Life Hack: Fight the "pink tax" by buying Men's clothes

Dear JAMMers,

One day it is 70 degrees and the next, 50 degrees. It is officially the "what the hell do I wear" chapter of Spring.

The "pink tax" refers to the gender-based price discrimination that women's versions of items, clothes, services, etc. cost more...even when they are the exact same item but in pink.  (And then we have the wage gap which makes this all WORSE. Do not get me started!)

Back to not knowing what to wear -

Once I got pregnant and was post-partum NOTHING fit right. As a plus-size gal, nothing ever fit so great before. Tailoring is crucial for my closet. I've written about not knowing what to wear post-partum before. Target's 90's throwback collections sent me straight into a mid-life crisis this fall.

I worked in fashion and have loved it my whole life.  However, I have ZERO shame in the shopping on a budget game.  Also, I am clumsy and spill..a lot. I don't typically buy expensive clothes for everyday wear.

When you are not shopping high-end brands, you know the quality and fabric of women's fashion items are often horrendous.

Cheap zippers.

Buttons that fall off.

V-necks that are too deep for a mom with what I call "breastfeeding destroyed my boobs syndrome."

No pockets.

No 2-way or 4-way stretch.

Fabric that makes you sweat.

Falls apart after 3 washes.

One day, I decided to pivot to the men's section of Target. "I want to see if they give them crap as well," I thought to myself. Well, I was surprised to see how much better quality the men's items were.

Then I tried Old Navy - a true value/fast fashion brand - and yet the men's items were miles ahead for longevity than the women's.

My 2025 winter wardrobe was built from a majority of men's clothes.  I felt great. I opened my closet and knew the items in there would fit as I expected them to.

Plus, I got compliments galore.  I am a Leo, so compliments are like oxygen to me.

Oh, and I forgot the best part: The tops aren't crop tops. Yes, if you have had a c-section or do not want to show skin at the school drop off - you can buy a WHOLE shirt.

And the sweaters and sweatshirts are actually warm... a wild concept.

Beyond bringing me great joy, I see this as an act of microfeminism. Make your dollar go further in this inflation disaster that is our lives -- shop in the men's section. And wear it better than the men.

No worries,

Jaclyn