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

[redlight]

I'd like to lose some fat off my "girls", but it seems to be coming off my back, making my rib cage smaller and my girls look even larger. My belly is almost gone, which is good and bad. Bad because it makes jeans and pants shopping harder.

 

[Coloradomom]

Another vote for Talbots and their women's petites. I too do the women's regular in most tops and women's petites in bottoms. Their fit is perfect and while they are pricey they have good sales,and if you get their card you get points. They also do a lot of double point months and special deals.
I've bought nothing but Talbots since they came out with the woman petite line about 7 or 8 years ago, and most of what I have has lasted that long. Their stuff is classic too.
Another benefit is that I think I actually SAVE money because I am not even tempted to look at clothes anywhere else, so no more impulse purchases. The sore with woman's petites is not at our closest mall, so I have to go to the mall about 10 miles away. They are having their big summer sale right now too!

 

[honugirl]

Personally, I like Torrid. You can shop in the store (if there's one near you) or online. It's a bit edgier than some of the other places, but they have really cute t-shirts, some really nice dresses and I love their jeans. I'm a hard to fit person. I'm range from 18-20 on the top and 12 on the bottom. Nothing ever looks good on me, but I got several pairs of shorts from there the other day, plus 2 pairs of really cute jeans, a zebra print skirt, 4 girlie t-shirts (which I can never fit into anywhere else) and a nice black shirt.

The other nice thing about them is they tend to hire people more my size so I don't feel so out of place shopping there.

 

[Va-bear]

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

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. Grrrrr.....

I just had to return one for the same reason - dang it! The ones from the last few seasons were not like this - I them. Plus, they seem to be weeding out their long torso options for swimsuit seperates - I am super stressed about this a sLans End has been the only decent place for talls suits for ages - ack!

 

[dicar123]

Oh I HATE buying clothes. Hate. It. I'm short and fat with a big chest. If something fits across the bust, it doesn't fit in the shoulders, the sleeves are wrong and the bottom hits me right across the widest part of my butt. How on earth do you tailor that?

Thanks for the Talbot's tip. I've got one at my mall but have never been in it.

 

[Sleepy]

I know what you mean. I am only 5 feet and picked up alot of weight over the years, so my easy to dress size 2 body is now a size 12. I usually try not to go clothes shopping, because my body is shaped so strangely. What is up with shorts this year? I picked up a pair and thought tube tops were in again. I don't mess with capris because they are also high waters on me. I always have to cut off alot of material from full length pants even when they come from the petite departments (5 feet tall). I hate being short.

CONGRATS ON THE WEIGHT LOSS!!!!

 

[OctMtnWoods]

Might be time to learn to do alterations or find a friend who can do them. Luckily, I have my mom for such a task. Not sure who I'll turn to when she's gone.

 

[dizluvah]

I am so glad I am not the only one who has to wear two different sizes. I carry all my weight in the middle/belly (think a barrel with chicken legs). So if pants fit my waist I have clown pants, I could wrap material around my leg twice. And I gained quite a bit of weight last year...like 40 lbs - so I am slowly working on taking some of it back off. My tops need to be 3 or 4 sizes bigger than my bottoms. Not a pretty picture....let me tell you.

I have enjoyed the humor and the suggestions, but mostly the comraderie in knowing many of us have our wardrobe challenges.

On an unrelated note: do any of you have this happen - skinny relatives always give me 2X tops - like as if 2x is as high as sizes go - I can't fit into that - come on people!!! I don't mean to seem ungrateful...I do appreciate the thought but perhaps pick up a candle for me - and steer clear of clothes, ya know.

 

[BCV513]

I am so glad I am not the only one who has to wear two different sizes. I carry all my weight in the middle/belly (think a barrel with chicken legs). So if pants fit my waist I have clown pants, I could wrap material around my leg twice. And I gained quite a bit of weight last year...like 40 lbs - so I am slowly working on taking some of it back off. My tops need to be 3 or 4 sizes bigger than my bottoms. Not a pretty picture....let me tell you.

I have enjoyed the humor and the suggestions, but mostly the comraderie in knowing many of us have our wardrobe challenges.

On an unrelated note: do any of you have this happen - skinny relatives always give me 2X tops - like as if 2x is as high as sizes go - I can't fit into that - come on people!!! I don't mean to seem ungrateful...I do appreciate the thought but perhaps pick up a candle for me - and steer clear of clothes, ya know.

Oh yeah! I have a really skinny aunt. Like, she's under five feet tall and just tiny when the rest of the family is close to six feet tall and big. I don't know where she came from. But, she always gives me a shirt in a size Large. I just laugh, because to her, that really IS big.

