ARGH!!!!!!!

I am not a skinny teenager, hoochie mama, or Italian grandmother!!!!!!!

All I want is a few things to wear to Europe. Is that so wrong?

heh.

I just want to warn you, the next great adventure will be swimsuit shopping.

quote:

Originally posted by p7eggyc:
I can't help Cate but I just wanted to say...I want D to come to CO and take me shopping!!!!! You were just teasing me when you said you might move to CO weren't you. hehehe

Peg

I was thinking the same thing, Peg! So, D, if you have some vacation days left could you come to PA and CO and help some girls out?

Jill

I can't help Cate but I just wanted to say...I want D to come to CO and take me shopping!!!!! You were just teasing me when you said you might move to CO weren't you. hehehe

Peg

quote:

Tops vary, because if the waist is too long, which it often is

Tunic tops and those floaty, away-from-body tops are SO in right now and are (in my opinion) look good wherever they hit, anywhere from just below the waist to the middle of the hip.

With the return of the belt, you could probably take a lot of previously unwearable button-ups, snap-ups, and even colored cotton pullover tops and throw a funky belt, either wide or thin, around your waist, and leave it untucked over jeans, skirts, shorts, capris, etc.

Large chest, short waist.

Tops vary, because if the waist is too long, which it often is, I'm screwed... wrap tops work to a degree.. there is no really good answer. I wear a lot of T-shirts. I don't really own dressy or winter tops at all.

I decided to just order a few things online and try that out. If the stuff works, fantastic, if it doesn't, it doesn't.

quote:

Originally posted by cate:
hmmmmm. Thanks for the suggestions and the sympathy. It seems to get tougher to buy clothes the smaller I get because I'm so short.

I'm about an 8 or 10, depending on the outfit/maker/etc. I can even be a 6 or a 12. So Lane Bryant is big on me. Even when I was larger, Lane Bryant still felt big. And even when looking at 'petites' it can still be incredibly frustrating, because essentially they take a 'normal' silhouette and just shrink it down.

I find that I'm usually a size larger in a petite. So, if I'm a missy size 8, then I'd be a 10 petite. Obviously, it varies from store to store, but that's a general rule. I also learned that in my many years of retail management. I also learned that I need petite bottoms, but I really don't do well with petite tops. Because I have a large chest, petite tops are usually too short on me. Even though the sleeves in regular sizes are WAY too long for me, the rest of the top fits better.

Dawn

hmmmmm. Thanks for the suggestions and the sympathy. It seems to get tougher to buy clothes the smaller I get because I'm so short.

I'm about an 8 or 10, depending on the outfit/maker/etc. I can even be a 6 or a 12. So Lane Bryant is big on me. Even when I was larger, Lane Bryant still felt big. And even when looking at 'petites' it can still be incredibly frustrating, because essentially they take a 'normal' silhouette and just shrink it down.

quote:

I bought some really great, very stylish clothes at Lane Bryant. I wear a size 14, and their 14/16 bottoms fit great.

I don't know how tall you are, but my biggest problem with Lane Bryant was that I always felt like things were cut for someone taller. The armholes were a little too low, the rise of the pants was a little too long, and short sleeves nearly always hit my elbows (she says, as she sits in a very oversized sleep shirt).

That being said, the choices offered there for plus sizes were the best I found for 18/20s. Catherine's (the store, not the forum member!) is owned by the same company, but I found their choices to be a little...old? for my tastes. I did think they had better "career" choices than Lane Bryant--a few more structured, tailored pieces.

Looking at Chico's Traveler's collection...

I love this jacket!
I've been looking for a straight-leg short at this length!
These are really cute; I have a pair from The Gap that's a nearly identical cut in khaki. I admit to wearing them nearly everywhere.
I might have to find a store and try these on. I mean, eventually it won't be summer, and I'll want to wear pants.

Aiieee! Enough shopping. Time for bed.

Cate--I hope maybe you got some ideas!

I also love Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft. I'm short, so I base a lot of my decisions on which stores have good petite departments.

There are some great stores I just don't do well with because they don't offer enough petites.

Dawn

I think Diana and I have the exact same taste in clothes. All the items listed I love! I bought some really great, very stylish clothes at Lane Bryant. I wear a size 14, and their 14/16 bottoms fit great. The tops though from Lane Bryant seem to run a bit too big for me. I never went to Lane Bryant because I thought they would be frumpy clothes. I could not have been more wrong. I don't know what size you are but that is a great place for 14 and up. I too love Ann Taylor, and Ann Taylor Loft. I have not been to a Chico's in ages but for some reason had no luck there.

