Can I vent about clothing???

[MushyMushy]

Okay, I'm plus size, I'll say this right up front (and some of you may have seen me griping about similar things before).

I'm dieting and losing weight, and have gone down a size or two, but at the moment I'm in this weird no-man's land where one size is considerably too big and the other is too tight. So I have to try clothes on to make sure they fit. Internet shopping is pretty much out unless they have free return shipping. Anyway, I'm basically okay with pants because I have jeans, shorts, etc in all sizes from over the years.

Tops, not so good. I have tee shirts and maybe 2 decent short sleeve tops that look okay for going out in. That's it. I would like to have 2-3 more decent short sleeve tops to fill in the gap until I go down another size.

I have been searching stores for TWO WEEKS now and can't find anything with proper short sleeves for a plus size woman!!!! They are all either sleeveless or god forbid HALTER, or cap sleeves, or just plain short short, or even those frilly loose sleeves that hide nothing. Is it too much to ask for a fat woman to be able to hide her fat arms properly??? I just won't wear them. EVER. I won't do it. Sales clerks have tried talking me into just getting them and saying, "It's not so bad," but it is! I have fat arms! No amount of trying to tell me it's okay will convince me to wear arm-baring shirts. I just won't do it.

So for anyone who goes around judging fat women for letting their arms jiggle all over the place, know this. We have no other options!!!

To the clothing designers and manufacturers:

Vent over. Can I get an amen?

 

[PatsMom]

I'll give you a big AMEN!!

I too have lost weight and am looking for new summer clothes - last year's are just too big (yippee). But I am still not small by any means and am looking at larger sizes. I wish that the designers would realize that women of a certain size do not want to show their upper arms in public!

For what its worth, I did find some decent shorts in the plus size petites at JC Penney - I had to order on line but could have returned them at my local store if they didn't fit.

 

[luvsJack]

AMEN!!!!


It takes me FOREVER to shop because some of the stuff they think we plus sized women want to wear is just absolutely ridiculous!!

 

[OhMari]

I'm in the same situation.
I usually have luck at Walmart.
But this spring, they put these little cap sleeves on their shirts
and the look is ridiculous.
I finally found a style at Walmart liked and bought 4 different colors.
When I went back, they were gone.
So others must have really liked the style too.
Try Maurices in a Mall.
They have Plus size clothing. And they tend not to have purple and yellow magnolia's or flowers all over the clothes.

 

[EthansMom]

Amen, Sister!

I'm currently working on getting rid of some of the 30-or-so extra pounds that I'm carting around.

I am sick and tired of clothes that were never in a million years designed to fit a woman. I can find plenty of clothes that would look good on a teen girl or a slender young woman, but what the hell are the rest of us supposed to wear?

Is it too much to ask that clothing designers add an inch or two to the bottoms of t-shirts? And why can't I find a decent pair of jeans that will fit a woman with smaller waist but some junk in the trunk? And don't even get me started on the idiots who think that grown women want to want boot-cut jeans (like I need my legs to look fatter).

The funny thing is, when I was exercising A LOT several years ago and got down to around a size 4/6 and would've looked great in some nice clothes, I struggled to find those sizes in stock anywhere for adults. I still had some junk at those sizes and teeny bopper stores weren't going to fit.

I swear, if I had piles of money, I would hire a tailor or two to custom make my clothes so they actually fit my body for a change.

ETA: I usually order my tops from Lands End and LL Bean. Lands End has free returns to any Sears. I love the softness of the LL Bean pima cotton. I still wish they made the tees a smidge longer in the length and sleeves. But it beats shopping in the mall, which I just detest with a passion.

 

[NAB]

I wish they would stop making the tops in that stretchy stuff that hugs to you body....

What happen to nice heavy cotton t shirts. Not that thin stuff either.

I can't wear the tunic type either or I look pregnant.

Like another poster said if I find something I like I buy all the colours and call it a day. Because I usually have to wear my tops until they are pretty well worn out.

 

[moniot]

AMEN!!!!!!! My gripes also. That and the shirts are either so short they don't cover the top of my jeans or so long they look silly.

 

[HM]

Either Lands End or LL Bean has been having a good sale on summer t-shirt tops.

 

[Handbag Lady]

AMEN!

I got lucky two years ago and found some nice t-shirts at Lame Giant on sale and I bought several in a few colors. They are holding out and should last me one more year. I dread next year.

The styles that are in now make me look pregnant. Period. There is no getting around it.


BUT. I have to wear formal clothes three times a year for work. Think gowns and cocktail dresses. I can't buy one and wear it three times, either. NO ONE MAKES A COCKTAIL DRESS or FORMAL with sleeves. If I do find one, it would be suitable for someone's grandma, not some fashionable 40 year-old woman. Seriously, I've found some nice gowns that would be great if only they had a sleeve on it. How hard can that be?

 

[swanmom]

And Lands End has three "fits" - one close to the body, one regular and one looser and fuller! They are having a great sale. I just got five shirts from them for $51.50 and free shipping!

 

[EthansMom]

BUT. I have to wear formal clothes three times a year for work. Think gowns and cocktail dresses. I can't buy one and wear it three times, either. NO ONE MAKES A COCKTAIL DRESS or FORMAL with sleeves. If I do find one, it would be suitable for someone's grandma, not some fashionable 40 year-old woman. Seriously, I've found some nice gowns that would be great if only they had a sleeve on it. How hard can that be?

I have the same problem. DH has a formal for work every fall. I love going... we have a great time. BUT... I'm always freezing because I can't find a formal dress with sleeves!!!! I've learned to knit in the last year or so and will be wearing a hand-knit shawl or shrug at this fall's party.

