Vent about Plus size clothing - add yours too!

[Crystal0608]

I'm plus sized, average height 5'5" with small shoulders, small waist, huge hips, big bootie. Most shirts fall off my shoulders and are not long enough. Belly shirts should be no-nos. I found a super long cami last year with a long bottom band, so wish I could find more shirts/camis like this. I want looooong cotton shirts!

I hated when Lane Bryant came out with circle, square, and triangle jeans. My MIL actually bought me one of each that year. The circle ones came halfway up my stomach and the square ones wouldn't go up my hips, way too confusing. Glad they had the number system back this year, gimme my 22s! I find some really cute stuff at Target, but why why why change the sizing. Look through the clearance racks, oohh a 2....so not a 2x...

 

[maslex]

Oh, where do I begin!!! LOL

I've been in plus size all my life. But these last 8-10 years or so have been the worse (weight gain and all)

Anyhow, I'm short (5'3") So even the "petite" jeans are too long on me and I need to have my SIL hem them.

I literally hate the fact that most everything is bold, ugly colors with these huge, hidieous patterns. WTH is THAT all about? Or, you look at the shirts on the racks and you find one that has potential of being decent only to see there's a picture of a big sailboat or kitten on it???????????????? C'mon designers.....wake up......would YOU wear something that looks like that?

I'm HUGE chested (really should look into a reduction) and I cannot find any bras in store that fit me (and I'm talking plus sized stores too)

***But I think my biggest complaint is the cost. A few years ago, I was watching Oprah and she had a show on about something or another. Anyhow, I remember she had a bunch of clothes on stage with a guy explaining different things. He held up a toddlers Levi jean jacket and she asked him why a babies Levi jean jacket cost the same as an adults, since it was so much smaller? He held it up and said it was because the same amount of work went into making both the smaller one and the bigger one. He said it didn't matter that one used more fabric. SOOOOO, my question is this????? IF that is true then why do plus sized clothes cost more than "normal" sized?

 

[ENSOCK]

why is everything made with the same material? I would like a nice shirt that is not made from knit!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Anyhow, I'm short (5'3") So even the "petite" jeans are too long on me and I need to have my SIL hem them.

I'm five feet tall. WHY would a petite pant need a 30" inseam? Are there really petite women (of any size) whose inseam is close to half their height?

I'm HUGE chested (really should look into a reduction) and I cannot find any bras in store that fit me (and I'm talking plus sized stores too)

Have you tried Lady Grace?

He said it didn't matter that one used more fabric. SOOOOO, my question is this????? IF that is true then why do plus sized clothes cost more than "normal" sized?

This is similar to a gripe I have with Roaman's/Woman Within. They charge more for wide (D/DD) shoes than for B/C width. You'd think, okay, maybe because there's more material required for the wider shoe - a different last, sole, etc., right? Okay, then why does Easy Spirit charge one price for all widths, but Brylane (parent company) charge $5 extra for the wide version of those same Easy Spirit shoes?

 

[Annette_VA]

Why are all tops so low-cut? Deep V-necks, scoop necks... Why? I don't want the front of my shirt gaping open every time I bend over!

 

[SingingMUA]

In fairness, the hosts on "What Not to Wear" advise their makeovers of ANY size/shape to buy what fits the largest part of you, and have the item altered.

That's not unreasonable. Really. If we want fitted clothing, we need to expect to pay for it. No two bodies are the same, at any size. This is different from the OP's and others' issues about sleeve length.

Aha! Thank you. Supports my statement that it's not only plus-size women finding this problem. I will say to you, too: alterations.

The bold illustrates why I stand by my original statement of every plus sized woman not being apple shaped.

Also, I wasn't implying that everything should be made to fit an hourglass figure, just that it would be nice to sometimes be able to find a pair of pants that didn't require alterations before they are ready to wear. I don't see a problem with desiring to be able to find something that is designed so that it can be worn off the rack.

I know that there are plenty of people who have the opposite problem (as a PP stated), but that doesn't make MY (and many other womens') problem any less valid...

 

[beaucoup]

Funny, I just had 5 shirts with sleeves down to my fingertips shortened to 3/4 sleeve. It is easier for housework.

I find it annoying that there is little plus-size hiking clothing or wetsuits. You have to look at mens clothing. And in mens, the bigger the stomach, the longer the pants length.

 

[SingingMUA]

We need to shop at opposite places, LOL. I'm apple shaped, and I have so much trouble finding stuff that's big enough in the waist without having pooches on the side where you're supposed to have hips, LOL. I need apple shaped, so I should go where you shop, and you should come to the stores where I find all the pear shaped stuff.

LOL... sure, I'd love to come to Georgia!


I really need to just start making more of my clothes... then I can have everything perfectly tailored to fit me! I have a sewing machine, and lots of patterns that I have yet to use... hmmm... I feel my next project coming on.

 

[RangerPooh]

As a 5'4" size 18, DD gal who's 31 I do not want to wear skinny jeans, spandex leggings, stretchy jeans, brightly printed fabrics, shirts with hideous patterns, beaded or jeweled clothing, or anything else that looks like my mother or MIL would wear! I am 31 not 85!

I have had great success with the jeans at Maurices! The size 18 is actually a size 18. They don't sit like mom jeans, are not super skinny or low cut (although you could probably find those...I don't pay too much attention), not too stretchy, and come in short, regular, and long. Plus the price is reasonable, now if they only had multiple shades of blue...

And why is it that if a store has plus size that it is a very small section? Or stores like Old Navy who use to carry it in store no longer do? Do they not want our business?

