Working in a Women's Clothing Store

[KarenHiller]

I was wondering if anyone else here ever worked in a women's clothing store?

When I was 26, about 30 years ago, a friend I'd worked with in a men's store called and asked if I wanted a job as an assistant manager of a women's mid-level clothing store here in town. I did, and a few weeks later I was in management training in the main store, one of four in the area.

I'm sure it's somewhat like an alcoholic getting a job in a liquor store. This store sold everything other than jewelry and makeup for women.

After a few weeks I was given a key to the store and the alarm code, as I often had to stay later until everything was in shape for closing. Many nights I'd stay late and spend hours trying on clothes, every different style and color, even wedding gowns. I'm sure I would have worked there for free if they'd asked :)

Given that I worked a least 10 hours a day, six days a week, it wasn't a very well paying job, so I made up for that by taking a lot of things home. Not proud of that today, but not all that sorry as I was grossly underpaid.

By the time I left that job, I had an amazing wardrobe, much more than any woman I knew then, especially when it came to lingerie. Most days I wore a bra, panties, slip and garterbelt with stockings under my suit, a different matching set every day.

At one point, I was temporarily the foundation's buyer, and I was given many free things by the salesmen, all in my "wife's" size, of course :)

It was one of the best times of my life. And it was when I began going out regularly en femme. No point in staying home when you have tons of beautiful clothes to show off.

If you want to know more about this, it's ok to email me and ask.

Thanks for reading this, and I'd love to hear your comments.

Karen :o

[renee k]

WOW, that's pretty amazing! What a wonderful opportunity. Would have loved to see your closet.
Huggs, Renee

[KarenHiller]

WOW, that's pretty amazing! What a wonderful opportunity. Would have loved to see your closet.
Huggs, Renee

Which one? I had three then :)

[minalost]

How could you quit a job like that :eek: ! Died and gone to heaven!

Just kidding :), you know your life better than I do!

But, but, but... dream job...

[MiraM]

I'm grossly underpaid at my job for what I do, but I don't make a habit of stealing from my employer.

[Sophie]

that's got to be one of my ultimate fantasies!

I often dream about being "Accidentally" locked in a department store over night! The fun we could have!! trying on clothes, wis, makeup, lingere, shoes, stockings, gowns! i could live n one of those shops!

Sophie

[gabe]

Just be glad you do not work as a teller at a bank. You do not get to take home the deposits to make up for the low pay.

[Sarasometimes]

Too bad the place didn't have hidden security cameras. Maybe if you donate some of your things you can feel better about stealing all that stuff.

[Jodi]

As I have stated on this board previously--about 5 years ago, I worked for New York & Co for two years, and I then worked for The Limited for 6 months. I worked as a guy.

It can be a fun and challenging job, but it can also be very tiring work, especially during the holidays. To give you an idea what your legs and feet will feel like, try standing and walking around your house for 4 hours without sitting down once. Take a 1/2 hour break sitting, then stand and walk for 4 more hours. Then to see what it can be like if you are held for a 12 hour shift (due to some 18 yr old no show or last minute call off), stand for 4 more hours. You'll see what leg pain can really feel like. You also must be pleasant and smiling the whole time. Add to this being dumped on by some irate customer who has nothing better to do. You are also under the gun for sales and getting customers to get the store credit card. All this for minimum wage. Add in working oddball shifts and weekends. Store SA's have to be the most underpaid people out there.

I did actually enjoy my time at the stores. I learned a lot and the discount was very nice.

It might sound glamourous, but it can be demanding, tiring work. My hat is off to every store manager and SA out there who do this every day for a career.

Jodi

[sherri52]

Karen I have my own thrift store and have tried on every dress in my size. I also sell gowns and wedding dresses on Craigs list. If you check my thread "what does Santa want" you can see a couple of the wedding dresses that our sister Julie513 is wearing. These are brand new and I sell for about 1/5 thier original cost. So I know exactly how you felt. Wasn't it great. To bad retail doesn't pay well.

[jenna_woods]

wow that's great, it would be my dream job, but like you I would spend to much.

[KarenHiller]

Too bad the place didn't have hidden security cameras. Maybe if you donate some of your things you can feel better about stealing all that stuff.

It was like 30 years ago, and I'm not that person anymore

[Destiny]

A woman's clothing store? Now that's a "dream job". haha

[Cary]

WOW! I love to have full privite access to a whole store of women's clothes. I would never leave.

