The bugbears of buying what you wear in NZ

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#2069534 7-Aug-2018 20:49

shk292:
I find trousers the hardest thing to buy. I have a 30" leg, yet nearly all trousers (especially jeans and casual) seem to be 34". That's a contrast to the US, where most shops have all waist sizes in 30, 32 and 34 leg sizes. SO I usually buy jeans etc when overseas, or via Amazon.

But, I'm sure NZ retailers think I'm just trying to dodge GST and when the rules change I'll buy from them instead

Where are you seeing 34" legs? I can't bloody find them 😂

shk292

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#2069552 7-Aug-2018 21:41

gehenna:
shk292:
I find trousers the hardest thing to buy. I have a 30" leg, yet nearly all trousers (especially jeans and casual) seem to be 34". That's a contrast to the US, where most shops have all waist sizes in 30, 32 and 34 leg sizes. SO I usually buy jeans etc when overseas, or via Amazon.

But, I'm sure NZ retailers think I'm just trying to dodge GST and when the rules change I'll buy from them instead

Where are you seeing 34" legs? I can't bloody find them 😂

Jeans seem to be in 32 or 34 leg in most NZ shops. 32 may be more common for other trousers, too long for me anyway but if I walk into any US department store there's a huge range that fits me

dejadeadnz

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#2069570 7-Aug-2018 22:08

Long term it sounds like I might have to look into doing some shopping when overseas, although I doubt my significant other will be happy about this news. On a more positive note, I have to say that I am increasingly more impressed by the day by Rembrandt. Yes, they are more expensive but so far everything of theirs that I have had is very high quality.

MikeAqua

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#2069672 8-Aug-2018 09:36

Levis come in 34" legs. I'm wearing some right now.

Mike

andrew027

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#2069674 8-Aug-2018 09:45

I used to do a lot of my shopping overseas, but have lost 20kg in the last 18 months and find it much easier to find clothes that fit me properly now. As a result, I don't have many complaints. Not everyone who needs an XL is the same shape, and I could never get a simple t-shirt that fit me properly. It seems to be less of an issue now - I pull an M off the rack and it almost always fits well. And having lost so much weight, most of my wardrobe is pretty new; nothing I was wearing at Christmas 2016 fits me now, except shoes and socks.

I'm fairly brand agnostic. Most of my work stuff is Country Road or Barkers but I've bought other brands (3 Wise Men, Nicholas Jermyn, ...). Almost all of it bought on sale or at outlet stores. I've never had any problems like the colour fading on dress shirts @dejadeadnz mentions in the OP - I think that needs further investigation. I have bought a few nice things at David Jones in Wellington, again almost exclusively in sales.

I get my casual stuff all over the place. Barkers. Industrie. Jeans West. Levi's. Rodd & Gunn. I bought a bunch of stuff from AS Colour; they have a "5 items for $130" (with some conditions) deal that's good for basics, and their quality is very good. I've picked up the odd item in H&M - not the best quailty but cheap as, and sometimes that's my main requirement. And if you're OK with H&M, take a look at Uniqlo if you're overseas. And never underestimate the power of a Kathmandu half price sale.

MikeAqua

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#2069710 8-Aug-2018 10:52

andrew027:

I used to do a lot of my shopping overseas, but have lost 20kg in the last 18 months and find it much easier to find clothes that fit me properly now.

Nice work.

Weight loss and strength training has simply shifted my clothes-fit problems. They used to be tight at the waist, now shirts are tight at the shoulders and some trousers are tight around the legs. I'm currently holding up 38" waist jeans with 34" belt, because I have about 6 pairs and I'm too cheap to replace them.

Mike

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#2069715 8-Aug-2018 11:20

Being in a different age category to most on Geekzone, one primary requirement for me is shirts having a pocket (reading glasses). Similarly trousers a fob pocket (keys, so separated from phone, etc). Seems most people these days don't want shirt pockets as increasingly, the large majority of shirts don't have them. That applies both here and overseas (UK, anyway).

One local brand I have found good is Berlin (http://www.berlinclothing.co.nz/). Available in various outlets but on the Hibiscus Coast at least, they have their own shop (Berlin) in Orewa. They also sell Astin Smith product, and some Ben Sherman. Full price is up there but at least in their Orewa store, they have a good range on sale most of the time (often half price or less).

