Clothing RANT

[roadie gal]

I don't understand women's active clothing. WHY do they make "cute" but totally impractical clothing??? I want to get a pair of winter pants that I can wear hiking, running and cross country skiing. Everything I find is either low cut or flare legged? WTF?? Those are fine for casual wear, but how the heck can you cross country ski in flares? They'll catch on the skis. And don't even get me started on the pants that are cut so low you'll get ice on your pubes... They NEVER do this to men. Tights are still designed with practicality in mind, but I want something a bit looser. Oh yeah, pockets would be nice, too. But that's nearly impossible... unless you buy men's. feh

[Pax]

I feel your pain. I've been looking for a windbloc hooded fleece and LLBean finally had them in my size...but cut so tight in the armpits that I could barely wear it over a t-shirt. :mad:

[Biciclista]

and try to find a shirt with pockets or slacks with real pockets.

my mother explained it didn't look nice. I told her i didn't care, i feel stupid having to carry a wallet, cellphone and car keys in my hands because i don't have pockets!!!

[Grog]

Why aren't there pockets on the inside of women's jackets? It's always really annoyed me, as I always need a place to put a pen and piece of paper. ARRRG!

[SadieKate]

Everything I find is either low cut or flare legged? WTF?? Those are fine for casual wear, but how the heck can you cross country ski in flares? They'll catch on the skis. What? The flared legs catch on the skis? Seems to me that's a length issue, not a flare issue. I have a pair of Salomon flared-leg pant and love them.

Now the low cut issue, I'm with you. Swobo is designing their pants during happy and high hour. I tried on some Gore cycling capris this weekend that would be great for multi-sports.

But whatever pockets they could provide in pants, I can't image a wallet and cell phone being comfortable there while running, skiing, hiking or anything active. They'd be banging around or inhibiting movement. That's what hydration or hip packs are for.

[Becky]

I have some great SportHill pants that I use for everything during the winter. Looser than tights, but close-fitting at the ankle so I can use them for commuting. And they have pockets for quick trips to the store. Best of all, SportHill stuff comes in different lengths!

TE sells something similar to what I have: http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodSH_0680.html

[SadieKate]

Love my SportHill pants. I've got multiple styles with the windresistant fabric which is great in winter. Much more comfortable than a shell outer.

[Becky]

I didn't know that they made wind-resistant styles! Excellent- thanks for the heads-up!

[SadieKate]

Looki for the 3SP fabric.
http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodSH_8210.html

[alpinerabbit]

PI Amfibs is what I wear running and XC skiing (the 2x I did it I was fine)

[VeloVT]

In addition to Sporthill (a great suggestion), check out:

--Hind
--Craft
--Swix (yes, the wax co makes xc clothing, too).
--Patagonia

I have tapered, fairly traditional rise, semi-fitted pants in a variety of weights from both Craft and Hind, some with zippered pockets. Not super stylish but very functional.

It would also be worth checking out both the Title Nine website and the Athleta website, I think I've seen traditional tapered "track pant" style pants at both.

Some stuff here too:
http://www.newmoonski.com/

[OakLeaf]

It would also be worth checking out both the Title Nine website and the Athleta website,

And I LOVE Athleta's rise rating system! Wish everyone used it.

[Crankin]

I love Athleta because they make almost every pant style in petite sizes. Ones that actually have a 28-29 inch inseam.
But I like the low rise...

[roadie gal]

Thanks for all of the suggestions.

It was actually going to the Patagonia outlet that inspired this rant. They used to make quality outdoor clothing for men AND WOMEN. But now their women's clothing seems to be less functional and more "stylish" and I mean that in the worst sense of the word.

[skhill]

it's the preference for fashion over function in the women's fashion industry that really gets to me... I went shopping for jeans yesterday (none of last winter's clothes fit now, and it's starting to get cold!). Tried on about 12 pairs. Bought nothing. All I want is jeans that fit reasonably well-- small enough at the waist that a belt isn't an absolute necessity and big enough through the thighs to accomodate the muscles all those hours on the bike have brought. Oh, and that have functional pockets and are well constructed. But in my size, jeans are trendy junk for women without muscles.... ARGGGG!!!!!!! I wish I were a few inches shorter and could shop in the boys department.....

end of rant...

