What's a fat girl to do?!!?

[Liberty Belle]

I'm with you, Tina. Only I'm very well-endowed. I don't know which is worse. No matter how much weight I lose, I still look fat because of my chest. And, to make matters worse, I always lose weight in my midriff, so it just makes my chest look bigger.

I've pretty much given up on button down shirts. I only wear ones that are stretchy, unless I just luck into one that is bigger on top.

It's very frustrating.

 

[Liberty Belle]

MushyMushy- Totally with you on all the plus size sleeveless shirts! What is the deal with that. Do they ALL have to be sleeveless? It is quite annoying.

Va-Bear - I understand about you as well, I am broad in the shoulders and 5'11 and have the same problem with you in the Bra Dept. Its CRAZY, you know what amazes me though that all these designer shows, could'nt someone go on there and design beautiful clothes for us ladies and men too!

I work out, not insanely but I work out and being inbetween sizes stink too!!

I wish I had the savy because I would start my own Plus Size clothing line for women and men! Why can't we look hip and hot too!

They're not all sleeveless. Some have cap sleeves, which I think actually looks worse.

 

[jeepgirl30]

with shoes i'm 5' so yep, i feel your pain. I've been looking for a long time for a cute jean skirt. I have hips so if they waist doesn't gape then i'm scared to bend over and my legs look like tree trunks.

I don't want an old lady one but not a teeny bopper one either.

Don't even get me started on bathing suits... YIKES

 

[mommasita]

I'm with you, Tina. Only I'm very well-endowed. I don't know which is worse. No matter how much weight I lose, I still look fat because of my chest. And, to make matters worse, I always lose weight in my midriff, so it just makes my chest look bigger.

I've pretty much given up on button down shirts. I only wear ones that are stretchy, unless I just luck into one that is bigger on top.

It's very frustrating.

This is me EXACTLY. My friend was over this weekend and said the weight loss was incredible, but my chest does not go down. . It has, but nothing really compared to the rest. I too feel that you always look fatter than you are with the chest. If I stay this size, I think I am going to go the reduction route next year and look somewhat balanced.

I can not do the button blouses, and I really love that look to set off a nice skirt.

 

[Va-bear]

MushyMushy- Totally with you on all the plus size sleeveless shirts! What is the deal with that. Do they ALL have to be sleeveless? It is quite annoying.


Va-Bear - I understand about you as well, I am broad in the shoulders and 5'11 and have the same problem with you in the Bra Dept. Its CRAZY, you know what amazes me though that all these designer shows, could'nt someone go on there and design beautiful clothes for us ladies and men too!

I work out, not insanely but I work out and being inbetween sizes stink too!!

I wish I had the savy because I would start my own Plus Size clothing line for women and men! Why can't we look hip and hot too!

Wow, we are clothing twins!! I am 5'11" and between sizes also. My sister always wanted to start a clothing line for people like me - she called it an "athletic build", she's very nice -because she saw the frustration my mom and I went thru trying to find clothes for me, when I was younger especially (they have a lot more stretch fabrics now - that helps a LOT.) Sadly, the main clothes that fit me in the shoulders are mens clothes - but it sure would be nice to be able to wear more pretty girl clothes.

 

[DMickey28]

I'm with you! Did you get to see my long vent about the lack of sleeves on plus size shirts?

I shopped in 15 stores before finally finding a couple of acceptable casual tops. FIFTEEN!!!! It ended up being CJ Banks. But even so, I only found 2 there.

I like longer shorts, but not bermudas -- they're a bit snug fitting, aren't they? I like the longer cargo shorts they had out a couple of years ago. They are loose fitting and come just below the knee, and have a couple of side pockets. They're not totally attractive on me, but I like how they fit.

But I'm still in search of the perfect top.

I LOVE the longer cargo shorts. I bought a ton at Van Heusen back in 2007 after DS was born and still wear them. They have zero style but are so comfy. They have holes now but I still love them. I literally wore them everyday for the last two years. They have similar ones this year but they don't fit quite right.

Man, it _IS_ tough, isnt it?! I am very tall and have VERY broad shoulders and have a large frame, but am not endowed, at all. I go to buy a shirt that fits my big, broad shoulders and then there's a cavern where they think my chest should be! The material just hangs down like a big empty shopping bag! It's loooovely - not. Pants are almost as bad. I try on ones that fit my waist and go around, but then they have these 'pouches' that stick out on the side that they've added to accomodate your hips....I dont really have hips ... (Basically, I'm a big, broad stick figure - ie, no shape, but big. ) Don't even get my started on trying to find a bra!!!! (because, appearantly, if you are 38 inches around you are supposed to be a D cup, minimum!!)

