Shirt vent
Ok, so I am going back to work on Monday. As I was winnowing my professional wardrobe, I noticed that my white, button-up shirt (the classic one) was looking pretty darn dingy. I took it to the cleaners to have it bleached/whitened, and the lady at the desk gave it a wary glance.
"It's not exactly white," she said.
And, dude, looking at it under the bright lights of the dry cleaners, it totally wasn't. It was more ecru, with darker-looking areas around the cuffs. Ouch.
I told her to see what she could do with it, but I wasn't hopeful. (Which makes me really sad, because that shirt has seen me through some good times. And it's NON-IRON. Do you know how much I hate ironing?)
So, off I went in search of a new white button-up. That was when my troubles began. See, I just wanted a PLAIN white shirt, fitted for a lady, but just PLAIN. Every white button-up I found had ruffles or weird details down the front. Or a sash under the bust line or some crazy collarless thing going on. I must have gone to three or four stores, looking for a standard white button-up, the kind they have for men in every Wal-Mart or Belk's or any store you walk into.
When I FINALLY found one (the very last one at Ann Taylor Loft, all the others had funky details), it was $40. (And it's not even non-iron!) A comparable shirt for a man? $25 or so.
Why, why, WHY do retailers do this to us? Who doesn't stock a plain white button-up? (Apparently, everybody.) Dressing is soooo much more difficult for a woman than it is for a man.
~Sigh.~
"It's not exactly white," she said.
And, dude, looking at it under the bright lights of the dry cleaners, it totally wasn't. It was more ecru, with darker-looking areas around the cuffs. Ouch.
I told her to see what she could do with it, but I wasn't hopeful. (Which makes me really sad, because that shirt has seen me through some good times. And it's NON-IRON. Do you know how much I hate ironing?)
So, off I went in search of a new white button-up. That was when my troubles began. See, I just wanted a PLAIN white shirt, fitted for a lady, but just PLAIN. Every white button-up I found had ruffles or weird details down the front. Or a sash under the bust line or some crazy collarless thing going on. I must have gone to three or four stores, looking for a standard white button-up, the kind they have for men in every Wal-Mart or Belk's or any store you walk into.
When I FINALLY found one (the very last one at Ann Taylor Loft, all the others had funky details), it was $40. (And it's not even non-iron!) A comparable shirt for a man? $25 or so.
Why, why, WHY do retailers do this to us? Who doesn't stock a plain white button-up? (Apparently, everybody.) Dressing is soooo much more difficult for a woman than it is for a man.
~Sigh.~
Comments
Honestly, I think I would have to go buy a man's shirt. I don't think anyone would notice if you didn't tell them.
(The good news is, you can find some great pieces that are machine washable)
I know I sound like my grandmother when I harp on quality, but it's true. What can I say. ;-)