[emily_in_nc]

skhill, I don't know what size you are, but I have recently found Talbot's jeans to fit very well. They're attractive, well made, fashionable without being overly trendy, and have moderate cuts (not too low and not "Mom jeans" either!) They have good sales too!

This spring I bought two pairs at full price (which I rarely do) in the store because I was so delighted at the way they fit and looked. I have gotten compliments on these jeans unlike any other jeans I've ever worn, interestingly, and they've held up great to multiple washings. YMMV, of course, but they do have a wide size range (petites, regular, women's, women's petites - not sure about talls, though) and are not extreme in any way.

I share your frustration with jeans buying since I find that a lot of petites are just a smidge too short for me now that boot-cuts are so popular and need to be a bit longer, but regulars are always too long, and I refuse to hem jeans! Talbots Petites are 29" inseams so are perfect on me. I've also had decent luck with Lands End, which hems for free. I can't buy from LL Bean as their petite jeans are just a smidge too short for my inseam.

Good luck in your quest!

[Crankin]

Ahhh, I have been finding that most petite pants have gone to a 30 inch hem. It's driving me crazy. I am a 29 or 28.5. Unless I wear my pants with heels all of he time, they are dragging. So, I end up getting them hemmed.
I am holding on to my jeans from the Loft that I bought 4 years ago. I also have some new ones from Banana Republic, that I love, but they are too long to wear with my casual shoes. I am close to getting them hemmed.

[emily_in_nc]

Ahhh, I have been finding that most petite pants have gone to a 30 inch hem. It's driving me crazy. I am a 29 or 28.5. Unless I wear my pants with heels all of he time, they are dragging. So, I end up getting them hemmed.
I am holding on to my jeans from the Loft that I bought 4 years ago. I also have some new ones from Banana Republic, that I love, but they are too long to wear with my casual shoes. I am close to getting them hemmed.

Interesting! The only place I've seen "petite" or "short" jeans that have a 30" inseam is Victoria's Secret, but I haven't tried that many places and have never even been in a Banana Republic. Most petite jeans I've tried have been too short (28 or 28.5" inseams). The only ones I can wear in the "Ankle" (short) length at Gap are the Long and Lean model (longer than the norm for Gap). And at Loft, the jean styles from the last year or so are long enough now, but a couple of pairs I bought several years ago were a little too short, so I sold them on ebay! All of LL Bean's petite pants have 28.5" inseams, so even though they've got some cute styles these days, I can't wear them -- they might work for you!

[mayanorange]

Not that it really helps you in CA, but I adore Eastern Mountain Sports. They've always fit me really well in a functional way. And their stuff is rather cute. It's very dangerous for me to walk into EMS ;)

[VeloVT]

Not that it really helps you in CA, but I adore Eastern Mountain Sports. They've always fit me really well in a functional way. And their stuff is rather cute. It's very dangerous for me to walk into EMS ;)

Yes, I spent WAY too much at EMS last winter. I think "brand" stuff (Sugoi, etc) tends to be cuter, but EMS house brand stuff is pretty good quality and very functional, and frequently it's a fantastic deal (so I feel I have to stock up... arrrgh). Plus the EMS guys are so nice :rolleyes:...

[Crankin]

Emily: Maybe I am shrinking?? I have avoided Land's End because I have seen them as a "Mom jeans" kind of place, but maybe I will try. Athleta still has 28.5 length pants and they are starting to sell a lot of regular type pants, as opposed to strictly exercise stuff.
I love EMS, too and there is one 3 miles or less from my house. But everything is too big on me, especially the tops. The extra small tees have become longer and longer. I have a couple from like 5-6 years ago that I love, but the rest, forget it. I keep going there to search for stuff, and once in awhile I find something. Last weekend they had "club days" with a 20% discount for any outdoor or cycling club member. I did get a nice wool sweater; a bit itchier than Ibex, but it's something I would always wear a shirt under. Yes, the guys are very nice, but don't really want to listen to my size woes.
I think part of the problem is that younger people wear their pants dragging on the ground! I just don't want to have to have 2 sets of pants; one for heels and one for flats.

