I spent about 30 years as a department store "garmento". Much of it leading a group of buyers charged with making money on fashion. One of the issues that haunted me was that an entire industry was devoted to "average sizes". Sure, we had petite and large size departments. But the profits were made on people who were sizes 8 to 12.
A society that was inclusive (yes that is a wonderful word - kinda Christiany :) would develop a system to dress everyone efficiently and nicely.
But wait. That might mean less GPROI. Gross profit return on investment.
And that is American everything. Profits over people. Healthcare, childcare, elder care, education, communication - all driven by money for the few.
And you couldn't find pants that fit. I call that a broken society.
With the infiltration of “fast fashion” (meaning cheap and trendy) there is so much surplus garbage out there. We have more clothes than the whole planet needs. It is satisfying to be buying used clothing at this point, and to be able to treasure hunt for unique items that weren’t mass-marketed and show a bit of personality. I can find a few more pants to wear nowadays, and overheard a tiny woman next to me complain how everything is tailored so long now. We are moving towards clothes for every body type, but in the end, there’s too much produced. In the end, as you say Bill, the almighty dollar will be prevail.
We lived parallel lives, Ilona. I swear. I’ve lost 72 pounds in the last two years through the miracle of chemistry and have suddenly got an interest in fashion that I’ve never had. I never had the money for clothes when I had the body or the body when I had the money! I admittedly have always been more in favor of comfort rather than speed, as they say. I never believed myself beautiful or that I could be beautiful either (always made fun of for my carrot top) so never really learned to dress or do makeup well. And most of the time I did not/do not care about such things. But I like the point of dressing as communication. I think I’ll go change out if my sweats now…
Can’t make the live session on Monday but look forward to the recording
“I never had the money for clothes when I had the body or body when I had the money.” Love it!!!! That’s a keeper. I know what you mean about comfort, but, believe it or not, they make clothes that are comfortable and beautiful, especially if you’re willing to go vintage here and there. I look for all-cotton, linen, wools, which are difficult to find. I’ve been having fun getting rid of stuff that’s been taking up space in my closet, even though I don’t wear it anymore. I have rules like: If I bought that during my first marriage, it should not still be living with me. If I used to wear that to work, it needs to go. If I bought it and it never got used, it has to go. Now I look forward to seeing how the mood strikes in the closet.
Your writing may motivate me to write about my quite opposite experience from my overweight preteen years to a wedding in NYC. Yes, I was invisible as well. You opened my eyes to my journey to wearing what makes me happiest. Great story, Iilona.
Wow, did this bring back memories of shopping at Sears in the Chubby Girl section. Your painful experiences were similar to mine, minus the school uniform. Your long skinny body was what I prayed for every night, but I was stuck being plump and chunky.
I'm glad you are comfortable in your own skin now!
I didn't know there was a section like that. I was too concerned with my own problems. I don't know how comfortable I am in my own skin, but I am working on it!
I didn't go to Catholic school, but I was tall and so thin for my age that my mom bought what we called "tent" dresses in order to find something that fit me without looking too young. The middle school girls yelled out to me as we crossed paths in the hall between classes. "Hey, tent dress!" they would yell over the heads of the cute boys passing by. I was the only girl in P.E. who didn't wear a bra, and I was called out for it almost every day by my peers. Lately, I've found myself fascinated by a reality show called "The Rachel Zoe Project," about the stylist to the stars. The entire show is about everything fashion and how much it all means to Zoe. I admit, there's a part of me that fantasizes about dressing so carefully curated.
I felt the cringe from your gym class all the way over here. Ugh. That must have been hard. I couldn’t wait until I could get a bra, but that took a long time. PS-I have found a circus dress (not tent dress) at a consignment shop and bought it. I thought it was so cool.
Love this, Ilona. I come from a culture that places high value for women on modesty and not standing out. Being a rebel at heart, I took to clothing that was a statement early but at times felt, in that place we can’t quite leave behind from childhood, “wrong” for
It. So I love work like this that champions self-expression through being put together and choosing fashion of our own delight!
What a brave girl you already were, Holly. You bristled at the indoctrination early and never left you. It does feel good to raise awareness and question the old ideas of what women should look like.
