curvy-cut tops, long bottoms

[chialea]

Hi, all. I've gotten some incredibly good advice here (I haven't found the person who recommended the Terry Zero X + Shebeest shorts, but I owe you one!) so I thought I'd try asking whether any of you have already figured out an answer to my clothing problem. I'd appreciate any insight, whether warnings about certain brands or pointers or others.

Basically, I have a ~35" bust, and 26-27" waist. This seems to mean that the PI smalls somewhat fit me more or less OK (assuming stretchiness), but a bunch of em are so short they're showing my stomach in front! Oddly enough, I found a child's size L jersey that was about the same shape and size, but 2" longer in front (this is now my one and only jersey. it has spongebob on it.). Apparently I'm a little tall (5'9") or these shirts are cut a little short. I'd prefer not to have a bunch of extra fabric flapping around in the wind or have my chest smashed (or both), so I wondered whether someone had found something that was a little more in the curvy-cut, not belly-baring direction. I'm looking for jerseys, base layers, long-sleeved stuff, wind/rain jacket, woolies...

While I'm asking, has anyone found women's tights that run tall? I have about a 33" inseam, and ankle grippers don't fit my calves very well.

[KnottedYet]

Try Ibex. www.ibexwear.com

They are quite tall-friendly and curve-friendly. I've got the "hourglass" figure that is so hard to fit these days like it sounds you do.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

TE has a "shop" for Tall:
http://www.teamestrogen.com/categories.asp?catID=105

[JanB]

I'm 5'7" but not as small as you are and I just got a Castelli long sleeve jersey and it's great-it's really long so it covers and will stay down far enough.

[VeloVT]

Hello,
I'm 5'6" (so average height), flat chest, but have a long torso for my height and also have big waist-hip difference (26/37). I run into this problem with jerseys a lot. PI and Shebeest are almost always too short in the torso. I've had good luck with Gore jerseys and Castelli jerseys in terms of having adequate front torso length. I also have some cheapish Hind long sleeve jerseys that are plenty long enough (but kind of a sloppy, not very sleek fit over all).

One other thing I've found, related to the curvy figure discussion -- 99% of the time I need to order shorts by waist size and totally ignore the hip measurement. If I order for hip size the shorts are always too big. I share this only because it seemed completely counter intuitive to me, since you would think you'd need to fit the biggest part...

[spokewench]

My Castelli jerseys from a couple of years ago are fairly long - and not real tight in the chest area (I'm a 34C) I like the length since I'm with you, I hate to have to be pulling on my shirts all the time.

[SouthernBelle]

TwinSix jerseys are curvy.

[Torrilin]

I have no useful suggestions, but I feel your pain. Hourglass figure is not easy to fit, no matter what advertisers like to claim.

[chialea]

Thanks, all. Ibex looks like it might fit just about perfectly (but so expensive! I assume it's really, really nice ). I'll try a Castelli (I seem to remember doing so and having it run quite large, but I'll give it another shot.) and Gore. I have a deep and abiding love for wool, so I might just have to give in and be clothed in snuggly wool all winter.

SouthernBelle -- do you have any idea how the twinsix jerseys run in the waist? do they run long? I found a dealer fairly close (I think I biked by them last weekend at some point), so I'll check them out.

I am really surprised that the TE tall shop (which is a great idea) has such short tights! 30" inseams on the size M is tall? I hope they stretch quite a lot!

[blueskies]

I tried on a couple Cannondale jerseys that had room for more curvage up top than I had on me.

Also, if you call TE, the women who answer the phones are right there in the building with the gear that they sell. They ride bikes, wear the clothes, and know how the different brands tend to be cut. They're unusually helpful that way. (Compared to your typical call center order taker...)

[Bklynmom]

I just bought a Giordana jersey in the LBS that fits perfectly - size large is tight in the waist with plenty of bust room, but no extra fabric - nice and soft too - more like bathing suit material... also bought it because I wanted black.

On second thought you might find it short on you - I am 5' tall and it hits me in the right places.

I think Shebeest may make a longer jersey...

The sizing thing is so difficult when you can't try stuff on, sometimes I buy stuff in bike stores just because size and cut varies so much, even within a brand.

I have found it very helpful to call TE and second that suggestion.

[silver]

I'm 5'8" 34" in the bust 34B/C and 25 in the waist. I buy tops to fit my chest and then alter the waist. I take the elastic out of the bottom and resew the hem. I have been so much happier with my jerseys since I started doing this. Let's see brands.....my primal custom jersey from last year's hilly is pretty long. My Alabama jersey is made by hincapie and it was pretty long but it got an extensive alteration. Maybe if you sized up a bit and altered then they would be longer.

I could probably help you out with an alteration if you need it. I've gotten pretty good at it.

Tights! I still haven't found tights that are long enough. I have a 34" inseam and even the long ones are short! Let me know if you find some!

[VeloVT]

I just bought a Giordana jersey in the LBS that fits perfectly - size large is tight in the waist with plenty of bust room, but no extra fabric - nice and soft too - more like bathing suit material... also bought it because I wanted black.

On second thought you might find it short on you - I am 5' tall and it hits me in the right places.

Given your height, I might be a little wary of buying Giordana without trying on first. I recently ordered this Giordana jersey (not from this retailer, but it's a good picture):
http://www.piermontbike.com/istar.asp?a=6&id=1022!GIT

As mentioned above I'm 5'6", about a 33" chest (measured around the fullest part, not measured under the bust). This is definitely on the short side for me. I ordered a size small (my usual size), and it fits "perfectly" in the sense that it doesn't bind or pull but there's not a bit of extra fabric anywhere. I wouldn't say it actually runs small such that you would have to order up, but I would say it's a very small and slim cut. I'm quite flat chested and don't think someone much bigger than me (in the bust or elsewhere) would fit in this jersey, in this size anyway.

But, YMMV. We're all built differently, I have somewhat broad shoulders so that may be part of it.

It's very nicely made and, aside from being proportioned for a small person, cut well too.