I want a "make over" segment of any show to focus on where you can find stylish, reasonably priced plus size clothing that works for a variety of ages. I ahve never had success at Lane Bryant so don't show me their clothing. Target rarely has anything that I like, Walmart...ummmm (sorry), Old Navy if I can't try it on in store I'm skeptical to buy it (and their pants never fit hippy girls), and JCP doesn't carry much. So where are we suppose to shop?

 

[honugirl]

This! Also, I am not an NFL player. My shoulders aren't that broad! It's hard to find shirts where the shoulder seam doesn't hang on my arm instead of where it should.

I'll donate half my shoulders to you. I can't find anything that fits my shoulders. I literally probably should be an NFL player!

Why do they automatically assume that chubby chicks don't run? I'd like to buy cute athletic clothing, but it's always too small. I don't want to shop in the men's section.

I also can't afford to alter all my clothes. I just paid about $20 to alter 1 dress shirt, which is almost what I paid for it...

Oh and the lack of simple, classic button up shirts is appalling. I finally had to order a white button up dress shirt from Land's End school uniforms because I couldn't find anything in the stores.

Also please stop putting elastic, bows and ties on everything. I have sensory issues and the elastic plus the bows/ties in the back really bug me and chances are I'll rarely wear that shirt.

 

[MIGrandma]

I love 3/4-length sleeves!! I wear a 14/16 top, and I'm short (barely 5' tall) so long sleeves are almost always too long for me so when I can find tops that are 3/4-length they're about perfect.

I used to wear a larger size, 18/20 and my vent then was that tops were way too long on me.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I disagree OP. I love the 3/4 sleeves because if I buy long sleeved shirts, they're usually 3-4 inches too long. I also have a problem with the shoulders being too broad -- my bra straps are forever sticking out. And my biggest complaint -- most of my weight is in my stomach/hips/butt. I buy pants big enough to fit that part, and then there's enough material at the back of the thighs to make another pair of pants. I was standing outside waiting for a train last week and the back of my pants was flapping like a flag in the wind. I guess it's hard to fit everyone, so they go for generalized fits.

 

[maslex]

I disagree OP. I love the 3/4 sleeves because if I buy long sleeved shirts, they're usually 3-4 inches too long. I also have a problem with the shoulders being too broad -- my bra straps are forever sticking out. And my biggest complaint -- most of my weight is in my stomach/hips/butt. I buy pants big enough to fit that part, and then there's enough material at the back of the thighs to make another pair of pants. I was standing outside waiting for a train last week and the back of my pants was flapping like a flag in the wind. I guess it's hard to fit everyone, so they go for generalized fits.

I can soooo relate to this!!! I buy jeans to fit my stomach/hips/butt area but then the crotch hangs to my knees and then the legs are sooooo loose!!! I can't stand it !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SpecialK]

Keeping in mind that myself I'd rather buy clothes that fit...

I have to say that altering is a LOT cheaper than you think. My MIL regularly gets her blue jeans hemmed at the tailors and it's less than ten dollars to get it done. My mother also gets her stuff altered, and her tailor will shorten a gapping waistband for about six dollars. Any simple alteration is very inexpensive.

Obviously something complicated - like getting a whole dress refitted - is pricier, but on the whole tailors are not that expensive.

Must be dependent on your location. The cheapest I've found for hemming pants is $8 per leg.

 

[honugirl]

I wish they would also stop making the neck holes on plus size shirts GIGANTIC! Seriously, my head isn't any bigger than someone in "regular" sizes. I have a hump on my back from my rare disease and the larger neck holes show it off nicely. If they were smaller, I could hide it.... This is also why my bra straps show all the time! So annoying!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Must be dependent on your location. The cheapest I've found for hemming pants is $8 per leg.

Wow! Per leg? I can get a pair of pants hemmed for $8-$10. And I live outside of NYC, so I would think it would be more expensive here. Do you live in a large city?

 

[Anna_Marie]

Oh I hate the 3/4 sleeve too - I want to either wear fully long sleeve or just short sleeve. I shop at Fashion Bug Plus and they have a lot of 3/4 sleeve.

 

[njmom47]

I'm 5'10 and wear 18/20 TALL.
I am apple-shaped and have found "Right Fit" yellow fit me well...but still really not long enough for my taste. I wear high shoes too so a 35" inseam makes me happy.
I also don't have ****s so I have that problem as well. (42b?c? I want a nice sexy bra...good luck!)
ETA-I also stopped shopping at JCPenney in the plus size department in my local mall because they moved it upstairs in the back near the bathroom...Are they embarrassed to admit they sell plus size clothing?

 

[honugirl]

ETA-I also stopped shopping at JCPenney in the plus size department in my local mall because they moved it upstairs in the back near the bathroom...Are they embarrassed to admit they sell plus size clothing?

It's not only JC Penney that has done this, but have you noticed how the plus sized sections at stores keep getting smaller and smaller? Target actually used to have some cool stuff, now they don't have anything. Macy's is shrinking. Old Navy won't even sell their plus sized stuff in stores. Frustrating to say the least. As if bigger people don't need clothes.

 

[princessmom29]

I wish they would also stop making the neck holes on plus size shirts GIGANTIC! Seriously, my head isn't any bigger than someone in "regular" sizes. I have a hump on my back from my rare disease and the larger neck holes show it off nicely. If they were smaller, I could hide it.... This is also why my bra straps show all the time! So annoying!

Exactly. I have the same problem, really we DON'T want you to see our bras!

My single largest gripe is that everything looks like it was made for a 70 year old in a lounge act. Old lady bling is NOT and never has been , in style. Please, can I just get slacks and blouses that fit me, are remotely current, and don't look like I belong in a Vegas act with Tony Bennett??