Clothing RANT

[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 ...

[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.

[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" , 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!