I have to tell you guys about my shopping victory this weekend. I need at least 3 suits for a conference in Vegas beginning January 4. Ann Taylor is having a FABULOUS sale and I got three suits! Everything was at least half off. I got (can only link one, the other 2 aren't on the website):

* Black flippy skirt with matching jacket (will go with a pair of black pants I already have)
* Dark grey charcoal pants/jacket (jacket was originally 289, marked down to 89) with a fine light blue pin stripe. Got a gorgeous blue silky shirt with a soft neckline to go with it (shirt was also on sale)
* Dark brown pants/jacket, also with a tiny lighter blue pin stripe, got a beautiful light blue silk button down to wear with it (shirt was not on sale, but matched perfectly)
* Pair of gorgeous dark brown suede pumps (round toe, ankle strap) - marked down from 188! to go with the dark brown suit (I didn't have any dressy brown shoes)

I already have a pair of very nice black pumps and a couple of shirts to wear with the black suit (a lavender silk button down and a fun burgundy, black, charcoal paisely button down).

That should be 5 days worth (if I wear the black suit more than once, which should be fine!) I've been stressed about having to buy "business" stuff, it's a relief to have found it all - and on sale!! It is also VERY good encouragement to not gain 1 lb over the holidays, everything currently fits perfectly.

I have a question - I have a gorgeous size 14 suit I got at Macy's, can a suit be taken in from a size 14 to a size 6? I might just consign the suit, but it's sooo pretty, I would love to keep it!

Glory- What a coup! I love the Ann Taylor blue blouse. I have a similar one that I got for my birthday.

A size 14 skirt can be sized down, but most likely the jacket can't be or it would cost you much more than just buying a new one! I had a few pairs of good pants sized down but the tailor just shook his head at the jackets. Consign it- Macy's is having sales every weekend.

Why do shoes fit in the store and become painful after a few hours at work after I've already walked across the parking lot?

Mel - when are you trying on the shoes? Beginning of the day? Feet swell as the day goes on, so I do my shoe-shopping LAST (after I've walked around at the mall).

I am making a Goodwill run today. Not sure what I'll find but I am running into a problem of having -no- winter clothes (Last year I was a 14-16, now I'm an 8) and not enough money to completely re-wardrobe at standard stores. We'll see.

Latest fashion trend noted: big buttons. Really big, oversized buttons on sweaters and jackets. Like 2 1/2 inches in diameter. I think I like them.

The long shorts we talked about earlier in the season seem to be gone; I guess it was a fall look. I didn't see many people wearing them for real -- did any of you?

Glory, I your new clothes! But have to agree with Mel about tailoring a jacket that extensively. The problem is that the shoulders and armholes are cut too big and there isn't any way to add fabric to close up the armholes. Bummer, I know!

Meg,

I bought a red sweater with big buttons, I love it. It is still a bit snug for me but I also bought it for my end of the year trip so hopefully it won't be by then.

Amanda, have you ever looked at Sierra Trading post? I found a few good items there and they keep sending me 20-30% off coupons (you can find some online as well) My winter wardrobe has come from Sierra Trading post, the huge sale I hit at Dillards and Costco.

What I need now are brown boots. My brown shoes are leaving my feet cold and my previous brown boots finally fell apart. I guess it is off to check Zappos or Shoebuy.

Nelie, after your post last week I had a look at the Sierra Trading Post. I wound up buying some more workout clothes--a sleeveless shirt for the gym and a zippered turtleneck for running outside. I also ordered a new bathrobe. The one I'm currently wearing is lovely fleece but it's a VERY generously cut XL and was always too big; two of me could easily fit in here now. The 30% off plus free shipping thing is very nice.

Thanks for the head's up!

So I was shopping the other day since returning a wedding present gave us a $45 credit at Kohl's . . . Saw some cute stuff, but since we had already spent half the credit on other stuff I didn't want to spend the money on something expensive (haha, "expensive" meaning $30 or more), so I bought some new PJs instead! I got a cute fleece nightgown, it's pink with little stars and doggies wearing sweaters on it. Anyway, I didn't try it on, I just grabbed a size SMALL off the rack and bought it, and it fit perfectly.

Normally, I HATE panty hose. Hate them, Hate them. I even buy them in sizes 2 to 3 times bigger that the charts say for my height and weight - that means little me is usually wearing Queen size and still feeling like an over stuffed sausage.

This fall, I picked up a few pairs of tights since their so in style - they probably always were, I just never noticed. The ones I'm wearing today for my Halloween black cat costume feel devine. Their Leg's Size B - only one size bigger and feel so slippery smooth and flexible. I'm in heaven with them.

Can anyone explain the difference between tights and panty hose?

Glory - your suits and blouses sound great. Hope you find more occassions to wear them. I only have two suits left from my former thin days - a paisey spring print (that I wore for Easter) and a blackwatch plaid heavy wool (that I will probably wear for Christmas).

But my lifestyle doesn't call for that kind of dress up anymore. 2 years ago, I gave away all my other thin suits from working 14 years ago. They were classic so it wouldn't have been a problem to wear them now. I just have to remind myself when I think of them now that I don't need them.

My sister gave me more clothes again, so now at least I have more warm things to wear during the winter months. I'll definitely have to take a few pictures, whether I'm actually IN those clothes or not.

Tights should be opaque. Hose is usually (somewhat) see-through. I'm a huge lover of tights. I've actually got an entire "tights" drawer. I've got some extra skin around my thighs and knees, and the tights do an awesome job of "firming" that up!

Interesting. We call them all tights over here! For us, hose are the leggings worn by men in the fifteenth and sixteenth century. Must be a word which went over with the Mayflower and then went its separate way!

Thanks scgirl32. That makes sense. I haven't worn tights since I was in middle school and had to wear white tights with my black patten leather shoes, white gloves, and fancy dresses every other Tuesday night to Barcley's Ballroom Dancing Lessons for girls and boys who were supposed to go on to cotillions and other coming out parties. Luckily, I didn't have to suffer through that agony!

Apparently there was an article in a local paper this week about how clogged up customs and all the delivery services are with Canadians shopping on-line. Our dollar is really good lately and I'm as guilty as the rest.
I bought short boots, long boots, scarves, scrubs, VS under gotchers ....

Ya know that commercial where they slap the guys forehead for not eating vegetables? This must be the 4th or 5th Cherokee uniform I have. I didn't try it on when I got it. I just jumped out of the shower this morning and pulled it on.
Smack! you shoulda bought a petite!
I'm going to wear it dragging today but I'll have to shorten the pants.

I had fun shopping this weekend. I was looking for coats and stumbled on a low out of last year's suede. I ended up with 3 suede jackets -- 2 less than $30 and 1 less than $20 (though I might return that one, it is a style I'm not sure I like). It was fun! I still need to buy a wool coat, however.

I also bought a few sweaters. Last year I didn't teach in the winter and survived on mostly too big turtlenecks. That's not gonna fly this year, so I need more stuff!