Another day at the mall... Browsing again!

Hey Everyone!

So I checked out the Zara in Square One that I was telling you about in the last post. Unfortunately, it was a disappointing experience. Since it was their opening weekend, the store was very busy, and it was virtually impossible to find someone to help me find stuff. Once I did, they weren't very helpful. I explained that I was a blogger interested in trying to find some of the items that they stock that go up to XXL. The employees were not able to identify these garments, and said that if I had the item number, they could look it up in the computer to see if they stock it. It would be great if they could just have a little section of the items that offer extended sizes so that it would be easier for the plus size customer to shop. The shop attendants didn't seem very interested in serving me, although I suppose, in their defence, since it was the opening weekend, it was rather busy. I realized that if I was going to find some or even just one of these elusive garments I was going to have to hunt it down myself. I broke out my handy iPhone and went on Zara's website and filtered down to XXL in the shop by size section. My search for dresses returned four results. Out of the four dresses I looked for, I found only one of the styles (shocking for such a large store), and their largest size was a large. Urgh! It was a frustrating experience to say the least, and if Zara doesn't want my business (or yours), then that's fine. I won't be back unless they make some significant changes. Zara has recently begun offering online shopping for US customers (hopefully they'll extend this courtesy to Canada soon), and perhaps the online shopping experience will be better. I'd love to hear from any of you who have purchased something from them online. I'm not sure I feel comfortable shopping with a retailer who only offers their plus sizes online, though. What, am I not good enough to shop in your store? Can't have the fatties ruining your image, right? What if a skinny shopper sees them?! The horror! If a store is able to produce these garments in these sizes, then they should also extend the same privileges to those who would buy them that they offer to their straight size customers - to actually see, touch, and try on their potential purchases. Sorry if this is rant-y. I was just really excited by the idea that a retailer was actually going to include us for once. Nope... Oh well... Here's the outfit I wore to the mall...

Necklace and Cardigan - Courtesy of Penningtons (I love the elbow patches on it!)/Top - New Look/Jeans - Forever 21+/Shoes - Dorothy Perkins/Bag and Scarf - Thrifted/Earrings - Hand-me-downs from my mom

   

Outfit of the Day - For a Day (of browsing) at the Mall

Hey Everyone,

Have you entered to win the Torrid wellies yet? They're a size 10, and they're beautiful! Sorry if they not your size... I'm sure I'll have another giveaway shortly that won't exclude you non-10s!

The other day I had nothing (that I wanted) to do and so I decided to head down to the mall to do some browsing. Sometimes being a PhD student can be frustrating because you feel like you've been in school forever (because you have) and you have to live like a student for far longer than it is appropriate (or even comfortable) to do so. When I see my friends from high school, undergrad, and even my masters program getting married, starting families, buying cars or houses, and living lifestyles that looks so comfortable, I am reminded of what a sacrifice it actually is to do a PhD. It sort of feels like everything is on hold until I graduate. I've got (probably at most) 2 years left until I finish, and I guess that's not so long. But it's like the modern day equivalent of living like a hermit or ascetic.I absolutely love what I'm studying, and I know it will be worth it in the end.

Fashion blogging definitely isn't easing my materialistic desires either. I constantly see other bloggers buying things that I'd been drooling over for ages and I turn green with envy! I simply can't afford to constantly buy my favourite pieces from each of the plus size lines. Do I lust after Christian Louboutin heels and Miu Miu bags? Of course. Sadly, I'm just not in a position right now where I can rush to my nearest Holt Renfrew (Saks for you US folks, and Harrods for those from the UK) and rescue them from their shelf so they can claim their rightful space in my closet.

That's why you see a lot of my thrifting finds on here. I comb through racks and racks of rather dreadful stuff in hopes of uncovering a hidden gem. Most times, I find a couple of really beautiful pieces, but there are also many times where I'll walk out empty handed. I recognize that sometimes it's annoying to see a piece on here that's not available to you guys since I thrifted it, but I hope you'll bear with me! I am thinking of sharing my wishlist with you guys once a month. It will be a compilation of items that I would buy, given the chance, so you can see all my favourite new items in plus fashion. What do you think?

Anyway, sorry for that long spiel. So I kind of got tired of the thrift store and wanted to spend a day at the mall, even if I was only going in to browse. Peter took these pictures of me while we were at Square One in Mississauga. They're opening an Express and an ENORMOUS Zara soon. Seriously. It's the biggest retail space in a shopping mall I think I've ever seen (except department stores, obviously). And you know what else I just found out? Zara offers select items in up to an XXL. This makes me very happy, but also very sad because I'm not likely to be able to buy anything just yet... So bitter-sweet... Anyway, their grand opening is tomorrow, and I think I might just have to head back to the mall so I can check it out.

Dress and Earrings - Thrifted (big surprise, eh?)/Shoes - Target/Purse - Costa Blanca Accessories (aka CBX)/Necklace - Laura