Wednesday
Mar102010
Aritzia Clothing Fail and Why I Hate Clothes Shopping
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 3:52PM 
Ok, so this is one of the reasons I hate clothes shopping. I don't buy new clothes often, but yesterday I decided I needed a non-black sweater that I could wear at writers' conventions and other casual business environments. I say non-black because black matches with everything, which means I don't have to get as many outfits. At least that's my justification but in reality it's because I missed an important class in Girl School and never learned to enjoy clothes shopping the way many other women do.
Yesterday, I decided to make use of a shopping card that Jeff got as a Christmas gift from his workplace, but kindly gave to me. Anyway, another reason I hate clothes shopping is because so many women's clothes seem overpriced to me. However, I'm aware that fashionistas could say the same about the price of books or original art. In the end, the stores charge what people are willing to pay, else they'd go out of business.
Anyway, after much agonizing at Aritzia in Toronto's Eaton Centre, I finally decided on a cotton-cashmere sweater and wore it to the Max Raabe concert at the Royal Conservatory last night. When I went to put it away, however, I was surprised to see a big swath of ugly pilling in the lower back. It looked as if I had worn the sweater for years and sat on sandpaper every day. Ugh.
And this brings me to another aspect of clothes shopping I hate -- buyer regret. Now I have to go back downtown just to return the sweater. I called Aritzia to explain what had happened, and asked if I could return the sweater. The woman on the phone was immediately guarded, saying there was no guarantee, but that I could try bringing the sweater in for her manager to examine. Sigh. This means at least 2 hours out of my work day but I don't see a way around it.
I hate HATE wasted time.
in Admin
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Reader Comments (7)
Debbie, I have a battery powered pilling shaver. It does wonders! You can borrow it. If you like it I will give you one for your birthday. I will bring it tomorrow (Thursday) when I come to pick up Brittany's snow pants between noon and 12:30.
Hi Debbie,
We're very sorry to hear about your sweater! If you have any problems returning/exchanging it, please kindly let me know and I'll be sure to remedy the situation for you. We truly do stand behind our products and want to make sure that every customer is happy with what they've purchased. Feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions/concerns. Thanks!
Regards,
Candy
Ginny: thanks for the offer, but the material is so thin that shaving off the pilling would cause wear and tear problems in the future, I think (you did give me a pilling shaver some years back, thank you!).
CSoo: Thanks so much! I'm going to try returning the sweater for credit this coming week and will post about what happens.
Original art is not overpriced! You expect to be paid fairly for your services, why do you think an artist who spends many hours and on a piece does not deserve to be be paid fairly for his/her work?
Your sister is an artist... I thiough you would understand what she goes through in producing her work and how unfairly low she is probably getting paid for it!!
Not a fair comment Deb!!
Brian, you completely misread my comment. I was defending the price of books and art, and saying that this was why I could understand why some clothing may seem overpriced to me. A lot of effort goes into the design of clothes, and that has a value.
And thanks for the heads-up on my sister. I had no idea she was an artist.
I missed the same Girl-class. I hate clothes shopping. Actually, I like it for the first 15 minutes, then it's downhill from there.
That's very unusual about Aritzia. I find they have excellent quality and their flies are more durable/last longer than
Ost other canadian brands like Suzy Sheir (ugly, cheap looking clothing) or le chateau expensive clothing made of cheap material and poorly designed/I'll fitting. With some Aritzia clothing it is meant to be worn in looking but that's usually marked on one of the clothing tags. Im in my early 30s and a large part of my wardrobe comes from aritiza.
On another note I have found that certain purses make the sides of my sweaters (from different brands) pill simply by rubbing against them.