Your tailor is your friend. Spend a few bucks and get that sucker tailored. It’ll accentuate your shape.
Trust me. It’ll be worth it, just in the appreciative glances.
Thanks to those who provided maternity advice. Unfortunately, I’ve never heard of Thyme Maternity. Also, I’ve tried Tarzhay, but generally speaking, for some reason, the dimensions are just wrong for my body. Wish things came in more than S-M-L.
I will try Gap Maternity online now that I have learned there are free returns!
While I shop for clothes, I often wonder what kind of things go through the designers mind. I think it goes something like this…
"My god! A woman has a size 18 waist? She must be a god-like creature! A woman who stands above all others of her race. Based on the proportions, she must be… oh my god! She must be in excess of 10 ft tall! Armholes that would fit a normal persons arm would be inadequate for such a creature! Yes, I must design the tops so that on any normal woman, the armholes would reach to the waist, or even below. On a woman of average stature, the length of the top would become a ball length gown, but nay, for this creature, this amazing tall woman - it will fit her perfectly.
Yes, yes. This wondrous creation of god… size 18 waist, size 40G bra… Should I ever see her in person, I would fall to my knees in supplication. Sadly, I am not worthy. I merely am blessed with the ability to design clothes for this mythical Amazon woman, which shall be available at any plus size outlet.
For it is well-known in the book of designing that the only proportions possible for the female human is that found on the sacred mannequin, Barbie. Merely take the measurement from around the waist, and multiply by the appropriate ratio."
dragongirl–have you tried www.silhouettes.com? They have pretty plus sized clothing. Most of their pants come in short lengths, although the dresses and skirts usually don’t. Their clothes are usually pretty.
I’m 5’2" and a size 18. It’s a bitch to find pants that fit. Fortunately, I managed to make to to the very top limit of Misses short sizes, so I can wear Lee chinos in 18S. They’re the only pants I have and I’ve got 'em in 4 colors.
I don’t think I saw it mentioned above, but how does everybody feel about J. Jill? I’ve found their clothes mostly shapeless and drapey (I’m anywhere from a 12-16, depending on style and brand, with sizable jugs, a waist, and a good amount of junk in the trunk), but a friend of mine has found some nice pants and skirts from the catalog and the store. I, however, am unable to find anything there I feel comfortable in and IMO their prices a little steep for my budget.
I think it goes: “Ha, ha! I can get away with anything! Let’s see those poor dumb bitches try to wear this!” (inhales smoke deeply and holds)
I have such a bad attitude about buying clothes.
This is me pants shopping: :dubious: :eek: 
:mad:
(and in that order)
I have the same problems with fit and length and I’m 5’11!! You’d think that those Amazon-length pants would at least begin to fit me but alas…and if the pants aren’t too long then they are about 4 inches too short. And if I find a pair of pants that fit well, woe be to me to try and find a shirt to match! Who’s dumb idea was it to make 95% of shirts cropped length? I’ve had two kids–I stopped wearing cropped shirts 10 years ago. I have no wish to wear a shirt that accentuates and exposes exactly everything I’d rather cover up.
I recently discovered Old Navy Yoga pants. They are pure heaven compared to the pants-shopping hell I’ve been through. Comfortable and the length is just right.
I’m 5’4" and a size 18. I have a hard time finding pants because I’m very long-waisted. I always have to get pants hemmed. As the OP mentioned, it is hard finding stuff that isn’t large flower print muu-muus. Or the big parrot-print muu-muus. :rolleyes:
Dress Barn and Fashion Bug have nice stuff, and when they have sales, it’s fairly reasonable. They do have the scary-print muu-muu stuff, but if you look, you can find Normal People stuff in Plus sizes.
I’ve had a lot of luck at Target with sweaters and simple tops.
Greywolf73, what are the Old Navy yoga pants like? Would they fit someone who’s 5’4"? I’m guessing they’re casual, not for work? I’ll have to go check 'em out. I need some casual pants for hanging arounf the house.
Christopher and Banks. I do a lot of shopping there. I’m not plus sized, but they have a plus sized branch (CJ Banks). But they carry reasonable adult clothes - we call it “the teacher store” because its pretty obvious that they cater to teachers.
THANK YOU!
This is why I both sew, and search for clothing from vintage and thrift stores!
Check out thrift stores for mumuu type dresses in pretty fabrics (not all of them are the ugly giant flowers not generally found in nature :D), you can get one of those for about 2 bucks and then cut it down into your pattern. You can also find never used fabric there for little expenditure. Same with garage sales.
Luckily there are lots of “New Year’s Resolution” type people who decide “I’m going to learn to sew”!!! And then after they buy nice patterns and lovely lengths of fabric they finally realize they don’t have the time or patience or whatever and they donate them to the goodwill.
Also check out places like Joann’s Fabrics when they’re having their sales, sometimes you can get patterns for just a few bucks.
I am dreaming of the time I will find a blouse that fits right. I have broad shoulders and average boobs. (B-cups) If I buy a small shirt, (the right size for the rest of my top), the button over my boobs stretches and I get that fabric gap that shows my bra and I have to resort to a safety pin. Any bigger size and I look huge but the buttons close right. Almost every damn shirt I come across does this.
I’m also of the small-waisted, big hips and thighs, though it’s a recent thing. (I join a gym and boom, there appear my curves) Low-rider/hip-huggers aren’t the best style for me but so far they’re the only ones that fit. I hate having that gap at the waist when I sit.
Angel Heart, I am the same way. Although I am 35 instead of 22 but I have found that Levis 505 jeans (from JC Penney) fit well. I too have hips and a butt and OMG I am built like a woman with a waist – not a little boy.
Anyhow, I don’t recall if I got them in the petite area but they do have short, average and long in their sizing. I also fit well into Guess but Guess is hard to find these days. I have 22 pairs of Guess and other brands of jeans waiting for me to loose my beer belly. The hips, legs and such are all back to my old dimensions but my tummy!
I do have problems finding shirts that look good on me. I don’t have much for boobs (34B) but my shoulders are bulky and I do burst out of many button up tops if I don’t pay attention. That and my arms are bulky too so if it’s a nice tailored short sleeved top I usually have to buy a size up. When it comes to long sleeves I end up having to roll them up. I do end up with a lot of men size small to accomodate my shoulders and arms though.
I’m a big fan of thrift stores as well. I find a lot of clothes there in sizes regular stores don’t often carry. And the “treasure hunting” aspect of finding Lord-knows-what for next to nothing is a big draw also.
Ugh, clothes shopping! When I used to be six sizes bigger, all the plus-sized clothes were basically regular sized clothes with 3 inches of extra fabric so sleeves looked like wings and pant legs were tapered. TAPERED PEOPLE!
Lane Bryant has a very unreliable selection, I’ve found. Just don’t go shopping after a major sale. Fashion Bug and Fashion Barn are even worse. When a store name has fashion in it, it’s clothing ain’t fashionable!
Now that I’ve lost a bunch of weight and continue to lose, I try not to spend over $200 on seasonal shopping. Adding to my agony is that I can buy my tops at regular stores but bottoms-wise I’m still technically plus-sized. Hello pearville, population: me. Anyone else have this problem?