I attended Christian school, so not really uniforms . Skirts to the knees and buttoned up blouses . No jeans ever . I later became a manager for Gimbals dept store . Fashion Merchandiser and mannequin dresser . Still love fashion and arranging outfits and home decor. I remember the Adrian Appel red dress In our stores .Stunning . Great story
Gimbels! You are stirring up the memories with that one. Lit Brothers, too. Did you enjoy that job? WIndow dressing and fashion has come a long way since then. Thanks for sharing your memory, Dianna.
I did love that Job! . I worked there for all of the 80’s until retail plummeted . Mergers and acquisitions store closed . Etc. I went into Real Estate . I still love fashion 😊 I do remember Lit Brothers.
Oh boy do I remember those uniforms! Especially, in the all girls high school, designed to make us all look ‘non’ shapely. What freedom it was to get out of there and start choosing my own clothes. One wrinkle in the 80’s when pregnant me had to find professional maternity clothes, I resorted to having a few pieces made. Now, I tussle with the ‘age’ thing: do I choose the same type of clothes now? Or will it look like I’m trying to look younger?
Yes, maternity clothes in the 80s sucked! And also tussling with age in picking out clothes is a thing. I remember the first time I discovered I had back-fat. I never looked back there and was alarmed when i caught my skin spilling over a bathing suit. Where did that come from? It was my first indication that my body was going on its own journey and I would have to accommodate the changes. I didn’t like them, but I adjusted.
I follow this Instagram account of a bunch of artsy grannies who wear WTF they want. They are my role models. I want to be as interesting on the outside as I am inside. When in doubt, just try it on!
Well I just loved this entire story Ilona! Those ugly uniforms at least made us all equal. The rich girls had to dress exactly me. At 5’11” by the time I was 14, with long gangly arms and way too long legs, I feel your struggle. I still have difficulty buying clothes but that’s mostly because I hate shopping. Monday is a day of doctor appointments for me, but I’ll be watching after.
We shared some of the same problems, for sure, Jan. I know what you mean about hating shopping, although I think you’ll appreciate what I found in Goodwill today: a pink 100% cotton T-shirt with a sparkly green John Deere logo. My 2 year old grandson is so into tractors and construction equipment, and I thought this is such a fun shirt and I will always think of him when I wear it.
Great story that conjured memories of my own. Thankful when I finally had money as a teenager and could buy clothes that weren’t blue light specials at K-mart.
We just had to make do during that era. I bought my daughters a healthy supply of clothes, so they never felt like they didn’t have enough. Probably went a bit overboard with them, but i think this is the pattern of our generation. Nice to hear from you, Michelle.
I remember those scratchy, ugly school uniforms. If the nuns caught you rolling the waistband, you were fined a dollar for every roll and were given a demerit. Sounds like a fun conversation with Shaun.
Oh right! In high school we had a blouse, skirt and vest and we definitely rolled the waist bands. A dollar a roll? Now those were some sadistic nuns, Paulette. My gawd. I’m sure they saw it all.
Oh those school uniforms! 😔did you have a skirt that was hemmed 3+ inches so when you grew (more?!) instead of buying a new skirt, them hem was just taken down (again?!!) I got glasses in 4th grade, accompanied by early breasts which I tried to hide at all costs, and then the dreaded braces. I begged my mom to agree to contacts in 8th grade when the braces came off. Sometimes I still feel that pre-teen angst even now as some of that is still buried in my psyche. What a rough awkward time of life! Thanks for sharing yours!
Yes, I do remember double-hemming. In high school, we rebelled harder about the hems. One time a girl broke her shoulder and came to school without a bra on under blouse. Even though we were an all girls school, the nuns were not pleased and she was forced to wear one despite the acrobatics necessary with a cast and a sling.
I got glasses in 2nd grade, and my parents were told i didn’t need braces. I have an over-bight still that could have used some help… My bff had the crookedest teeth and her parents never straightened them. She eventually got them fixed when she almost 50.
I’m glad everyone’s getting their teenage trauma out in the comments! LOL
I spent about 30 years as a department store "garmento". Much of it leading a group of buyers charged with making money on fashion. One of the issues that haunted me was that an entire industry was devoted to "average sizes". Sure, we had petite and large size departments. But the profits were made on people who were sizes 8 to 12.
A society that was inclusive (yes that is a wonderful word - kinda Christiany :) would develop a system to dress everyone efficiently and nicely.
