This is a simply fabulous white lace dress from the Old Pueblo Traders Catalog.
I got these lace pumps to match the dress, don’t they go well together?
I have gotten a lot of questions about catalog shopping. Julie’s is fairly typical:
Dear April,
You often mention that she buy things from women’s catalogs or on line. I see lots of things I like, but I am nervous about buying from a catalog. They will have my name and address, and nosy neighbors will see what I am ordering. Plus how do I know that what I buy will fit? Any advice?
Julie in Ohio
And here’s another:
Hi April,
Can you recommend a few catalogs or websites for me to peruse? I am tiredof what I can buy locally and I like what you are wearing
Mary Olsen in MN
OK here’s a few things for Julie and Mary and the other girls that have written. First, don’t worry about being male. I ordered over the phone the other day with Roman’s and the customer service person said 10% of her calls were men. They don’t care they want you money!
And this is pretty basic TGirl advice, but if you can’t receive packages get a PO box!
Most importantly-learn your size! It is not that difficult, and many online sites or mail order catalogs have size charts
I have been measured for size 3 different times. Call someplace, a smaller shop if possible, and tell the truth. What can they do--say no? then call the next place
Many years agao, when I started going out dressed, I called a place in very conservative West Hartford, CT. I got there Saturday at 9:15, 45 minutes before they opened. the shop owner measured me, told me I was an 8 or 10 (Ah to be young again) and I spent more than $800. try it
I went into this store once dressed late on a Saturday. They didn't recognize me! The owner came over and said "Isn't that dress one of ours?" and I smiled and said yes. I didn't tell her until the next time I went in
As far as where to shop, I recommend you stay away from the TGirl sites that sell clothing (I can see the emails coming now). I want to wear women’s clothing, not clothing made for a man to dress like a woman. And, their prices tend to be high
I have also found that the catalog with woman’s sizes work better for me as their clothing is a little roomier. I get a 12 w as opposed to a 14 in misses. So if you are looking for really flashy clothing or tight dress I am not the one to ask. I will give web addresses when I know them, but you can find these people on Google .
For foundations there is no one better than Frishman’s (http://www.frish.com). Thye have a pretty good selection, and cater to us girls. Don’t go to the TV part of their site though. You might also try Old Pueblo Traders or Patricia at Shapeu.
For slips one again Frishman’s is best, but all catalog’s have different versions. Since I like long slips I have also done well at Silhouettes.
For dressy dress—Roamans, Willow Ridge, and Old Pueblo Traders. Bedford fair is also OK, but the merchandise isn’t as nice. Some of these catalogs and we sites start their woman’s sizes at 18W, so beware. Jessica London is also quote good. Chadwick’s of Boston in really nice but the most expensive of what I have listed.
When buying shoes online or by mail remember these people don’t want to get returns, so the shows almost always run true to size. I like OPT lately for shoes, but one trip to DSW could change this. Roamans also has some nice dressy pumps.
“If you go to Roamans or Jessica London, you will see something on the home page called “One Stop Plus”. These are all the Redcats, the parent company of Roamans and a lot more sites. They list selections of each website together.
I suggest you start with the “outlet” or “Clearance” sections first. You know April’s rule, never ever pay full price! If you order from Roamans when you get you order there will be a catalog with 30% off you next purchase. Save these, you can use them over and over again and they tend to be in effect for months.
Also if you order on line you will get occasional offers from all the websites. Just yesterday I went to town on OPT. They had 20% off all clearance stuff, so I got 4 pairs of shoes and five outfits. Carol came over and we got 4 more outfits for here.
I have had the best 4 days. After an ugly first half of the week where I had to be in NYC for successive days, I took Thursday and Friday off. The worst part of NYC was that I was on the train on my way home on Tuesday when I got a call to go back on Wednesday.
And no time either day for shopping! NYC is brutal when it’s hot, and it seems like I was walking behind a bus the whole time I was there.
Thursday was an inside day for April, and late in the day Carol called to say hello. We’d had a little disagreement and we talked through it
She was off Friday and convinced me to go out and about with her. So we did a little shopping, had a nice lunch, and did a matinee of “Hairspray” at the movies. Cute flip, and rather appropriate for me wouldn’t you say? After the movies we had a pedicure!
Yesterday I went out another branch of Lady Grace who had apparently found some old slips in their storage area and had them out for $3.99. I got 8, 6 full and four half.
Today is one of those lazy days where I have only gotten to my foundations and a robe, there are papers to read and TV to watch…
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