Sunday, March 1, 2009

Shopping for Clothes

I'm starting a new job tomorrow. This is a good thing. There is one small problem, however. The dress code for this job is Business Casual. A quick inventory of my wardrobe revealed that while I definitely have "Casual" mastered, the "Business" aspect presents a challenge. Up until now, deciding what to wear to work has never been a concern. For the first 21 years of my adult life, it was always the Uniform of the Day. In the job I've worked at since I retired, it was black Carhartt pants, and the company issued shirt. No decision making required.

Despite waiting for the past two weeks, as of this morning, the problem had not remedied itself. Drat. The solution to this, however, involves two things I hate. Shopping and...shopping.

So I drug myself to the store, and after a painful couple hours, I've got enough clothes to at least make it through the first week. Which sadly, means I'll probably be shopping again next weekend. Ugghh!

I do have one question. Why does each item of clothing that I purchased have at least 5 tags and/or stickers on it? Size, cost, SKU, you name it. Isn't one enough?

11 comments:

Christina RN LMT said...

I LOATHE shopping, and always have. Will they revoke my woman card for admitting that?
I've been lucky to only have worked one job which required a completely new wardrobe.
Other than that, it's been some form of uniform or scrubs. Now THERE'S a comfortable outfit. I really love scrubs. That's just a very tiny part of why I want to become a nurse!
Anyway, congrats and good luck with the new job!
BTW, have you considered shopping on-line? A lot less hassle, I believe...

Dave (aka Buckskins Rule) said...

Thanks, Christina! We'd better keep the fact that you hate to shop between ourselves. You just might get your card revoked. ;)

I actually do a great deal of shopping online. Keeps me away from the malls, and I get to screw the state out of sales tax. With clothes, however, experience has proven that I need to try them on first. I ride a fine line between sizes, and I'm guaranteed to order the wrong size.

Liz said...

Like Christina LMT, I missed out on the shopping gene - except for ONLINE!! Online, I can do - for western Business-Casual check Cabello, Lands' End, LLBean or a favorite store if you have one.

The size thing, if you find a store you like, you'll narrow down the size in what they carry and right now especially they are dealing on shipping and returns. To each his/her own, I HATE trying things on in stores...

Congrats on the First Saddling! I don't know about training horses, but with my dogs, it is the trust and respect that work and sounds like you have that going.

Dave (aka Buckskins Rule) said...

Interesting that you mention your dogs, Ann. A guy that I know, who also owns a horse, happens to be a dog trainer. He uses his experiences working with dogs to help him work with his horse. While the techniques differ, the mental aspect is very much the same.

Liz said...

While I am hardly an experienced dog trainer, really just my current and last dog - I learned a lot. My previous property had a round pen and 2 acres of pasture and my neighbor rotated her 3 horses in my pasture - my first closeup and personal with horses. I was surprised at how much personality the horses had. She loved them dearly, they got lots of people attention and so in my pasture, they were happy for mine as well. I am of the opinion that animals have so much integrity, honesty and intuition and they know true love and respect as well as calm and fair leadership.

If you enjoy and are interested in animal-human interaction, you might enjoy Daily Coyote - blog and there is a wonderful book that tells the entire story. It is not just a cute animal story - it is also a life experience/lesson. The author, Shreve Stockton is a wonderful writer as well as a gifted photographer and has an innate compassion, curiousity and authenticity.

Hope your first day went well!

Liz said...

My link did not work...Blogger didn't like http ...

http://www.dailycoyote.net/index.php" is the URL for Daily Coyote - you'll have to cut and paste in your browser if you are interested...

Buck said...

Oooh... When you mentioned shopping you hit a hot button with me, as well. I HATE to "shop." When I want something I go BUY!

But... digression aside... When I first went to work for EDS after the AF they had a strict dress code: suit and tie ONLY. I could live with that, and did so... happily... for about ten years. And then they went BizCasual (one of the very last to do so, btw, even IBM went there before EDS) and just p!ssed me right off... coz I had to buy a whole new wardrobe for work. I had VERY little in my closet between jeans/tee shirts and suits. So... it was off to Men's Wearhouse and the like. That gets expensive after a while.

I agree with Ann, tho. I loved Lands End and bought ALL my dress shirts from them... superb fit, great construction, and good prices, too. Sears carries Lands End stuff in their stores now... you might wanna check 'em out.

Anonymous said...

I love to shop. I'll admit it. If you need any advice, let me know. And they put all those tags on there just to aggravate you. But the only one you really have to be concerned about (besides the washing directions) is the shoplifting doomaflotchie (yes, that's the technical term- hehe) that will sound an alarm if not removed prior to leaving the store.
I came over here from Daphne's Jaded Haven after she stated you had horses. So, if I irritate you with my cooing over your horses, blame Daphne : )

Dave (aka Buckskins Rule) said...

Laura, welcome to the site. It's unlikely you will irritate me by fawning over my horses. The enjoyment I get from them is why I started this blog. I figured the purpose of the tags was to annoy me. I even managed to wash a few stickers that I missed.

Ann, you are so right animals. I think we humans can learn a great deal from them, if we just pay attention.

Buck, I'm with you, I prefer to just go BUY. But with the clothing thing, it required a little more effort.

Bag Blog said...

My husband has to wear what he calls "girl britches" to work. I buy him Dockers or Riata slacks from Wrangler.

Dave (aka Buckskins Rule) said...

"Girl Britches"...that's funny, but I do understand what he's saying. It's going to take me awhile to adjust.