Useless Conversation

[schild]

I'm sitting here at my desk at work in a pair of Eddie Bower khakis (non-pleated). Comfortable as can be, but damn do they get wrinkled easily. I hate ironing.

I fully admit, I am over 35 and have zero fashion sense. Comfort is key.

Eddie Bauer stuff is terrible about wrinkling. It's probably the main reason it's on the "Do Not Buy" list with a ton of other crap - especially since it costs the same as J Crew/BR.

Actually, I don't think I care what other people wear at all except that my sister wears really, really ugly shoes.

You would if it makes the person look like they want to say "I don't care about myself." There's a vast sea of difference between not caring about what you look like and not being able to dress well. Also, you care about what is on people's feet obviously, so I'll just assume you like looking down.

[murdoc]

I hate buying pants. I have lots of really nice collared shirts that fit very well, but I never seem to find pants that do.

[Viin]

Edit: Oh, and if you don't want to spend much, just go to Banana Republic. Don't go anywhere near Dockers. Spent $50 at BR and get something that at least looks business professional and classy. The new J Crew stuff is pretty nice too.

Banana Republic and J Crew are good ideas. I'm not small enough to pull off the skinny jeans look. And yeah, I'd rather wear my Lucky's all day but some jobs frown on jeans .. thus the search for comfy non-jean pants that aren't sweats.

[Signe]

I sort of liked those Bills Khakis.  I guess I never noticed pleats much.  Anyway, I have to notice my sister's shoes.  I can't help it.  They make noises.  I don't know what kind they are but every pair is ugly, clunky and noisy.  Maybe they're made of some kind of wood that looks like leather.  I think I mostly mean that I don't look too much at regular, every day clothing.  I wouldn't mind if most women dressed like Lady Gaga and most men dressed like old David Bowie.  It would be fun to watch.  My mother was very into fashion but today most of the people in my life just wear what's clean. 

[NowhereMan]

All my suit trousers have pleats, I like them and clearly have no fashion sense. Fuck it I wear tweed I don't think anyone's going to notice the pleats.

[LK]

I went to Dockers this weekend and got a cheap Indian-themed outfit for cheap since they were having a 50% off sale. It's a change from my normal habits of black / black. This one was off-white shirt with tan pants which sort of felt nice and looked nice since I've got a better figure.

I don't mind spandex or skin-tight materials so long as the right woman is wearing them in combination of other things. The Tron: Legacy trailer is one such example.

I wish I knew a couple more girls that dressed like Signe's avatar. 

[Signe]

I wish I knew a couple more girls that dressed like Signe's avatar. 

You should move to London or Tokyo then.  Hurry, though, it appears to be fashion that tends to exhaust so you can't count on people being devoted to it forever. 

[LK]

I should've moved to Tokyo a decade ago. Ah well.

[schild]

Edit: Oh, and if you don't want to spend much, just go to Banana Republic. Don't go anywhere near Dockers. Spent $50 at BR and get something that at least looks business professional and classy. The new J Crew stuff is pretty nice too.

Banana Republic and J Crew are good ideas. I'm not small enough to pull off the skinny jeans look. And yeah, I'd rather wear my Lucky's all day but some jobs frown on jeans .. thus the search for comfy non-jean pants that aren't sweats.

Seriously, you can find jeans that people can't even tell are jeans. They just look like really well-made heavy-duty khakis.

Lucky jeans :(

[RhyssaFireheart]

Not to derail the clothing discussion, but I've decided that happiness is going to the bank to make the last payment on your car. 

Oh, and FINALLY getting a call back on an app I submitted online.  The one time I didn't head straight home after running an errand (said bank stop above) and I finally get a call.  Oh well, at least I was in Michaels and not in some place like Target, although I'm sure the staff wondered why I was hanging out in the back corner of the store talking on my cell.  Doesn't matter, it seemed to go well for a phone "interview".

Hmm, going full circle, the job is "professional" dress though, instead of business casual.  What's really the difference?  Not that I would be looking forward to having to find professional women's clothing in plus sizes, I hate most current fashion in general.

[schild]

My solution to dealing with current fashion was to lose a third of my body mass - instead of hating on it. 

[RhyssaFireheart]

My solution to dealing with current fashion was to lose a third of my body mass - instead of hating on it. 

Yeah, that ain't happening any time soonish.  I'm working on the weight thing, but here's a surprise, it's really more difficult for women than it is for men.  Doesn't help that I'm over 40 either, and it's certainly not going to get changed before I get a job.

