How much clothing did your wife bring?

[kievstar]

Faux pas, good points.  But my wife is not much younger than me (single digits) and she spends about 3,000 on food, gas, clothes, and entertainment currently which is not very much to me or compared to what I spend per month.  She will not buy anything in Saks Fifth avenue as it is over priced.  

Regarding beauty a woman who eats well, loves life, and keeps in good shape can wear anything and look good.  An ugly woman can rarely look stylish even if she pays the highest price.

My wife works in the modelling industry and I will tend to be very picky on styles and clothes - more on the very extreme end.  I have spent probably 100 hours past three months shopping with her and I have learned a lot.  One thing she learned are that prices are lower in USA as compared to Ukraine.  

But I can not agree on items below 50 usd being in style and high quality when it comes to shoes, dresses, jeans, and purses.  I wll also say that 99% of the women I have met in Ukraine are not stylish at all.  

[mies]

Mies, to be stylish your not wearing what others are wearing and since the higher price.  If your raiding the sales racks and going cheap your a sheep and being like the masses.

Sorry, I thought you were older as you seem very focused on work and thought you already had your family with grown children.

What I said about stylish not being important for women over 40 is that it is not #1 or #2 priority in their life.  Their life has more important things than how they dress. I guess I was wrong fauxpaus as your wife still has it as a #1 or #2 priority in life.

Kievstar, this is a very interesting discussion, and I greatly appreciate your opinion - because it shows how differently people may think.
There are more than one dimensions, on which I would like to argue your viewpoint, and suggest you mine.

1) concern of the OP that it will cost him fortune to buy new clothes for his RW. My argument proves that it isn't too expensive to buy clothes in USA. While the clothes Viking's wife/fiance has at home are at least one season old - she will get in USA the clothes at least from same fashion season, or newer. Plus - they will be completely new - and not after multiple washing procedures. What your argument advises to OP - I am not quite sure. You tell him that it is expensive to buy clothes in USA because cheap clothes are outdated garbage. I do not see how it relates to the clothes his woman is going to bring from her country. Do you really believe that college accountant from Gomel university is going to bring with her the newest collection of Chanel and Givenchy?? Seriously..

2) you are insinuating that women in their 40s aren't stylish. I strongly disagree. Style doesn't depend on age. Older women are usually more stylish than not - because they know what fits them best.

3) you are insinuating that if woman buys cloths on sales - it has something to do with income of her husband. Though I do agree that some husbands find joy in spending fortunes on their wive's outfit - because "happy wife makes husband happy". But it should not necessarily be the case. Not all women are compulsive fashion buyers. The fact that they or their husband CAN AFFORD certain items - does not mean they WANT TO BUY it.
In my case - it's a big problem to buy new clothes - because in most cases I don't like them. I have many custom-made clothes - just because i don't like what i see in stores. I design clothes for myself too - and yes - this way they are very expensive.  Second complication - is that I do not get any pleasure from buying clothes. When I was a teenager and we had little money - it was such a joy to get a new pair of jeans or a sweater - once in several years. Now I can afford many things, but it doesn't bring me joy acquiring them. In a way - I am like a drug addict - who ones knew the pleasure of a fix, but now he can't get high anymore. So I'm chasing this pleasure from shopping. And the only way I can get excitement - is when I create artificial obstacles. I can buy the dress for the full price. But I don't want it this way - because I will bring it home and will forget about it. And a week later i will dislike it. Or maybe will discover it in my closet 2 years later when browsing through the rows of dresses and blouses and will think "what a waste". Waiting until the dress will go on sale - is bringing thrill and risk of dress being unavailable for me - this way I get my thrill and excitement. This is - fortunately or unfortunately - in many cases the only way I can be pleased with my shopping experience. and the only way I can come to enjoy the item that i bought. I set myself a ridiculous reservation price each time I go to the store - let's say "if i find t-shirt for 1.5$ of a particular brand - i'll get it". I know i'm somewhat a weirdo, but this is the way I am. So as you see - my shopping habits have nothing to do with my income, with income of my husband, or with my age and presence or absence of kids. (i don't have any kids btw)

4) clothes for getting work should be more expensive - yes. I agree.
but - few buts:
4a) - clothes for work should not cost more than the income this work provides. Do the money your wife is making as a model afford her buying all the new clothes she is buying in order to get this job ? Please, answer to this question - because it is quite important one.

