The One Where I Tried REALLY REALLY Hard to Get Some New Things for Spring BUT.

Online shopping is sort of like a savings account for me. I send them $100, they send me things, then I send them back the things and they send me back the $100.

EXCEPT FOR (prepare for rant) Target…which, for the first time, ever, did not refund the credit card I used, but, instead, paid the refund into e-credit on my Target account. Which means that money is now only good at Target. Ugh. ALSO, it was a VERY short return window. I feel like the standard is 30 days…and some sites extended well beyond this due to covid. But one of the things I bought two weeks ago and it was already beyond the return window! It took a week for me just to RECEIVE the items! So, keep this in mind when shopping.

Here’s What I Kept

Converse Chuck Taylor® All Star® Shoreline Slip-On

Finally bit the bullet on a second color: navy. They’ve already had a lot of wear and I expect that to continue.

Target Women’s Plus Size Striped Slim Fit Long Sleeve Round Neck Pocket T-Shirt – A New Day™ Brown 3X

I already showed this in last week’s Outfit of the Day post…it’s the shirt that I love the color and overall fit but has the too-big sleeves. Oh me and my short arms.

Old Navy Vintage Plus-Size Pullover Hoodie, 3x

After much searching, I finally found a “good enough” grey hoodie. This is the one that was in the “layering denim jackets” post.

Loft Blue Button-down with Ruffle Collar, 3x

bettye standing outside on patio in white jeans and bloue striped buttondown shirt

This was in last week’s Outfit of the Day post…the shirt I THOUGHT I bought in February but hadn’t…but when Shoptagr told me it was back in stock I grabbed it.

Gloria Vanderbilt Amanda Jeans

Springy green: perfect example of the different colors affecting the sizing So Much. These are 20 short, which all my other current jeans are. These are SO SMALL. Tight, short. Uncomfortably tight. And a weird shortness. They’re not doing me any favors (which will be a common theme throughout this post). I tried to return them but somehow it’s not coming up that I ever ORDERED them (they certainly took my money) so I can’t RETURN them. I didn’t spend TOO much time on it. I got aggravated and just figured maybe they’ll fit next spring. But this afternoon when straightening up I found a return label that might go to them, so…not sure right now. The color is really pretty.

These mustard gold ones (below) are sold out online so I can’t find a picture, but they’re the exact same as the green ones, only a different color. And THEY fit slightly better in the leg and length BUT I can’t come even CLOSE to getting them buttoned! Go figure. But since these were really for fall/winter anyway, I don’t mind holding onto them to try again in September. I do love the color.

Here’s What I Returned

Get a snack. This could take a while.

TARGET

Sorry for the teeny product pictures…there are so many things and I was trying to expedite things a bit.

Women’s Plus Size Sweatshirt, 3x

This one is Breaking My Heart. I LOVE the color. I love the fit through the body and the length. The neck-hole is a little large for my taste but not a deal-breaker for this lovely color. But the SLEEVES. Way too long and too loose. And it’s not a stretchy fabric, so just pushing them up is not an option, they fall right back down. I tried cuffing them (yuck, what am I, 6 years old?) I rolled them FOUR TIMES to make them an okay length so it was a big old clump of mess around my wrist. I can’t. But it makes me so SAD to send back this color. So sad. Size 3x.

Women’s Plus Size Long Sleeve Button-Down Shirt – Ava & Viv™ Cream 3X

Mmm. I almost kept this. I wanted a cream button-down. I REALLY want a silk cream button-down but none of those in my size have come my way. I thought the cream would look pretty over the green jeans. And with black jeans, black cardi. Etc. Cream blouse seems a useful item. And this was fine. It’s not my favorite “up on my neck” collar (few things are) and I’m not crazy about the contrasting buttons or the buttons on the breast pockets (am I the only one who dislikes the term “breast pockets”? I’m like “my breasts don’t have pockets.” Would that even be useful? I dunno). But in the end that thing that pushed me over the edge was the material. A rayon polyester blend that’s just a little heavy on the polyester side. A little too slinky slippery. I know I would not be motivated to wear it even though “cream blouse” would be useful in my wardrobe. Size 3x.

Women’s Plus Size Short Sleeve T-Shirt – Ava & Viv™ Rust 3X

Oh dear. Ha ha. Ava&Viv strikes again. That Target brand, like Lane Bryant, thinks that fat women are TALL, not wide. Nuff said. I do love the color. Size 3x.

OLD NAVY

ON was having a big ol’ sale so I took more risks than usual. PLUS, I ventured into the men’s department cuz they have the colors and collars (weird, right?) I like. But like Ava&Viv and Lane Bryant, they are built for MEN, who are taller, broader through the shoulder, and slim-hipped.

These first few are all from the men’s section…

Graphic Soft-Washed Crew-Neck Tee for Men

XXXL seemed to be the largest size, and I was even in the “big&tall” section. Fit issues apparent. Right? I thought the colors were fun.

Soft-Washed Crew-Neck Tee for Men

Ugh. The collars are SO much better than on the women’s tees. Why IS that??

Regular-Fit Double-Brushed Cotton Shirt for Men

I thought a button-down that I could wear open over a tee would be better. Mmm. It’s BETTER…but still not GOOD. To go up in size, the shoulders and sleeves would be way too big. This one was a shame, I was thinking I would wear this like a shacket.

Vintage Gender-Neutral Garment-Dyed Long-Sleeve Pocket Tee for Adults

Oh this color. But man body. Not my body. Interesting they call this “gender-neutral” when it’s clearly cut to fit a man’s body.

I did get a couple women’s things, as well.

Vintage Crew-Neck Plus-Size Sweatshirt

Another disappointment. I really wanted this color to work. Traditional sweatshirts are a tough sell on me cuz of the bottom cuff. Plus, here. the sleeves. No.

Loose Specially Dyed Vintage Plus-Size Tee

Sigh. This is emotionally draining to look at all these again. This one is better than the others but….still not doing me any favors. The shoulders/sleeves…and just a little too snug fit at the belly. And the color was really not as it looked online.

Acid-Wash Shaker-Stitch Button-Front Plus-Size Cardigan Sweater

No favors. I love the color. It’s a cute cropped cardi. But I need more shoulder structure and I didn’t realize from the picture online that the sleeves would be so balloony. This is why it’s better to see items on bodies.

TORRID

TORRID CLASSIC FIT CREW TEE – VINTAGE BURNOUT WHITE

The hunt for a new white tee has been going on for awhile…to no avail. My H&M one is looking dingey and getting TOO soft from wearing and washing it so much. This is a 3x.

SO. Out of 16 purchases, I’m keeping six, but two of those I can’t even wear (the green and gold Gloria Vanderbilt jeans) yet. Ha. Sigh. But I’m glad I tried out the men’s things, now I know. It’s a shame they have such good styles and colors. And THAT’S where all the merino wool is! The men’s department! Who knew!?!

Next week I go back to working in-office Mon-Fri and I DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M GOING TO WEAR ha ha. If it would stay cold I’d be golden.

This post contains affiliate links, which means that I may receive a small commission if you buy something as a result of clicking that link, at no extra cost to you. I appreciate you shopping through my links.