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WyleECoyoteNZ

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#2069720 8-Aug-2018 11:30

I don't have\need to wear a suit to work thankfully, hell, if I did everyone would think you've got a interview

Finding a decent pair of dress work pants that aren't black or navy isn't easy. The other problem with dress pants is one's that have some weight to them, that don't feel flimsy. I'm early 40's so the suits\pants from my old go to of Hallensteins are just laughable, I don't do skinny or stretch pants. Being on 1 income means dropping $150-$200 on a pair of Barkers or the like pants isn't really possible. I'd like too, but it's a bit selfish.

Farmers range has been good though for dress pants. The Van Huesen range aren't too bad.

1 good thing from Hallensteins are there 'house' brand (LFD i think it is) jeans. Usually 2 for $99, hard wearing, don't fade, and for me a least fit perfectly.

I bet some will turn there noses up at this, but about a month back on 1 trip to a second hand store, I picked up a Kathmandu Buzzguard shirt with a RRP of $159 for $12, it looked like the shirt hadn't been worn. On the same trip I also found a 3 Wise Men tailored casual shirt for $12 as well. A second trip a week or so later, I scored another 3 Wise Men business shirt for $12 as well.

Prior to that I'd also manged to get 2 Summit branded business shirts from Munn's menswear for $29 each, Ok 1 was a plan white business shirt, and another was whitey\greyish.

I guess the best thing to do is to shop around. Bargains to be had out there.

Geektastic

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#2069754 8-Aug-2018 12:08

If anyone needs Chino type trousers in lots of sizes with heaps of pockets, these from Scottevest are very good.

MurrayM

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#2069859 8-Aug-2018 13:10

Am I the only one here that absolutely hates clothes shopping (I consider it a waste of time and money) and will simply buy the cheapest stuff from either Famers or The Warehouse that are comfortable? Maybe I'm lucky in that I don't seem to have any trouble finding stuff that will fit me. And the whole idea of fashion and being seen to be fashionable seems silly to me; so long as I'm clean, tidy and comfortable I really don't care!

Geektastic

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#2070204 8-Aug-2018 20:47

MurrayM:

Am I the only one here that absolutely hates clothes shopping (I consider it a waste of time and money) and will simply buy the cheapest stuff from either Famers or The Warehouse that are comfortable? Maybe I'm lucky in that I don't seem to have any trouble finding stuff that will fit me. And the whole idea of fashion and being seen to be fashionable seems silly to me; so long as I'm clean, tidy and comfortable I really don't care!

I hate Farmers and the Warehouse more than I hate clothes shopping...!

I do much of mine on line or when overseas. In fact I can't even remember the last significant clothes shopping expedition I undertook in NZ.

gehenna

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#2070303 8-Aug-2018 21:20

MikeAqua:
Levis come in 34" legs. I'm wearing some right now.

Me too, but I have to get them in from Amazon because I can never find the right length in retail outlets here.

peetter

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#2070406 9-Aug-2018 09:16

I am an immigrant and find NZ clothes shopping awful. I am a small size guy and some T-shirts I tried in size S would probably fit another guy in it, yet they are too short. I also hate skinny pants, I have no desire to have sweaty, choked and overheated junk... wonder who thought of that style. And I am yet to find a decent dress shoe brand.

For dress shirts I would suggest buying online from UK, I used T.M. Lewin before and liked it.

For other stuff I tend to go to Zara most, as that is one store that seems to know my body type.

networkn

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#2070452 9-Aug-2018 09:47

I could certainly understand RE ordering online, but I can't imagine buying something without trying it on, ESP shoes.

These days you can barely trust that if you reorder something it will fit as places are changing their styles. A very small change can take a perfectly fitting shirt completely unwearable.

blackjack17

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#2070482 9-Aug-2018 10:12

networkn:

I could certainly understand RE ordering online, but I can't imagine buying something without trying it on, ESP shoes.

These days you can barely trust that if you reorder something it will fit as places are changing their styles. A very small change can take a perfectly fitting shirt completely unwearable.

This is why places like the iconic are so good, free returns. I order several things, try them on, and anything I don't like put in the return bag, drop it off at the front reception at work and the courier picks it up. My credit card is refunded a couple of days later.

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