[Miranda]

PI Amfibs is what I wear running and XC skiing (the 2x I did it I was fine)


I bought those last year luckily on sale somewhere in my size at season's end. I just took them out today on the bike. Oh my, what a nice tight! :) I plan on using them post bike this winter in snow for xc ski and snow shoeing. The fabric is awesome.

[Miranda]

Interesting! The only place I've seen "petite" or "short" jeans that have a 30" inseam is Victoria's Secret, but I haven't tried that many places and have never even been in a Banana Republic. Most petite jeans I've tried have been too short (28 or 28.5" inseams). The only ones I can wear in the "Ankle" (short) length at Gap are the Long and Lean model (longer than the norm for Gap). And at Loft, the jean styles from the last year or so are long enough now, but a couple of pairs I bought several years ago were a little too short, so I sold them on ebay! All of LL Bean's petite pants have 28.5" inseams, so even though they've got some cute styles these days, I can't wear them -- they might work for you!


Express used to have some shorter length pants for dress slacks that were cute. The flare wasn't really proportioned as well as it could be though. They just hacked it off a few inches. But, they were ok if you didn't want to hem it.

[emily_in_nc]

Emily: Maybe I am shrinking?? I have avoided Land's End because I have seen them as a "Mom jeans" kind of place, but maybe I will try.

Lands End still has some "Mom jeans" :D, but they have gotten much better in the past year or so. There are lots of different cuts, so you just have to choose the one(s) that suit you. They have a "modern cut" (not sure if that is what it is called but something like that) that is below the navel (but not too low) and boot-cut. It used to be that 4P was their smallest size, but they've added 2P (maybe even 0P in some styles), and I find the 2P fits me really well -- and I can specify the inseam, which is nice! Bean also has a modern cut now but the 28.5" petite length, and I think 4P may be their smallest size.

We don't have EMS here in NC. Too bad -- I hear lots of good things about it here!

[skhill]

At last! Carhartt size 2 (WTF??) relaxed fit... still a little small at the thighs, but at this point I don't care... (It was just about this time last year that I slipped from plus sizes to the standard range, so that 2 is kinda freaking me out...)

So... can anyone suggest cheap places to get size 2 pants??

Thanks!

[tc1]

Size 2 pants? Seriously? You should check out title 9. They sell well made and stylin' athletic clothes in tiny sizes. They make me mad because they don't carry plus size stuff because they tried and the stuff didn't sell. They didn't sell because the plus size items were all a dull solid color, not the colorful things they have in their regular clothes.

REI sells all kinds of athletic tights, pants, etc in a variety of sizes including plus.

Eddie Bauer is good for outerwear. They have a huge variety of sizes, from petite to women's. And, their online site gives the dimensions of the item.

[yellow]

Crankin and other smaller and shorter ladies...aside from the "used clothing store" (which is where I get most of my clothes), I pretty much only go to Ann Taylor these days (not Loft, just regular old Ann Taylor). Not that I could wear them, but they carry all the way down to 00P, but they aren't teeny bopper clothes. I recently got 2 pairs of decent, not super fancy, but decent pants for work and they have a 28.5-inch inseam. They also carry some styles in "curvy" (smaller waist and bigger legs) as well as "regular" fit. Good for those of us with legs that are big in proportion to the rest of us.

Crankin, you and I can have our own little rant about clothing for smaller people. And I'm not that small. I always wonder what how the really small people must feel! I guess that's why my 4'10" Gramma always made all of her clothes.

Most other stores in the geographically limited area that I can tolerate for shopping won't carry small sizes in the store, so I don't even bother. I wish the Eddie Bauer store did. You can order small stuff from in the catalog, but I hate doing that (well, I hate always having to pay for return shipping).

As for athletic clothing (the original subject of this thread), I second/third/whateverweareupto the Sporthill stuff. I also have several pairs of Hind Munich pants I got long ago...I'm not sure if they make them any more.

