I think those shoes were cole haans and they have nike technology. I just ordered the shoe but in a medium heal. Though i do not have the strongest ankles I can wear these shoes.

the show was about age appropriate and gave some great ideas. i am not sure why you and most on this thread are griping. You know Oprah cannot please everyone. I took from the show what suited me.

I totally agree with this post. I loved the show too, but I wished there were more sizes 14+. That classic outfit with the jeans and leather jacket can look great on any figure. Also it's good to use coupons if the department store offers them. I always find great deals at Macy's. The end of season sales is the best time to do bargin shopping. And you do get what you pay for!

Hello ladies!

I agree with the size comments of the "average women" in the show. Even if they bring the sizes up to a reasonable 12, it would look more realistic for us, average 14's. Can I ask what consensus is regarding women over 35 wearing low cut, spaguetti strap tops? This summer we had the re-emergence of the pricess cut, spaguetti strap v, cut top. I have seen some "revolting" images out there of women whose breasts have gone south to Antartica, yet insist in showing their very flat "cleavage" ; still attached to these styles. Yuuuuk !
I am not sure, but can someone clarify if they mentioned anything to this effect in the show? I come from the school of thought that if the breast is not "perky", full or round enough, it is just not worth showing it. I see these "chests" out there, clamoring for a good support bra, where women them seem to be totally clueless of how "ridiculous" they look. Ugh!!! -- I read in a magazine about another applicable rule, when an old style re-emerges, if you wore the style years ago, you are probably too old to wear it again. Leave the style for the new generation and simply adapt the colors, patterns, etc. to update your wardrobe. Comments please?

I think the purpose of this show was not to shop at those particular stores, but to get an idea of what types of clothing to wear. If you don't have $400 to spend on an outfit, then don't do it. You can find a "crisp" white shirt at any store. Only purchase what you can afford. I wouldn't wear high heels to a grocery store or to a soccer game. Also, you can modify the outfits for suit your lifestyle or create your own style.

Love, love loved the makeovers! It seems as though the women were completely transformed. Not only physical, but their attitude changed. Let's face it, before the makeover; some of them looked washed out, tired, and they looked older. When they appeared on stage, they walked different, they looked cheerful, and they stated they loved their new look. Nice work Oprah and the fashion experts, but let's have some size 14+ next time.

Amen!!!! I thought this show as horrible. The so called "experts" were certainly no experts. And, Oprah should never show fashions that cost as much as a car. Has she lost all touch with reality? She even laughed and said "you can have that, or a car".

And, she should try looking in the mirror. What on earth has happened to her??? She has all these experts and yet she dresses horribly. She has bra experts on and yet she bounces out of hers. Yuck!!! She laughs about others wearing clothes too small??? Really???? That little green number with the ruffle , oh my, and then the brown one with the little cap sleeve cut up in the middle????

Oprah should not do any makeover or fashion shows until she gets herself together. Call your friends, Donna Karen, Very Wang, Ralph Lauren, or anyone!!!!

It is obvious that you and the other negative posters are very unhappy people. When will people learn to look at the glass as half full instead of half empty? You have nothing good to say about Oprah but I can bet it is yourself you are unhappy with. You and many others on this board.

Jam, I completely agree about the magazine as well. In the beginning I loved it and subscribed for a couple of years but no more, I won't waste money on a magazine that only reminds me of what I can never have! I couldn't afford a single one of Oprah's "favorites." Again, she has lost touch with reality and its a real shame. I've been so disappointed in several of the shows this season I am not going to bother watching anymore.

Oprah, I hope you're reading this, I believe you are losing your "target audience"!

Hi Beck22:

I think that rule of "if you wore it the first itme don't wear it again" needs to be tossed out with some moderations. I was of the hip hugger, bell bottom, platform shoe, mini skirt ,newsboy hat, Mod generation. True that there is no way at my age or my body type would I wear some of those things again as in the mini skirt or hip hugger pants as my body could not accomadate it, but there are other things that look as good on me now as they did then with modification.

The chemise or sheath dress suits my body and looks well in a more upscaled way. And that goodness for the re-emergence of platforms albeit it not a exxagerated version as they support my knees. I cannot wear stilletoes as they are painful.

Like some of the other women here we can do things in moderation adjusting for our body types and lives. I did not expect for the show to be the end all be all for my life, just pick what was workable for me. By the way, I wear what was called a Afro in the late 60's, the difference between then & now is that it is golden blond and not quite as flamboyant.:x

Good for you Suhenna!

Also I read both O magazine and O Home magazine every monthalong with a host of others. I know when pople say they cannot afford to or will never ever have XYZ I am surprised. A few months back in O Home magazine I found the glassware that I had been looking for featured. I had been looking for the right glassware for my dinnerware for awhile. Yes the glasses I believe were $24 for 4 but I looked at it from this standpoint, how easy was it for me to waste $24 thorugh a whole month or 2? So everytime I made a purchase I look at did I want this or really wanted the glassware? It did not take me long b4 I had the money to purchase the glassware and have been delighted since then.

