I know intellectually how much I weigh but I am always surprised at what I look like in pictures and the reflection in windows [I don’t use the mirror much] so I can’t say for sure how it all compares!!
But you’re right about shapes and sizes. I fit into one particular size 16 suit (Talbot’s, so I think it was misses and not Women’s) when I weighed about 190# and my friend can’t fit parts of it at 165#. It’s because I carry my wieght evenly all over but remain relatively proportional and she carries it in her stomach and middle. So the middle won’t fit and the rest will swim, while for me it fits all over. One of the things I actually like about my body, even at this weight!!
I don’t think this stuff (and similar styles I see at department stores) is targeting plus-size women so much as older women. Or, to be specific, a certain type of older women – those who, like Harriet the Spry said, are no longer dressing for men (sexily). I see women in these types of clothes (comfy pull-on pants, loose ‘cute’ tops) in all sizes and all demographics – the poorer women wear the Walmart brand versions and the richer women wear the Dillards, Nordstrom, Quacker factory versions. But, almost without exeption, I only see this stuff on women aged 40 or older.
It’s funny – I was just thinking about this this weekend! My husband and I took our daughter to visit the college she’s planning on attending. It’s a small private college for women (Sweet Briar in Virginia) and fairly spendy, so the parents who were there scanned mostly middle-to-upper-middle class. I was one of the only two mothers there in jeans. Many of the dads were in jeans – probably around half, but almost all the the other women were wearing some version of the ‘cute’ uniform above. There were a handful of women in slacks and blazers, but all of the rest were in high-end pull-on slacks and tops. And me in my Levis and shirts – a fitted button up blouse the first day and a long sleeved tshirt the next.
I actually felt kind of conspicuous… But I’m not ready to hang up the sexy clothes just yet. Maybe I’ll never be ready – my mom is 65 (20 years older than me) and she always tells me that I should put her out on the iceberg if she ever switches to pull-on-pants and strawberry-applique shirts!
I think shasta has hit the nail on the head here. Also someone who said something those "clueless about fashion.
There are too few choices for super heavy women. I have to admit, I sometimes keep QVC on in the background for company. I glance up every now and then and yell “HOLY cow” or “Uuuurrrrgggh” shudder. It’s sorta like watching people at the mall and making fun of the really weird ones. And every once in a while, I’ll see a cute pattern that I’d like to try out for scrap booking or some such. Which really, is the only place a little red crab belongs and NOT all over your pantsuit!
I think she’s a fairly petite woman. So though she looks hugely round (and you’ve got to remember, the average host is about a double negative zero), she probably fits the 1-3 X just fine. I see her wearing her sweaters all of the time and she seems to make sure she swims in them, so I think it’s just that she’s so little. Little meaning bone structure and height. A tiny little skeleton in way too much fat.
I’m the same way. NOT a 3 or 4X, but small bone structure. Every extra micro ounce of weight sticks out. Nowhere for it to hide when you’re small boned.
Y’know, itellectually, I guess I knew this. But I’ve been tall all my life, so it’s easy for me to forget this stuff.
If she’s not a hypocrit, then I say, more power to her! I don’t care for most of the stuff, but if it makes women happy, who am I to complain? It’s not like anyone’s forcing me to wear it.
I dunno, I kinda like this dress, as it’s obviously a knock-off of Eliza Doolittle’s embassy ballgown.
Now, while I wouldn’t go with the heavy choker or the big hairdo, the dress is pretty close to the original that I’d wear it.
I’ll admit that I’m sure it is hard to shop if you are a size 34, but as **zweisamkeit ** posted back thread, there are lots of choices for the size 14-24 (even 28 in Lane Bryant) among us.
For example: I’m about a size 18 in jeans (which, as we all know, means I can wear a 14 in one place, a 16 in another, an 18 in some, and a 20 in a few more) and I can buy my jeans in Lane Bryant, Torrid, Target, Old Navy, The Gap (including their wicked awesome outlet), Wal-Mart, and there are a few** others that I can’t remember. Oh, and those are all the ones here in my little town, if I go down to LA (or online) there are even more choices. Sure, I’ve got to try on 15 pairs before I can find some I like, but my size 2 friend has that exact same problem.
As far as shirts, well, I like 'em a bit snug- which means I have no problem finding shirts. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got two, big ole boobies on my chest, so I definitely have to buy an XL (ok, MAYBE that isn’t JUST because of the big ole boobies, MAYBE it has something to do with the big ole gut ) in most places. That said, I still have all of the above choices when it comes to tops. The same can be said for underwear, bras, shoes, socks, etc.
I’m aware that I’m not on the “super heavy” end of the spectrum, but I’m also not one of those “barely plus sized” girls. If you are having trouble finding clothes, I’d argue that you really aren’t looking very hard. LOTS of stores have started carrying womens’ pants in sizes 16, 18, and even 20-- along with shirts that are 3X. Sure, Torrid might be too “young” of a style for most, but what about the Gap? Old Navy has some great, simple standards. And let’s not forget Lane Bryant, which has (as zweisamkeit posted above) some fantastic suit staples.
If you’re “plus sized,” you don’t have to dress in a potato sack or like a grandma- you just have to figure out what works for you and look. It’s out there. I promise.
** Just some more that I thought of: Macy’s, Penny’s, Robinsons-May, Fashion Bug, TJ Maxx, Ross, etc.
NP. I love the clothing, all cotton, and wears like iron. I have a pair of lotus pants that date to 1981 that mrAru hijacked and wears. In beautiful condition=)
Buh? I weigh a couple pounds more than you and I am 5’11" and I wear a size 10/12. We must be totally different shapes? How can you fill out a size 16 at that weight? With those stats I would guess you are a solid 10 or even an 8.
That’s so odd how sizes are different for everyone. I’m not very curvy, that might be the difference.
My mom has a nice figure but still insists on wearing the Mom Jeans. Sigh. At least she doesn’t go there with the sparkle appliques.
At Target, my favorite clothing store, they often have such gorgeous things in plus sizes it makes me wish I were big enough for them. I can sometimes wear borderline plus, but misses sizes fit me just right. It can be hard sometimes to find big misses, but that’s me. I’ve been known to shop in the plus department just because I’m big, but now I’ve lost so much weight, plus wouldn’t look right on me any more. I need size 16 misses. Anyone want to trade?
