Why dont stores realize there are petite fat woman out here?

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

Well, there hasn't been much improvement in a year because that's exactly what I found when I went shopping recently for a dress. Most of the dresses were halter tops, also deep v-necks (lots of cleavage), the fabrics were crap, etc.

Yeah, that's what I found at Macys and Penneys. Some were just downright ugly, some with extreme necklines in either direction, made for ultra skinny people, or ones with mini skirts.

There is a large dress warehouse by me. They have a great selection of all kinds of dresses. You can go the plunging neckline route if you want or you can go more conservative, no mu-mu's. It takes hours to wade through all the dresses though. Then you get sidetracked by some of the gorgeous ballgowns and you start asking DBF when he's going to take you places where you can wear one of them.

 

[RitaZ.]

Then you get sidetracked by some of the gorgeous ballgowns and you start asking DBF when he's going to take you places where you can wear one of them.

 

[Darcy03231]

Here is one thing I noticed...apparently D-cup women don't need underwires but DD-cups do.

This is one of my biggest peeves. God was very generous the day I was made and I need a swim suit with an underwire bra. I can never understand why the manufacturers think the size 3 suit needs an underwire bra and sizes 14 and up don't. I'm beginning to think that swimsuits with underwire bras in my size are extinct!

 

[Bbgrizzle]

I always thought the word petite did not necessarily mean "short", but rather "small". Maybe that's why many places that make clothes for petite sizes don't make them in the larger sizes.

Well, if that's the case, they need to invent a new category for those who are short and wear the bigger sizes!! I never really thought about it before because I'm the opposite of petite. I'm tall (5' 11") and wear a size 20. I have my own issues finding something to fit!


pe·tite /pəˈtit/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[puh-teet] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective
1. (of a woman) short and having a small, trim figure; diminutive.
–noun
2. a category of clothing sized for women or girls of less than average height and with average or diminutive figures.
3. a garment in such a size: The petites are on that rack.
4. a woman or girl who wears clothing of such a size.
[Origin: 1705–15; < F; fem. of petit]

 

[CheshireVal]

Hey, look at it this way. At least petite departments exist in pretty much every major store.

When's the last time you've ever walked into a Macys or Nordstrom or JCPenney and seen a "Tall" department for women?

Never, that's when!

Totally discriminatory. I'm 6'0", and it's not fair!

 

[Christine]

I always thought the word petite did not necessarily mean "short", but rather "small". Maybe that's why many places that make clothes for petite sizes don't make them in the larger sizes.

Well, if that's the case, they need to invent a new category for those who are short and wear the bigger sizes!! I never really thought about it before because I'm the opposite of petite. I'm tall (5' 11") and wear a size 20. I have my own issues finding something to fit!


pe·tite /pəˈtit/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[puh-teet] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective
1. (of a woman) short and having a small, trim figure; diminutive.
–noun
2. a category of clothing sized for women or girls of less than average height and with average or diminutive figures.
3. a garment in such a size: The petites are on that rack.
4. a woman or girl who wears clothing of such a size.
[Origin: 1705–15; < F; fem. of petit]

I always used to wonder this too. I always thought "petite" meant that you were tiny in all ways. Then I would go in the petite section and see a size 14 or 16 and think ??? But, I guess they are just trying to be tactful. No woman likes to be called "short" or "portly". There is a store in the D.C. area called Syms that sells discounted name brand clothing. They have LOTS of men's suits in all kinds of odd sizing. They have a section for men called "Portly"! Now, can you imagine that going over well in a woman's clothing store?

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

This is one of my biggest peeves. God was very generous the day I was made and I need a swim suit with an underwire bra. I can never understand why the manufacturers think the size 3 suit needs an underwire bra and sizes 14 and up don't. I'm beginning to think that swimsuits with underwire bras in my size are extinct!

I truly don't get it either. I have bought underwire bathing suits in 10's and up before, but they are hard to find. Lands End has this new create your own bathing suit. There are 3 or 4 different style tops and you get to chose which bra type you want. Then you chose from like 3 different style bottoms. I don't mind spending the money on their bathing suits because they are great. But these tops alone are $80 or more, nevermind the $40 for the bottoms.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

Have you tried Talbots?

 

[missypie]

I always think that if a clothing designer went to a working class mall on a Saturday afternoon, picked out the first 10 adult women he saw, and designed clothes that looked fantastic on them, he could make millions.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

I am 5'2, fluffy, and have a HUGE chest, which is sometimes more of a problem than the rest. I can never wear something formal right off the racks. Usually it doesn't cost too much to get a dress hemmed but a couple years ago I bought a dress for a holiday party that had several layers of different materials at the bottom. When I picked it up, I was because the alterations cost me more than the dress!!!!

