Fall clothing?

[G5052]

I've always been partial to Macy's and used to work there. They of course completely shut down during the first months of the pandemic but reopened in some areas. 

They have a particular Charter Club cotton nightgown that I really like and typically changed the patterns with the seasons.  One of mine is really worn, and I have some points expiring soon, so I thought I'd get one. So went online.  

Almost none. It looks like they sold out of the summer stock and never got more. They had a few XS ones in one pattern, and that was it. Macy's has distribution centers for their online orders and also sends orders to stores who have what is needed to pack and ship from there.  So no one has that nightgown in my size? 

I looked at a particular brand and style of handbag I like, and it was the same thing. It looks like they had a few from the summer, and that was it.

So are stores like that just trying to sell their spring and summer stock and not getting fall things? 

I have to run an errand in the area of the store where I used to work and am tempted to go in a see what they have and ask what is going on.

Any thoughts from others who shop the chain stores like Kohl's, etc? 

[Katy]

29 minutes ago, G5052 said:

I've always been partial to Macy's and used to work there. They of course completely shut down during the first months of the pandemic but reopened in some areas. 

They have a particular Charter Club cotton nightgown that I really like and typically changed the patterns with the seasons.  One of mine is really worn, and I have some points expiring soon, so I thought I'd get one. So went online.  

Almost none. It looks like they sold out of the summer stock and never got more. They had a few XS ones in one pattern, and that was it. Macy's has distribution centers for their online orders and also sends orders to stores who have what is needed to pack and ship from there.  So no one has that nightgown in my size? 

I looked at a particular brand and style of handbag I like, and it was the same thing. It looks like they had a few from the summer, and that was it.

So are stores like that just trying to sell their spring and summer stock and not getting fall things? 

I have to run an errand in the area of the store where I used to work and am tempted to go in a see what they have and ask what is going on.

Any thoughts from others who shop the chain stores like Kohl's, etc? 

 

I think some are clearancing out to try and clear enough cash to stay in business at all, and others are just having inventory problems because they can't get product shipped from overseas.  Partially factory shutdowns in other areas, partially huge shipping backlogs, and partially shipping costs are skyrocketing to such a degree that it may not be worth it to order more at all.  Not many people want to pay $60 for a sweater with $12 quality, and others are just not buying much because of the uncertain economy.

If you have a particular thing you want a copy of you can carefully trace the lines onto paper and copy the pattern to sew a new one, or you may be able to take it to a seamstress locally and have them copy it for you.  It will likely be at least 3-4 times the cost of a Macy's sale, but probably much higher quality.

[TechWife]

I haven't looked at clothes in the stores. I have noticed that other seasonal merchandise, like pool toys, bathing suits & patio furniture didn't sell well and went on clearance earlier than usual. When stores reopened, they put their spring merch on clearance, stocked summer and then just a few weeks later started putting summer on clearance (pools were still closed when they started to clearance summer stuff). The school supply section at our Target is noticeably smaller this year and showed up a couple weeks late, perhaps because year round schools didn't start in July like they usually do. The section that sells dorm supplies (laundry hampers, refrigerators, organizing boxes, etc.) has barely sold anything. Uni started a couple of weeks ago and they are already closing dorms and going to online only classes.  I am starting to see Halloween displays at grocery stores, Target & Kohls. It does seem like they skipped mid & late summer. I have tried to order some summer items for the yard and they are back-ordered with November delivery dates. I haven't seen as many signs for back to school clothing sales as I usually do.

Now for online/catalog clothing ordering I have noticed a similar pattern as you. I usually buy a pair or two of shorts when they go on clearance in mid-late July from Lands End or Talbots and am able to get what I want, but not so this year. I couldn't find anything that fit my usual style/size/color requirements and I'm not an unusual size. I would have thought they would be overstocked because they probably ordered summer back in the winter when things were still open. Maybe they weren't able to order from international suppliers because those suppliers were shut down? The stock strangeness will probably carry into next year as most retail stores in the US were still closed at the time when they would normally be placing their Christmas & winter orders.

[Arcadia]

38 minutes ago, G5052 said:

So are stores like that just trying to sell their spring and summer stock and not getting fall things? 

