Who do they design clothing for?

[even sven]

99% of my clothes are from thrift stores. Almost everything I own is getting a little grundgy, and it is getting time for me to replace these clothes with stuff that is a little nicer.

I figured that if I can walk in to thrift stores with a twenty and come out with a bunch of cool stuff, I can go to the mall with a hundred bucks and have no problem finding ways to spend it.

Ha!

What I need most is jeans. I am down to only one pair of really wearable jeans and I am sick of wearing them day in and day out. So I go looking for jeans. Big problem.

I cannot wear flared jeans. No one believes me when I say that, until they see me try on a pair. Something about my body- wide hips, long torso and skinny legs- looks absolutly laughable in flares. Added to that, even though I am of somewhat average height (5'6), all jeans are too long for me. I have never found a pair of jeans that I didn't have to cuff or hem. I don't know who they make these jeans for- amazons? Are all size nine women six foot three? I just don't understand! So when I try on jeans I end up I looking like a giant mass of hips and thighs, tapering quickly down into tiny chicken legs and ending in puddles on the floor. It is the single worst style possible for me.

And every freaking pair of jeans in the entire freaking mall is flared! I CANNOT WEAR ANY JEANS THAT THEY SELL! What the heck pocesses someone to make every single item pair of denin pants in the exact same unwearable style? What is so hard about having just one pair of straight legged pants in the mall? Am I the only one out there that is frusterated because I simply can't buy jeans?!?!?!

Despirited, I went to buy shirts. That is simple. I tend to like simple brightly colored tank tops. Nothing could be more simple. With stores getting in clothes for spring, I thought I would have no problem. I was really really wrong.

Every tank top I found had some completely bizarre touch to it that made it unwearable. Who wears tank tops with ruffles on the neck? Who wears tank tops that are cut so high they cut of circulation to the armpit? WHO WEARS TANK TOPS WITH RHINESTONE STUDDED FAKE BRA STRAPS?!?!?!!?

[matt_mcl]

Picture this.

I get a ride to Toronto. I realize halfway there that I don't have any clean socks for the weekend. So I ask the driver to let me off at Eaton Place. Eaton Place, enormous shopping mall, good place to get sox, right? Wrong. Not a single store had anything remotely related to sox that didn't have a designer label on it. I think I eventually found some sox at the Bay.

[Manda JO]

As far as jeans go, the solution is to shop in the men's department. There is much more specializatoin in sizes, and there are still jeans avalible that aren't particularly stylish.

For plain, solid color tank tops would look for catalogs/on line shopping. Places like that tend to have "basics" and you can find a cut you like nad order it in five different colors.

[even sven]

I pressed post when I wasn't quite done yet.

I didn't get around to the apparent trend of lining the armpits of tank tops with glitter. Or of putting wierd non-functional snaps on them. Or pretending that they are cut of tee shirts from the seventies (If I want cut off tee shirts I'll make my own, ya?) Or the habit of charging twenty freaking bucks for a single cotton tank top most likely made by third world slave labor and will fall apart the first time through the wash. I really need to know who they design this "clothing for. Rich blind people with a grudge against the seeing?

I was ready to buy anything in the mall that caught my eye. If I didn't have cash for it I was going to put it on credit. I was so ready to get all kinds of new clothes. All I ended up with was a glittery belt and a studded bracelet with an admittedly nifty magnetic clasp.

Maybe I could give up on clothes designed for young people and shop in the regular women's department? Not unless I want jeans cut to my armpits and resplended in pleats and elastic waists. Or tank tops that fit like tents. Or I cound give up entirely and spend the rest of my life in denin jumpers over plaid turtlenecks with everything covered in adorable applique apples. Ugh! I am too young to dress like an elementary school teacher. It seems that the juniors stores are the only places I am going to find anything that even vaguely resembles something I'd want to put on my body.

I must ask, who do they make these clothes for? I am 21 years old, 5'6, 140 pounds and have a curvy but still pretty small build. And I am damn sexy. And yet all the clothes they sell make me look terrible. They make me look lumpy and short and badly proportioned. I like my body, but finding mall clothing for it was absolutly depressing. I have trouble believing that I am that I have that poor of a figure. Why do they design clothes so that it looks like I do? What happened to clothing that makes people look sexy and pretty and good? Regular non-supermodel people shop in malls, ya? They sometimes find clothes that fit them, ya? How come I can't? Who are all these racks and racks of clothes made for?