I have the opposite hip problem. I have hips but a 'normal' large butt and a 'normal' puffy stomach. If it fits my stomach then it's skin tight through the hips and the top of my thighs. If it fits my hips and my thighs then it sags in the butt and falls down around my waist, just to bunch up around my hips. That's a lovely look, I swear I could fit an extra toddler into the crotch of my pants.

Have you tried Lands End at all? They have a decent selection to fit different body types.

 

[ead79]

I can TOTALLY sympathize! Here's basically what I do when it comes to clothes:

--my work clothes/dressier clothes pretty much all come from Talbots because they sell woman petite (petite plus-size) clothes. This is especially important for me when it comes to pants since making a regular plus size pair of pants shorter doesn't help when it comes to all the extra fabric in the crotch, LOL!

--my casual clothes are typically regular plus size shirts from Target.com or from Macy's. I then have to take them to my alterations place to get a couple inches taken off so they aren't ridiculously long.

--I have an apple shaped figure, so by the time I get pants that fit in the waist, they have these huge "hip pouches" where regular shaped women have hips, LOL. It's really hard for me to find pants without the hip pouches, but when I do I buy them up really fast. Otherwise, I take them to the alterations place to get the sides taken in down the leg.

So let's just say I keep my alterations place in business single-handedly! I wish more places realized that you can be pudgy and short at the same time. Their prices aren't great, but I don't know what I would do without Talbots!

 

[lovemygoofy]

Hey thanks ya'll! You have at least let me know I'm not alone in my misery lol

I will check out talbots. I didn't know they were carrying a plus size section now. Im getting my favorite suits and business seperates tailored and I guess if I have to I'll just bite the bullet and do a couple of pieces at at time for new stuff.

I'm finding now that I carry most of my extra weight in my upper thighs and lower belly area so trying to find pants/shorts/capris/skirts to fit that area but not gap or be out and out too big in the waist has been a challenge.

I think it's just more difficult trying to find things when you are in between sizes and still trying to look cute but a grown up. It's hard trying to find clothes at 30 that doesn't make you look 15 or have to wear clothes that are for grandmas.

I'd love to design my own line of clothing. My store would have all kinds of different sections for those vertically inclined and those that may not be and those that are well endowed and those that aren't. It sure is hard to be a woamn sometimes isn't it lol.

 

[Disney Doll]

I am tall-ish 5'7" and probably a size 16/18 with a fairly large chest and a thick waist. I have pretty good luck at Dress Barn.

My pet peeve is the 3/4 sleeve. My ****s/upper waist area is the biggest part of me. Why would I want sleeves that STOP there and draw all that attention to that spot?????????

I can't wait until regular long or short sleeves come back.

 

[tw1nsmom]

I hate the way I look in most shorts. Instead, I usually wear skirts and t-shirts. I find that an A-line or slightly gathered skirt that falls at the knee hides a lot of stuff (and I have plenty of stuff). I then where a simple V-neck or other low neck t-shirt. If you wear it with flip-flops or sandals it dresses the look down and is really comfortable too. An added advantage for you is that skirts are generally pretty easy to hem.

Along those same lines, I would think dresses with empire waists would look good on you. Maybe even a sundress with a shrug.

I'm actually on the sort of tall side (5'8"), however my legs are fairly short. If I do wear capri's, I use bermuda shorts instead. They fall at the same place that crops fall on other people.

 

[jen0610]

For casual dress - t's, shorts, capri's - between Target, Fashion Bug, JCP, and Torrid, I pretty much have everything covered.

If you take Target out of that list and add in The Avenue, I can pretty much cover my dressier options.

My issue right now is, a new swimsuit. The 3 I have are all 6 years or older. I WANT and NEED a new suit. If I like the top, it's bottom is a skirt. If the bottom is what I like, the top doesn't hold the girls where they need to be or cover the girls like they should be. And the mix and match pieces, if I like it, so did everybody else in my size, because there are none to be found.

 

[ead79]

My issue right now is, a new swimsuit. The 3 I have are all 6 years or older. I WANT and NEED a new suit. If I like the top, it's bottom is a skirt. If the bottom is what I like, the top doesn't hold the girls where they need to be or cover the girls like they should be. And the mix and match pieces, if I like it, so did everybody else in my size, because there are none to be found.