 

[Disney Doll]

Try Lands End and LLBean.
Also, I have had good luck at Dress Barn.
There is a catalog called Appleseeds which has some cute stuff, but some of it can tend to be a little "fuddy duddy-ish" so be careful.

 

[golfgal]

To add to your grip, I just bought 2 pair of capris and 3 pairs of shorts, all the SAME brand, same "style", same cut but In went to wear one of the capris and they are too small. Everything else fits perfect. The tags are all right, have the same size, etc.

 

[MushyMushy]

I had no luck at Dress Barn yesterday -- all the shorty short sleeves, and when I commented to the sales clerk about it she said, "that's what everybody's complaining about."

Oh yeah? Then why aren't these companies HEARING us?

Regarding the gowns, hoo boy, that would be a tough one. A shawl might be a good option. Or maybe a completely strapless dress that you could put a bolero jacket over? I don't know, just trying to come up with ideas for you. Although strapless dresses are a horror for us big-busted women too.

Oh and hey, while I'm griping, there's another one. I did find a decent short sleeve top at Lane Bryant yesterday, but it had a banded bottom. I tried it on and my daughter exclaimed, "NO!" to that one. Guess my hips and belly aren't quite up for that either. It was an otherwise pretty top.

 

[Christine]

Don't feel bad, it happens to us all. I'm not overweight at all; however, I am 45 years old, probably not really that toned, and the skin on my body isn't as pretty as it was 10 years ago.

I. AM. NOT. COMFORTABLE. WITHOUT. SOME. SLEEVES. PERIOD!!!!!

I can't stand it. Especially at work. I don't mind so much around the house or on the weekends, but I do not want to show my ugly arms to my millions of coworkers. Why can't I get a nice shirt/blouse with a DECENT short sleeve. Caps look ridiculous on me as do the poofy sleeves, the wispy sleeves, etc.

I have the added problem of being 5'7" which, IMO, is not tall but everything is short on me. I know a few here have touted Land's End but their T-shirts and polos are just short and kind of boxy. Even fit number 1. I don't get it.

I am having an awful time just finding some clothes to knock around in.

For work, I just gave up and bought a few more pairs of black pants and I'll try to find some twinsets or something. It kills me because I LOVE clothes, especially nice dressy ones, and I'm bummed that I have to move to the old lady uniform.

Why are the clothes so bad?

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

AMEN!

I'm having the same problem but with pants. One size is too big and falls down and the other is still a little too tight! Grrrr! I feel your pain!

 

[keenercam]

I have been so glad to find elbow-length summer tops at Christopher & Banks, J.Jill and Chicco's. For workout clothes, I find that Lands End short sleeve tshirts are often long enough to cover my arms nearly to the elbow. I hope that helps! (I have lost a considerable amount of weight and my upper arms are terrible looking,even though I do strength training -- my doctor says the only way to get rid of the excess skin at this point is plastic surgery, which I won't even consider). For our vow renewal events at Disney in January, I wore lots of sleeveless items with bolero jackets I found on ebay. Good luck!!
Oh, and HUGE CONGRATS on the weight loss!

 

[C.Ann]

Okay, I'm plus size, I'll say this right up front (and some of you may have seen me griping about similar things before).

I'm dieting and losing weight, and have gone down a size or two, but at the moment I'm in this weird no-man's land where one size is considerably too big and the other is too tight. So I have to try clothes on to make sure they fit. Internet shopping is pretty much out unless they have free return shipping. Anyway, I'm basically okay with pants because I have jeans, shorts, etc in all sizes from over the years.

Tops, not so good. I have tee shirts and maybe 2 decent short sleeve tops that look okay for going out in. That's it. I would like to have 2-3 more decent short sleeve tops to fill in the gap until I go down another size.

I have been searching stores for TWO WEEKS now and can't find anything with proper short sleeves for a plus size woman!!!! They are all either sleeveless or god forbid HALTER, or cap sleeves, or just plain short short, or even those frilly loose sleeves that hide nothing. Is it too much to ask for a fat woman to be able to hide her fat arms properly??? I just won't wear them. EVER. I won't do it. Sales clerks have tried talking me into just getting them and saying, "It's not so bad," but it is! I have fat arms! No amount of trying to tell me it's okay will convince me to wear arm-baring shirts. I just won't do it.

So for anyone who goes around judging fat women for letting their arms jiggle all over the place, know this. We have no other options!!!

To the clothing designers and manufacturers:

Vent over. Can I get an amen?

-----------------

Only if you will let me say that people who are severely underweight have "problems" with clothing as well..

Do you have any stores near you that are specifically for plus-size ladies?

I don't know what it is with clothing designers, but they seem to think that "one style" looks good on everyone.. It doesn't..

Another thought - do you know anyone who sews? Maybe you could find a couple of patterns and have some blouses made specifically for you.. It might be a little more costly, but at least you would know that they fit properly..

Good luck - and AMEN !!!

 

[linda0706]

I have been so glad to find elbow-length summer tops at Christopher & Banks,

I was just about to post the same thing...I almost always have good luck at Christopher & Banks. They also have a plus-size store -CJ Banks.

They have great sales, too. Get on their email list.

 

[MushyMushy]

Sure, C.Ann, join the club!

Keenercam, thanks! I appreciate it. I still have a long way to go and I suspect I'm going to be having this clothing fight the whole way.

I haven't heard of a lot of these stores people are mentioning, but I think I know where there's a Christopher and Banks. I'll have to check that out.

Now that I'm thinking about it, I was griping about the shipping... but you know with me having to run to all these different towns at about $10 a pop in gas, I could probably go ahead and pay for shipping for ordering and returns if need be.