…that is
[ul]
[li]stylish[/li][li]American not Chinese[/li][li]affordable[/li][li]professional[/li][li]attractive[/li][li]comfortable[/li][li]plus-sized[/li][/ul]
all at once? Target used to be my good old reliable go-to store. Target, the affordable “no-nonsense” (as in “No Nonsense” brand to counter “L’Eggs” Who remembers L’Eggs from the '70s now anyway? Ancient history… pondered by an increasingly ancient woman…) anyway,
Target used to be cheap AND good. Now all the cheap clothes are from skanky/shady/crummy/fucking illiterate sites in China that I suspect probably only exist to spread malware. In the first decade of this century (approximately 2002–2009, that is), Target rocked. Now Target sucks.
What I’m saying is I may be upgrading to a spiffy new job soon and I have to quickly find appropriate and affordable dresses/suits/legwear/footwear to dress to impress at the office. An office where the women are mostly Arab, stylish, and young… I need something with more flair than a burlap sack or a parachute or http://www.logosdatabase.com/logoimages/80980019.jpg that is not also insanely priced at least to get my leg up (so to speak) to be on a career track… at my advanced age of double nickels, which is no joke.
Is there anything for mature plus-size professional women that can save me from being just another frump at work?
Old Navy has plus sizes. Banana Republic has suits up to size 16. Not sure what you’re looking for… I also like New York and Company for shirts and skirts. I’m an attorney in court every day so I’m in suits, every day.
Not sure where you live, but I need to make a trip to Woodfield or another major shopping center for work clothes every year or so. There’s just nothing of any quality in my area and even though I’m an Amazon junkie, I don’t trust online clothes.
I have had luck at major Macy’s stores (like Woodfield) and Lord & Taylor, and that’s honestly about it. Their store brands, Ralph Lauren, and Calvin Klein are go-to’s for me. When there is a sale, or off-season, I can find pretty good prices.
I am a big fan of Calvin Klein, because their plus size work clothing is professional and age appropriate,yet current and attractive. I don’t know their policy WRT Asian sourcing or workplace fairness, as I am not in a position to boycott. My choices are too limited already, please don’t judge me as anti-humanitarian.
Are there female equivalents to the semi-custom suit guys who’ll come by your office, take your measurements, and deliver a couple of suits in a few weeks?
There’s Marshalls/T.J Maxx or thrift stores/charity white elephant sales. I’ve noticed the former don’t have a lot of selection in sizes beyond 18 though.
Nope. I actually know a woman who tried to launch this as a business. The problem is, women’s clothes are MUCH more fitted than men’s and women’s bodies are MUCH more variable, so you need a LOT of base models and a LOT of alteration… One semi-custom dress shirt was $115. A suit was about $700sh. And the business wasn’t even viable at that ridiculous price.
sad trombone
I’m like llcoolbj, an attorney, and I shop at pretty much the same stores for separates with occasional scores at TJ Maxx (most of my suits are Anne Klein & Tahari, suits are one of those things where a certain brand works and others don’t). I have some older suits from Target and no one can believe they came from Target. It’s a shame their clothes are no good for grownups any more.
When I was in your position, I went with a combination of five sources: Old Navy, Dress Barn, Chico’s, Macy’s and QVC. I can’t speak to the origin of the clothing (I’m sure much of it is produced outside the U.S.), but it generally meets your other criteria.
From QVC, the Joan Rivers, Isaac Mizrahi and Linea lines all have nice professional pieces available in plus sizes. QVC provides extensive measurements for every garment, so it’s not hard to figure out which ones will fit you.
Have you considered eBay? I recently sold some old Lane Bryant stuff on there and was surprised to find some of the items stamped “made in USA.” And it’s boring timeless stuff, too. Nothing I buy is ever in or out of fashion
If you have brands you like from before, you can find them on eBay!
People who collect and re-sell plus-sized clothes on eBay post a ton of measurements so it shouldn’t be too crazy hard to find something that fits right. And if you get bargains you can have it altered.
I find that with my clothes I’ve sold and donated, too, that a good bit of my stuff was purchased and worn at the bottom of my yo-yo dieting so it didn’t fit for very long until I grew back out of it stashed it away in a closet. Once I decided “it’s been long enough” I put it on eBay and realized a lot of it was worn like 2 or 3 times, if that.
I think you can get most of those…however, American-not-Chinese might be difficult. It’s not easy in any sized clothing these days, I don’t think.
I’m a size 16W, and 10 years younger than you. I mostly shop at Macy’s, Kohl’s (for casual stuff mostly), Lane Bryant, Burlington Coat Factory. Macy’s in particular has nice suit separates – I like them because women’s tops and bottoms aren’t always the same size, so I can buy the size that fits each half of me. Hey, we don’t get free tailoring like guys do. I second Calvin Klein’s plus sizes – they’re quite good. So is Macy’s house brand.
Old Navy doesn’t have plus sizes in the stores, at least not in the store near me. Banana Republic is a bit iffy, and their 16 is a Misses 16, not a plus-size 16.
I’ve also bought a few things from ebay. I picked up a nifty tweed skirt last year and had it hemmed – it’s in heavy rotation in my closet. It can be dressy with pumps and pearls, or casual with tights and cuffed booties.
I’d buy some basics to start the job, then see how other women dress in your office, and acquire things to blend in as time goes on. I’ve swiped some great styling ideas from the 20-somethings in my office.
I’d also look at other things to help repel frumpiness that have nothing to do with one’s age or size – a good haircut that moves and is flattering (no helmet-hair); hair colour that doesn’t look like shoe polish and isn’t too dark for your skin tone; stylish jewelry and accessories; up to date makeup; and your attitude (most important).
My daughter (size 14-16) needed suits for speech, and I found nice, professional, affordable suit separates on-line at Dillards. Granted, she wears a suit one day a week, but she’s rough on it (sitting on the floor, riding a school bus, etc.), and the two suits she has have worn very well for the last two+ years.
How about Land’s End? I know they have plus sizes, although I have never bought anything in that area from them so I can’t tell you. But their clothes are generally high quality and they absolutely stand behind them. They are not kidding with their guarantee - they sent my credit card $250 once for an electric blanket I’d bought so long ago they had no proof I was even the original purchaser. It died, I called them because they said they had an ironclad guarantee - they absolutely do. (And you can return stuff for free at Sears.)
