Men often complain that women take too much time clothes shopping. I'm sure you've all seen the pictures and jokes of a man's trip through a mall to buy a pair of jeans vs a woman's trip to purchase the same thing:
Several of my male friends boast that it takes them 10 minutes tops to buy anything in a store. They walk in, they get what they're looking for, they walk out. Half the time, they don't even bother trying them on, they claim, because they know they're size, they know the cut of the pants/shirt/whatever they're looking for, and they've worn the same fashion for years.
Women on the other hand (as the complaint goes) have to try on everything they choose. They have to colour-coordinate, check out all the sales, comparison shop, buy more-more-more all the time. And yes, it's true that some women truly would turn shopping into a career if they could, but not all of us are that way. For example, me. I personally hate shopping for clothes and only do it as a necessity or if I happen to pass by a store and see exactly what I'm looking for in the display window (well, also when my female friends/cousins want to take me shopping, but that's more for the pleasure of hanging out with my friends).
However, even when I want to take the minimum amount to time to shop, it can still take 3 hours to find one pair of pants. Why? One simple concept: men's sizes vs. women's sizes.
But instead of elaborating on this, why not illustrate it instead with a simple example? Let's take Mark and Cindy. They're both shopping for a pair of jeans. Simple enough, right?
Now, Mark just walks into Marks and Spencer, because that's where he's always bought his jeans. He knows his inside leg measurement and his waist size, and he's always worn the straight cut style with the belt just above the hips. He finds his jeans; he's done.
Cindy, on the other hand, has to contend with the fact that a) women's sizes are defined by an arbitrary number system, and b) this number system is different in every store. So, she does, in fact, have to try on everything she's interested in because a size 8 at The Gap is not the same as a size 8 at Eddie Bauer.
Not to mention the styles. A straight cut leg with the belt just below the hips size 8 is not going to fit the same way as a flared leg with belt sitting at the waist. And she has the burden of other options as well. Does she want capris, full-length? Faded seat? Faded legs? Fitted, stretch, patterned, cotton blend, polyester? Does she want pockets, or just the appearance of pockets? No pockets at all? Pleated or no?
And even if she has made all these decisions before she gets the mall, she has to contend with the fact that not every store may carry it in her size. And if she liked the jeans she's worn for the past three years? No guarantee that they're still available anywhere. After all, women's fashion changes at least three times a year. What's laughable one season will suddenly be hailed the newest craze the next. And as such, if you like that one particular style that they sell at Levi's and want to go back to find it a year later, well good luck to ya, sister.
To emphasize the point, let's look at another example. Ted and Rachel are going to a wedding and need to buy new outfits for the occasion. Ted will need a suit and tie, maybe a cummerbund and bowtie if it's very formal. Rachel needs a dress and matching purse.
If Ted is concerned about price, then he may shop around or bee-line to men's wear at The Bay. If not, he simply finds the closest Tip Top Tailor or equivalent, gets fitted, tries on a few accessories, picks a belt off the rack near the cash, makes his purchases, arranges the date to pick up his suit and he's good to go. 30 minutes to an hour later, he's home and on the phone with his buddies to schedule a basketball game.
Rachel, in the meantime, is having problems. Does she want to go for the latest fad, or classic? What looks good on her without turning her into a middle-aged frump? What colours will flatter her complexion? Does she want sleeves? If not, she'll have to get a shawl to the church in case it gets cold. Maxi, midi, or mini? How much cleavage does she want to show? And what size is she again? She remembers fitting into a 3/4 at Jacob, but what does that translate to at BC/BG? Working Girl? Laura? Sears?
Okay, let's say she's decided on an A-line midi dress in green (maybe patterned if she can find one she likes) with spaghetti straps. She has a white wrap at home, so that's not a problem. So, off she goes to the mall. Jacob has a lot of green dresses, but they're all too casual for a wedding. At Laura, she finds a what she's looking for but after trying it on, she discovers it's too long and makes her look fat. Garage.. WAY too casual. Maxie's has three candidates in three sizes. Too large, too small, aha! This one fits! Buuuut... it has that saggy front style, and she hates that style. Next.
BC/BG has next to nothing in green, BUT they do have a white dress with green flowers. This could work. She finds her size, but ... wow... that's a lot of cleavage. No one will notice the bride if Rachel wears this. Holt Renfrew is much too formal, but she does find a lovely chong-sam style with green flowers, and holy mother of pearl, the slit goes up to WHERE? Next!
About an hour and a half later, by which time Ted made his above-mentioned purchases, arranged the basketball game for that evening, popped open a beer and tuned into the Raiders game (3rd quarter, Raiders up by 30), Rachel has decided that obviously green is not her colour this year, and that pink might bring her better luck. So, she begins the circuit again.
45 minutes later (Raiders have dropped behind by an alarming 12 points. Ted leans forward and opens another beer. This game's gonna be close.), Rachel has found her dress. But wait... The shoes she had in mind for the wedding don't match with pink. So, it's off to Aldo, Pegabo, Town Shoes and so forth to find a heeled sandal that would be appropriate for a wedding, but which she could also wear again.
By the time Rachel gets home with her purchases -- including pearl earrings to replace the emeralds she had originally planned on wearing, the sandals, matching purse, belt (not for the wedding, but she needed a new belt and this one was on sale where she bought the purse), and sunglasses (the dog had chewed up her old pair this morning) -- Ted has finished watching the game (Raiders won! Woohoo!), changed and gone out to meet his buddies, leaving a note for Rachel by the sink:
"Gone for b-ball with the boys. Parents meeting us
for Chinese at Ruby Palace at 8:30. See you there.
Love Ted.
PS: Can you pick up my suit for me on Monday?"