[TJ Tresa]

some girls have all the luck.

[sissystephanie]

Back in the late 1940's, before many of you were even born, I worked in what was then the major department store in Portland, Oregon. I was a teen ager and was officially titled as a "stock clerk." That meant I could be working anywhere in the store. For reasons still unknown to me (I was then a closet CD), I worked either in lingerie, or in the Fragrance (Perfume) departments. Never had an opportunity to try on panties, etc., but sure did get to try perfumes and colognes! There was a fountain in the Fragrance department that sprayed the fragrance of the day into the air. Ladies could also did their hands in it. For the two years I worked at that store, five days a week, my job was to select the fragrence and fill the fountain before I left for the night. Every night I left the store smelling like a nice flowery lady!! It was impossible to fill the fountain without getting it on me! And I had to ride the bus home!! but being a Cd, I actually liked it!! Sure, I got kidded by other people on the bus, but I think people were nicer to each other in those days. Never heard any bad comments, like I was a "homo", etc. Most of the bus people saw me almost every day, so felt they knew me. Only wished I could have worn some nice lingerie to go with the cologne!:) That would have made a real nice bus trip!:heehee:

[linnea]

I've fantasized about having a job like the one you enjoyed. What a dream!

[Hope]

When I was in high school I worked as an SA in a Leggs Hanes Bali factory outlet store. Selling bras and pantyhose, doing bra fittings, it was a surprisingly delightful gig for a teenaged guy. I also happened to be pretty extraordinarily awesome at it. I was seen as sort of an oddity at first, but I knew way more about our product lines than any of the other girls who worked there... What payed real dividends for me was being the only guy in my dorm who could not only identify a girls correct bra size, but also tell her what size she was wearing.

There are days when I miss that job - it was one of the only things about high school that didn't completely suck.

[RADER]

I have built and remodeled many womans stores, from med. to high end.
On the remodeling end, a store manager would baby sit us as so nothing
would disapier. By the way, The LADIES dressing rooms were always one
place that needed the most repairs. Seems like some people used them
as rest rooms a lot. The only way to freshen them up was to replace
everything. Carpet, drywall, even the doors :eek: I thought that women
were the fairer sex. :doh: Rader

[Kerigirl2009]

You have confessed and should be forgiven. How many of us have procured an item without paying. It doesn't matter what it is even if its something that doesn't have a monetery value. So drop the attitude. I would have to venture a guess that 99 percent of all people have taken something that did not belong to them. Um can I borrow your pen. for instance. If you didn't return it then its stolen.
By the way I have had that fantasy of being locked up in a mall and trying on all those pretty clothes. Maybe I will have to look for a job in a mall.
Now where did I get this pen from.....? :)

[Sarasometimes]

It was like 30 years ago, and I'm not that person anymore
Glad to hear that!It still feels good to donate to a worthy cause. Maybe it can help someone who is underpaid and doesn't steal to make up for it.

[KarenHiller]

I have built and remodeled many womans stores, from med. to high end.
On the remodeling end, a store manager would baby sit us as so nothing
would disapier. By the way, The LADIES dressing rooms were always one
place that needed the most repairs. Seems like some people used them
as rest rooms a lot. The only way to freshen them up was to replace
everything. Carpet, drywall, even the doors :eek: I thought that women
were the fairer sex. :doh: Rader

In the 13 stores I managed during my employment, no one ever used the dressing rooms that way, but I will say that the women's bathrooms were almost always a mess, more than most men's rooms I'd been in.

[Sarasometimes]

You have confessed and should be forgiven. How many of us have procured an item without paying. It doesn't matter what it is even if its something that doesn't have a monetery value. So drop the attitude. I would have to venture a guess that 99 percent of all people have taken something that did not belong to them. Um can I borrow your pen. for instance. If you didn't return it then its stolen.
By the way I have had that fantasy of being locked up in a mall and trying on all those pretty clothes. Maybe I will have to look for a job in a mall.
Now where did I get this pen from.....? :)
Forgeting to return a pen may be stealing if I were to agree with you or as I like to view it, just forgeting. But trying on clothes and then bagging them and bringing them home from your employer's store without paying for them has nothing to do with forgetting. Yes we have a confession, but no apparent effort seems to have been made to right her wrong. There are a lot of people who have gone to jail after confessing. I simply suggested the maybe doing a good deed might help gain her forgiveness and give her some warm fuzzies not to mention help out someone who needs it.

