A note to shoplifters: When doing your thing, don’t leave behind any item that could incriminate you, such as, say, your 10-month-old infant. [More]
clothing
Gap's Ad Wizards Think You're Too Fat For Shorts
By 8.3.10
The ad game is built on making consumers self-conscious, but most advertisements tend to avoid the route of making fun of potential buyers. [More]
Woman Wears 6 Items Of Clothing For A Month — Nobody Notices
By 7.22.10
Wondering how many clothing items you really need? The answer may be 6. Well, probably not, but it is rather interesting that one woman went a month with only 6 items of clothing and nobody, not even her husband (who does the laundry) even noticed. [More]
Shrink Ray Hits JCPenney Clothing Now, Too?
By 7.19.10
Kyle just wrote to us that the 36″ sleeve on a Large Tall sweatshirt from JCPenney has been reduced to 35″. It’s not just a manufacturing accident, because the new length is printed in the retailer’s sizing charts. But Kyle says for years he’s had no problem with JCPenney shirts, and that this all started happening within the past year or so. [More]
This Kohl's T-Shirt Is A Great Bargain, If You Want To Introduce A New Stereotype
By 6.29.10
This “I’m Irish” tee from Kohl’s originally retailed for $20, but now you can get it for only two dollars. I’m definitly buying one. (Thanks to Dale!) [More]
American Apparel Dress Code: Yes To Disco Pants, No To "Expressive" Makeup
By 6.25.10
It’s well known that American Apparel likes the models in its ads to wear as little as possible. But what about the company’s sales staff? Turns out the dress code for AA retail workers is strict — and kind of dull. No tattoos, no piercings (well, one earring per ear for the girls), and no boots. What’s in? Sperry Topsiders, knitted sweaters and pleated shorts. Is this American Apparel 2010 — or J. Crew 1980? [More]
Everything Old Is For Sale Again
By 6.13.10
While Walmart’s clothing department is going back in time a decade with its decision to focus on its historically strong underwear, socks and tee shirt market other, more fashion-forward brands and retailers are going back a lot further for their latest lines. [More]
If Your Clothes Shrink After Washing, That's Not Hollister's Problem
By 6.4.10
Roger would like the readers of Consumerist to know that clothing retailer Hollister, part of Abercrombie & Fitch, doesn’t stand behind its products at all. He writes that he ordered a pair of shorts online, which shrank significantly after the first time they went through the laundry. (Yes, he followed the care instructions.) The company refused to remedy the problem or issue Roger a refund, because the shorts weren’t returned in their original, untouched, tags-on condition. Wait, isn’t that the point? [More]
Guys Love Spanx
By 5.31.10
According to Neiman Marcus, people might make jokes about Spanx for men but they’re flying off the shelves. The men’s fashion director at the department store told the New York Times, “We are selling them as quickly as Spanx can make them. Men may not be talking about it, but they’re buying it.” The president of Freshpair, a website that sells “torso-enhancing” tees, says “profile-enhancing” underwear is also quite popular. [More]
Bikinis For Children: Now With Padded Bras
By 4.15.10
What constitutes an appropriate swimsuit for elementary school-aged girls? Is a bikini inappropriate? How about a padded bikini? This summer, U.K. discounter Primark tried marketing a bikini with a padded top, aimed at girls as young as seven. It didn’t go well. The chain removed the suit from its racks only hours after tabloid The Sun declared the product a [pedophile] bikini. [More]
Shopper Successfully Haggles Macy's Clerk
By 4.14.10
You never know when an opportunity to haggle might present itself when you’re out shopping, as our reader Marty demonstrates. He was able to get a 10% discount on a blazer at Macy’s just by asking the clerk at the register. [More]
Do Frozen Pantyhose Really Last Longer?
By 3.19.10
In a recent item on how you can save some cash by putting certain items in the freezer, The Daily Green’s Jeff Yeager says that his wife keeps the runs out of her pantyhose by keeping them in the icebox. [More]
Madonna Planning Clothing Line With Macy's
By 2.22.10
Women’s Wear Daily says that Madonna is in talks with Macy’s to launch an exclusive women’s collection that would include apparel, accessories, intimates, and footwear. “Label names under serious consideration for the product lines include Material Girl for the apparel and Truth or Dare for the lingerie and underwear.” I’m crossing my fingers there’s a “Papa Don’t Preach” maternity line in the works as well. [More]
PajamaJeans Help You Pretend You're Wearing Jeans
By 2.18.10
Sometimes you need to leave the house, for instance to go to the supermarket or to attend a job interview, and let’s face it: that’s when the Snuggie fails you. Until they make the formal Snuggie, there’s at least PajamaJeans. They’re like sweatpants, but disguised as jeans. Sadly they’re only for the ladies right now, so guys will have to stick to sweatpants when they give up on life. [More]
Bundle Up With The Hoodie Footie Snuggle Suit!
By 2.10.10
You can’t get me, Mr. Blizzard! I’ve got my new Hoodie Footie Snuggle Suit. It’s a voltron of my most comfortable items: my favorite slippers, warmest hoodie and coziest blanket into one giant cushy blanket suit. And it’s got thumb holes! Here’s the ad: [More]
Group Pledges To Buy No Clothing For A Year, Somehow Survive
By 2.7.10
The Great American Apparel Diet is not, as it seems at first glance, what you have to follow in order to look good in a bizarre adult romper. No, it’s a pledge that a group of women have taken to not buy any new clothing for one year. What have they learned? That people tend to buy a lot more stuff than they really need. [More]
Evil Mutant Cotton Sneaks Into H&M "Organic" Clothing
By 1.27.10
Global fast fashion retailer H&M and European chains C&A and Tchibo have been caught selling misleading “organic cotton” products to consumers. Independent testing done by Germany’s Financial Times showed that 30% of the samples contained genetically modified strains of cotton. Oops. [More]