The outlet stores have Fall items but it’s there spring items that are discounted much more. When I was at Bloomingdales Outlet, they had a section cordon off that was filled with boxes of unopened inventory. Staff were opening some boxes to restock as the items in the racks get less. 

I was able to get Fall/winter style handbags from Nordstrom Rack and there were some at Bloomingdales. I rarely shop at Macy’s as they don’t carry my size 00/XXS. 

If you wear women XS, maybe you can try girls size 12/14 for nightgowns.

I had difficulty finding turtlenecks this year so ended up buying from the kids department.

[G5052]

42 minutes ago, Katy said:

I think some are clearancing out to try and clear enough cash to stay in business at all, and others are just having inventory problems because they can't get product shipped from overseas.  Partially factory shutdowns in other areas, partially huge shipping backlogs, and partially shipping costs are skyrocketing to such a degree that it may not be worth it to order more at all.  Not many people want to pay $60 for a sweater with $12 quality, and others are just not buying much because of the uncertain economy.

If you have a particular thing you want a copy of you can carefully trace the lines onto paper and copy the pattern to sew a new one, or you may be able to take it to a seamstress locally and have them copy it for you.  It will likely be at least 3-4 times the cost of a Macy's sale, but probably much higher quality.

 

Yes, Macy's was in trouble before, so that's certainly a strategy to keep going. I had hoped for a quick order and what I wanted, so think I'll just hold off for now. 

36 minutes ago, TechWife said:

Maybe they weren't able to order from international suppliers because those suppliers were shut down? The stock strangeness will probably carry into next year as most retail stores in the US were still closed at the time when they would normally be placing their Christmas & winter orders.

 

That makes sense. I worked in receiving unloading trucks and then in fulfillment packing internet orders. The fall merchandise started in late July and really ramped up after that and into September. But if they're not getting much, they don't have much. 

24 minutes ago, Arcadia said:

The outlet stores have Fall items but it’s there spring items that are discounted much more. When I was at Bloomingdales Outlet, they had a section cordon off that was filled with boxes of unopened inventory. Staff were opening some boxes to restock as the items in the racks get less. 

I was able to get Fall/winter style handbags from Nordstrom Rack and there were some at Bloomingdales. I rarely shop at Macy’s as they don’t carry my size 00/XXS. 

If you wear women XS, maybe you can try girls size 12/14 for nightgowns.

I had difficulty finding turtlenecks this year so ended up buying from the kids department.

 

Unfortunately I wear a large in the particular nightgown that I like. My post-menopausal body has a few curves (LOL) although I'm completely healthy. 

[Terabith]

It’s still a pandemic.  I’m going with pajamas. 

[Clemsondana]

I usually do a big order from Kohls several times a year as the kids grow and I had a really hard time finding our usual stuff - their store-brand athletic clothes in adult sizes, t-shirts and shorts in L or XL juniors or M womens, etc.  Kohls always has stuff on sale, and the prices looked pretty much like they usually do but they had very little inventory.  I was looking for a few pairs of shorts and t shirts (mens athletic, juniors in solids or stripes or with characters/logos/patterns), current size, track pants or capris for one kid, shorts in a bigger size for winter athletics (if needed) and next summer.  I ended up having to order some mens athletic shorts in name brands like under armor because they had no store-brand, and I struggled to find athletic shorts in any style or color (short for around the house, longer for dress code compliance at co-op) for the girl.  I would put items in my virtual cart and they'd be gone by the end of the day.  I assumed that they were having supply chain issues, because if they don't have either short OR long athletic pants, it seems like it can't just be a seasonal swap.  