[KarenHiller]

Forgeting to return a pen may be stealing if I were to agree with you or as I like to view it, just forgeting. But trying on clothes and then bagging them and bringing them home from your employer's store without paying for them has nothing to do with forgetting. Yes we have a confession, but no apparent effort seems to have been made to right her wrong. There are a lot of people who have gone to jail after confessing. I simply suggested the maybe doing a good deed might help gain her forgiveness and give her some warm fuzzies not to mention help out someone who needs it.

I'm not here looking for affirmation or forgiveness, and before you judge me or anyone else, you should get to know them first.

[Sarasometimes]

I'm not here looking got affirmation or forgiveness, and before you judge me or anyone else, you should get to know them first.

I don't know you well but what I do know is that you made a post here telling about your past where you took clothing from an employer without paying for it and although you say you are not proud of it you are also not all that sorry either because you were underpaid. I think I know enough to keep my valuables a safe distance and still encourage you, if possible to help those less fortunate. Please remember I did not open this can of worms, you did. You state that you wanted comments.
You brag about taking so much that it was more lingerie than any woman you knew back then. I think the underpaid comments are so you can still justify why you stole. Maybe a second job back then would have been a better choice or changing the one you had. i also find that the next job there was foundation buyer where you got even more free stuff (at least that may have been gotten appropriately).
I have no problems putting my head on my pillow at night becuase I haven't ever been a thief, underpaid or not.
I believe you are an opportunist and hope you wont have the chance to take something of mine for whatever excuse you choose to come up with.
It is the holiday season, make yourself feel good and donate, your time if you can't afford more. Sara

[Hope]

Me thinks the lady doth protest too much.

We have all done things that are less than ethical, things that harm others either intentionally or unintentionally we will all do things again that are less than ethical (provided we are fortunate to live long enough). That is a (depressing) part of the human condition. To suggest that one has never done anything unethical is to display a shocking lack of personal awareness. To suggest that another's actions are somehow significantly worse than one's own, is to display a startling level of hubris.

[Shadeauxmarie]

I don't know you well but ....

He that is without sin, let him cast the first stone.

[Kerigirl2009]

I am sorry I consider myself an honest and trustworthy person. However saying this I have stole in the past, from my dad i took money, (probably about $150) from my mother I took some panties. (2 pair) from my sister I took her old bra, from time to time I forgot to return a pen.(a few) and when I was about 10 I stole candy and gum from a store. (about $50 worth) I am sorry for this but I am not going to return it or donate anything because of it.
I make donations all the time and have even donated my time at the hospital when I was younger. and I feel that the time that I have lived is testimony enough for myself to be forgiven. I also think that the statue of limitations is up for petty theft. Oh yea and lets not talk about lying as anyone that is a CD and not telling all so therefore you are being dishonest with people as well as yourself. (just last year I donated to charities well over $1000) not to mention my church which is atleast $3500
Is that enough to be forgiven for my past wrongs?
There are worst things that people do. To me that would be to harm a person
Not trying to start a war or anything but where did you get your first pair of panties or nylons, If most of us started when we where younger as I did I didn't go to the store and buy it or ask my mom to buy it I borrowed and to borrow without asking is Stealing.

Oh and I have found 2 wallets with money and returned them both and just recently I found a checkbook and turned it into the lost and found. I have trust inmyself but if I was to lose my wallet I would never expect for it to be returned especially with my money or credit cards. I am sorry I just can't believe the way people are attacking for being misguided 30 years ago.

[ReineD]

I'm not here looking got affirmation or forgiveness, and before you judge me or anyone else, you should get to know them first.

Why do you take offense to people objecting to your dishonesty? Having had a 30 year lapse since you stole the clothes does not now make it OK to have done so. Had you also posted that you were happy the situation opened up the door to CDing for you but you felt remorse over having taken what didn't belong to you, I am sure you would not be judged so harshly by some members.

If you didn't want comments about your dishonesty, then why post the details? You could have simply stated that 30 years ago you managed a women's clothing store and had an unequalled opportunity to greatly increase your wardrobe, and this is what helped you begin to dress on a regular basis.

You don't want people making moral judgments, yet the focus of your post is on the stealing. You cannot have it both ways. What type of comments were you looking for exactly?

[danielle.cd]

that would be like falling into heaven lol

[Amanda Styles]

Being as I am currently among the ranks of the unemployed, any job would be better than none, even if low pay. To have one where you are surrounded by nice clothes and lingerie would delightful.

