OT - Big gals

[misslissa]

Hi all,

I have a bit of a rant here that I'm going to share with you. I live in Toronto and am 23. I would like to consider myself fashionable. But, the only thing is that I am a size 20. Usually, the only stores I have to shop at are limited.

I've always thought that Addition Elle was good quality, somewhat "older" in style, and I don't really like their MXM line. Penningtons and Reitmans, in my opinion, are the same. They try to have "fashionable" stuff, but you know when you visit other "nice, young" stores, they don't compare at all.

In the GTA, there is a store called Voluptuous for plus sizes, some of the stuff is so nice, but really the quality isn't there for what you are paying for. It is like "Stitches" quality clothing with a HUGE price tag.

So, I usually end up shopping at Addition Elle and it is expensive enough. But, I recently had some problems with their clothing... on several things... a zipper came out of a pair of jeans, the hem on some pants came down, one pair ripped the first time I put them on (thankfully they exchanged them), one had one pantleg shorter than the other... and yesterday, I got a whole in the part of the pant where the pocket meets the pant.

I wrote an angry email to Addition Elle and the manager of merchandising called me. I returned her call, and never heard anything back. They have apologized for this bad merchandise.

Anyway, point being... for the fact that I'm spending around $60 for each pair of pants, I'm not going to be shopping there anymore. The pants have all been under a year old. I just can't do it anymore knowing that they're going to have something wrong with them!

Anyway, the whole point of this post is... I'm looking for some other places to shop in the GTA. Does anyone know of any good places???


So far, the only awesome place I have ever found is http://www.torrid.com

DH is so mad that we've had so many issues with the other stores... that he's driving me to Buffalo this weekend to shop there , but Buffalo from the GTA is pretty long for every time I need an article of clothing!

Has anyone else found this same lack of selection??!?!?!

 

[Yensid Srevol]

Have you ever looked at shopping online with Roamans, Lane Bryant, or Woman Within? I'm a plus size and have done plenty of online shopping with all three places and their service and prices can't be beat.

My 22yr old DD thinks it's all "Old Lady" clothes but they're not! You just have to look closely and find the styles you want.

Happy shopping!!!

 

[misslissa]

Hmmm... that's what I find here, and with the exchange and shipping for us, it can be difficult. But I'm going to check those sites right now.

 

[cabmom]

I shop for most of my clothes in the States. I go to www.avenue.com, sign up when you shop there and they will send you 20% off coupons to use in store. My sister found a place in Orillia called the Red Apple. She got some really nice slacks there.

 

[SandraC]

I buy lots of my PLUS size clothes at Walmart, New Age Stores and Goodwill. I find awesome stuff at Goodwill. Really funky dresses and Bohemian wears. New Age Stores have great creative t's and dresses. Walmart suits me fine for capri's and such. I'm a 2X bottom and 3X top. S

 

[drag n' fly]

I am not sure if this would be of interest to you but my Mom and I love to hit the high end resale shops here in Calgary. We have found beautiful 400 dollar silk suits for 100 bucks and they are in new condition. You may want to look up and ask around as the real good resale shops with quality clothes are often not openly advertised. We make a whole day of it and have a nice dinner somewhere in the evening.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

I'm another Buffalo shopper. I wear a 3x on top and a 4x on the bottom.

I love Kmart. They tend to have decent stuff, cheap.

I too used to shop additon elle (especially the outlet at Warden and Eglinton) but they seem too expensive for my tastes for what you get (I say as I am wearing a blouse I bought from them 6 years ago that is still in great shape).

The worst thing that happened to me is when Cotton Ginny Plus is no longer in the GTA (I used to love their stuff - there shirts and sweaters were just wonderful and soft).

 

[misslissa]

I'm another Buffalo shopper. I wear a 3x on top and a 4x on the bottom.

I love Kmart. They tend to have decent stuff, cheap.

I too used to shop additon elle (especially the outlet at Warden and Eglinton) but they seem too expensive for my tastes for what you get (I say as I am wearing a blouse I bought from them 6 years ago that is still in great shape).

The worst thing that happened to me is when Cotton Ginny Plus is no longer in the GTA (I used to love their stuff - there shirts and sweaters were just wonderful and soft).

This is where I go too... but it just isn't worth it, if everything I purchase now is ripping or falling apart!!! I really think their quality is going downhill.

I'm off to Buffalo this weekend, Target, Kmart and Torrid, here I come!

 

[bunnyfoo]

This is where I go too... but it just isn't worth it, if everything I purchase now is ripping or falling apart!!! I really think their quality is going downhill.

I'm off to Buffalo this weekend, Target, Kmart and Torrid, here I come!

It's not just plus sizes that have the quality issue. Some of the items I recently bought from Banana Republic had loose buttons and broken zippers. Go figure! I guess that's one way to keep customers buying clothes If you're going to the States, make sure you check out Lane Bryant. I remember they had some nice things.

My manager is plus size too and she has problems buying clothing she likes too. She usually goes to Cleo, Laura Petites Plus and there's one other store but I can't remember the name...

Have fun shopping! I wish I were going

 

[MaryannF]

I'm another Buffalo shopper. I wear a 3x on top and a 4x on the bottom.

I love Kmart. They tend to have decent stuff, cheap.

I too used to shop additon elle (especially the outlet at Warden and Eglinton) but they seem too expensive for my tastes for what you get (I say as I am wearing a blouse I bought from them 6 years ago that is still in great shape).

The worst thing that happened to me is when Cotton Ginny Plus is no longer in the GTA (I used to love their stuff - there shirts and sweaters were just wonderful and soft).