Back to the thrift stores for me. At least there I can usually find clothes that don't suck- and it is cheaper.

[red_dragon60]

See, it all comes down to how women's sizes are different from men's. We have two numbers: waist and length. With these two magical numbers we can find a pair of pants that fit our dimensions without having to calcuate what size we are.

[yosemite]

As a 21 year old, I see no reason why you can't browse around the "women's" clothing areas. You are now an adult. True, you are not a Mature Adult, but an adult. And since your taste in clothing does not include useless glitter or flared pants, go to places that do not cater to such styles.

Check out the women's section. They will have classic Lee Jeans, or Levis. Straight leg, etc. You should find something that will fit you. Maybe the styles will be a bit plain, but at least you won't look like crap! And with the proper accessories, you will look faaabulous darling, even in those boring Women's styles! :D

Reading through your OP, I kept on thinking to myself, "I am so glad I know how to sew." Maybe you ought to consider sewing your clothes! You will have total control over what you wear if you sew your own clothes.

[Bad News Baboon]

I am your size and have the same problem with jeans.

I will not wear flared pants out of principle (that I think they are hideously ugly and an affront to my 80's upbringing!)

and

I will not wear low cut jeans.

I will not wear men's clothes because my waist is smaller than a guy's and I don't like 'swimming' around in my pants.

and my legs are shorter than your average person, I guess.

so, I go to www.landsend.com

Voila! they will hem your jeans (or any pants) for free with purchase of said pants.

The quality is very good.

besides, not all women's departments are for 'old' fogeys. Some stores have really cool stuff.

also,
Get thee to Target for cool 6 dollar T-shirts and such.

BNB, a self-proclaimed Target junkie.

[dreamer]

I have the same problem finding jeans at the mall too. I'm 5'10 and 99% of the jeans I try on are not long enough. And your so right about ALL of them being flared or low rise. It is frustrating but I've found some cool stuff at some department stores, Mervyns, Target etc. It just takes some patience and time. :)

[threemae]

Try out anything in the Gap corporation's line for some okay clothes at okay prices. All of these stores have some sort of "classics" lines, some slightly trendier stuff, and some stuff that you could only wear maybe once or twice a season and then would have to throw out (i.e. Multi-colored striped shirts from the Banana)

Old Navy: A little bit of hipness, but generally hard to pull off. The problem with the "traditional" stuff here is that most of it reflects the discount pricing strategy employed by the Old Navy. Some of the hipper stuff still just looks like cheap knock-offs or wannabees of higher end Gap stuff or of Abercrombie, J. Crew, American Eagle, or some of the other "collegiate-wannabee" stores. (God I hate Abercrombie!!! ):mad:

Gap: Probably your best bet. They traditional a lot of "updated" or "modern" classic styles. The prices are pretty reasonable, and stuff goes on sale often enough. The Gap still features a lot of things that can only be worn once, and is pretty hard to pull off.

Banana Republic: My personal favorite. Again, they feature a lot of traditionals in a "modern" cut. The price on virtually anything at full price is usually exorbinant, but this store has a constant supply of sale items. If you aren't a fashion afficando you should probably avoid anything featured on the manacins in the front of the store. Most of the stuff that ends up on sale for $9.99 should also probably be avoided. It never was even trendy, it was just out there.

For example:
Denim Shirt (http://www.bananarepublic.com/deptmain.asp?loc=man&wdid=100sa&page=1&ft=&jumpBackURL=subdepartment.asp&ftFlag=SubDepartment.asp)

But a lot of the more traditional stuff still goes on sale as the colors change. Like my favorite shirt, the stretch poplin here (http://www.bananarepublic.com/deptmain.asp?loc=man&wdid=100sa&page=1&ft=&jumpBackURL=subdepartment.asp&ftFlag=SubDepartment.asp) usually ends up on sale for around $20-$30. I really like things like this because they are traditional without being stodgy (no front pocket, lean cut, no button-downs, a collar that always manages to stick up), and if you have a lot of patience with this store and build up a wardrobe, it ends up looking pretty good, in my opinion.

Anyway, that's my opinon (a guy).

[NightRabbit]

I was under the impression that they design clothing for Benjamin... all the Benjamins, in fact... :D

[Sunspace]

matt_mcl said:
Picture this.