[RobynP]

During my college days one of my many jobs was working in a women's shoe store. Unfortunately, they did not carry any shoes in my size. (Actually, maybe it was a good thing!) I learned a LOT while working there about shoes... like you can never have too many pairs!

Robyn P.

[shayleetv]

When I was in my senior year at the University I had a job working K-marts women's ready to wear. I was involved with inventory control. Absolutely no perks in that job. Even handling merchandise all the time I was never tempted to steal. My father conditioned me well in that area. When I was around nine I stole a pocket knife from a store, when he found the knife he took me to the store and made me pay for it out of the money I was to get for my allowance. Then he made me carry that knife everywhere I went. He checked on me by asking me to produce it on demand, he would then examine the knife to see if it had been used because that was the other condition I had agreed, not to ever use that knife. He continued the practice until I got married. After my father died I put the knife in his casket under his hands still never used. My not being tempted to steal is not a real virtue just a conditioned response from all the trauma from having that knife with me all the time.

[EnglishRose]

My wife used to work for a clothing store. Apparently, all the girls like us would gravitate towards her. :)

[JamieOH]

petty theft and youth.... It almost goes hand in hand... Those that are most unlikely to do such a thing as a child, tend to do it in there young adult life when in a situation that presents itself such as the clothing store late shifts.. It is something that is part of the youthful, "I'm owed" mentality.. Then as time goes on, you realize what you did was wrong, and you feel bad, but so many others have done to you or around you are so far worse, it is dismissed easily once again, in your mind... Trust me, the store suffered very little in the long run, and even if they were to read this now, all they would say is, this is why we installed cameras.. The stores lose more money to inside theft than to customer theft, it is literally like 75% inside to %25 outside.. Not exagerating.. This is what I have done for the last 16 years, is security and camea systems.. As said above, we have all done unsavory things in our past..By judging this person as a bad person, and one who is an opportunist, we are simply lowering ourselves to that level we find so despicable.. You see, we truly don't know what this person is like now. I can tell you about a person I met, he was a convicted Felon, responsible for over 300 break ins. The dollar amount was never fully figured out, but they know it was at least $4mill That being said, he was reformed, and instead of stealing, he was teaching people what the vulnerable places in any secured building were. Tha is how I met him. He was invaluable, and could get into places that you wouldnt believe.. He paid his debt, not just in prison term, but in other works he did. He wasnt that person anymore, and I did not judge him. He was a great guy.. He passed away not long after I met him. I find that living life you are bound to make bad judgements, bad decisions.. Lets try to move on and grow from them, not dwell on them and judge them...

[Katesback]

I work with a TS girl that is transitioning and working at Lane Bryant. She likes the job.

[kellycan27]

Personally...........It wouldn't be mentally stimulating enough to hold my attention. A fun thought... maybe, a job.....nope.

[Tanya Simone]

Well obviously you have struck two different chords here. First the envy one...Wish I could have done it!
and
The theft one...How could you do it?

I fall in the former. The latter is between no one other than yourself.
Interesting reading though

[TerryTerri]

Interesting side topic.

As to the main topic, working in a women's clothing store. Gosh I can't even imagine the fun it would be. I have worked in retail. But, it was a part-time second job in a combination music, video and book store. And, being a music lover and a reader, I really enjoyed the place. But, it was work and a job.

Now then, as to the side topic, Sara I REALLY REALLY HATE self-righteousness and your posts are oozing. Funny from someone who probably hates others for being negatively judgemental of cross dressing. Think about it (with some honesty) and I think you'll see the hypocritical irony in it. But, I suspect your self-righteouness will blind you.
I am NOT condoning stealing. It is the Whomever is without sin sort of thing with me. My personal judgements have a lot to do with if people learn from their mistakes and apply the lessons. I stole as a child when I started smoking cigarettes (I was 10). However, somewhere along the way I realized the harm my actions caused and I stopped. Where I could I even atoned my transgressions. I have also been guilty of genuinely hurting someone because I lied about my true feelings (ironically because I did not wish to harm them). That lesson is one I have not had to repeat. My wife and I are divorcing due to my transgenderism. However, from the first day I meet her I have ALWAYS been honest with her and she has been honest with me. Because of that, we still respect each other and a difficult and sad situation is not full of anger and garbage.
Sorry, I digress easily. It's about learning from our transgressions and applying the wisdom learned.