 

[Fitswimmer]

I always think that if a clothing designer went to a working class mall on a Saturday afternoon, picked out the first 10 adult women he saw, and designed clothes that looked fantastic on them, he could make millions.

I agree! We're all out here bemoaning the fact that we can't find clothes that are flattering and priced well, you'd think someone would be looking at that demographic and wanting to exploit it.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Oh, don't get me started! I have yet to meet a woman who can buy rack and have it fit perfectly, every time. I think this is where us poor women get that stigmata for shopping. Hi, uhm, yes, we ALWAYS have to shop around to find something at least CLOSE to fitting.

I am 5'2", 200lbs, with a 38DDD bosom. Try fitting that figure!

I find that Lane Bryant has most tops that fit, but if they button down, I can't wear them. I also can't wear a surplice blouse without having the gap pinned or my girls will show. Who on earth wants to have to pin their blouse every morning?

Bras? Now that's funny. LB doesn't carry my size in the stores. Macy's does, but they are $30 each.

Pants. If they go over my rear end, they are too big in the waist.

I tend to wear capris all the time because I don't have to worry about length or hemming them.

Skirts. Although I wear a size 16-20, depending, I wear a size 10-12 skirt. I have an hourglass figure and my waist is the most slender part of me.

 

[Christine]

I also can't wear a surplice blouse without having the gap pinned or my girls will show. Who on earth wants to have to pin their blouse every morning?

I only wear a 36B and I have the same problem. I "gap" between the buttons.

 

[Fitswimmer]

Why can't our clothes be made like mens? They get their clothes by measurements! How novel! Instead of a number that can mean different things to different companies. A size 12 in Dockers fits me fine, but not in Cherokee. What's worse is when you buy 3 pair of pants, same brand, same size and they don't all fit the same way! GRRRR.

 

[LKHomemail]

nordstrom has a really good selection of women's petites. alterations are also free . they will send a fitter into dressing room and will alter whatever needs to be done to assure proper fit. they have been fast too when i've really needed them. like 24 hour turn around time for a suit, alaterations were needed to hemline , hips, and sleeves . the salespeople are wonderful and call you when things go on sale , have extra markdowns. they have held things for me and i've come in and paid for them the day they are on sale. they make notes of the styles you like and follow up when they get new styles in.

talbots also has womens petites. jc penney has womens petites. if you go to China, they will do custom clothing , you pick out the fabric, lining, style and they measure make it just for you for really cheap prices. 25.00 usd for a women's complete suit, skirt, jacket and pants . they measure you before they are made and you have a fitting after it is made to ensure it's perfect. consider a trip to hong kong disney and think of getting 10 suits while you are there.

 

[Mrs.Reese]

Tell me about it! I am 5'3" and with a 32C chest. My waist is 25 inches and my hips are 43 inches. Why do I know my measurements so well? Because everything has to be altered. The only thing that ever fits me is spandex or moomoos.

 

[Mkrop]

I only wear a 36B and I have the same problem. I "gap" between the buttons.

38C and I gap too, I dont even bother most of the time even trying on button down shirts although I did buy one at talbots but I put a cute lacy camisole uner it and left it open, so not really a button down!

 

[Mkrop]

Why can't our clothes be made like mens? They get their clothes by measurements! How novel! Instead of a number that can mean different things to different companies. A size 12 in Dockers fits me fine, but not in Cherokee. What's worse is when you buy 3 pair of pants, same brand, same size and they don't all fit the same way! GRRRR.

DH said this a long time ago when he was trying to find some clothes to buy me for Christmas. He came home and declared woman's clothes stink, the sizes are all goofy, the quality is just not there. Not this man is very picky about his suits and loves good quality, so I know he was trying to shop in good stores for me.

I should have went to a bigger mall (KOP mall is know by many, largest retail mall on East Coast, they have Nordtroms, Lord and Taylor etc) but I didnt feel like it, I just want to go close by and get in and out.

I do agree that the stores are missing a major demographic but I always think that when I see these models on the catwalk and stuff, thinking yeah I'll never wear that, who buys their stuff!

 

[Yzerbear19]

Add me to the list of people who dislikes clingy, sleeveless, v-neck tops and dresses. I don't like to show a lot of cleavage and will frequently wear a tank under certain V-neck shirts because I don't feel comfortable with the plunging neckline. I tend to go for skirts rather than dresses, because like others have said, they are all sleeveless and I don't feel comfortable with my upper arms.

I also hate shopping for jeans and dress pants also because at 5'8" the "average" length tend to be too short, but the "talls" too tall. Thank God my mom sews really well because I almost always have to take my pants to have hemmed to the length I like.

 

[1rockinmamato2]

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who has though this before! After years of dealing with sleeves that are entirely too long because I had to wear a larger size or pants that had to be hemmed because my waist was larger than average - I am frustrated.

I would just like to say to these clothing designers: If I was that tall, I wouldn't be this fluffy!