I get a ride to Toronto. I realize halfway there that I don't have any clean socks for the weekend. So I ask the driver to let me off at Eaton Place. Eaton Place, enormous shopping mall, good place to get sox, right? Wrong. Not a single store had anything remotely related to sox that didn't have a designer label on it. I think I eventually found some sox at the Bay.A couple of months ago I ransacked that mall looking for an emergency pair of mitts. Where'd I eventually find them? Across the street in The Bay.

I may look in Eaton's but somehow I always end up actually buying things at The Bay. This could explain a lot about the business success of Eaton's in the past few years.

[Kyla]

I am so with all of y'all. I have a very normal body-type. I'm 5'5" and weigh 135 lbs. Why the fuck can't I find a pair of black pants (not jeans) that I like, dammit? They were all fine around the waist, but too loose around the torso, emphasizing my tummy in a not-good way. The one pair I found that didn't do this rode up halfway to my breasts. Another unflattering look. Grrr. Maybe if I were more patient I could find something, but I shouldn't need to be patient to find nice black pants in a size 8.

[Kayeby]

At the moment in my area, the jeans that are in fashion (low rise, tight, flare) just happen to be the ones that look best on me, so I'm snapping them up while I can.

[Geek Mecha]

Who do they design clothing for? Why, the mannequins, of course!

I like Old Navy stuff. Their pants fit me better than any pants I've tried, ever. Catch a sale, and you can get nice dress slacks for $20. I've gotten basic, plain v-neck and crew-neck tees for $6-$15 each. The mens' stuff is worth checking out as well, too-- I like the colors and styles there. Women get all the frilly, revealing stuff, in horrible colors.

BTW, I second the Land's End suggestion. They'll hem your pants (not all of them, but a lot of them) for free, which solves that annoying "the pants are perfect except for the fact they're long enough to cover my toes" problem. I do believe they carry normal tank tops as well.

[yosemite]

I'll third the suggestion for Land's End. Also, try Sierra Traders - they sometimes have cheap prices on clearance items. I got some great socks there recently, and in the past, I've gotten all sorts of goodies.

[Green Bean]

Originally posted by AudreyK

BTW, I second the Land's End suggestion. They'll hem your pants (not all of them, but a lot of them) for free,

I called and asked about this, and they told me that the "rule of thumb" was that they don't hem knit pants for free, but they will hem (and cuff if you want) any woven fabric pants for free. It's a wunnerful thing!

[Earthworm Jim]

Originally posted by even sven
I must ask, who do they make these clothes for? I am 21 years old, 5'6, 140 pounds and have a curvy but still pretty small build. And I am damn sexy. And yet all the clothes they sell make me look terrible. They make me look lumpy and short and badly proportioned. I like my body, but finding mall clothing for it was absolutly depressing.
And this, my dear sven, is why you should simply go naked.

:D

[Geek Mecha]

Originally posted by Green Bean
I called and asked about this, and they told me that the "rule of thumb" was that they don't hem knit pants for free, but they will hem (and cuff if you want) any woven fabric pants for free. It's a wunnerful thing!
The hemming thing is great if you already know the length you want. Otherwise, it may be a bit of trial and error before you get the length you want. I have a pair of dark olive chinos that I don't often feel like wearing because (IMO) the hem I requested is too high. I feel like my ankles are overexposed.

My advice is to get some other person to measure your inseam for you. (Make it the SO and turn it into some kinky foreplay or something.) The strategy of putting on a pair of too-long pants, marking the length you want it to be, and measuring the inseam to that mark just doesn't work reliably enough.

Or I could just be a klutz. I'm not sure yet. :)

[Kimstu]

sven: And yet all the clothes they sell make me look terrible. They make me look lumpy and short and badly proportioned. I like my body, but finding mall clothing for it was absolutly depressing. I have trouble believing that I am that I have that poor of a figure. Why do they design clothes so that it looks like I do?

Because people who are dissatisfied with their clothes because they're somewhat unbecoming, a little too far out, or just plain unfashionable (and even the fortunate ones like Kayeby who look best in the currently popular style will be less likely to continue wearing them when the fashion changes again) tend to buy more new clothes. If you can persuade consumers that the important thing about clothes is fashion---not whether they actually look good on you, not whether you find them comfortable and appropriate, but simply whether or not they're "in"---then every time you change the fashion you can get them to buy all new clothes. Ka-ching!