4b) - do you think that the clothes Viking's woman is going to bring from her home are going to be significantly better than the clothes she is going to buy here in USA? Do you think her clothes from home will increase her chances getting a new work here in USA? (I do bring suits from home every time I go to visit my parents - because it's cheaper to order them custom made there, than here)

4c) Still - i was discussing the casual clothes bought at sales, and not the business clothes.

5) Quality - maybe you and me have different definitions of quality.
Quality purses - As I said - my interest in purses in close to 0. I would not pay much for the purse - just because I see it useless for me personally. And I don't care what "fashionable women" will think of my purse. I even think that getting negative comments from women about my purse is better than getting positive comment. Because women bosses don't like when their subordinates dress better/more expensive than themselves. And while I can't compromise in something which is important for me (shoes) - i can easily allow women around feel good about themselves and their expensive purses. I am not trying to compete with women in the "cost of my purse". This is not my race.
Quality clothes - for me quality is: quality durable natural material (silk, wool (of different origin - wool, angora, alpaca, cashmere etc), linen, cotton, or combinations of them)
quality coloring
quality stitching
quality fit

These features do not change when the price goes down in the end of season. They remain stable.
Maybe the clothes do become outdated in the end of season, but they definitely aren't garbage

6)  Outdated-ness:
We were recently at the reception with my husband. One of his female colleague had a dress from the same designer as I did. But her dress was from current season, and my - from 3 seasons ago. Otherwise - the styles were somewhat similar, but different color/fabric/details. She also has a different body type than I do - so her dress was few sizes bigger. But now imagine - how unpleasant this situation would be for me and for her - if I were buying and wearing only what is "current". And this is very common situation. If you buy and wear only "current season", and not very cheap clothes - chances are very high to run into a woman who is wearing exactly same outfit as I do. And it's unpleasant. Combining clothes from different fashion seasons greatly increases variability in outfit and reduces chances of lookalikes.

7) style, being sheep, and the masses.
you see - I strongly believe that it's better to be a master of own style, than a slave of style imposed by others.
when I go shopping on sales - I have very distinct idea of what i want and what i need to complement my style. And if i can't find it - i just don't buy anything. I don't have the need to reload/re-stuff my closet every season. I can afford myself a luxury to wear what I like, when i like, and in the combinations I like. I have my distinct style, and I nurture it carefully. And yes - I do believe that racing into shops to buy new collection just because it is advertised as "in style today" - is exactly sheep-like behavior. The "leader" said it's in fashion - so let's get it.
Behavior of people rushing to sales - is more of a lemming-like behavior. Because these people are led not by advertising (external impulse), but by natural and internal impulse - "to get something for nothing".

there are few more details to this discussion, but my post is running too long. So i'll stop here.    


P.S. If you have such respect for "modeling industry" that you need this lable to identify who is stylish or who is not - I worked in modeling industry as a part-time fun job to pamper my ego. and I still got my looks so my style and looks are "Model industry approved".  :evil:

[Aloe]

i think 99.999999999999% of purses out there are horrible especially the expensive ones, soooooo awfully horribly excruiciatingly fugly. i try to not carry a purse whenever possible. So far in my life ive seen only 1 purse ive liked. Including all the purses i see in all the movies, and anywhere, so horribly ugly  

[Doll]

A little bit about 40+ (to scare the OP  ). It is probably the opposite- at this age when the kids are no more babies, the age makes the women be more selective, the beauty is fading (oh, well)- the purchases are getting more " expensive".
I can't afford to have cheap handbags just because of my age. Same about coats, perfumes and everything else.
Sorry  

[mies]

A little bit about 40+ (to scare the OP  ). It is probably the opposite- at this age when the kids are no more babies, the age makes the women be more selective, the beauty is fading (oh, well)- the purchases are getting more " expensive".

much truth to these words.
in 13 this girl is a fashion blogger and fashion industry pet


if she were 45 and dressed/looked same way - people would think she is weird.

[GQBlues]

Fashion for less? Forget ROSS, TJ Maxx, Marshall's, the Rack, etc...but instead try this.  

