Mostly I don't want to buy "real" clothes, because I don't know what my next "dress code" will end up being like. I imagine needing a couple suits and a couple of blazers, but not if I end up at a casual place.

What is it?

It's a Façonnable boutique.

It's a Façonnable boutique.

And what's that?

I don't know what my next "dress code" will end up being like

Is it likely to be as dressed down as jeans? Even so, if you need tops, it should be pretty easy to buy some simple ones that'll go with jeans as well as with suits, and not cost that much money. Shopping for pants and skirts gets more complicated, but even so, short of a 5 day a week suit environment, skirts that can be dressed up with a blazer or function as business casual might be possible to shop for as well.

Well, Nordstrom Rack is an outlet store and thus isn't all that different from shopping at (c)Ross Dress-for-Less as far as the experience is concerned.

Although, damn, are the clothes better quality. Except for the absurdly big-name designer stuff, the prices are maybe a few dollars different than Ross's but it's all so very worth it. Hec almost had a clothesgasm the first time I dragged him there to look for blazers and shoes for work.

I doubt I'll ever be able to afford Nordstrom itself, but I am completely and utterly the Rack's bitch.

Wow. Personal shoppers? I assume that's an extra service.

Speaking of department stores, I really miss the Bullocks of Pasadena, CA. It was a classic '20s (possibly '30s) era department store. Lots of polished stone, brass, and old signs. Just too cool.

Any clothing is an improvement at this point. The weight gain has made it so that very little fits me. I constantly wear the LL Bean jeans I have. I've been wearing them so much for the last year that they've got holes everywhere. On any given day, the clothes I'm wearing include something I got for free or a gift. Because it's been that long since I was able to afford new clothing. (Okay, honestly it's a matter of priorities. If it's between tech stuff that might help me train for a job and clothing, I'm picking the tech stuff.)

Lunch has created a ball of molten lava in my stomach. Need to curl up in a ball someplace and whimper. There's no way I can go home sick at 2pm on a Friday. It just looks suspicious.

but I am completely and utterly the Rack's bitch.

Totally. I swing through there all the time.

Façonnable .

Even so, if you need tops, it should be pretty easy to buy some simple ones that'll go with jeans as well as with suits, and not cost that much money.

Yeah, I think I'm OK, tops-wise. I mean, it's not like I don't have all my old work clothes, which tended to be blouse-and-skirt-ish, so in real life it's not likely I'm going to suddenly need a full wardrobe of suits or whatever, but you know. Easier to worry about not having the right clothes for the new job than not having the right skills.

Edited to clarify that I did not usually wear two tops to work, but rather one top and one bottom. Shirt != skirt.

I assume that's an extra service.

I don't think so. I did sign up for it when I just moved here. Not sure why I ended up cancelling. But it was under the assumption it wasn't extra.

I have no idea a) why I'm listening to my Lust playlist at work and b) why Closer (NIN, not Maxwell) is on it.

I assume that's an extra service.

I'm pretty sure they just get a commission on whatever you purchase.

ETA: I know that the personal shoppers at Nordstrom's and Neiman Marcus are free to the customer. How they get paid in the grand scheme of things is a mystery to me.