What happened to clothing that makes people look sexy and pretty and good?

The people who bought it liked it and kept wearing it and weren't in a hurry to replace it; they would even (gasp!) mend it if it got damaged rather than buy new stuff they didn't like as well. Ka-ching not. Therefore, the ruinous policy of selling such clothing has to be replaced by the more lucrative eternal cycle of planned obsolescence.

Regular non-supermodel people shop in malls, ya? They sometimes find clothes that fit them, ya? How come I can't? Who are all these racks and racks of clothes made for?

Well, take a good look next time you ride the bus or walk through the mall: how many people do you see wearing clothes that really make them look good? Aren't most people just dressed in some version of current or recent fashion that looks more or less "normal" but doesn't actually enhance or flatter them in any way? And aren't all these people continuing to buy more clothes? There you go.

You weren't imagining that the fashion industry's goal is actually to make customers happy, were you? Unhappy ones spend more, particularly since not so many of them have your strength of mind to realize that you're simply not going to find what you want and walk out without buying something you don't want.

[romansperson]

Try Delia's:

http://www.delias.com

They have lots of cute tops. Don't know if you will like any of the jeans, but they do have some regular bootcut ones.

[even sven]

Wow romansperson, I never thought to go to Delia's for tank tops. I've always like Delia's clothes, but they've always been way out of my price range. The tanks tops, though, are reasonably priced and are exactly what I've been looking for. I'm so excited!

The problem with the other suggestions is that they are so...tasteful. I'd rather eat glass than wear khaki. I need clothes that go with pink hair and homemade glittery hair clips and hand painted shoes with rainbow shoelaces. I'm not hip to all the trends but I'm not looking exactly looking for stuff thats "classic" either....

All of my basics (jeans and tank tops) are so getting disgusting. The armpits are permanently kind of crusty, unsavory stains are appearing and seams are pulling apart. There is no saving them. I got all this stuff in like ninth grade when my great grandma would take me out shopping and I'd pick out the stuff that was least offensive to my sensibilties. It just doesn't look good any more, and I am sick of looking like a slob every single day.

I guess I just don't "get" the world of fashion. Why do people spend so much money to look bad? Why do they make clothes fit no one? Why doesn't anyone rebel? Wouldn't a store that offered clothes that people liked do...well? The mall is a different world, man, a different world.

[auntie em]

Originally posted by even sven
Who wears tank tops with ruffles on the neck? Who wears tank tops that are cut so high they cut of circulation to the armpit? WHO WEARS TANK TOPS WITH RHINESTONE STUDDED FAKE BRA STRAPS?!?!?!!?

*feebly raising hand* Um... I do, except for the armpit one... *slinking away*

[John Corrado]

Someone named "auntie em" wears ruffled tank tops?

This sure as hell ain't Kansas anymore, Toto.

[Tamex]

What you probably want, even sven, is the "misses" department--not the "juniors" department with the rhinestone tank tops or the "women's" department with the elastic waists. It doesn't mean you have to wear khaki, but you will be likely to find "normal" jeans, t-shirts, and tank tops.

I'm afraid, though, that you will have a hard time finding a store that does not either cater to current fashion or go after the people who are left behind by current fashion with a more "classic" style. If you want non-current "fashion", thrift stores probably are the way to go.

I'd say that you might have better luck at mid-priced department stores like Kohl's and JCPenney--stores that cater to people who aren't able to throw out their wardrobes after one season. It still might take some time to build up a wardrobe, though.

Current fashion is bad, though. What's up with all the ruffly-looking stuff? The little kids' stuff looks all grown up, and the grown-ups' stuff looks like it's for little kids!

[auntie em]

Originally posted by John Corrado
Someone named "auntie em" wears ruffled tank tops?


Well, only on occasion... today I'm wearing one with a day-glo tiger on it, along with 32-year-old knee-high leather boots with a wedge heel and shearling cuffs (God Bless Ebay), a denim skirt, and that ten dollar sweater.

I've got a kick-ass pair of red glittery pumps, though, if I could get that little skank of a niece to give them back to me....

[alice_in_wonderland]

Me. They design clothes for me. I can walk into any store, and a size 5/6 will fit me perfectly - waist, hips, length, etc.

