Baltimore store for tznius, nontrendy yom tov clothing

I went to the main (only?) frum store in town, and the clothes are too trendy for me. All black (I have no problem with black, but ONLY?). Lots of short sleeves that you have to put long sleeves under - not my style. Dresses and jumpers - also not my style. Virtually no suits, and the ones that were there were all trendy.

I'm looking for a boring, regular yom tov suit. One that you could have bought ten years ago and nobody would have looked twice. I guess I have old-fashioned taste. Or no taste at all. I don't care, I just want to wear something that I think looks normal!

Are there other frum places in town I can go to? I feel like some must have opened up recently. Or non-frum places that might have what I'm looking for, especially at this time of year?

I am assuming you went to Hats to Hose.

Did you try The Fashion Shop? It is also a frum store and is located in somebody's basement. It carries clothing that are similar to Hats to Hose, but you may be able to find something a little less trendy. It is worth a shot.

Otherwise, maybe a department store would carry a more typical type of suit like what you are looking for.

OP, I totally agree with you about that store! I usually end up getting things from department stores and online, but long skirts just aren't in this year (even in the frum stores!) The only suggestion I have is Avivit (another basement shop) -- she usually has one rack of relatively normal suits from Israel. Good luck!

Senior Member Joined: Mar 10 2011 Posts: 204

I second The Fashion Shop. I haven't been back in good ole Bmore in a while, but last I knew it was run by someone I know, who has good yet modest/non-trendy taste. Hatzlacha!

I have lots of 10 year old suits in my closet that are in good condition but I never wear Wink

Posted: Wed, May 11 2011, 1:06 am Post subject:

sometimes you have to be super creative to put together a tznius look that suits you. Wear what you feel most beautiful in and don't depend on trends!

Talbots in cross keys has pricey stuff, but you should be able to find a nice coordinating outfit (jacket and coordinating skirt) there. I hear you on the suits! I want one too.

In the past at Talbots, I have found a long skirt with a coordinating jacket that is close enough to a suit. the one is cross keys is much better than the one in towson.

the woman who runs the fashion shop told me suits are "out." Crying or Very sad

Suits are "out"???? I thought the previous poster said the Fashion Shop wasn't trendy!

Actually, I have been thinking of starting a business in B'more to cater to more conservative tastes. Mostly because I am so frustrated with being unable to find what I'm looking for in the stores!

I would love to know what kind of things people are looking for, and what price range would be reasonable.
What's more important, quality or price?

I had the exact same experience right before Pesach. I went to Macy's in Owings Mills Mall, and found a great suit. There were a bunch - some need a bit of tailoring but I found one with a past the knee A-line skirt!
BTW - Hats to Hose told me that those Ricci outfits were what "they" are all wearing. If you were interested, HtH had them for $2-300, but online you can get them for $99 at Riccifashions.com.

I just took a look at riccifashions.com and they look like they might have some 3 piece sets that the OP might like.

To the amother who is thinking of opening her own clothing store, I am in my late 20s and also live in Baltimore. I would like to see reasonably priced nice clothing. To me, reasonably priced is $30-40 for a good everyday skirt and more for a shabbos/YT skirt depending on the details. I feel there is a need for moderately priced good quality basics but it'd also be nice to clothes that are tznius and also somewhat modern and not completely boring.

To the clothing store amother: I buy mostly from catalogs, especially Orvis, Appleseeds, and Vermont Country Store, and I'm hard to please. Natural fabrics or blends with cotton, linen, rayon; washable, casual, dresses and jumpers rather than skirts (better for my back); pockets(!); NOT BLACK! I'm Baltimore BT yeshivish and wear a lot of denim. Would love linen blends, seersucker, or crinkle cotton in tzanua styles to get through Baltimore's muggy summers in comfort. Will pay for quality. I am in my 50's.
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Gold Member Joined: Mar 23 2007 Posts: 1889 Location: NY

I just looked at Ricci's....wow, nontrendy is definitely their goal.

All department stores sell basic suit separates. There's no reason to struggle at a local frum store if they don't have what you want. You'll also get better selection and prices.

For example, I think this suit is adorable for a conservative look. Stripes are very in, too, if you do want to be more on trend.

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=548564&CategoryID=120&LinkType=PDPZ1

Or a sleeveless sheath can be paired with a matching jacket or a cardigan.
http://www1.macys.com/catalog/.....6spc%3D125
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I'm not the popular Mama Bear. I'm "the other one."

I'm the Baltimore Talbots shopper.....

I like to wear suits for shabbos, but haven't in the past year because I havent' found anything. Sorah Esther from the Fashion Shop told me suits are "out." Hats to Hose has really nice BLACK suits, but they have details on them that make them look like they are more for a chassuna (rhinestone buttons, satin collars, etc..) Not sure who said Fashion Shop wasn't trendy.....it's not super trendy, but she definetly tries to carry what's "in." She seems to gear more to the teenage/post seminary set- whenever I go, I am the oldest shopper there (I am in my early 30s).

I have not had luck finding tznius suit separates in dept. store.....I want to know what someone found at Macy's! when I've looked, I usually find shorter skirts.

I have looked at some of the Ricci outfits, but they look a little more "voch-dig" to me....maybe if I seem them in real life, then they'll look a bit fancier. I guess they kind of look like dressy shabbos robes to me. I have found nice shabbos suits when Elzee's comes to town.

I would also like to start a clothing store in my basement, with more conservative clothes....I am thinking about a nice Rene Pontier suit that I purchased a few years ago at a hole-in-the-wall shop in Boro Park. It's a plain, aidel, tznius suit-- why can't I get those here?

Moderator Joined: Mar 29 2005 Posts: 18393

Burlington sells things like Le Suit and Tahari. I happen to have a navy Tahari suit (I'm not sure where it was bought; my sister gave it to me Smile

) that looks very nice -- a-line midcalf skirt (no slit to sew up)....
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Moderator Joined: Mar 29 2005 Posts: 18393

I'll be honest and say I'd only buy suits at this point that are machine washable!

I actually found at Elzee's a couple years ago a great washable suit. The only problem is my hips have gotten too wide for the long jacket. I wonder if I can let it out. I love it.