 

[EthansMom]

I just went shopping yesterday... perfectly willing to spend money on clothes that fit well. Unfortunately, all I found were shirts that were sleeveless or had cap sleeves and shorts that would make me look like I was a hooker.

I wish that shirts came with a 1/2 sleeve length. I also wish that women's pants were available sized in a waist/hip/inseam manner (similar to men's pants). Oh, and while I'm wishing, I'd like some nice dresses with sleeves.

And what is up with the horrid colors out right now? Brigh neon colors look good on *very* few people (men included).

 

[cheerful chickadee]

yeah shopping depresses me these days. I'm 5'2 and I carry most of my weight in my belly area, my legs are average sized as is my top other than the "girls", they're on the big side. If bottoms fit my waist then I have MC Hammer pants or "flappy" shorts, all this extra material just hanging there. Most reg. capri pants are like "high water" pants on me, bermuda shorts are like capri's on me because of my height. I hate sleeveless or cap sleeves and never wear them unless it's ridiculously hot which it hardly ever gets here in NY. My main problem is that the plus size clothes are so ugly, I'm only 29 I don't want to wear Grandma clothes just because I'm chubby.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Oh gosh!! I relate all too well to so much written here! I am short and not even particularly big (size 12ish). But I will be probably end up a nudist at some point since I can't find clothes that fit anymore. When my current wardrobe wears out and falls to pieces, I don't know what I will do.

Usually I can't get shirts to fit over the shoulders, unless I go to a XL, then it sags over everything and hangs to my knees. Trying to buy pants is hopeless - pants that fit in the front and aren't tight will leave a huge gap in the back (to the point where I feel indecent and fear they will fall down) and the pant legs are so big that they flap around with so much extra material. The hammertime balloon pants is not the look I want.

The most frustrating thing is that I need an interview suit so I can look for a better job. At the rate I am going, it will take me years to find one! To get a suit jacket to fit over the shoulders, I will have to find something like a 18W petite! And of course I still have to get it the sleeves hemmed.

Shorts? Forget about it! Once again, they leave a huge gap in the back.

Thanks for this thread - makes me feel better! Nice to know many of us have an odd shape! I actually stress myself into severe headaches when clothes shopping, it's so frustrating!!! Arggggg!

 

[agnes!]

Oh man...just tried to go shopping today and I FEEL everyone's pain. Went to Potomac Mills Mall, found some nice slightly-stretchy polos & ONE pair of shorts at Tommy Hilfiger. OH and a nice purse . Nice, bright store, great sales-staff.

For any women who are in the Mid-Atlantic area, I've found a wonderful store in Annapolis that carries swimsuits & undergarments called "a la mode". They also have a website and you can order online. Phenomenal customer-service and they have lots of different sizes - not just for the large-busted, only place around that carries swimsuits with underwire cups & larger than a D.

Tina - There's a Talbots Outlet in Springfield, really near the I95/395 "Mixing Bowl", west of the Mall. They usually have an INCREDIBLE selection, great customer service. I personally will NEVER go back to the Talbots in Old Town because of how they treated me the last time I was there, the Outlet salespeople were wonderful though.

Also, Chico's in Old Town is really nice, great sales-staff, and they have pretty things, look for their sales, get on their e-mail list. i can usually find something in there, especially in their Travelers line.

It's kind of funny...I get better customer service in the outlets. The department stores are supposed to be so nice, but fugeddaboutit. I might go to the Nordstrom's in Tyson's, but not the Pentagon City Nordstrom's...ugh.

agnes!

 

[mjantz]

Someone else mentioned Torrid & I agree they're great. I get lots of pieces from them. I find the 'looks' they put together to be a bit hard but as individual pieces they're great.

I feel your pain. I've lost about 60lbs & buying new stuff 'on the way down' is hard. Dressing this new body is not easy.

 

[TomLovesBecky]

I'm "plump" according to my sweetie, lol, probably not what you would consider "fat" but definitely not a stick figure. I am SO confused about clothing...I have ****ies, I am maybe a size 12 overall, but a M (10-12) in pants, but the tops i sometimes have to buy up to size SIXTEEN!!!! and take them in a ton to fit in the waist. I have a big rib cage and big ****s and it really makes me top heavy and I have often been asked if I had implants. Buying dresses? Nearly impossible unless the fabric is stretchy, and most high-end stuff isn't designed that way. Pants are easier than tops but still not perfect...so when I find something that fits I buy multiples! Then it ends up looking like a uniform...sigh...I guess wearing scrubs half the time is a good fashion strategy!!!