I LOVE Variety Stores (and Here's Pictures of Clothes Too)

I like going everywhere for clothing inspiration, including places like ABC Superstores, Telco, Burlington, Macy's, Kohls, etc. Most of my friends dislike these stores to some extent. 

But to me, these clothing stores feel very variety-store adjacent. 

And I LOVE variety stores. 

When I walk into variety stores, I feel like an alien crash-landed onto Earth, looking to gain knowledge about human activities. What is important to them? What do they produce and who uses these items? Why? Common novelties may include character-themed birthday supplies, scent sachets, Tupperwares, coloring books, zip ties, salted nuts, suitcases, and more. 

My personal favorite is the yellow big plastic crayon, and any paint set. As well as stores so dim that they self-contain a blue-ish ambient darkness only lit by some rainbow beeping LED strips by the entrance, with densely packed circular racks of merchandise to squeeze through. 

Yes, when I walk into variety stores, I see many useless but luxurious items. Luxurious because many things are entirely unnescessary for survival and destined to landfills, but I people like me buy them anyways, because maybe it is important somehow? My best description is that when I walk into variety stores, I feel a strong mix of melancholy and nostalgia, and I think I like it. It makes me feel very human.

Back to clothing inspo though...

Here is a skirt I found at a Telco.

I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be A-line, but there's not really enough fabric to give volume, so I know it would fall straight on me. Plus the fabric was thin, and the white bits were slightly see-through. Definitely did not buy.

But I did like the flower print and color combos. It reminds me of lunchboxes or backpack patterns when I was younger. Joyful.

Now a suede button up at Burlington. I really liked the weight of it against me, like wearing a heavy blanket.

IRL it read a tad bit more purple than blue. But I like the dusty color, feels very calming.

And the warm orangey-pink flowers were arranged so fluidly across the shirt too.

I think I would have bought it if it wasn't too big. Love me an oversized silhouettes, but I have like zero fitted tops, so I should work on that...

Here's a denim jacket I found in a different store.

This shade of blue, combined with the pastel pink and yellow embroidery, just feels right you know?

Big fan of those panels in the front too, very adorable.

I think it might have been 100% cotton? Sturdy buttons too.

Unfortunately it was also too big on me. Oof.

OMG I found this darling coat during a walk one day.

It's kid-sized, unfortunately, but perhaps best for my wallet.

I really want more double-breasted coats in my life. Plus the gathering in the front is a sweet detail.

Also I don't know about you, but I've always like 3/4 sleeves. I think it's an easy way to balance the amount of skin shown/not shown in many outfits. And it can highlight bracelets really well.

Another Burlington find.

IRL the flowers themselves and the stitches were terrible, falling apart.

IRL it was also clearly a pale yellow, in case this reads as white in the photo.

I still like the idea of a poofy blouse though, the soft drama. 

And I like yellow. And I appreciate the subtle irregular shapes of the flowers.

Maybe in another world it could have been executed better.

Finally here's a linen shirt I found in Burlington. I liked the wavey vertical embroidery. Plus I like v-necklines on me and bigger cap sleeves (puff sleeves?). Also it reminded of this photo I found on Pinterest. 

That is all I have today. Until next time!

~Daniela