[Calm37]

14 minutes ago, ClemsonDana said:

I usually do a big order from Kohls several times a year as the kids grow and I had a really hard time finding our usual stuff - their store-brand athletic clothes in adult sizes, t-shirts and shorts in L or XL juniors or M womens, etc.  Kohls always has stuff on sale, and the prices looked pretty much like they usually do but they had very little inventory.  I was looking for a few pairs of shorts and t shirts (mens athletic, juniors in solids or stripes or with characters/logos/patterns), current size, track pants or capris for one kid, shorts in a bigger size for winter athletics (if needed) and next summer.  I ended up having to order some mens athletic shorts in name brands like under armor because they had no store-brand, and I struggled to find athletic shorts in any style or color (short for around the house, longer for dress code compliance at co-op) for the girl.  I would put items in my virtual cart and they'd be gone by the end of the day.  I assumed that they were having supply chain issues, because if they don't have either short OR long athletic pants, it seems like it can't just be a seasonal swap.  

I have noticed this too, trying to replace some clothes I always buy at Kohls. Just XS sizes! I had a fb friend post that she had gone into the store and there was maybe a third of the inventory she was used to inside.

[mmasc]

I’ve o my been inside one regular clothing retailer (kohl’s) and the inventory was depleted and weird. There were tons of things on clearance, but there would just be one size, or one color. And it wasn’t on clearance racks like usual, just hanging in the normal places. 
 

Nordstrom is currently having their big sale of the year on fall and winter stuff—free shipping both ways. I’ve got a few pairs of jeans and a couple of sweaters coming. We’ll see. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Hilltopmom]

This may not help you but I really like the lands end night gowns.

[MercyA]

Charter Club nightgowns in large, some new:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313&_nkw=charter+club+nightgown+large&_sacat=0

[TravelingChris]

I have been buying lots of clothes, all online, and for the most part, having no issues.  Now I have bought a lot of clothes at Belk and while some of the clothes were able to be picked up curbside in April, May time frames, when I was buying a few more this month, none were available in store and all had to be shipped.  As to fall clothes, the only fall type clothes I have bought are jeans from LLBean (no issues), more jeans from Kohls (no issue),  and some fall clothes from Belk on discount (from last year) and also some from Serengeti (not really sure whether clothes were last years or this years).  

As to nightgowns, if you describe what kind of nightgown- flannel, knit, etc, we may all have more suggestions.  I have been buying night clothes, including nightgowns, for summer recently, but have suggestions for winter nightgowns too.

[SamanthaCarter]

I went in Belk last week to return some wrong sizes from my order. Store inventory was crazy low. I’ve never seen a department store look like that, that wasn’t having a liquidation sale. I wonder if that is writing on the wall. 

[elegantlion]

I've noticed low inventory in stores too. Ross had a hideously low inventory in July and has finally received some shipments. TJMaxx in our area has been a bit better (their clothes are better quality too). In the height of the pandemic when stores had good online sales and low free shipping, I ordered from Old Navy and the Gap, but selections were limited and even now supply seems to be a lot less than usual - the few items I'm looking at are always out of stock in my size. 

[G5052]

Thanks all. Yes, ebay is an option.

I need to be in the area of Macy's sometime this week will go by in case. I know from working there that sometimes what is in the store doesn't show on the website. I'd be out on the floor with a rack or picking an order, and someone would come up with something in the store that was out of stock on the website. The customer would want to know why. Gosh, who knows.

I never could figure out their algorithms because we'd sometimes get orders that required shipping all the way across the country (is it really not in stock anywhere else?) and sometimes get more regional orders that made sense. We also shipped to other stores where people picked it up at another store. Often it was something that store didn't stock, but we did.

Retail...

[matrips]

On 8/22/2020 at 2:51 PM, G5052 said:

 

Yes, Macy's was in trouble before, so that's certainly a strategy to keep going. I had hoped for a quick order and what I wanted, so think I'll just hold off for now. 

 

That makes sense. I worked in receiving unloading trucks and then in fulfillment packing internet orders. The fall merchandise started in late July and really ramped up after that and into September. But if they're not getting much, they don't have much. 

 

Unfortunately I wear a large in the particular nightgown that I like. My post-menopausal body has a few curves (LOL) although I'm completely healthy. 

I have had luck on eBay finding a favorite discontinued or hard to find merchandise.

[Ausmumof3]

I know I’ve been saying this forever but I do not think factories started back as quick as claimed in China and there are shortages in stores here.  I really think this might be being downplayed.  On top of that I reckon shops ordered less expecting to be closed and a massive downturn.