someone2 Posted December 2, 2006 Posted December 2, 2006 Ok, this is a highly unusual problem. I hope you don't judge me I really need help I am a 24 year old guy. I have been living with my mom for 23 years. I was a lazy bastard. She'd buy me all the clothes, and she'd choose them herself. To give her credit, she always tried to push me to buy my own clothes, but I was always lazy, I'd go like "mom, for pete's sake just buy me anything that looks nice". Fast forward to now. I now live alone. I pay the price of my stupidity. I said to myself I need to change. I need to get some new clothes. I went to the mall, and then... I am ashamed to say this... I was scared. I had no idea what to choose or what to do. I have never even entered a fitting room to try clothes on before. I saw tons of different pants, shirts, jackets... etc etc. I had no idea what I should be doing. What colors do match? what colors do not? Should I buy something with horizontal or vertical stripes? I know this sounds like a joke, but I swear it is not. I didn't buy anything, and returned home with nothing. Do you guys have any suggestions on what to do to choose clothes? I am willing to make mistakes and learn from them. Should I start by trying to buy online to make things easier for me? Thanks a lot in advance
IpAncA Posted December 3, 2006 Posted December 3, 2006 You know when I started reading this the first thing I thought about was the show on TLC "What Not To Wear." Now those people on there could help you with clothes. No doubt about it. Anyhow I think that you just need to go and try stuff on and see how you look in them. Start with simple stuff and basic colors that go together. I'm not sure on how much help I am but flip thru magazines, look what others are buying, and/or just get stuff that you like.
che_jesse Posted December 3, 2006 Posted December 3, 2006 Start with just casual cloth right now, and just with ****s. Go out tommrow and buy some shirts, everything looks decent enough with jeans, just go buy some that you think look ok. Start with American Eagle or something, most everything matches on its own. It will help get you over the jitters. Eventually need will drive you to do the rest.
DRDimeMami Posted December 3, 2006 Posted December 3, 2006 First of all, see what you like. What suits your personality better. Is it comfortable? Maybe you can as to what type of music you like. For example, if you like urban music (rap, hip hop, r&b) you can see what those people are wearing and go to the mall one day and try some of those types of clothes on. Doesn't even have to be the type of music you like. Just whatever you think looks good on you and you feel comfortable with. For guys, I personally like them wearing nice polos and button downs and t-shirts with some nice pants or jeans and nice shoes or sneakers. Depends the time and ocassion. I like the urban-ish style so you go for what you like best. Hell, make up your own style! Dark colors look good with dark or light jeans. Look at music videos or tv shows and magazines and look at what other guys are wearing. Hope this helps!
ginabobolee Posted December 3, 2006 Posted December 3, 2006 don't worry. I do the same for my brother. He is very lazy too. (and he is 25) What you do is just to go in any store and pick up the size you wear (if you don't know the size, check one of your pants....) and then just try on If you don't want to ask sales at the store, just pick whatever that's on display. And you gradually will learn Good Luck
norajane Posted December 3, 2006 Posted December 3, 2006 The first thing you need to do is take a look at the clothes you already have. Look at a bunch of the labels on everything - pants, shirts, sweaters, jackets - and write them down if you don't think you can remember. Most guys sizes are the same (meaning there's no variation in pants sizes, for example. If your pants are a 32-36, that means your waist is 32 inches, and your inseam (the length of the leg, from crotch to ankle) is 36 inches. While you're looking at the labels, also notice what the clothes are made of. If your mom shopped well, you should have lots of natural fibers in your wardrobe - cottons, wools, etc. Polyester is usually a huge NO, so stay away from it. When you're shopping, you should also be looking for natural fibers, or blends. Stay away from the polyester or other synthetics as much as possible, unless it's for sports - you need the strange fabrics to wick away moisture and whatnot for something like running shirts - or jackets/coats which are desgined to keep you warm. Also, look at the colors you have and generally stick to the same palette when you're shopping. That way, your new clothes will generally match with what you already own. Most guys tend to stick with earth tones or muted colors - dark greens, dark blues, browns, beiges, etc. - but you can certainly add a bright color or two in there as well, especially if it matches your eyes or looks great against your hair color. Until you figure out what you're doing, stick with the basics. Jeans and button down shirts and sweaters are easy to match and always look fine. Khaki pants - the beige cotton ones you probably have - are also fine with most button down shirts and sweaters. Sports jackets and dress pants should be wool, and should be muted colors - grays, browns, blacks, navy. Suits are the same, maybe adding an almost unnoticeable pinstripe. Always have some crisp white shirts on hand for when you need to dress up, but you can vary the color quite a bit once you get your style down. If you get stuck, ask a salesperson for help!
Storyrider Posted December 3, 2006 Posted December 3, 2006 It is hard to say without knowing more about your price range, lifestyle, body type, etc. But what I would do is keep it really simple the first time around. Choose one smallish store that has simple, casual clothes, for example, Old Navy or Gap. You almost can't go wrong at those types of places. Then, for right now, I would avoid all patterns and go with solids. Again, you can't go wrong with the classic looks, like blue jeans or khakis with a solid sweater, t-shirt or button-front shirt depending on the occasion you'd be dressing for. After this first excursion you could branch out. Or better yet, ask a female friend to go with you. She would love getting to choose stuff for you to try on!
IpAncA Posted December 3, 2006 Posted December 3, 2006 Or better yet, ask a female friend to go with you. She would love getting to choose stuff for you to try on! O yeah!!! I love finding clothing and dressing my H. It's fun cause I love to shop. If he asks me about something or if anything will go with this or that, I go NUTS!! Just give me a couple of mins. and I find him shirts he never seen in that store. It's rather funny because depending on what he's looking for, I get the "I am NOT wearing THAT" or "I don't think so."
