My mom is a bit overweight, and I have shopped with her when she needed clothes for weddings and such. The “fat lady” clothes at our department stores are assnasty. They have huge patterns in neon colours that don’t match. She can rarely find anything nice in a store. She gets catalogs from Newport News, Lane Bryant, J. Jill, Silhouettes, and Lands End. I think she is happy with the clothes she orders out of the catalogs.
There’s also a store called The Avenue which sells mostly casual clothes, some appropriate for business. Not many dresses, though. I’ve noticed them aiming at a younger market, but not completely imappropriate for older women. It may be a sister store to Lane Bryant.
Another store is Catherine’s, it does have dressy stuff, and some business clothes. It also carries a selection of old fart fat dresses–must keep those grandmas happy, too. I know it has stores up and down the West Coast, but it might just be in this region.
I also second Coldwater Creek. I find their clothes to be well made–and they often run big, so I get a size smaller than normal, what fun! They are pricey, but they run good deals on-line, and have outlets in several locations.
I’ve been overweight for ten years, believe me, there are a ton (pun intended) more choices now than there used to be–but it’s still awfully frustrating!
I’m 22 and a size 16. I’m also 5’5 with short legs. Ugh. Jeans are a pain in the ass because of the width/length issue. As for other clothing problems; I want to dress like I’m 22, not 52. Lane Bryant is pretty cool, has nice stuff. I get my jeans there, as well as some shirts. Also a fan of Coldwater Creek. I think I got a nice dress for a wedding from them (funny enough, it’s a plummy color :)). Other than that, t-shirts and such aren’t too much of a problem.
Yup, that’s the one.
(Cosmopolitan, nothing wrong with plum; I just want more options, ya know?)
Another vote for Lane Bryant. I think their clothes are tasteful yet “trendy”. Not a bunch of bullet-proof polyester stuff.
I also want to add a vote for sewing. You don’t have to be a great seamstress! I’m not, but with a bit of tinkering, I’ve made myself several very nice fitted dresses. Yeah yeah, women size 14-18 (the sizes I range - more like 18 these days) aren’t supposed to wear fitted clothes, right? I mean, that must be it. I never see anything off the rack that fits someone who has, like, a waistline. I’m not saying I have a trim waistline (I’m fat, after all) but I have what might be called a “fat hourglass” figure. And I actually look thinner when I wear clothes that show that I have a waistline! But will any ready-to-wear clothes have a real waistline? Oh no. So I sew my own. All the major pattern companies make fitted patterns in larger sizes (though I have to adjust them.)
Sewing is THE best way to go, to get what you want. Lee has good advice about buying fabric. If you live in an area that has any sort of “Garment District”, look there for deals on fabric. I’ve gotten GREAT deals on luscious rayons in downtown L.A.
I’ve actually had excellent luck at Penningtons. I don’t know if they are all the same, but I have one near the house that offers a pretty good selection. I bought a great dress there for a wedding just a couple of months ago.
In some way, gaining weight has made it easier to shop. I used to have to buy plus sizes for my bust size (and to make it fit my bust, the rest of the top would be a mile too big), and shop smaller sizes for my pants. I could pretty much forget about dresses.
featherlou,
While I have a hard time because I wear smaller sizes (damn, I hate clothing shopping) my best friend is tall and very rubenesque (sp), I go with her to Lane Bryant. I find they have very stylish clothes that don’t look like you went to the Tent and Awning store…God I hate that.
We women come in all shapes and sizes but Lane Bryant has some very pretty clothing, including some very seriously sexy underwear, teddies, bras etc for the well built woman.
At Christmas my father (rarity of rarities) actually enjoys shopping for my step-mom. He heads directly to Nordstrom’s to what he affectionately calls their “Big Broad” department, and immediately finds really nice suits, dresses and such, all in whatever size Step-Mom happens to be that season. The problem is that he will drop quite a bit of cash in this spree, but the clothes are well-made, the tailoring services are great and the staff are very helpful if Step-Mom wants to exchange something. Their designs are usually classic and classy, which is good because Step-Mom’s a real estate broker and involved in local business groups (the Lions, the Jaycees, etc.).
Perhaps not for everyday wear, but terrific for special occasions.
Saris are great. I’ve never seen a woman of any size look bad in a sari. And they come in such cool colors and patterns (the saris, I mean, not the women…well okay, the women too).
On the downside, they’re hard to find outside of major cities and people tend to gawp, especially if you’re not Indian. But nothing’s perfect.
Wear saris! Start a new fashion trend! Fuck it if people look at you funny![sub]<froth> <froth>[/sub]
A sari, as sold in most shops I go to, consists of 6 to 7 yards of 45 inch material. The extra yard is the blouse piece, not all come with that. This can be made into lovely dresses, skirts or suits. Only one of my saris is destined never to meet the scissors and be worn as a sari. Saris can cost as little as $10 or as much as you want to pay. The price per yard even on a nice silk sari can be less than the shoddy silk or silk like fabric you will find at a chain fabric store. The shops often have yard goods as well. I bought velvet for as little as $4 a yard at my favorite shop. So far my favorite item of clothing made from a sari is a Kaftan I made for a pool party to use as a swim suit coverup. Most sari fabric is quite sheer, but it can be lined or layered for modesty, if you want. One of my favorite things about the sari is the pulla, the contrasting end piece. You can use that as a scarf or for an accent in the outfit.
