Depressed here (Chicago, Naperville, Atlanta: crime, hotels, homes)

[Csanad]

Originally Posted by JacksonPanther

Anyone even contemplating a move to Chicago should read the above list... and change your mind!

i am moving to naperville at the end of december. what is the best store to buy all these clothes?

[knitgirl]

LL Bean, Eddie Bauer, Lands End...

[cubssoxfan]

^^AND isn't Lan'd End owned by Sears? AND, $$ at Dicks's and Sporting Authority can be just about as expensive as the "yuppie" stores if you don't buy on sale.

[nikitakolata]

Originally Posted by Junita

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, they've helped a lot and it's good to see that other people feel the same way about the winter and sympathize, my husband was like "Get over it". That did not help at all.

Well, maybe this will give you a glimmer of hope... December 21st is the shortest day of the year. So, a week from today the days will start getting longer again. I don't know why, but that is something I always look forward to.

My husband and I have lived in this area all our lives. He definitely gets SAD in the winters; I imagine it would be worse if he had lived in a place like Florida most of his life prior to living here. To help him, we got a special dimmer switch that is controlled wirelessly by a computer program that you can customize. It starts turning the lights on about an hour and a half before we actually get up, and that seems to help my husband a lot. I'll ask him where he got it and post the link, it's a pretty cool program and was MUCH cheaper than the lightboxes and other remedies that his doctors suggested to him to help with SAD.

[chirack]

Originally Posted by Csanad

i am moving to naperville at the end of december. what is the best store to buy all these clothes?

Don't over do the clothes. I like burlington coat factory, but after december the selection of coats can be a bit slim everywhere(the stores start getting ready for spring even if spring is months away!). What you need now is a heavy coat and a heavy jacket as well as gloves, hat, scarft. If you don't have them already.

[emathias]

Originally Posted by Nodpete

What a Yuppie ! You can get the same stuff (and usually better quality) and MUCH cheaper at a sporting goods store or even Sears !

Lands End is now owned by Sears. And for the record, my farmer's-wife, rural Idaho, grew-up-in-a-silver-mining-now-ghost-town, lived-through-the-depression, super-frugal grandmother used to buy all those brands when she was still alive because she considered them a good value due to their quality. And she also would shop at Sears and farmers' supply stores and KMart, and considered the local Mexican place to be fine dining. She's about as opposite "yuppie" as an American could possibly be.

I did like your earlier poem, though.

[Nodpete]

Got exactly the responses I was hoping for !

[urza216]

Originally Posted by thePR

I would hardly call those stores "yuppie" stores. They have some high quality, long lasting products.

I have never heard of these stores. I guess I'm a south sider..

You can go to Sears and get some nice leather Docker gloves though.



Edit:

WOW! And I thought I was mentioning a product that was a little pricey! It's actually less than half the price of a similar product from LL Bean:
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/509510?nav=ln-509510

[Vasily]

Here's some additional places to buy good winter gear on the cheap (though it might not be as "stylish" as what you'd get at L.L.Bean's or Eddie Bauers): Menard's in Naperville; Blain's Farm and Fleet in Montgomery. I just bought a pair of hunting boots at Dick's in Lombard on sale, but you want to hit there for the sales since they're otherwise pricey. Another place I frequent is Kohl's, where you can usually get good prices on sale items.

It's funny to me, hearing L.L. Bean's and Eddie Bauer's described as a yuppie store ... back in the old days they were stores catering to hunters, hikers, and various outdoor types. Now they cater to yuppies who just want to look like hunters and hikers. I will say this ... I have several pieces of clothing I've purchased from Bauer's and Bean's, and they're well made and warm, and they hold up well over time. But I don't think their quality's the same as it was 40 years ago.

[grapico]

Originally Posted by Vasily

Here's some additional places to buy good winter gear on the cheap (though it might not be as "stylish" as what you'd get at L.L.Bean's or Eddie Bauers): Menard's in Naperville; Blain's Farm and Fleet in Montgomery. I just bought a pair of hunting boots at Dick's in Lombard on sale, but you want to hit there for the sales since they're otherwise pricey. Another place I frequent is Kohl's, where you can usually get good prices on sale items.

It's funny to me, hearing L.L. Bean's and Eddie Bauer's described as a yuppie store ... back in the old days they were stores catering to hunters, hikers, and various outdoor types. Now they cater to yuppies who just want to look like hunters and hikers. I will say this ... I have several pieces of clothing I've purchased from Bauer's and Bean's, and they're well made and warm, and they hold up well over time. But I don't think their quality's the same as it was 40 years ago.

This is true, I think it all started when they had "outdoor chic" and those Eddie Bauer Ford Explorer/Expeditions etc.
As to where to get the clothes... I would suggest Sports Authority or a TJ Maxx for some deals. But any of those stores should have that stuff. Pick your poison