Supersizing of America & a rant

[OakLeaf]

Or maybe they are like me...tiny shoulders, small waist, big boobs. I am a 34 band, but D cup. Often the tops that fit me through the boobs hang on me everywhere else.

Tops fit me the same way, and I'm a 34A/B. It's just that no matter how much or how little upper body work I'm doing (and at the moment it's precious little ), my pecs and lats develop more than my delts. Or maybe it's bone structure - broad through the ribcage but smaller through the clavicles. Either way, tops either fit me like old lady tops, shapeless and saggy everywhere, or they're tight across the chest. Waist is actually much less of a visible problem for me than shoulders.



Actually - now that I think about it - I'm thinking that the problem begins more in the shape of the shoulders than anywhere else. Mine are quite square, and it seems that most women's tops are constructed for sloping shoulders. When I do find a top that's the right circumference for my shoulders and my chest, normally the neckline is up around my ears somewhere.

[Becky]

Or maybe they are like me...tiny shoulders, small waist, big boobs. I am a 34 band, but D cup. Often the tops that fit me through the boobs hang on me everywhere else. And if they are sleeveless the arm holes are often gaping in the ones that don't stretch across the girls. It kinda blows.

This. Blouses are a nightmare, unless they're stretchy. I don't even wear sleeveless anymore.

I would pay good money for tailored blouses that come in cup sizes.

[badger]

I think blouses in general don't fit women off the rack. For me, the problem is I'm pretty flat (34A/B), so there's an extra pouff of fabric that I can't fill out. I'm just counting my blessings that work allows me to wear whatever and I take advantage of that. I'm wearing my t-shirt, capris and flip flops

[Veronica]

Then there are those of us with a significant amount of muscle on our backs. Every time I try to use the Title 9 bra fit calculator - it tells me my numbers are impossible.

Veronica

[OakLeaf]

I found a picture of the person for whom women's blouses are designed!

http://i.ehow.com/images/a04/8r/09/a...ck-800X800.jpg

[GLC1968]

Then there are those of us with a significant amount of muscle on our backs. Every time I try to use the Title 9 bra fit calculator - it tells me my numbers are impossible.

Veronica

Or those of us with smaller than average sized boobs and waists, but big arms. I can wear sleeveless shirts off the rack but if there is a sleeve, I need to order up a few sizes. Not all women have sticks for arms but you'd never know that by blouse design.

See - this is why there is no standard for women's sizes - even in the same size, women come in so many shapes that there is no way clothing manufacturers could please all the women, all the time. This is exactly why adding lycra/stretch to woven garments took off the way it did!

[GLC1968]

Have you ever tried the Levi's Curvy jeans (528 or 529 depending upon whether you try Juniors or Misses sizes)? I run into this, too, but they are great. They are higher in the back and they are cut with a narrower waistband, even though they are still relatively low-rise.

These are great fitting jeans - but they are too long! Even the 'short' length is longer than 30' and impossibly hard to locate. And, for whatever reason, jeans don't seem to shrink in length anymore no matter how much I try drying them. As a teen, I remember leaving jeans out of the dryer in order to avoid turning them into 'floods'. Why the change??

[Selkie]

Are they making jeans longer because some like wearing heels w/them? When I was younger, heels w/jeans was a hootchie fashion trend. ;-) Liked big hair, lee-press on nails, and frosted eye shadow.

I have to admit that I'm glad the inseams on the petite jeans are longer because it's hard for me to find regular jeans that fit. I'm 5'5" but small boned, so my frame is petite but my height is not. Sorry Crankin! I'm sure the trend will reverse itself as people rediscover flat shoes.

[Veronica]

I couldn't find the 528s at the Levi site.

Veronica

[GLC1968]

Are they making jeans longer because some like wearing heels w/them? When I was younger, heels w/jeans was a hootchie fashion trend. ;-) Liked big hair, lee-press on nails, and frosted eye shadow.

I think that's probably the case. I've permanently give up heels and now I'm getting even more frustrated with jeans. Oh - and add white sunglasses to that list, please.


V - I found the 529 on Amazon but they were out of the short length. I've also heard that Kohls carries them but I haven't checked. What size do you wear? You can have mine if you want - they are just tooooo long for me (though they might be too big for you too but I can check).

[Veronica]

Mostly I was just curious. I got new jeans last year from J Jill. I got the roll up ones in a regular size and just didn't roll them up. The length turned out to be perfect for me.

I usually only wear jeans once a week to work. Unless I'm having a bad week and just want to be comfy. I would like to find some khaki colored jeans though. The ones I've got now are quite large on me.

I tend to wear chinos and I'm having a hard time finding ones that fit well. I found some chino like pants at Garnett Hill in an inseam that works for me and fits my butt and thighs, sit below my belly button and no gaping. I'm hoping they'll have some new colors this fall since I bought all the colors I liked last spring. Do women really wear white or pink pants? (The colors I didn't buy.)

Fortunately, I'll be able to wear skorts until the end of October or so.

Veronica

[Selkie]

I think that's probably the case. I've permanently give up heels and now I'm getting even more frustrated with jeans. Oh - and add white sunglasses to that list, please.
.

LOL -- I never, ever, ever would wear heels with jeans, even when I was in my teens/20s. Like you, GLC, I don't wear heels at all.

Instead of jeans, I mostly wear Patagonia tights or capris during the cooler months. I do have some jeans that fit---Levi's petite sizes that I found at Macy's. They are a smidge too short in the inseam but at least the waist doesn't gape. Might have to resort to the juniors department for jeans if this vanity sizing trend continues.

Work clothes, I can find some Talbots stuff that fits, but unfortunately, the company has fallen victim to vanity sizing. Pants---I'm wearing a 0 petite, which is ridiculous. I can usually get by with size 2 petite skirts, but sometimes, I have to pin the waist. Tops aren't a problem, thank God. More and more, I'm buying Patagonia skirts and dresses for work. The clothes are very comfortable, high quality, and FIT. That is one company that hasn't capitulated to vanity sizing. In addition, J Peterman has some very nice stuff that fits (not vanity sized)---tailored, good for work, and a lot of the stuff is very unique.

White sunglasses? Is that the latest?

[Veronica]

Patagonia is having a 30% off sale right now. I really like their dresses. I have three different ones. Merino wool tees are on sale. Some of their bottoms are a little too low rise for me though and sometimes don't fit my supersize muscular thighs.

Veronica

[Selkie]

V --- I actually got up at the crack of dawn this morning to shop that sale! LOL. Was well worth it because a few things I wanted were included in the sale and they had them in the color I wanted/my size.

The dresses drape well---very flattering. TE sells some their stuff, including some of their dresses.

[PamNY]

I wonder if problems getting pants that fit is one reason tights/leggings are so popular. Not the only reason, but I'll bet it's a factor.

I am so tempted to get some, but I am almost 60 years old...