That’s exactly what I’m talking about! I want clothes that fit my body, not fit over my body. When I see a “well-built” (thanks, TechChick) woman dressed properly in well-fitting clothes, she looks like “beautiful woman, size whatever version” to me.
The saris are a great idea, too. I’ve never seen them in shops around here (Calgary), though. I’m going to have to make a shopping trip to the States someday. And look up Lane Bryant on the net. And get a sewing machine. 
(Lola, I like Pennington’s too. A little pricey for me right now, but they do have a pretty fair selection. Some Reitman’s also have some larger clothes that fit pretty well - just not much selection.)
Sounds a lot like guys’ apparel, frankly.
For us “fatties” AND all you “skinnies” out there:
They have small and extra large sizes. I haven’t really gone through their web site, but I have gone through their catalogue. They’ve got great stuff and larger sizes are only about $4 more.
I hate when manufacturers take small sized designs and think that by just making it bigger it will look good on somebody who is a size 20. I don’t need elastic at the bottom of my shirt, thank you!
I have that problem too, being a pear-shaped woman. If the jeans fit in the hips, I have to take in the waist – and the length may be too short or too long, depending on how the jeansmaker chooses to screw with me that day. Thrifty’s and XX/XY carries a brand called Bluenotes that offers several different fit options; for the first time I bought jeans that fit everywhere without alteration.
Great site, cleosia. The BendOver pants, however, made me laugh out loud (ah well, as they say, a dirty mind is a terrible thing to waste :D)
(This address is too long, I guess. Just cut and paste the whole thing if you want to go see for yourself.)
I would love to be a mere 30 pounds overweight. I remember when I actually was, and I felt like a cow. What I wouldn’t do to be that size again.
I am obviously in 100% agreement with the OP… but you are looking at what… size 16? Maybe 18 depending on how you carry it and how tall you are? There is an endless selection of styles and clothes in those sizes compared to size 28, believe me.
Unfortunately, the more weight we put on, the more radically different our body proportions can be. I happen to be a very bottom-heavy person. So anything large enough to fit my hips tends to leave me swimming on top. There’s at least a 2 size difference between my top and bottom, and that difference grows even wider when I’m less heavy than I am now. There are weights I have been at where from the waist up I am size 16, even 14, and the waist down I am a 20.
I have to say that my all time gripe with up-sized women’s clothing is the perverse idea that because I am fat, I have 14 inch WRISTS. Not to mention sleeveless styles, which leave my breasts dangling out of my armpits. Don’t they ever TRY and get truly large models to try these wretched clothes ON so they can see how bad they are?
Sigh…
jumps on the bandwagon
It seems like no matter what size you are, unless you manage to exactly fit the designer’s ideal shape, you are SOL.
I belive it was Nocturne who mentioned earlier about finding jeans that fit the waist, but not the hips and vice versa. Depending on your shape, you may find the men’s jeans to be a better fit.
(So many points in this thread to agree to…)
Hey, we could always wear RenFaire garb! Doesn’t matter what shape you are, a bodice or stomacher lets people see that yes, you have curves (even if there’s a lot of 'em! More to love!). Nice thing is, a bodice looks just as well paired with slacks/jeans as it does over a chemise. Not so good if you don’t like ‘tight’ clothing, though.
<< There’s a time for everything… and right now, it’s dinner time! >>
Here! Here! I get my work clothes from Nordstroms and the sales people are great. Even the reduced racks have the occasional “really great find”. (I got my new winter coat there this past weekend, fully lined, deep mulberry color, beeeeeutiful, I say!)
Also, if there is an Elisabeth store near by, they are good for classic designs.
I am moreso on the other end of the scale and have just as many problems finding well-fitting clothing.
Jeans that fit my waist and hip area invariably are too short in the crotch as well as too short in the leg (barely reach my ankles). Ugh! That’s bloody annoying! If they fit my crotch and are long enough, they are way too large in the waist, hip, butt and thigh area. The only jeans that have ever fit my nicely all over are Bluenotes, as mentioned by someone else, too. Gods bless Bluenotes, and the second-hand stores that sell them! lol
I am 5’4 and about 120 pounds. I would describe myself as being on the thinner side, but with a little extra weight on me (for my frame, anyway). In most stores marketed towards younger women, I rarely even fit into their large sizes. WTF is that when a medium-framed 120 pound woman can’t fit into a large? Are there really THAT many 5-foot, 90 pound women around that I’m considered an XL now? Not to mention on the rare occasion I do find that XL is offered, the arm holes and chest area are way too big for me. I get so frustrated when I shop.
I’ve also noticed that a lot of women’s clothing is designed for the hipless. You know, a top that fits everywhere BUT the hips–there, it’s stretched to its limit and bunches up. I cannot be the only woman to possess hips!
I hate women’s clothing stores. I hate having to shop for clothing because it’s so time consuming.
There is no part of my body that anyone would describe as “skinny”, but I’m a pronounced pear shape. I’ve just sat down to plan out A Proper Wardrobe (you know, the sort where each of the top bits matches several of the bottom bits, so you can mix and match to get lots of different outfits?), and have decided to sew most of what I still need. No, I’m not saving much money, compared to buying the cheap stuff at least, but a) I can get exactly what I want without spending days looking for it (probably with a shrieking bored toddler in tow much of the time), b) because I’m sewing it myself, I’m getting downtown boutique quality for mall chain store prices, and c) at least I know it will FIT! 
This is my little rebellion against the clothing manufacturers, the beauty myth manufacturers, and the idiots who think a thirty-something woman with two kids wants to walk around with her navel showing in public :rolleyes: