I took my daughter out to the mall this evening to get her some clothes for college. We visited the GAP, The Limited etc. etc, and etc. and saw lots of nice clothes and outfits, and she tried on several, but was vaguely depressed because she needs to drop around 15 -20 lbs or so to get to her ideal weight of 155-165 (she’s 5’11") so she decided to wait on the clothes for a bit while she hits the YMCA .
On the way out we passed by Lane Bryant, and I was stunned. There in the entrance foyer was a collection of four of the pig-dog ugliest outfits I have ever seen. I mean seriously, you would have to seen them to believe how incredibly weird and hideous they were. It was like the designer was determined to torment heavy women with these ugly, bizzaro togs. One looked like it was made out of 1970s’ shag rug carpet scraps, and other looked like it had been attacked by a button applying machine that pasted them randomly over the mud brown polyestrer top. And these were the featured outfits!
Why can’t designers make nice stuff like I saw in the other stores, only bigger, for heavy women? Why all the hideous design choices?
I’ve wondered the same thing and almost started a similar thread a while back.
ALSO, the clothes that are in the stores for “larger” women are designed with details that are the EXACT opposite of what someone with extra poundage should be wearing.
For example, the LAST thing a “larger” woman needs is SIDE pockets, which add even more width to the hips. A close runner-up is PLEATS, which add so much bulk to the tummy area.
Torrid has some hip-looking clothes for young women that are a bit on the heavy side.
To be honest I always slow down quite a bit when I walk past that store. Being a thin young man, I don’t have any business wandering around in a place like that, and any lingering gazes I give might be misinterpreted, so I always kind of pick it up and move on.
Eh, I’ve seen stuff that bad and worse in the misses’ and juniors’ section of local department stores, so I don’t think it’s just designers for fat women. Given the late-70’s/early 80’s stuff that’s currently in vogue, I’m frankly shocked that you didn’t see that bad and worse as featured outfits in other stores.
There tends to be a lot more to designing plus size fashions than just taking current designs and enlarging them. You have to completely reconfigure the proportions, and rearrange the decorative elements to put them in the right place, etc., and by then you might as well just start from scratch in the first place.
You also have to keep in mind that a lot of current fashions are particularly unflattering to fat chicks, so it’s hard to design hip clothes for us. This puts designers between the rock of “what kind of moron would make size 24 Daisy Duke shorts?” and the hard place of “why are there no fashionable clothes for plus sizes?”
Add hideous large prints to that list. I used to be pretty big (but now am just chunky), but when I was looking at dresses and skirts, they all seemed to be in large outrageous prints that were just awful. Huge swirly patterns, animal prints, over-sized flower prints, and always too bright: bright yellow and orange, or neon green and bright blue, fire-engine red, hot pink … real eye-popping shit.
It’s catalog shopping but Newport-News has some very nice styles in plus size. They run a bit small (of course) so I suggest trying something low priced to make sure it’s your size.
Designers also seem to think that women over a certain size develop cravings for kelly green, shocking purple, rhinestones, and cheap polyester. Oh, and tight fitting spandex. I have no desire to look like an overweight 1960’s Marvel supervillain, thankyouverymuch.
For the most part, I shop in the men’s section rather than the women’s for shirts. For suits and the like, I go to Macy’s outlet store in Minnesota, which is one of the last havens for attractive clothing for larger sizes. Since Macy’s is quite a long drive for me (I make a pilgrimage once every year or two), I shop there when I’m desperate. Fashion Bug and Avenue occasionally have something worth buying, but they’re pretty hit or miss.
Ugh, I think Fashion Bug is one of the worst offenders of ugly prints and weird detailing for larger sizes. The Avenue is pretty new to my area (Maryland) and I got some pants there last winter that were nice, if a little pricey. The sweaters and tops were just okay. Just not quite my style, I guess.
Dress Barn Woman usually has some nice stuff. I can always find nice dresses and skirts there. Stylish, but simple. I’m not the flashy, trend-setter type.
Ugh, I think Fashion Bug is one of the worst offenders of ugly prints and weird detailing for larger sizes. The Avenue is pretty new to my area (Maryland) and I got some pants there last winter that were nice, if a little pricey. The sweaters and tops were just okay. Just not quite my style, I guess.
Dress Barn Woman usually has some nice stuff. I can always find nice dresses and skirts there. Stylish, but simple. I’m not the flashy, trend-setter type.
I used to shop all the time at Lane Bryants. I still go in every now and then, but the only thing I’ve purchased lately is panties and bras, and I’m about to give up on the panties, as I’m really not interested in wearing panties that go all the way up to my rib cage. The rest of their clothes, even if they are remotely fashionable, are cheaply put together and way, waaaaaaaay over-priced.
I’ve lucked out, though, in finding an outlet for Jones New York near me. While their prices are fairly steep, their clothes are extremely well made, classically cut, and flattering. They are great for business formal. Next time I have money, I’m going to see if they have anything a little more casual.
I second Dress Barn, although it’s been my experience that their sizes run large. I usually wear a 16W, however, with Dress Barn a 16W will swallow me, while I do fine with a regular 16 (or even a 14).
Lane Bryant, while I like their bras (only they make a bra that I don’t feel like ripping off by noon), everything is way over priced. Even still, I don’t buy bras unless they’re either running a sale, or I have a coupon. In their new catalogue though, they have a pair of knee boots that I’m salivating over…(even though my calves aren’t large, I simply cannot find boots that come up to my knees that will fit!)
I haven’t been to Lane Bryant in, like, forever. It has had some nice stuff in the past, but the prices can be too high.
I guess it is time again for me to preach my mantra about sewing your own clothes. I know, it’s not for everyone, but it is a fantastic way to save money, and get clothes that fit right and are not hideous. I haven’t sewn in a few years, but I think it’s time to start up again.
In my case, I’ve got a “system.” I have a few tweaked-to-the-gills patterns that I use over and over again. An 2-hour easy skirt pattern, a quick 2-hour shell top, easy elastic waist pants, and the more time-consuming fly-front jeans/trousers pattern. Oh, I also have a dress pattern that I’ve used several times.
These clothes are “classic” in style and I don’t think will need much adjustments over the years. Sure, they won’t be trendy, but they fit, look nice, and are cheap. This is not to say that I wouldn’t buy store clothes too. But rather than spend $40 for that rayon shell top, I can whip up my own in 2 hours and spend maybe $12. It really can extend the wardrobe budget.
Sewing your own clothes is great for anyone at any size, but is especially wonderful to the big girl who is sick of overpaying for ill-fitting, ugly clothes.
Lane Bryant is cheap, sweatshop-made garbage. The stores are – and have long been, but even more lately – the bastard children of The Limited corporation, and it shows. No self-respecting woman of size should be caught dead wearing their clothes, even their few okay things, just on general principle.
The Lane Bryant catalog, run by an entirely different company and linked only in that they both accept the LB branded credit card, is even worse. Sure the pants are only $14.99, but the fabric pills, the seams unravel and they shrink two sizes on the first wearing. Plus they make you look like Dumbo’s dumpy sister.
Forget that crap!
My mom and sister, both larger ladies, swear by catalog shopping from Silhouettes and Ulla Popken. They both always look very well put together, (whether they’re dressed for professional or casual endeavors) never sloppy or dumpy, no wretched stripes, stupid plaids, screaming cabbage roses from hell or other crimes against fashion in general, large-size fashion especially. The prices are higher, but I think you get what you pay for.
If you’re not in a position to make your own, you gotta go for quality. And for larger women, I’m afraid that’s not found at the mall.
The last time I was in a Lane Bryant was about ten years ago. I was looking for something nice for job interviews. The entire store was stocked with baggy, sloppy casual clothes. Not a single thing was suitable for interviews! :dubious:
In the years since, I’ve discovered theSears Woman’s View catalog. The link is to the website but sign up for the catalog because it has tons more stuff. They have sizes from 16 to 56 and up to 5X on some things. They have everything from casual and sporty to business suits. A few times a year they offer outfits for those in the medical profession, bathing suits and lovely, glittery evening gowns. They also have stylish undies and nighties and name brand bras in comfy larger sizes. They also offer a lot of nice shoes.
I’ve gotten a lot of use out of the things I’ve bought from them. The only thing I’d caution you about is to beware of ordering anything with a lot of embroidery or lacy appliques unless it’s a brand you are already familiar with. Their no-name brands really scrimp on the quality of these.
But, as I said, most of their stuff looks good and is even stylish. It’s worth getting on their catalog list to check it out.
Tikki–who has not received payment of any kind for the previous endorsement.
I think they only make those boots for tiny women…I’m a size 10-12, and I can’t find a pair that zips all the way up. Perhaps it’s a shoe-size thing? My feet are a size 7, maybe bigger shoe sizes have more calf room…
I need new boots for winter, but none of them fit!
I think they only make those boots for tiny women…I’m a size 10-12, and I can’t find a pair that zips all the way up. Perhaps it’s a shoe-size thing? My feet are a size 7, maybe bigger shoe sizes have more calf room…
I need new boots for winter, but none of them fit!
And more on topic - Old Navy is now selling larger sizes. I think they will be (or maybe already are) selling up to size 24 or so. And I find their sizes tend to run large, anyway. While I’m not a huge fan of Old Navy, they do have a large selection of jeans which I like, and it can be very hard to find a stylish pair of jeans if you’re over a size 12 or 14.
