I look like a big fucking dork, and I need some new clothes. Please help! I'm on the eve of my 30th birthday. Don't let me ring in my 30th as more scrap for Darwin's trash can. I never find anything in thrift stores -- they're always picked through. It doesn't help that I have such a narrow, long frame -- looking for pants is extremely frustrating. Suggestions? Outside of the "hip" retail stores like H&M and Urban Outfitters? I'm not completely adverse to buying from those places; I just don't want to walk down the street 2 days later and see 3 or 4 other people wearing my same cookie cutter "hip" clothes. Someone suggested Filene's Basement to me, but I didn't see to much there that I'd care to wear in my brief browse. And it seems even the discounted stuff there isn't so bargain priced.
myriam [email] said at 8:14 PM 11-16-2005: For men, especially men with long legs, honestly I like Express pants. Maybe you'll see someone else wearing them, but you'll look good.
I know a bunch of small boutiques in Pittsburgh but not in DC, sorry can't help you there. :(
meredith [email] said at 3:29 PM 11-17-2005: I second this. And Express has very frequent sales. If you get their credit card, they send you TONS of coupons as well. Jeremy has between a 34" and 36" pant length and he always finds awesome jeans and pants in Express.
ed [email] said at 8:41 PM 11-16-2005: I buy my clothes at Target, or any other low-cost, non-flashy, "who gives a crap how you look, just wear stuff that fits" outlet. But then, my age surpasses Sesur's IQ (and that ain't saying much).
So, I'm probably not the best source for fashion advice.
Killoggs DID teach me to relentlessy pursue non-pleated pants, though.
mary [email] said at 10:38 PM 11-16-2005: I buy clothes from Banana Republic, Ann Taylor and other such boring places. The man whose clothing-buying habits I know best shops at places a great deal too preppy for your taste, I think.
craig [email] said at 12:25 PM 11-17-2005: I shop at Target and go through all of the shit at Ross and Marshalls. They are all hit or miss, but I usually find some article of clothing I like if I hit all three at once. I also go to Buffalo Exchange which is kind of like a vintage store. I am not sure if they have them in DC/Baltimore. Every now and then I will hit up the Gap. I used to go to H&M in NYC, but there isn't one out here in the desert. There is also no Armani Exchange out here in Phoenix. hmmm. What kind of clothes do you want? I go with low rise boot cut jeans and some fitted t-shirt or a slim polo shirt these days in retro stripes or black. I usually wear black, sleek sneakers like Diesel or Sketchers but chuck taylors in black and white or all black will certainly do. For jeans, Target has Mossimo for $25 which are not too bad, and Levis always work. You can also hit up army surplus stores for cheap but warm military jackets.
dave [email] said at 12:41 PM 11-17-2005: Brad, I would take a different approach rather than picking particular stores to shop at. Find a set of designers that make clothes that fit you well. Some of these may infact be retail chains like Banana Republic, but others may be stuff like Ben Sherman, or Alex Cannon. With my tall skinny ass it's taken years for me to find out which designers make clothes that fit my body type well, and when I buy clothes I usually circle stores that carry these.
brad [email] said at 8:13 PM 11-17-2005: I've always assumed that most designer clothes would be out of my budget, but I'll check them out. I think the key for me will be just staying alert and finding out when stores run sales on those clothes. And maybe getting a second job (ha). Thanks.
dave [email] said at 9:19 PM 11-18-2005: if you buy them hot off the rack they are definitely pricey. However, the sale racks are always loaded I've found. At least in Houston and NYC.
anthony [email] said at 10:58 PM 11-20-2005: I suggest you go to the actual designer store and try the clothes on, especially jeans/pants. Mark down the cut somewhere and then start perusing ebay. Specifically with jeans, you're not going to get the latest wash, but I doubt that's a concern of yours.
Actually, the levi's store in Tysons Corner and I think there's one in DC now have decently priced jeans.
I understand not wanting to be "one of those" people, but H&M does carry shirts specifically for people of a leaner stature such as yourself, and at an affordable price. Just a thought.
A few months ago I found some Ben Sherman and Paul Frank stuff on the sales rack at Commander Salamander in Georgetown. Sales racks...sales racks.
Bob said at 6:53 PM 11-17-2005: I usually go to the cheap stores and comb them for anything hip enough, then go to the hip stores and comb them for anything cheap enough. Last time out I found some Split shirts at Pop that were 75% off, and they fit my skinny-ass frame great.
brad [email] said at 2:26 AM 11-21-2005: actually, when i said "the eve of my 30th birthday," i didn't mean that so literally. not 'til january, sorry for the confusion.
amy [email] said at 1:19 AM 11-18-2005: the key to finding the designers on sale is to shop for next season at the end of this season. Example, shop for next summer at the end of this summer/beginning of fall. Never, ever wait until winter to buy a coat, buy one at the beginning of summer. I recently got marc jacobs, ralph lauren, donna karen, etc at jc pennys for less than 10 a shirt.
craig, try the awhatukhee mall, lots of designer outlets.
reggie [email] said at 10:21 PM 11-20-2005: I bought my favorite pair of jeans ever a few months ago when I found a pair of American Rags that would normally be like 30 bucks for 5 at Hechts. I was actually about to give up and on a whim I walked by the bargain rack and there were the exact size I needed marked down to five dollars.
I don't really know why either, I mean the bloodstain's hardly noticeable.
chuck [email] said at 12:40 PM 11-21-2005: WOW! How'd I miss this request for help with SHOPPING? I'll likely rehash much of what Craig said. I usually luck up on discounted designer stuff at Ross, Marshals, TJMaxx and Filenes. Mazza Gallery on Wisconsin Avenue is awful but it does have a TJMaxx, Filenes and Loehmans on the same block. You can find stuff there fairly well discounted. Filenes can be a bit overwhelming but if you go earlier in the week (tuesday or wednesday) that's when the stuff for thinner guys is more plentiful. Hit Target for Mossimo dressy stuff, KMart for Dickies (usually no more than $14 for pants) and Value Village Thrift for various items.