Husband and I are working on making changes to our diet (just trying to eat better overall and cook instead of going out) and I'm trying to make it to the gym and/or walk regularly.  The weight still isn't just going to magically melt away.

Personally, I hate the former fatties that are just like "oh, just lose the weight, it's easy!"  My MiL pulls that crap on us and it makes me nuts.  I'm well aware of the health risks and know what I need to do.  I hated having my day die at 67 because of complications from CHF and emphysema.  My older brother had a heart attack at 40, dad's HA was at 44 and his mother died at 58 from her third HA.  I know I need to change things.  It's just not going to happen overnight, no matter what.

/rant off.

Oh, and let's not go into the fact that a US size 12 is considered plus size.  When I was a size 12, I weighed about 140-ish pounds, which is probably a bit low now for my height.  Women's fashion is fucked up in general, and still doesn't mean it's going to be easy to find professional clothes in plus sizes if I get this position.

[schild]

I didn't say it was easy. I am actually on the record a few times saying it was the hardest thing I ever did.

So. Uh. Just lose the weight, it's hard!

A women's size 12 is a 33 in men's clothing right? +21 rule applies here assuming we're talking about waist size. So, ranting about that seems.... off-point?

[Merusk]

They've fudged women's sized by 2-3 sizes over the last decade+ to let the growing population feel better about themselves. yay vanity sizing.

[Selby]

Hmm... I used to wear a XXL and fit decently, now I can fit the XL sizes.  It's a conspiracy to make me feel thinner and buy new clothes!

[Yegolev]

A women's size 12 is a 33 in men's clothing right? +21 rule applies here assuming we're talking about waist size. So, ranting about that seems.... off-point?

Women's clothing sizes vary by manufacturer.  The numbers don't seem to have any relation to reality, which is actually fitting if you think about it.  Intentional pun.

Viin, I am getting the idea that you are buying khakis for the first time.  I find this interesting although I have no further advice.  Now that I am outsourced, I don't dress up for work anymore past the "jeans + polo + sneakers" level.  Fuck those guys.  Well, if I know I am going to meet with my HP overlords, I dress, but those guys are really into remote working.

Rhy, I think "professional" is skirt + hose but you'll have to check the specifics.  Could be slacks + jacket.

[Lantyssa]

Women's clothing sizes vary by manufacturer.  The numbers don't seem to have any relation to reality, which is actually fitting if you think about it.  Intentional pun.

So true.  I can go from a (rare) 8 to a 12 depending on the maker and cut.  Forget my ego, I just want consistency.

[Signe]

I don't think skirts have been required for professional dress for eons in most places.  I hope not, anyway.  At least most of the professional women I've known the last twenty years or so have worn suits with trousers.  I know quite a lot of lawyers and their firms seem to be the most stringent when it comes to dress.  I remember sitting in a lawyer's office years ago when he got the memo that because the AC was out, they could remove their suit jackets as long as there were no clients about.  It was a bit sad.  They were already mostly drenched.  They even had dress shoe standards.  Hopefully, it's more relaxed these days but who knows?  You might wear a nice suit the first day and check out what everyone is wearing.  I'm lucky never to have worked in a professional type office with any kind of standards.  Nearly every job I've had everyone was encouraged to dress extremely casual and even weird if they liked. 

[LK]

Heard on the radio from an attorney that his employees could wear whatever they want *EXCEPT* when clients were visiting. Then they had to dress up or he sent them home.

[Johny Cee]

Hmm, going full circle, the job is "professional" dress though, instead of business casual.  What's really the difference?  Not that I would be looking forward to having to find professional women's clothing in plus sizes, I hate most current fashion in general.

Professional = suit, but it will depend on the work environment.  Especially for women.

Our office is professional, but you can take off your suit jacket.  It's decidedly more lenient for women, who aren't forced into wearing a skirt or pant suit and jacket as long as the outfit is generally "dressy" enough.

And yah, professional sucks in the summer.  Especially since there is no way in hell I'm going to spend the money to buy a second wardrobe of (decent quality) summer weight suits. 

[Merusk]

Professional women's dress at places I've been has typically meant no sleeveless shirts or tank tops, no low cut blouses and absolutely no open weaves.  If you want to show the girls or a new bra off go to a bar.  It also applied to skirt length, as some women don't seem to think it inappropriate to wear mid-thigh or higher skirts into the office.  It can also mean no open-toed shoes but that has varied from place to place. (Some places even allowed women to wear sandals while men had to wear dress shoes.. wtf?)

