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Gemma's adventures in shopping: when nothing inspires

Gemma Cartwright writes...

I should be in absolute heaven at the moment. I love the 1960s, I hate my stomach and I love bold prints. All these tunics, smocks and shifts should be absolute perfection. So why, when I went shopping for an emergency party outfit the other day, could I find absolutely nothing to wear? I found myself actively seeking something with a waist, something in a more subtle colour, something that didn't look like everything else in the world. I found nothing. In fact I ended up going out in a two year old boring black top and jeans. I'd like to say I was taking a stand but really I was taking the easy way out. And avoiding spending £50 on something I didn't really like....

It's always the way when I'm shopping with a purpose. I can't find a single thing I like. This is the reason I hate shopping for shoes when I actually need them. I'm fine if I stumble across a pair of ridiculously overpriced leopard print heels when I have no cash, but when I need nice smart black pumps for work? No chance. Last time I had a wedding to go to I ended up buying a dress in Camden market because there was absolutely nothing on the high street that I'd be caught dead in (or could afford). I've not worn the dress since.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who comes across this problem? Surely the reason so many people hate shopping is because they can't find what they want when they want it. Suddenly my favourite passtime becomes absolute hell and I find myself going home in a bad mood, getting a greasy takeaway and moaning into my chow mein that nothing looks right and I'm too fat / ugly / tall / short / blonde / pale / picky for fashion.

I'm convinced it's why most men despise shopping. The idea of a 'fun' trip to the shops is a bit alien to most of them (unless it involves buying something other than clothes). Of course it doesn't help if they have a girl like me dragging them round the shops. An unplanned trip to waste a bit of time in the shops is fine. When I do this, I just meander in and out of shops with no real idea of what I want. But if I'm after something specific, I'll go from one end of the street to the other, then back to the middle, then four miles down the road, and still end up buying something I saw in the first shop. For this reason I generally like to shop alone. I find it's safer for everyone's sanity.

I just wish I could find what I'm looking for when I do it. They're beginning to recognise me at the takeaway now...

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Posted by Gemma on May 14, 2007 5:35 PM in Columns & Opinions
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Comments

Oh I know what you mean! I liek the styles around at the moment but I just can't find anything that I want to buy! I really want some new tops for the summer but I just can't find any that will suit me, are affordable and look good.

Posted by: Sarah | May 14, 2007 5:37 PM

I'm just the same, I much prefer to shop alone, especially when I'm on a mission! I'm going shopping tomorrow for a dress for my summer ball and will probably end up getting depressed because there are so few dresses around that have any kind of waist on them. It doesn't really help that I have the exact idea of the tea dress I want, although it probably doesn't exist - how I wish I could sew!

Posted by: Anna | May 14, 2007 5:49 PM

AMEN!! Thank heavens it's not just me! I can't find a thing and when I do it scares my husband.

Maybe I should just buy stuff for my home instead...

Posted by: Alex | May 14, 2007 6:30 PM

Amen to that! Especially the first bit about not being able to find anything at the moment. I'm in a dire need of a dress for my Graduation Ball on Saturday. I want exactly what you described, something with a waist and in a subtle colour (preferably a dark, slimming one) and priced considerably under £100! Help me Catwalk Queen!

As for men not understanding the joy in shopping... I had the exact arguement with my (male) flatmate last night... and I almost lost it! It was my metophor of shopping as a game of chess then swung it for me! I'll not go into that though!

Posted by: Anonymous | May 14, 2007 7:37 PM

I always knew it wasn't just me that had this problem!

As a teenager when it came to buying school shoes I was a nightmare. I would always picture in my head what I wanted to get but they would never been in the shops. I'd drag both my parents around one shopping centre after another. Towards the later years neither wanted to go shopping with me because I'd just give them a headache, each!

And the worst part of my teenage shoe hunt was when I would find the perfect shoe in a sale (always bargin hunting) but then the staff member would slowly stroll back telling me that the other shoe had gone and it was the last pair (or not) in my size!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

These days it's a totally different story and I can't stop buying shoes that I don't really need and will probably only wear once!

Posted by: Caroline | May 14, 2007 8:28 PM

I couldn't agree more! I always spot something i absolutely HAVE TO HAVE when I'm broke and don't need anything, but when I'm truly on a mission for something, I find nothing!

Posted by: belle | May 14, 2007 8:36 PM

I know where you're coming from. The deal-breaker for me, lately, is always the terrible quality of the fabrics. I am not hard to please by any means, but all the tunics that are gorgeous at first glance turn out to be made of the worst kind of cotton - the really thin kind that sticks to itself. Or else out of yukky polyester that is guaranteed to fuse to my skin in hot weather.

Shopping is fun if you're looking for nothing in particular and shouldn't really be buying anything. If you need something specific, you will never find it, no matter how basic and pedestrian you think it is when you set out.

Posted by: H. | May 14, 2007 9:15 PM

Yes!! Where has the waist gone?! I was shopping over the weekend and didn't want a tunic/shift/sack/smock dress - could I find anything?? No! Ended up buying black skinny flared jeans instead....

Posted by: clairebear | May 15, 2007 10:06 AM

Gemma - I feel your pain.
clairebear - skinny and flared? Where from? But, have to say am loving the sack dress thing. But not on me...
Went to club. Club full of children (as I now call those under 21). Children all very skinny. Children all wearing sacks. 14-16 me looks the same size as the children because I am wearing clothes that fit round the waist!
Result!

Posted by: Laura | May 15, 2007 12:38 PM

Ha ha, Laura. I must confess when the skinny girls wear their smock tops and then complain that they look pregnant in photos I sit there rubbing my hands together with glee. Welcome to my world...!

Posted by: Gemma | May 15, 2007 1:00 PM

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