[kievstar]

Mies, I think both of those people are weird in the photo.  You can not make ugly beautiful.  Genetics were not kind to those two.  

[Boethius]

She is a CHILD, kiev, without make up.  

The man in the photo is Yohji Yamamoto, a very famous fashion designer.

[mies]

Mies, I think both of those people are weird in the photo.  You can not make ugly beautiful.  Genetics were not kind to those two.  

by "the two genetically disadvantaged" you mean Tavi and Yohji Yamamoto?  


how about
those girls: http://www.highglitz.com/gallery/index.html
or those: http://nymag.com/fashion/look/2009/spring/transformations/

[kievstar]

Mies, hard to say she disappeared several years ago and to young to judge.  

Boethius, just because someone is a fashion designer does not mean their stylish or make stylish clothes.  Most of the stuff they make is garbage that eventually ends up on the sales racks.

[Boethius]

By the very definition, a fashion designer is "stylish" and makes "stylish clothes".  But, I don't know what that has to do with his looks.

Yamamoto has been in the fashion business for 30 years.  He is a success, with over 100 collections under his belt.  Many women find his clothing stylish, as they buy them.

There is no one definition of what constitutes "stylish clothing".  What you may view as "stylish" someone else may view as trashy/vulgar/too conservative, etc.

[mies]

just because someone is a fashion designer does not mean their stylish or make stylish clothes.  Most of the stuff they make is garbage that eventually ends up on the sales racks.

Your words gave me some food for thought. Now, I am not trying to prove any point, but rather enjoying discussion for the sake of the discussion.

Sorry for long post.

which individuals on the photos below look stylish to you, and who does not look stylish?
1.
2.
3.
4. - man walking
5.
6.
7.
8.

9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
If the post is too long - i'll remove it.

[DaveY]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned shopping at outlet stores. Here where I live, they're all over the place, from little boutiques to huge outlet malls.

[Turboguy]

Personally I hate outlet malls but I love WalMart so what do I know!  

I don't consider what I like to be very important.  The important thing is what my wife likes and she may not dislike outlet malls as much as I do but I don't think they are her first choice.  I think she likes places like Ross and TJMax much better.

Our last trip to the outlet malls were for the after Christmas sale when we arrived there shortly before midnight and shopped until 4 am and for all that bought one belt for me.  They can nuke all the outlet malls and grow crops there and make better use of the land.

[myrddin]

They can nuke all the outlet malls and grow crops there and make better use of the land.

But then our crops will be mutated

[Turboguy]

But then our crops will be mutated

Are you telling me that you don't know that they already are?

[myrddin]

Are you telling me that you don't know that they already are?

That's genetically manipulated ... different from random radiation-induced wackiness

[Floriana]

Warning: Maybe not so good idea to get between a woman of any nationality and her clothes.  

Seconded  

[Aloe]

Hey, next time you see someone in Russia with this bag, think twice!! Maybe its louis vuitton

http://allwomenstalk.com/kelly-osbourne-and-the-most-expensive-laundry-bag-ever-its-louis-vuitton/

[mies]

Hey, next time you see someone in Russia with this bag, think twice!! Maybe its louis vuitton
http://allwomenstalk.com/kelly-osbourne-and-the-most-expensive-laundry-bag-ever-its-louis-vuitton/

[youtube=425,350]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cOhnV0zPmAQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cOhnV0zPmAQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/youtube]

 

[Bruce]

Congratulations on the fiance!   Let her bring what she wants.   Take her to Macys.   She will find things she likes.   Clothes are the last thing you have to worry about.   Best of luck..................

[mies]

The discount models are just garbage.
...When you going under 50 usd your getting outdated garbage.

accidentally found this picture - couldn't resist myself posting it  :evil:

[viking]

Well, after all is said and done...one large bag at around 50 lbs and one smaller bag. I offered to take an empty bag with me, just in case hers was a bit on the heavy side, but it was  non starter. I'm on the learning curve.

[BC]

Actually we were within 20kg limits that first trip but I intentionally brought just hand baggage.

Subsequent trips have always raised eyebrows at check-in.  Think our record was 37kg in one bag.... and Alitalia was kind enough to let it pass..

[mies]

I always put the heaviest items in the carry-on bag, and the pockets of the laptop bag. Nobody checks the weight of the laptop bag