At X-mas, I went looking for a pair of pants, and I went to the GAP. I tried on every pair of pants in the FREAKING STORE and they all made me look like a pregnant walrus. Look people, I have less than 18% body fat. I have a BMI of 19. I am NOT FAT, and yet, I looked like a hog in every pair!

The GAP is [b]BAD!!!{/b]

Ahem. I am done now.

FYI - the GAP pants fit me perfectly, they just looked like total crapola.

Sven, I feel your pain. Personally, I work in a consignment store on weekends - paying retail makes me cringe.

[alice_in_wonderland]

Me. They design clothes for me. I can walk into any store, and a size 5/6 will fit me perfectly - waist, hips, length, etc.

At X-mas, I went looking for a pair of pants, and I went to the GAP. I tried on every pair of pants in the FREAKING STORE and they all made me look like a pregnant walrus. Look people, I have less than 18% body fat. I have a BMI of 19. I am NOT FAT, and yet, I looked like a hog in every pair!

The GAP is [b]BAD!!!{/b]

Ahem. I am done now.

FYI - the GAP pants fit me perfectly, they just looked like total crapola.

Sven, I feel your pain. Personally, I work in a consignment store on weekends - paying retail makes me cringe.

[Lissla Lissar]

I think they make most women's clothes for 14-year-old boys. Also, I have a theory about the way they put the size stickers on clothing, at least in teenage stores: they blindfold someone, send him in to a warehouse, and he randomly attaches size tags.
Also, um, in the above post about Eaton Place... did you perhaps mean the Eaton Centre?...I'm surprised you couldn't find socks. Most of the clothing stores there sell socks, along with their overpriced, silly looking "high fashion" clothes.
Flares look silly on me, too, and I'm 5"5 and 128 lbs. I think this is why I'm gradually switching to skirts, vintage, and making my own clothes.

[Little Bird]

I am a very tiny girl (see member name). Most places I go my legs are too damn short to fit into the pants. I always have to buy the "short" variaty of the pants, and even then they may be too long, even if I'm trying a size five! My solution? Old Navy little girls section. They have a bunch of stretchy jeans and pants that fit over my hips, but also fit my legs. :) Size twelve. It's too bad I feel like such a sleeze pawing through all the racks of little girl clothing.....

[Simetra]

Originally posted by red_dragon60
See, it all comes down to how women's sizes are different from men's. We have two numbers: waist and length. With these two magical numbers we can find a pair of pants that fit our dimensions without having to calcuate what size we are.

Maybe "you" can.

Anyone here ever try to find 30-38 slacks? They don't exist. And unfortunately it's Big "AND" Tall, not Big "OR" Tall.

[The Mermaid]

Originally posted by even sven
WHO WEARS TANK TOPS WITH RHINESTONE STUDDED FAKE BRA STRAPS?!?!?!!?

I agree that is beyond gauche. I always wear my bra with the real rhinestone studded straps when the outfit demands it. ;)

I feel bad for you normal sized women who are just trying to shop for clothing that simply makes you feel and look good. Honestly I do, but you should thank your lucky stars that you are not overweight or even worse over 40.

I wear plus sizes. There I said it! happy now? I don't know who decided that when a girl reaches a certain size she should only wear clothing suitable for either carney performers or drag queens.

I like to wear jeans, t shirts, sweaters, shorts, tank tops and yes even a bathing suit at times. You can find all these things in a size 16; woe be to the women who exceeds this size limit. For her the choices are shapeless knit tops with raglan style sleeves in garish prints with bejeweled and studded accents. Bathing suits must now be full coverage apparel with boy style legs covered by a full skirt and more support than a playtex 18 hour bra. All pants and tops are now sold as full coordinated outfits. (all that's missing is the garanamal tag)

I am over 40 but I do not want to wear a t shirt that proclaims "ask me about my grandchildren" or "I don't suffer from senility, I'm enjoying every minute of it"

I don't want a shirt that ends 3 inches below my ribs with "princess" embroidered on it but I don't want a blouse with bows ties, appliques or necklines up to my chin.

I don't want hig hugging flared leg jeans but I don't want shapeless pants with the elastic waistband pulled up under my armpits either.

I want to be able to buy and wear a sexy red lace bra with matching panties, a pair of leather pants and a blouse that shows a little cleavage. I want a pair of jeans that fit god dammit. Is that too much to ask.

I know there are more decent looking plus sized clothes out now than ever before but still that doesn't explain why all those department stores carry those other things.