Howdy. I’m a short, fat chick. (Five feet four - okay, three and three quarters - 200 lbs.) I need an interview suit(s). Or professional looking seperates. Petite usually stops at 16. I need an 18, but 20 would be better. Women’s sizes are not proportioned correctly. They’re made for tall, fat chicks. When I try on Women’s suits, I feel like David Byrne it the Stop Making Sense video.
I need recommendations for where I can go to get suits/separates for short, fat chicks. Money, frankly, is no object. I can easily get to Chicago or Kansas City or Minneapolis (I’m in Omaha), so if you know of a specialty boutique, please let me know. I’m trying to avoid the Lane Bryants of the world. Too much poly-blend.
Help? I’m desperate to get a new job, but I worry I won’t be able to find anything that “works”. Can you help me?
If money is no object, then buy something that is close and take it to a good tailor. My sister is 5’4" and plus sized and that is the only way she was able to get a suit that fit.
Even at 5’6", size 24, I sometimes have to go with WP to get a proprotional fit. Although I like some LB, for suits and separates, I usually hit Macy’s, Dillard’s (if you’re in the south) or sometimes Catherine’s.
I also second SpoilerVirgin in the alteration suggestion.
What’s weird about Macy’s is that we get tv ads for them here, but we don’t actually HAVE them here.
I’ll try again with Women’s Petite, but I find that the porportions are off. The shoulder pads are too big, the lapels are too wide, the jackets are too long. I’m heavy, but I still have small shoulders, small feet and hands… I’m concerned that’s there’s only so much a tailor can do. I can pretty much squeeze into a Petite 16, so that’s why I feel I’m sooooo close! If only I could find a Petite 20! But it doesn’t seem anyone makes them, and if they do, no one carries them. I love Tahari (??) suits and they seem to go up to a Petite 18 at Dillards, but I can’t find a Petite 20 even online.
Looks like I need to work on my resume AND do Oprah’s 21-day cleansing diet.
While I loathe most of their clothes, I have gotten some cute petite women’s suits at Catherine’s. Foleys used to be excellent, but Macys, meh, not so much.
I used to live in Texas, and I remember Foley’s. They used to have this ad about their “Shop Early!” sales with a woman waiting at the door saying “Open. Open. Open.”
That’s what I say to my computer when it’s taking three years to open an attachment. I even do the little open-close hand gesture…
I know. Fabulous Fun Fact about niblet. You can now return to your normally scheduled lives.
I haven’t shopped there in a while, but the last time I bought a suit at Von Maur, they offered free tailoring. I only needed the skirt shortened, but it’s a start. It’s got to be worth an inquiry at least to find out the extent of tailoring they’ll do for you. Short wide women need a skirt that stops just at or below the knee. Too long and you just look shorter and wider. Above the knee, and, well, usually chubby thighs aren’t good in a skirt (in my experience with my own). I’ve always found great-fitting stuff there, and the sales staff is terrific.
Now that I really think about it, I haven’t worked in the corporate business world since 2000. My info may be really outdated, but I had to chime in because my experience at Von Maur was so great. If they haven’t changed too much I think you might really like it there.
I have 3 interview suits (okay, 2…I have a 3rd that I haven’t worn since someone commented that the suit had a nazi soldier look to it) and they all came from Lane Bryant. Their new sizing scale, while somewhat confusing at first, really helps to make sure that your pants fit you perfectly! Other than that I have to say going to a tailor is probably your best bet.
If money is no object find a good tailor or seamstress. They will have books and you can flip through and they’ll make something custom just for you.
I would go for a three piece suit in black, dark grey or navy (depending on the industry - if it’s something like marketing you could go dark green or red). I mean jacket, pants and skirt.
Get a trouser slack that’s not too full. A knee length skirt in either an a-line or a tulip depending on what your curves are like, and a trim jacket that’s not too long and has a waist.
While you’re there have them make you a few separates.
Honestly, the price tends not to be crazy, and if you buy a few things they will probably give you a deal. You can choose colours and fabrics that you like and they’ll modify the garments until they fit you perfectly.