But wait. That might mean less GPROI. Gross profit return on investment.
And that is American everything. Profits over people. Healthcare, childcare, elder care, education, communication - all driven by money for the few.
And you couldn't find pants that fit. I call that a broken society.
With the infiltration of “fast fashion” (meaning cheap and trendy) there is so much surplus garbage out there. We have more clothes than the whole planet needs. It is satisfying to be buying used clothing at this point, and to be able to treasure hunt for unique items that weren’t mass-marketed and show a bit of personality. I can find a few more pants to wear nowadays, and overheard a tiny woman next to me complain how everything is tailored so long now. We are moving towards clothes for every body type, but in the end, there’s too much produced. In the end, as you say Bill, the almighty dollar will be prevail.
We lived parallel lives, Ilona. I swear. I’ve lost 72 pounds in the last two years through the miracle of chemistry and have suddenly got an interest in fashion that I’ve never had. I never had the money for clothes when I had the body or the body when I had the money! I admittedly have always been more in favor of comfort rather than speed, as they say. I never believed myself beautiful or that I could be beautiful either (always made fun of for my carrot top) so never really learned to dress or do makeup well. And most of the time I did not/do not care about such things. But I like the point of dressing as communication. I think I’ll go change out if my sweats now…
Can’t make the live session on Monday but look forward to the recording
“I never had the money for clothes when I had the body or body when I had the money.” Love it!!!! That’s a keeper. I know what you mean about comfort, but, believe it or not, they make clothes that are comfortable and beautiful, especially if you’re willing to go vintage here and there. I look for all-cotton, linen, wools, which are difficult to find. I’ve been having fun getting rid of stuff that’s been taking up space in my closet, even though I don’t wear it anymore. I have rules like: If I bought that during my first marriage, it should not still be living with me. If I used to wear that to work, it needs to go. If I bought it and it never got used, it has to go. Now I look forward to seeing how the mood strikes in the closet.
Good rules! I do consignment shopping occasionally.
Your writing may motivate me to write about my quite opposite experience from my overweight preteen years to a wedding in NYC. Yes, I was invisible as well. You opened my eyes to my journey to wearing what makes me happiest. Great story, Iilona.
Even though we had opposite problems, the underlying feeling is the same for us women. I doubt men ever think twice about it.
You amaze me, my friend! Your willingness to share so much of yourself is bottomless!
Cathy
Thanks, buddy! Hope I'm not too boring.
Wow, did this bring back memories of shopping at Sears in the Chubby Girl section. Your painful experiences were similar to mine, minus the school uniform. Your long skinny body was what I prayed for every night, but I was stuck being plump and chunky.
I'm glad you are comfortable in your own skin now!
I didn't know there was a section like that. I was too concerned with my own problems. I don't know how comfortable I am in my own skin, but I am working on it!
I didn't go to Catholic school, but I was tall and so thin for my age that my mom bought what we called "tent" dresses in order to find something that fit me without looking too young. The middle school girls yelled out to me as we crossed paths in the hall between classes. "Hey, tent dress!" they would yell over the heads of the cute boys passing by. I was the only girl in P.E. who didn't wear a bra, and I was called out for it almost every day by my peers. Lately, I've found myself fascinated by a reality show called "The Rachel Zoe Project," about the stylist to the stars. The entire show is about everything fashion and how much it all means to Zoe. I admit, there's a part of me that fantasizes about dressing so carefully curated.
I felt the cringe from your gym class all the way over here. Ugh. That must have been hard. I couldn’t wait until I could get a bra, but that took a long time. PS-I have found a circus dress (not tent dress) at a consignment shop and bought it. I thought it was so cool.
Too bad it wasn't cool in the early 60's. LOL
Love you in red!
Aw thank you my friend ❤️
Love this, Ilona. I come from a culture that places high value for women on modesty and not standing out. Being a rebel at heart, I took to clothing that was a statement early but at times felt, in that place we can’t quite leave behind from childhood, “wrong” for
It. So I love work like this that champions self-expression through being put together and choosing fashion of our own delight!
What a brave girl you already were, Holly. You bristled at the indoctrination early and never left you. It does feel good to raise awareness and question the old ideas of what women should look like.