[Crankin]

Yes, I am a fan of Ann Taylor.
Tc1, Title 9 does NOT have tiny sizes. In fact, they have no extra smalls, except for a few, I mean a very few pieces, mostly made by Horny Toad. I once wrote to them about this and their lack of petite sized pants and skorts. I got back an email that said basically they felt they didn't need to make them. That sort of made me stop buying from them. Oh and the fact that when Iwas in Boulder a few years ago, I visited the store and they were kind of snooty. Athleta has steadily increased their petite sized stuff and they are always sold out of the smallest sizes. That says to me that there is a market for this.

I know I am not the only short and slim person around.

[Jolt]

Mountain Hardwear makes some good hiking pants in three different lengths, for anyone who's looking for hiking stuff. And they actually come in sizes that fit smaller people well.

http://mountainhardwear.com/Product.aspx?top=1427&cat=1478&prod=2523

[Eden]

Crankin, you and I can have our own little rant about clothing for smaller people. And I'm not that small. I always wonder what how the really small people must feel! I guess that's why my 4'10" Gramma always made all of her clothes.

ooohhh can I join.... I sometimes feel like I'm not allowed to complain because I can't find clothes small enough.... Some people seem to think its some form of bragging, but it's not like I'm super skinny or something - I'm SHORT! and the rest of my body happens to be in proportion to the 5 feet of my height. I'm actually relatively curvy, just on a different scale. It's terribly frustrating that so few stores go small enough any more.

I love Anne Taylor- the petite stuff actually fits me nicely. The only jeans I seem to be able to buy out of the store these days are Gap Kids... From their web site it looks like I should be able to buy 0's, but I always get their namesake *a gap* in the back of the pants with women's sizes. Not to mention its really hard to find jeans that are not flares or boot cut in the store (they do have other cuts, but I really need to try things on before I buy them, so I'm not real interested in ordering from the web) and that just makes me look even shorter - its pretty ugly when the flare starts at your knee....

[rocknrollgirl]

http://beyondclothing.com/


Go here. You select, you measure, they make. It is that simple. I ordered a pair of soft shell pants from them 4 years ago and they are wonderful. I was happy with the entire process. I got exactly what I wanted.

[Becky]

http://beyondclothing.com/


Go here. You select, you measure, they make. It is that simple. I ordered a pair of soft shell pants from them 4 years ago and they are wonderful. I was happy with the entire process. I got exactly what I wanted.

Second the recommendation! I have a windblock fleece jacket from them that's perfect in every way. They even worked with me to include an interior pocket for my insulin pump.

[Crankin]

Well, I am not going to start getting my clothes custom made, but I have been looking into getting a pair of wool pants from Jones Wear; they have a pair of hiking/ski pants that look good enough to wear for casual stuff, too. I was thinking of them for when I ride my bike to the train for school, maybe in the early spring when it will still be cold at night when I come home. Also, I do a lot of local snow shoeing and sometimes we end up going out to eat afterwards. My problem is that it appears I am between an x small and small in the stats and of course, the length is about 2-3 inches too long. They do custom stuff and I think if I just went with the smalls, they might be a a tiny bit big in the waist, but it wouldn't cost a lot to get the hem done to the right length at the start.
And yes, Eden, I don't say much about not being able to find things that fit. It's like a sin to be small. I am not bragging, either. I am short and thin, but I am not skinny by any means. And now, I have cyclist's thighs to boot!
So, while my choices for regular clothes are OK, (Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Loft), the choices for athletic stuff continues to be a little lean.
I just wonder why J. Crew has suddenly started to slowly get rid of their petite sizes over the years. They still have the suits and pants and some skirts and dresses. No more petite jeans... just "short" ones that are 30". And no more sweaters. A regular extra small sweater comes down to like my thighs!

[rocknrollgirl]

I would never have imagined that I would have custom made pants either, but I am small, and I could not find pants to fit anywhere. So in absolute frustration, I tried it. It was no more expensive than purchasing a higher end pair of winter pants that are marketed for climbing, or skiing or hiking.

Believe me, I am a sale rack girl, but I really could not find what I was looking for.