[schild]

If I worked at a place that required me to wear a suit during the summer, I would rock an off-white linen suit with boat shoes and a $100 t-shirt. When someone commented on my t-shirt and I eventually got fired, I would smile, inform them my shirt costs more than their off-the-rack suit that isn't fit for a Bar Mitzvah and walk out - and proceed to be happy with my life because I don't work at a place that requires you wear a god. damn. suit. during the summer.

[Signe]

Vampires are at the bottom of the heap in my opinion.  Way too over done to be interesting anymore.  Even werewolves are better than vampires.  Zombies out do them both.  Nothing is better than giant robots, though. 

[Selby]

Forget my ego, I just want consistency.

Agreed.  I go from L to XXL depending on brand and whatever flavor of the month "personal fit" the item family happens to be.  Jeans are a total crap-shoot as well.  I hate shopping for clothes because of it.

[schild]

Forget my ego, I just want consistency.

Agreed.  I go from L to XXL depending on brand and whatever flavor of the month "personal fit" the item family happens to be.  Jeans are a total crap-shoot as well.  I hate shopping for clothes because of it.

If you don't mind me asking, what brand are you XXL in? I can't think of anything that swings that wildly that someone is an XXL in one thing and an L in another. L/XL and XL/XXL I can see though.

[Pennilenko]

Forget my ego, I just want consistency.

Agreed.  I go from L to XXL depending on brand and whatever flavor of the month "personal fit" the item family happens to be.  Jeans are a total crap-shoot as well.  I hate shopping for clothes because of it.

If you don't mind me asking, what brand are you XXL in? I can't think of anything that swings that wildly that someone is an XXL in one thing and an L in another. L/XL and XL/XXL I can see though.

When forced into buying the cheapest brands this happens all the time. All the target and walmart stuff is like this.

[Pennilenko]

Vampires are at the bottom of the heap in my opinion.  Way too over done to be interesting anymore.  Even werewolves are better than vampires.  Zombies out do them both.  Nothing is better than giant robots, though. 

My wife and I would love to be ann rice vampires.

[rattran]

Vampires that could only live on the blood of Ann Rice seems awfully limiting.

And what about Giant Robot Vampires?

[Lantyssa]

A vampire's diet would already be high in iron.  Seems redundant.  And all that oil would cause acne problems.

[rattran]

I mean Giant Robots that happen to be Vampires. Or Vampires that happen to be Giant Robots. But I agree that Ann Rice is filled with oiliness and irony.

[Selby]

When forced into buying the cheapest brands this happens all the time. All the target and walmart stuff is like this.

This.  Shirts are the biggest offenders.  Losing weight helped reduce that fluctuation, but there are still some XXL shirts of one brand I have that fit worse than XL of another.  Things like Gap vs. Target vs. Sam's club.

[Signe]

I mean Giant Robots that happen to be Vampires. Or Vampires that happen to be Giant Robots. But I agree that Ann Rice is filled with oiliness and irony.

I knew what you meant and I approve!  Although Giant Robot Zombies would be very awesome. 

I can't think of anything that swings that wildly that someone is an XXL in one thing and an L in another. L/XL and XL/XXL I can see though.

Band t-shirts!!  Righ's had medium sized shirts that were bigger than the XL shirts he's bought.    Nicest quality band shirts he's bought = Rush.  Most awful quality = Sisters of Mercy.  Well, that I can think of off hand, at least.  He could dress most of some small country with his shirts.

[Pennilenko]

I mean Giant Robots that happen to be Vampires. Or Vampires that happen to be Giant Robots. But I agree that Ann Rice is filled with oiliness and irony.

I knew what you meant and I approve!  Although Giant Robot Zombies would be very awesome. 

I can't think of anything that swings that wildly that someone is an XXL in one thing and an L in another. L/XL and XL/XXL I can see though.

Band t-shirts!!  Righ's had medium sized shirts that were bigger than the XL shirts he's bought.    Nicest quality band shirts he's bought = Rush.  Most awful quality = Sisters of Mercy.  Well, that I can think of off hand, at least.  He could dress most of some small country with his shirts.

I have changed my mind, I would much rather be a giant robot zombie, than an ann rice vampire.

[Murgos]

What's the problem with pleats btw?  Is it a body thing?  If that's the case, I'm going to bet I'm in better shape than 90% of the people under 35 here.  Maybe I need to consider flat front... time to go shopping!

It's pretty simple, anywhere you use more material that area looks bulkier.  Do you really want the front of your hips to look bulky?

[Signe]

Isn't the front of your hips your dick?  I'd say, it depends, then.