I attended Christian school, so not really uniforms . Skirts to the knees and buttoned up blouses . No jeans ever . I later became a manager for Gimbals dept store . Fashion Merchandiser and mannequin dresser . Still love fashion and arranging outfits and home decor. I remember the Adrian Appel red dress In our stores .Stunning . Great story
Gimbels! You are stirring up the memories with that one. Lit Brothers, too. Did you enjoy that job? WIndow dressing and fashion has come a long way since then. Thanks for sharing your memory, Dianna.
I did love that Job! . I worked there for all of the 80’s until retail plummeted . Mergers and acquisitions store closed . Etc. I went into Real Estate . I still love fashion 😊 I do remember Lit Brothers.
Oh boy do I remember those uniforms! Especially, in the all girls high school, designed to make us all look ‘non’ shapely. What freedom it was to get out of there and start choosing my own clothes. One wrinkle in the 80’s when pregnant me had to find professional maternity clothes, I resorted to having a few pieces made. Now, I tussle with the ‘age’ thing: do I choose the same type of clothes now? Or will it look like I’m trying to look younger?
Yes, maternity clothes in the 80s sucked! And also tussling with age in picking out clothes is a thing. I remember the first time I discovered I had back-fat. I never looked back there and was alarmed when i caught my skin spilling over a bathing suit. Where did that come from? It was my first indication that my body was going on its own journey and I would have to accommodate the changes. I didn’t like them, but I adjusted.
I follow this Instagram account of a bunch of artsy grannies who wear WTF they want. They are my role models. I want to be as interesting on the outside as I am inside. When in doubt, just try it on!
Can you send a link to the ‘artsy grannies’ on Instagram. I could use the inspiration. Thanks!
Look up: Advancedstyle on Insta
Well I just loved this entire story Ilona! Those ugly uniforms at least made us all equal. The rich girls had to dress exactly me. At 5’11” by the time I was 14, with long gangly arms and way too long legs, I feel your struggle. I still have difficulty buying clothes but that’s mostly because I hate shopping. Monday is a day of doctor appointments for me, but I’ll be watching after.
We shared some of the same problems, for sure, Jan. I know what you mean about hating shopping, although I think you’ll appreciate what I found in Goodwill today: a pink 100% cotton T-shirt with a sparkly green John Deere logo. My 2 year old grandson is so into tractors and construction equipment, and I thought this is such a fun shirt and I will always think of him when I wear it.
Great story that conjured memories of my own. Thankful when I finally had money as a teenager and could buy clothes that weren’t blue light specials at K-mart.
We just had to make do during that era. I bought my daughters a healthy supply of clothes, so they never felt like they didn’t have enough. Probably went a bit overboard with them, but i think this is the pattern of our generation. Nice to hear from you, Michelle.
I remember those scratchy, ugly school uniforms. If the nuns caught you rolling the waistband, you were fined a dollar for every roll and were given a demerit. Sounds like a fun conversation with Shaun.
Oh right! In high school we had a blouse, skirt and vest and we definitely rolled the waist bands. A dollar a roll? Now those were some sadistic nuns, Paulette. My gawd. I’m sure they saw it all.
I know, that was high dollars for so many years ago!
Oh those school uniforms! 😔did you have a skirt that was hemmed 3+ inches so when you grew (more?!) instead of buying a new skirt, them hem was just taken down (again?!!) I got glasses in 4th grade, accompanied by early breasts which I tried to hide at all costs, and then the dreaded braces. I begged my mom to agree to contacts in 8th grade when the braces came off. Sometimes I still feel that pre-teen angst even now as some of that is still buried in my psyche. What a rough awkward time of life! Thanks for sharing yours!
Yes, I do remember double-hemming. In high school, we rebelled harder about the hems. One time a girl broke her shoulder and came to school without a bra on under blouse. Even though we were an all girls school, the nuns were not pleased and she was forced to wear one despite the acrobatics necessary with a cast and a sling.
I got glasses in 2nd grade, and my parents were told i didn’t need braces. I have an over-bight still that could have used some help… My bff had the crookedest teeth and her parents never straightened them. She eventually got them fixed when she almost 50.
I’m glad everyone’s getting their teenage trauma out in the comments! LOL
I love this stack! YES to being fully expressed through our clothes and accessories - you GLOW Goddess!
Thanks Ande! You can't let that glow go, am i right?
100% !