Road Rage Posted December 3, 2006 Posted December 3, 2006 Shopping for clothes is a skill like any other. The best short cut I know of is to look at the display maniquins and pick out the ones you like and buy the whole thing if your size is available. No, not the maniquins, just the clothes displayed on them. These outfits have almost always been handpicked and matched by women and usually is the best looking of the bunch available. But always try clothes on to make sure they really fit and look ok on you. If you don`t feel good about it don`t buy it. Keep looking. And looking. And looking. Also don`t assume that a lot of money equals better clothes. The best clothes are the ones that work for you. Even if you bought them at Walmart.
luvtoto Posted December 3, 2006 Posted December 3, 2006 Ok, this is a highly unusual problem. I hope you don't judge me I really need help I am a 24 year old guy. I have been living with my mom for 23 years. I was a lazy bastard. She'd buy me all the clothes, and she'd choose them herself. To give her credit, she always tried to push me to buy my own clothes, but I was always lazy, I'd go like "mom, for pete's sake just buy me anything that looks nice". Fast forward to now. I now live alone. I pay the price of my stupidity. I said to myself I need to change. I need to get some new clothes. I went to the mall, and then... I am ashamed to say this... I was scared. I had no idea what to choose or what to do. I have never even entered a fitting room to try clothes on before. I saw tons of different pants, shirts, jackets... etc etc. I had no idea what I should be doing. What colors do match? what colors do not? Should I buy something with horizontal or vertical stripes? I know this sounds like a joke, but I swear it is not. I didn't buy anything, and returned home with nothing. Do you guys have any suggestions on what to do to choose clothes? I am willing to make mistakes and learn from them. Should I start by trying to buy online to make things easier for me? Thanks a lot in advance Well, let's say you shop at American Eagle. (My favorite store, by the way!!) and usually the second you walk into the store, someone greets you. Asking you if you need help finding anything. Just tell them, "Yea! I need help picking out an outfit for myself." There you go...your own personal stylist. Some of the cutest things I own, have been picked out for me. Those guys know their stuff. Anybody that works in fashion retail has very good taste in clothes.
jerbear Posted December 3, 2006 Posted December 3, 2006 What I've done in the past was ask for help from female friends. I mean I asked for the works, from buttnakedness all the way to cuff links. I made it an outing and even asked her to ask her friend (a girl I liked) to tag along. The socks and belt have to match the shoes. While the cuff links could match the shirt or tie. Just so much to match up.
KittenMoon Posted December 3, 2006 Posted December 3, 2006 I am truly confused because you have posted this in another thread saying you're 26 and here you say you're 24. What's the deal?
Author someone2 Posted December 3, 2006 Author Posted December 3, 2006 I am truly confused because you have posted this in another thread saying you're 26 and here you say you're 24. What's the deal? lol, maybe I posted this one two years ago? seriously, I feel paranoid about giving any info about myself over the Internet. I am neither 24 nor 26. Ooops, I already gave some info about myself But seriously, I would like to thank everyone for all the help. This seriously gave me more courage to do it. Maybe I will go back tomorrow, and see what happens
luvtoto Posted December 3, 2006 Posted December 3, 2006 But seriously, I would like to thank everyone for all the help. This seriously gave me more courage to do it. Maybe I will go back tomorrow, and see what happens Hey, don't feel embarassed to ask for help in those stores. Took me a while to get comfortable asking for help. The older I get, (38 by the way) the less I seem to be polished up on my fashion. One night, I took two shirts and tried them on as layers. I asked the sales rep if it was a good look. She was honest! She told me, "well, those shirts are nice...however, seperately." Felt like a huge loser. I then told her my size, and she went and brought me stuff for a good 15 minutes after that. I left buying about $100 worth of shirts & stuff. She was good at her job! I think that was at Express.
Author someone2 Posted December 9, 2006 Author Posted December 9, 2006 Hey guys, Just wanted to thank you again. Today, I went to Sears and bought some nice clothes. I was really happy Just one more quick question. If I want to try something on, and after trying it on in the fitting room, I don't like it, should I fold it back to how it was exactly and return it to shelf? Or should I just leave it there, or what? I totally didn't know what to do :laugh: (What if I don't know how to fold clothes?) Thanks again
silentalways Posted December 9, 2006 Posted December 9, 2006 i used to outshop the ex...really no, no, honey try on another pair of expensive italian shoes - please - lol actually, i went clothes shopping just this week - first time in over a year needed clothes that actually fit - lol
IpAncA Posted December 9, 2006 Posted December 9, 2006 Hey guys, Just wanted to thank you again. Today, I went to Sears and bought some nice clothes. I was really happy Just one more quick question. If I want to try something on, and after trying it on in the fitting room, I don't like it, should I fold it back to how it was exactly and return it to shelf? Or should I just leave it there, or what? I totally didn't know what to do :laugh: (What if I don't know how to fold clothes?) Thanks again Usually if there is no where to put the clothes you don't want in the fitting room, you put them back yourself to where you found them. And don't just throw them on the shelf either or leave them in the fitting room for someone else to get them. You want to go in and out with the same number of items. If not then if looks like you are wearing them under your clothes.
jerbear Posted December 9, 2006 Posted December 9, 2006 Hey guys, Just wanted to thank you again. Today, I went to Sears and bought some nice clothes. I was really happy Just one more quick question. If I want to try something on, and after trying it on in the fitting room, I don't like it, should I fold it back to how it was exactly and return it to shelf? Or should I just leave it there, or what? I totally didn't know what to do :laugh: (What if I don't know how to fold clothes?) Thanks again Just give it back to the sales associate for the fitting room.
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