For the cost of eating at a fast food store, plastic tumblers at Wal Mart & odds & ends I had beautiful glassware that made me delight everytime I picked one up.

I say this as an example that if a person want to do something there is a will and a way. I am no different then most folks here on I cannot afford a $1,000 outfit, but there are indeed variations in mor emodest cost to simulate the same look. In fact I picked up a crisp white blouse with pintuck detailing that was $35 but with the coupon I had only cost me $28!

Once again these designers really missed it! In every makeover show I've seen so far, the complaint from women is that they get up in the morning and throw on comfortable clothes because they want to be comfortable in their daily activities. They might have to drop the kids off at school, come home, clean the bathroom, run out to the store, cook dinner, etc....These 'how to dress' professionals then come in and dress these women up in something they might wear to the office or out to dinner. Sure - they now have an updated look but anyone can go to the store and buy a pretty outfit to look dressed up in! The harder thing to do is to find something that you can throw on in the morning that will look good whether you're playing on the floor with your kids or running out to the store for an errand. The only one who came even close to being practical was the sweat suit/cardigan look. I work, but on the weekends I still want to feel comfortable, look good and attractive without putting on heals and stockings! Get real and show us how to pull together practical looks that work!! No one wants to have to change clothes 5 times during the day just to run an errand.

Oprah please.. Norstroms and Macy's?? I've never felt more like a minority since I've watch your show today.. My coworkers felt the same. The only time we wear heels is to weddings and God forbid, funerals. And rest assure we're not buying them for those fancy expensive stores. We buy our good outfits at Khols and JC Penny's when we have a few extra dollars. Took a pole at work and the average woman spends $50 dollars on the whole outfit, including shoes. We can't even afford to shop at Norstroms or Macy's outlet stores. And as far as the comment wearing tennis shoes (should only be worn when running), I lead a Team of 11 at our shop and that's all I do all day long is run. I am a single parent trying to make ends meet and I was disappointed and discouraged watching your show. I felt like a lower class woman. I still Love you Oprah, but could you please put on a show for us woman who lives on a shoestring and still wants to look beautiful.. Thank you, Proud Michigan Woman..

Yes yes.....you shop like me it seems. I have a story to tell you. About 10 years ago I lost 30 lbs and that is 3 dress sizes for me. I had nothing to wear and didn't feel I could afford much at the time. I had a lot of clothes just sitting in the closet collecting dust. I thought to myself if I give these away then there will be room for more. And you know? It worked. I find that absolutley fascinating how that works. All of the sudden, there was room for more clothes that I could actually wear.

Oprah is doing a show on hoarding. The interesting thing about hoarding is many times it goes along with one being a compulsive shopper too. Thank goodness I have never been a hoarder but was, at one time, a compulsive shopper. I had to re-evalute my life and what I was truly lacking. I never did figure it completely out but I did stop the behavior. It boiled down to not wanting to hurt myself and my pocket book. I seek now other ways of fulfillment that are not destructive and damaging to my self esteem

I think a great business would be helping people clean their clutter. Most hoarders I know do not know how to help themselves. Most try to find happiness in things. That is why I do not like to watch Oprah's favorite things show. I get the feeling she and others who are very rich are trying to fill a void in their lives. They find so much happiness in things. The poor just dig themselves in a hole trying to get those things.

Oh well Im being a bit preachy....lol slap..take care

I think that the IDEA of the show was perfect! I AM interested in knowing the socially acceptable way for me to dress at my age, and I do want to know what the latest trends are in the fashion industry. I think that the problem with this particular show was its tenor. These people seemed life real life Devil Wears Prada, where high priced fashion is THE top priority in their lives. I think that this was the source of the disconnect. "If you dress well, you will get people to sit up and take notice." While this may be the goal for some people, I just wanted to know how not to embarrass myself and that shows some self respect and grace. I am a little past the age of trying to get noticed because of my looks, but I am seriously interested in being noticed for what I offer the world (not that I am bad looking or don't enjoy a compliment.) I can only afford to purchase a few new outfits a year and I tuned in so that I wouldn't waste my money on out of style choices. My daughter got accepted into an exclusive research program and the college tuition is really squeezing us. The "looking good should be your TOP priority or you are an embarrassment" attitude of the show did not honor that so many of the viewers have priorities other than fashion. So having those guests look down their noses and make cutting remarks showed a distasteful "lack of style", on their parts. OF COURSE you can shop at Walmart or Ross and recreate a comparable outfit to the ones they presented for even less , but the idea of "if you can't afford $4000, why don't you just spend $700?" sounded comparable to "if the peasants don't have any bread, why don't they just eat cake?" To say that an outfit is "low cost" when it $300 to $700 is insulting to a LOT of people. I am painfully/joyfully aware when I step out the house that my clothes are a little worn. Like so many other moms, I am proud that I am mature enough to sacrifice something so superficial for the benefit of my child. I try to dress appropriately for the venue I am attending, and I try to trust that people aren't judging me by appearances alone. According to this show however, I can kiss that hope good bye, they ARE JUDGING HARSHLY. Luckily, since I am almost 50, I won't take me long to get over it. Oprah can not control everything that comes out the mouths of her guests. The intention and idea of the show was GREAT. But I hope that next time they can just go over fashion basics (different looks for different body types, ages, venues, etc.) without personally attacking someone's taste and wardrobe...and with some fashionable grace and courtesy.