I shop regularly at the Cotton Ginny at Centrepoint mall (Yonge & Steeles), the store is split in two with the Plus clothes on one side. Just a week ago I got a pair of plus size pants that fit very well. They also carry crocs.

 

[MaryannF]

I'm off to Buffalo this weekend, Target, Kmart and Torrid, here I come!

I took DD to Buffalo on Friday. She is 22 years old and wears a size 20. We spent 3 hours in theTorrid store at the Walden Galleria. She combed every rack and tried on everything that she thought she would like. We spent $550.00. She got some very nice pieces that she can put together to create several different looks. Now that she knows what size she wears based on the sizes Torrid sells she will buy some pieces online. We went to the Lane Bryant store in the same mall but thought that a lot of what they were selling was too "old looking". I guess it depends on what you are looking for and your perception of what is "old looking". We went to Steve & Barry's where she picked up some tank tops and some sweat shirts that fit and were very, very reasonable.
I just don't understand why someone hasn't recognized a market in Toronto that could easily be tapped. Young girls of a larger size that would spend the money for trendy clothes that fit and look like the clothes the size 1 girls are wearing. It breaks my heart when she sees something she likes only to find that it doesn't come in her size.

 

[Kurby]

I tried to order from Women Within and unless you have a US address - forget about it.

Canadian's not welcome.

unfortunate too since i had about $250 in clothing for the upcoming summer only to be told i don't have a valid zip code or state.

guess our orders aren't important to them.

 

[MaryannF]

Apparently the only thing that Torrid won't ship to Canada is anything that is Dickie brand. Which is too bad because my daughter likes that brand. She bought a pair of black pants, capris, shorts and a skirt that were Dickie brand while we were in Buffalo on Friday.

 

[misslissa]

I took DD to Buffalo on Friday. She is 22 years old and wears a size 20. We spent 3 hours in theTorrid store at the Walden Galleria. She combed every rack and tried on everything that she thought she would like. We spent $550.00. She got some very nice pieces that she can put together to create several different looks. Now that she knows what size she wears based on the sizes Torrid sells she will buy some pieces online. We went to the Lane Bryant store in the same mall but thought that a lot of what they were selling was too "old looking". I guess it depends on what you are looking for and your perception of what is "old looking". We went to Steve & Barry's where she picked up some tank tops and some sweat shirts that fit and were very, very reasonable.
I just don't understand why someone hasn't recognized a market in Toronto that could easily be tapped. Young girls of a larger size that would spend the money for trendy clothes that fit and look like the clothes the size 1 girls are wearing. It breaks my heart when she sees something she likes only to find that it doesn't come in her size.

This breaks my heart too It just isn't fair, because we really need young looking clothes too. I find all the above stores listed quite "old" looking as well, and although I've already started a career as a travel agent, I want to look "young". I like my clothes to work for both work and home!

I'm glad your daughter liked Torrid. To date, it is the only store that I LOVE. I haven't been there for about a year, so I can't wait to figure out what sizes I will be ordering online later!!!!!

There is also a store called Voluptuous in some GTA malls, but it really isn't appropriate for work...

Still looking... and you are more than right... there should be a bigger selection 'cause I dont' know a lot of people who have an easy time shopping at any "young" stores!!!!

 

[TKDisneylover]

I too am plus sized and have difficulty finding clothing that fits properly or is of good quality and stylish. Kohl's Department Stores have plus size Daisy Fuentes, and most are fairly stylish. Check out their website: Kohls dot com

 

[nosnobunny2006]

I'm not plus sized but I stopped trying to shop for clothes or shoes in Canada a long time ago. Luckily, one of my DDs lives in S Florida and I'm down there all the time. That's when I do my shopping, mostly in Talbots. The clothes here can't compare. Don't even get me started on trying to find size 5 shoes here.

Beth

 

[pickle_murphy]

I haven't been to toronto recently but I am fairly sure I heard you have an old navy... their "regular" womens line comes in sizes 1-20, and is available in store in those sizes all the time. If you are looking for casual, or even some more "wear to work" styles, they are a good bet. Definately not the greatest quality in the world but for what you pay for it you don't mind when you end up with holes in your shirt or when the button pops off your pants since you got a good deal on them.

Ricki's carries up to an 18, but might be worth trying on... i usually wear an 18 and while their pants fit me fine, i find that their largest size in jeans (36) is actually a little too big on me.

Also a note about lane bryant... I love their underwear, of all things, but their website has been "Closed" to canadian orders for close to 2 months now, as they make "necessary improvements to their website", so you are out of luck with them for who knows how long.

hope this helps!

 

[misslissa]

I haven't been to toronto recently but I am fairly sure I heard you have an old navy... their "regular" womens line comes in sizes 1-20, and is available in store in those sizes all the time. If you are looking for casual, or even some more "wear to work" styles, they are a good bet. Definately not the greatest quality in the world but for what you pay for it you don't mind when you end up with holes in your shirt or when the button pops off your pants since you got a good deal on them.

Ricki's carries up to an 18, but might be worth trying on... i usually wear an 18 and while their pants fit me fine, i find that their largest size in jeans (36) is actually a little too big on me.

Also a note about lane bryant... I love their underwear, of all things, but their website has been "Closed" to canadian orders for close to 2 months now, as they make "necessary improvements to their website", so you are out of luck with them for who knows how long.

hope this helps!

I am from the Niagara Region where Old Navy carries up to size 24. And, was really disappointed when I moved to Toronto and got a really snotty response from one of the retail employees... that Old Navy only carries up to 18, unless you are at a store closer to the border. The large sizes come from the States and aren't carried this far north.

As for Ricki's... they're great, but I don't fit the pants. I have several pairs from there (size 18) that fit from about 2 years ago but they've changed their sizes since... and the current size 18 there no longer fits!!!