World class shopping... who really shops there? (Orange: neighborhoods, county)

[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by bowneline

. . . I think young people (especially high school age) are much more stylish in OC then they are in many other other places.
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Certinly true of the school our kids attend now. Jeans and Ts are pretty much the standard despite this being a fairly wealthy area. One of my daughters wore simple skirts because she did not like wearing pants, but no fashion competition at the high school here. High heels are not allowed, nor are bare midriffs. Fishnet stockings would get laughed out the door, an would anything see through. More focus on "are you a good person" what on what brands are you wearing. (Of course there is the typical are you pretty focus, but not dependent on dressing like a high priced hooker).

To the extnt that there is much of the So Ca. type material competitiveness, it is generally about cell phones. However even there many kids still have a practical outloook (but not all).

[OC Investor2]

Originally Posted by temazepam

People here love the casual look. Flip-flops and sweats everywhere. Jeans even on a nice date. What I don't get is how even during the coldest winter days here, I see plenty of people around wearing shorts like it was summer or something. I'd love to get away with shopping at the malls in my sweats and a ponytail and no makeup, but I always get much better service when I'm not so frumpy.

I hear you about shopping when comfy, I usually dress in cargo shorts/ jeans and polo shirts. But I feel underdressed at SCP if I'm not wearing nice clothes!

The funny thing is this being the "flaunt it" OC many of the casual looking clothes you see people wearing are really expensive. Only in OC could people take jeans and a t-shirt and turn it into a $400 outfit with $200 jeans, $100 flip flops and the T shirts that are $100!

[the city]

I think those two malls draw 50/50 local/tourists.

Like outlet malls, some "regional" malls go outside of serving the "region".

Also, you have to remember that some malls become "super regional" malls that draw from all over the region.

[Coldjensens]

Funny I avoid both of them and go to Mainplace mostly (if I cannot find what I need at Home Depot or Target). I want a mall that I can get into and out of as quickly as possible. However I do like to wander around or just sit in Fashion Island at Christmas. It has a nice atmosphere and if you are not shopping, it is pleasant.

[DinsdalePirahna]

The closest mall to me is the Westminster Mall, which except for a nice Target store is a festering craphole.

If get the rare urge to "Hang Around" a mall:Fashion Island is the place to go.
For gift shopping, I'll go to South Coast Plaza.

For everything else, I can usually find it at Target

For viweing human oddities when the County Fair is not running: WalMart®.

[luckodeirish]

I shop at SCP for work attire, sadly for work I have to dress like an adult...
But it is funny, like the OP said, even when I am there I see people wearing sweats, pj pants and flip flops and I wonder why they don't wear their nicer clothes when they are out buying more clothes.
Oh well, the mysteries of the citizenry.

[the city]

I didn't even realize there was different types of mall experiences til I came to this thread.

So there is gift shopping, people watching and hang out, and clothing shopping.

I guess it would make sense if you want to get a gift to go to a nice mall where as everyday clothes you would go to a mall with more affordable stores or to a discount department store like Wal-Mart, Target, or Kohl's. And to hang out you want to go to the mall with the most people.

[Wing Feathers]

Originally Posted by Curbed Enthusiasm

lumpy sweats, old sneakers, flip flops, or other unfashionable clothing

What do you think the high end stores carry??? I was in 5th ave & found a pair of brand new "old" sneakers, fashionably weathered to look like a bum left them in a ditch. $500

[KarBear06]

Originally Posted by Curbed Enthusiasm

Orange County has some of the most wonderful retail in the country. South Coast Plaza and Fashion Island has every high end designer store you could ever hope for, and there are beautiful department stores such as Neiman Marcus, Saks, Bloomingdales, and Nordstrom - all within a stone's throw of one another. With all this amazing shopping that rivals New York City, who buys? Most people in Orange County seem perfectly content running around in lumpy sweats, old sneakers, flip flops, or other unfashionable clothing - much like people do in most parts of the country. I would have expected that people in such a fashion mecca dress a bit nicer than they do. It's such a strange dichotomy to see so many dowdily dressed people in the shadow of countless high-end clothing stores. So who shops at all these stores?

I was wondering the same thing!

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

Those stores are four tourists so we can collect sales tax from them. We shop at Target aand St. Vincent De Paul. Are you not aware of what it costs to live in Orange County? There is no money left for fashion.

OR my fav: Wally World!

[JustJulia]

Originally Posted by temazepam

People here love the casual look. Flip-flops and sweats everywhere. Jeans even on a nice date. What I don't get is how even during the coldest winter days here, I see plenty of people around wearing shorts like it was summer or something. I'd love to get away with shopping at the malls in my sweats and a ponytail and no makeup, but I always get much better service when I'm not so frumpy.

The coldest winter days in Orange County are, what, 50 degrees?