Hello, fan1914. I liked the show. Many of the fashions that I saw on the smaller models I can find (similar) at Lane Bryant. I shop there ocassionally. I also shop Target, Marshalls, TJ Max, Walmart, JC Penney, Sears, Dots, and Dillard's. I buy shoes at DSW and Payless. I got two pairs of sharp boots at Payless. One pair is green and the other is light grey--they are the new neutrals, by the way. I didn't want a black pair of boots this year. They feel great and look great!! I always get compliments on my outfits and *no one* says (with a smirk), "Hey, you bought that at Payless didn't you". I don't hear snickers behind my back. And the compliments come from men and women. Take some time to shop when you go. Try on numerous things and ask the store reps for help. I know that Lane Bryant and Dillard's reps will help in trememdous ways. You may come out of the store with only a few well put together pieces. It is worth it. Also, print out the pictures of models in the garments that interest you and take those pictures to the store with you. See if you can match the pictures just as the fashion experts matched them on Oprah's show. I am a sexy size 18 (age 46) and losing weight slowly from a sexy size 22. When I step out of my house, I look good, girlfriend!!! And, it didn't cost me my housenote!! Next weekend, I am wearing gold from head to toe to my company's annual Christmas party. My children told me that I look fabulous in my new outfit. Other tips---accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! You can make a plain shirt or sweater look 10 times better with a necklace or earrings. Make sure the necklace is either longer or shorter than the neckline of the garmet and go *BOLD*!!! Get some dark jeans. They look great on bigger women. I hope to see you looking fabulous some day soon, girlfriend!! Tootie4040, The Diva Fanshioneesta

Thanks *wkgeneral*

And you know who else? Jessica London and J. Jill. J Jill is a bit more pricy then Jessica London, but the cut, quality and style is wonderful and they have great sales. J. Jill lends itself toward mature women and I mean over 40 that enjoys being fashinonale cocntemporary and I like the idea they show women who are over 40. Jessica London is more like the 30-60 crowd & close can be conscious of style & fit. And if you are a tall woman pants that are long enough. They have more sales then J.Jill but if its something I really like, I do not wait for sales as their average price is quite reasonable.

*Suhenna* Thank you for your story. I am thankful I have neither have had to deal with being a hoarder or compulsive shopper, but you your points are so well taken. Every srping and fall I go through my wardrobe and purge. If its something I wear
infrequently or if it languishes over a year I pull it. If another 3 months go by and I am not wearing it, then it goes into a box that I donate to Mary's House a local halfway house for survivors of domestic violence who are moving back into the work force. It dawned on me that there are probably other women out there who maybe my size, with little money, that are recreating their lives that could use clothing that look nice to go back to work or in their home. So I not only put the clothing, but shoes, jewelry to assesorize.

Sometimes this happens because of a faux pas on my part where I thought I really like the outfit but the outfit did not like me very well and it was a moment as in "what was I thinking"? Or my attitude has change or cirsumstances and let it work for someone else. I do not rush out to replace what I donated, so I can keep my wardrobe somewhat streamlined.

I find that works well in my household too.

Since I shop at a variety of places from the Goodwills to the Bloomingdales and all points in between, it is easy to mix and match. I recently picked up a shoe that seems to be a cross between sneakers and ballet slippers. Sporty, with the comfort of running shoes but a little more classy. And I only paid $5.00!! I stumbled upon them on a business trip and apparently the security after checking my bag misplaced one of my shoes and I had to rush out to find a pair of comfortable dressy shoes.
I just told the driver "get me to anything that sold shoes, a Payless or something" . Well he took me literally and that's where I ended up. Not only did I find the dress shoes, but the afroementioned sport shoes and paid a combine total of $10.00!

I cannot remember which one actually owns Payless, but it is actuall Macy, Nordstrom of Bloomingdale (who ever the corporate entity is). Anyway it is one of the reasons why Payless' shoe quality has improved somewhat.

I am not one of the women that likes to go browsing. I honestly don't have a lot of patience with that. But I do like it when I stumble on a bargain!


And this is just in genberal but I notice several comments about getting clothes for "real" women. And my first thought is "you mean the women who can & do buy these types of clothing are not real?

There is some irony to that. Isn't it a reverse snobbery or elitism working here. And no I am not one of the "unreal" women. I do not spend $1,000 on a outfit. But there are many that do and I am not mad at them, because I am unable.