Shopping as a Teen and as a 20-Something

I have many alternately fond and terrifying memories of experimenting with fashion and makeup as a teenager. My best friends in middle school, who were far ahead of me at this, were always letting me in on the unknown (to me) rules of Girl World. One of these rules was that you could not "preview" an outfit at school the day of a dance. Your dance outfits were apparently supposed to be kept secret until sundown. But they gave me these tidbits of advice, most of the time, in a supportive manner. At least as supportive as 13-year-old girls are capable of being.

Nursing School Fashionista

For most people my age who work the year after graduating college, the transition is marked by a dramatic change in self-image. Gone are the days of sleeping in until 9, 10, or even noon, and shuffling to class in yoga pants or sweats. Those lucky enough to land a professional job start to accumulate trousers, crisp shirts, and smart blazers. One of my best friends, who spent 90% of her time in yoga pants or jeans and a hoodie at Brandeis, now looks like she walked out of a Banana Republic ad. Even her going-out jeans are darker, more polished.

I knew for a long time that the dress code for nursing is based primarily on functionality. My nursing student uniform, navy slacks and a white button-down with our school's seal, also serves a symbolic function by marking us as student nurses. Sadly, it was one of the less aesthetically pleasing uniforms I had seen. I decided that I definitely wanted to have some cute summer clothes to wear to class, and stocked up on bright tees and a floral wrap top.

While I had been trying to find a new pair of jeans, I got an email from my Health Process and Assessment instructor with the course syllabus. Realizing that the lab portion of the class involved performing (and receiving) thorough physical exams, a new pair of yoga pants began to look much more practical than a new pair of jeans. This was how I ended up getting stretch capri pants at Target.

In a month, I can picture my friend sailing into work in a few weeks with her elegant Longchamp bag over her shoulder, while I show up to class with a stethescope and sneakers. But at least my stethescope and blood pressure cuff will match.

Men's Pants vs. Women's Pants

Being 5' 2", I usually have trouble finding pants that don't need 3-5 inches hemmed off the bottom. Some major women's brands are kind enough to have a clearly labeled "petite" section of their stores, or at least to offer pants in short lengths. However, most stores aimed at the 18-25 demographic — H&M, Urban Outfitters, etc. — almost never have petite sections, and rarely even offer short pants. Tall pants, sometimes, but pretty much no short pants. 

When I went shopping with a friend this afternoon, one of the stores we visited had a few pairs of short jeans. Only two pairs of short jeans were in a size larger than 5. There seemed to be no shortage of regular and long jeans. I tried the short jeans but they didn't work.

Afterwards, we went to Urban Outfitters and tried to find pants in the bargain basement. No luck. All the women's pants' sizes were 25 through 29. I think it was based on waist size, but I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be the "true" waist (around the bottom of the ribcage) or the high hip. Probably the latter. Nearby was a rack of men's jeans. I found two pairs with my inseam whose waist sizes looked right. I was a bit uncertain about translating my waist measurement into a men's waist size, but thought hey, this could be interesting.

The first pair was too tight. The other pair's fit was snug but not suffocating. The back pockets looked funny (in terms of placement), but I couldn't tell if it was the designer's intention or just that the pants were cut for a man. Overall, the pants didn't fit nicely enough to buy, but there was one feature which almost made me wish I had a better build for men's pants — the front pockets. The front pockets were about 7-8 inches deep, deep enough to carry a cell phone and iPod without worrying about them popping out, not to mention a wallet.

If even some of the practical features of men's clothing could be carried over to women's, it would probably not only result in safer cell phones but also less time wasted hemming pants and trying to figure out a brand's sizing system. But that would be too easy, wouldn't it?