are gently worn, at least I don’t have to wonder if they will shrink after a wash or two. I can still get quality clothing for a bargain.

The best part of the deal is coming home with my new purchase and looking up the original cost on the internet. I put on my twenty dollar sweater and see that other people have actually paid ninety dollars for a sweater from this particular brand. I almost feel like a hypocrite walking around in the sweater. But not really. I mainly just enjoy it.

I’ve been shopping consignment for long enough now that I am appalled at the prices of new clothes at a regular, retail shop. The prices are outrageous. What if I spill on these clothes or tear them accidentally?

I wear fairly basic clothes. Some of these shops have high end and high brow fashion. My neighborhood shop often has clothing that is entirely too trendy for me. Once there was a Chanel purse that was from the Paris runways. It was a limited item and worth thousands of dollars. But it was a clear plastic box with the Chanel logo and some little handles.

Really? A clear plastic box for a screaming deal of only one thousand dollars. I don’t think so. Maybe it would go with the pair of extremely high-heeled boots I saw there and some of the other high fashion apparel.

I will continue with my consignment shopping, but I think I’ll pass on the plastic box and the things that might look interesting on a very young, size zero model. Let’s just say I’ve consigned myself to the sidelines of the runway.