Have you tried Lands End? They sell the mix and match pieces, and you can order them online. That's where I got my tankini last year.

 

[cruisnfamily]

Have you tried Lands End? They sell the mix and match pieces, and you can order them online. That's where I got my tankini last year.

Lands end has a sale ending TODAY 6/15 on their bathing suits. Also, I googled "lands end free shipping" and found a code with a pin that saved me $13.95 in shipping. I've never tried their suits before but I got 2 tankinis to give it a shot...I really hope they fit! If not, hopefully they take returns at Sears!

 

[Christine]

I just got my Lands End tankini in the mail today. It's going right back to the store.

Fabric is nice, the bottoms are nice but YUCK, I hate the top.

It fits but, through the torso, instead of slimming me down and being fitted, the darn thing sort of flares out. It looks AWFUL. I have tried them on in the store and had this happen too so I think they must all be that way. I found this one in the catalog and it didn't look to have that "flare" to it but, sure enough, it did. Why do they cut their tankinis this way. I am by no means rail thin but there is no way I could fill out the below-the-bust portion of this tankini top. Grrrrr.....

 

[chell]

Congratulations on loosing the weight Tina!

I don't get the sleeveless or tiny sleeve shirts either. Ugh. No one needs to see this flab!

When we go to a store for shopping I tell my husband we need to find the short fat section. He tells me to hush. Well, that's what I am!

I've even had to taken petite pants to be hemmed before.

The only time I like to shop is when things are on clearance at a rediculiously low price.

 

[englishteacha]

Tina, I feel your pain! Have you checked Jessica London? I haven't ordered anything but their clothes look really cute. They had a tunic last year that I really wanted, but by the time I decided to order it, it was out of stock. I'm only 5'4", so I have trouble with length too. My hubby would love me to wear "short shorts" but even the short ones are long on me!

A trick I found for dressing my top half..I wear a tank top or camisole and a button up shirt over it, but don't button it. It provides a nice vertical stripe and is slimming. This works especially well right now since it's warm out, but I still need to look spiffy for work. (and I've gained a few pounds and some of my button up tops are a bit snug)

 

[over the hill]

Not sure if you want to shop online, or what your price line is like, but I have found some great things at the Liz Claiborne website. They have tee shirts of many styles, and capris in both WP and W regular. They also have pants and jeans in both sizes. The WP selection is limited, but I like the way that brand fits. In fact, most of my pants are Liz.

They also may have a few skirts and blouses. Check it out.

 

[C.Ann]

I'm sure that you'll be able to find some very nice things - you may just have to look a little harder to find them.. You always looks so attractive in the photos you post - I just know that the "right" clothes are out there waiting for you..

 

[Macca1111]

The bermuda shorts sort of looked like capris and the teeny tiny shorts just made me look like a fat hooker.

I don't know if you were looking for an appreciation of your humor, but I busted a gut from your description.

I feel for you. I admit now I shop at stores where they do tailoring in-store and easy length changes are done for free. Places like Nordstrom and Buckle for me have been super helpful.

You know, this is their advice on practically every episode of WNTW, and at first I thought that was totally annoying - shouldn't clothing designers just make clothes that fit? But they don't, so something has to be done...

I will vent with you and just say....what is it with this Bermuda shorts trend? Is there anyone in real life who does NOT look shorter and fatter in those things? And oh yea, let's make them in the boldest possible prints, plaids and stripes just to highlight the 6 inches they add to your hips and butt. I'm no supermodel by any means, but I look SO much better in the shorter shorts than in the long ones.

So true!

I know exactly what you mean. I went into Avenue on Saturday and everything was plaid Bermuda shorts. Really? My butt has its own area code - why on earth would I even walk by a rack of plaid Bermuda shorts??

I go to buy a shirt that fits my big, broad shoulders and then there's a cavern where they think my chest should be! The material just hangs down like a big empty shopping bag!

Have you seen the add for The Engagement? There's one where Sandra Bullock is trying on Betty White's old wedding dress and she says "It's like an Easter egg hunt! Oh, there they are!" Your description made me think of that.

No great advice from me, besides the tailoring everyone has mentioned. Just a and a for everyone's funny comments!

 

[englishteacha]

Oh, someone else mentioned skorts. I LOVE my skorts. I wear them all spring. Walmart actually has some cute ones this year. I've had decent luck with bottoms at Walmart, actually, now that I think about it. I wash all my favorite clothes in cold, gentle cycle, and hang to dry, so they stay looking good a long time...even my $5 clearance stuff!