Male shopping [rant]

[RooFlyer]

Being a guy, I hate shopping, particularly for clothes; coupled with the fact that I'm overweight (fat, if you like) I tend to do clothes shopping in batches and when I'm visiting Sydney or Melbourne, as the range is (or should be) better than in Hobart and often cheaper.

So I arrived in Sydney, cashed-up with a near empty suitcase.

Arrrrrgh!! :evil:

Department stores with few staff, and those that are there, chatting amongst themselves and doing their best to ignore the middle aged guy. Myers, it turns out, stock zero Levi jeans in waist size 40; DJs stock them, but not my leg size. I usually avoid the smaller 'hip' stores due to the 'cool' young staff who, in addition to their attitude to older shoppers, tend to be ignorant about what they are selling. I braved Just Jeans and secured a pair. Points to them; I'll go back.

And who in their cotton-picking little mind would pay $60 for a plain strip of leather called a belt? :shock: :evil: .

Need I go on?

Why are males discriminated against by always having their merchandise on the upper floors? Have to stuff about dodging the cosmetic stands to get to the escalators, which don't have store directories any more, so you have to wander about trying to find the plain jeans - which in both Myer and DJs are tucked away against back walls. I contemptuously walk past the stupid 'designer' label areas - they are made in Asian sweatshops, like most of the other clothes, so why pay so much more for just a stupid 5x5cm label?

Points to Merrell shoes. Everywhere I've bought them (San Fran, Syd, Mel, London) over many years the staff have been knowledgeable and provide good service. So it is possible.

I've spent only half of what I intended; looks like my current wardrobe will have to do service a bit longer. [/ rant]

 

[drron]

Which is why I do my shopping in the States-cheaper,more larger sizes and very likely the assistant is slightly to the larger size.plus they are usually on commission so do tend to be more helpful.

 

[RooFlyer]

Now I'm braving Sydney trains which appear not to have improved their punctuality or accuracy of information provided within stations since I lived here 13 years ago. One change though. Now only ONE ticket machine in all of Wynyard Station.

 

[tjs10]

I know what you mean!

I'm in a similar (plus size) boat to you and the availability of decent items, and decent staff who can actually assist rather than just kill time until they go home is shocking.

Coming from the UK, I remember the range and quantity of item that were available in cities back home and still can;t get my head around the lack of choice and availability there is here, even in something as simple as a pair of jeans!

 

[jb747]

Over the years I've found a couple of shops that I like, and until they (invariably) succumb to some stupid designer's whims I buy everything from them, and go nowhere else.

It was once Williams, then Rod and Gun, and currently Gazman. I cannot remember the last time I bought anything in a department store.

 

[tjs10]

Might have to give Gazman a try. Not a shop I have come across before, but then I am still relatively fresh of the boat, so to speak!

 

[moa999]

Now I'm braving Sydney trains which appear not to have improved their punctuality or accuracy of information provided within stations since I lived here 13 years ago. One change though. Now only ONE ticket machine in all of Wynyard Station.

Bad day to pick. The high winds have taken down some powerlines on a couple of lines.

No one buys a ticket nowadays (apart from tourists). Everyone uses an Opal Card. Even for the one-off visitor fares on Opal are MUCH cheaper.

Also try some of the newer overseas fast fashion chains that you may not of heard of - they normally have a big size selection
- H&M, Uniqlo, Zara

 

[cove]

I went to the Nordstrom sale this month at two of their largest stores in Southern California so all good.
Shorts from Macy's as well as trousers. I love just cutting off the tags and wearing them as they have all the sizes/lengths.

 

[cgichard]

When you're next shopping for jeans (men's and women's) in Melbourne, go out of your way (no. 19 tram, Blyth St stop) to Dejour Jeans at 542 Sydney Road, Brunswick. Unparalled range, value and service. Mon - Fri 9:30 am- 5:30pm (some Saturdays).

 

[RooFlyer]

Bad day to pick. The high winds have taken down some powerlines on a couple of lines.

No one buys a ticket nowadays (apart from tourists). Everyone uses an Opal Card. Even for the one-off visitor fares on Opal are MUCH cheaper.

Also try some of the newer overseas fast fashion chains that you may not of heard of - they normally have a big size selection
- H&M, Uniqlo, Zara

A bad day indeed. Qantas had just cancelled my late flight back to Hobart. Put me on Jetstar :shock: a few hours earlier. Scrambling in taxi to retrieve bag from hotel and then to airport. No seating available, Jetstar queue at airport:evil:.

Heard of H&M. Have avoided it up to now, young, ignorant sales assistant category.
Now airport expressway at a near halt. This is exactly why I left Sydney all those years ago !

 

[RooFlyer]

Over the years I've found a couple of shops that I like, and until they (invariably) succumb to some stupid designer's whims I buy everything from them, and go nowhere else.

It was once Williams, then Rod and Gun, and currently Gazman. I cannot remember the last time I bought anything in a department store.

Yes, I do Gazman for shirts. They even have a store in Hobart!

 

[JohnK]

Lowes for work shirts and pants/trousers.

Surprisingly Gazman had a shirt on sale that I liked. Rivers had a jacket on sale so bought 2. Big W/Target/K-Mart for golf t-shirts, singlets and underwear.

 

[RooFlyer]

Deleted by me as being 'off topic'

 

[RB]

I can't imagine I would look very good in any of the "skinny" cut strides that are being flogged everywhere now. Used to have a good sole trader menswear in PQQ but gone by the wayside long ago. I don't need anything dressy these days, just clothes for walking & something for beers at the club on a Fri night

 

[ric_melb]

I am also a fan of Gazman. It's a good idea to put your email address on their mailing list as they are almost always having sales and specials. The quality of the fabrics they use is excellent. Their shirts go up to 2XL and sometimes 3XL, with jeans and pants usually going up to 42 inch waist.
I noticed they have a store in Hobart, they have plenty in Melbourne, though mainly in the suburbs, and a few stores in Sydney.
Many staff are relatively mature but I find all their staff civil and helpful.

 

[Ikara]

I'm a 36 but I'm much more comfortable in a 42!

Another vote for Gazman. Their XXL is really an XXL. Their rugby tops and shirts are great. I understand that the CEO of Gazman is an XXL, so he has made sure that it is a true XXL. Their trousers/slacks are OK. I prefer Farah jeans and now that I've found my size 107S, I buy then online. No probs.

JB

 

[Buzzard]

I get good quality leather belts from a guy at the Vic markets in MEL. About $30 IIRC. Gazman and Zara. I don't like spending much on clothes. Found a really helpful sales guy but the shop is in Lisbon.

 

[love_the_life]

I much prefer to do my own thing when clothes shopping and go out of my way to avoid 'helpful' or other staff - as long as I can find the person to pay I'm all good! And that can be a trial though - I find DJs particularly bad.

 

[oz_mark]

Now I'm braving Sydney trains which appear not to have improved their punctuality or accuracy of information provided within stations since I lived here 13 years ago. One change though. Now only ONE ticket machine in all of Wynyard Station.

Train timetables only exist to tell you how late the train is. They don't seem to serve any other purpose.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Mr FM has the opposite problem - trying to find stuff small enough . Has got better since Chinese etc started moving to Australia as they have a similar build, so he has more choice than in the 70s. He tends to get trousers made as well. There is a guy who visits Canberra every three months or so and easy to order from him. Not sure where they get made but the quality and materials are good and prices reasonable for the quality.

Opal cards are good - you can order them online and get them posted out for free. They have an automatic top up, so very handy for Sydney visits