I've learned a big lesson in clothes shopping. Paying more for quality made pieces that fit well is totally worth it. You can always have clothes tailored to fit your specific shape, and I think that it really does not cost too much to have your clothes tailored. Also, I've learned to buy what I like, regardless of the size. I refused to buy any pants that were above 14's last year when I put on a bunch of weight from my heel injury and not being able to work out. So, I'd squeeze into a 14 which just made bumps, muffin tops, etc. I now buy pieces that fit well and make me look good, and not worry about the size.

I've also had luck with Liz Claiborne clothing. She has some pretty trendy pieces and I always seem to wear a smaller size pant with LC stuff.

Jill

Mom has been doing "they don't make nice clothes like they used to" rants lately.

In addition, good luck trying to find clothing that is made in the USA.

I'll ditto the Chico's recommendation. I'm 34, and won't dress like a hoochie. I also won't wear anything that makes me look "precious"...I'm THIRTY-FOUR, and have no need of matching appliques on my pants, shirts, and socks. At some stores, I've decided all their "petite" customers are over 80 and desperately want elastic waist pants with a matching top--which MUST have butterflies, flowers, frogs, palm trees, flamingos, or any combination of those items.

That being said...

I've found Geoffrey Beene clothing to be cut very well for my particular shape. I checked online, and I guess I'm lucky to have one of their outlets a half-hour away, because I can't find ANY of the women's clothes on their website. Oh well.

I shop at Macy's, too. If I like it, I pick it up and try it on. If I don't like the way the PRODUCT LOOKS ON ME, I figure it's not cut for my shape and try something else. Stacy & Clinton from What Not To Wear have my undying love for telling me (and their makeovers) that size means nothing.

But...I checked Macy's website, and here are some links to things similar to my last round of purge-shop. I don't dress like a hoochie, but I also don't dress nearly as modestly as some other people do, so I expect that gives me a little more leeway.

And...I am an hourglass shape, so I tend to pick things that either highlight my waist OR make my chest look smaller.

Love this top with jeans
I really, really liked this print and fabric, but with my chest, I looked...very silly. The shirt was shorter in the front than the back.
I have several like this one in different colors from Geoffrey Beene. I can throw them on and look nicer than wearing just a t-shirt, without feeling like I've dressed up.
Mine's in a different color, but I can wear this to work with a skirt or with jeans, and it's very comfortable.
Love it!
Edit: EEK! They sold out of the one I had linked. This is close, but doesn't have the same "crinkle" effect as the sold out one. I have the crinkle version in a beautiful jade green, and want to go back and buy more of them. It is SO comfortable, and it's SUPPOSED TO LOOK WRINKLED!!! You wash it, then twist it up and let it hang dry.
I have a top like this one, but in black, and it is one of my go-to favorites now. Mine has a tie belt instead of a "real" one, and it really emphasizes my waist, is comfortable, and I get SO many compliments on it.

I've found that if I try on EVERYTHING that catches my eye, I do a lot better. I won't skip something because I don't *think* it will fit/look good. I try it anyway. That crinkle shirt caught my eye for the color, otherwise I would never have given it a chance, and I'm so glad I did. Turns out you CAN be a 12/14/16 AND wear fashionable clothes AND get compliments AND look good. Who knew?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: D in St Pete,

I had really good luck at TJ Maxx. I bought a couple of new capris and bermudas (Jones NY) and some cute empire waisted tops. I'm also inherited a bunch of my mil's Ralph Lauren pants and capris that are really cute although a tad big. Should be perfect for the plane though as they are really comfortable.

I also tend to do well at Ann Taylor. They seem to have good classic pieces.

I complete agree Catherine! I rarely buy clothes, because I find so few that seem to really be for my age group. Not a teen ager or even 20 something, but not old enough for grandma clothes.

I frequently find cute things at Chico's. Their "Traveler's" line would be great for you trip. They are light weight and don't wrinkle.

Dawn

quote:

Originally posted by Lori4squaremom:

And you think finding decent clothes for yourself is difficult....try finding modest clothing for you 7, 10 and 15 year old daughters!!!! nearly impossible!

I think Target has gotten much better about this in their girl's dept. I was shopping with my friend for her 8 y.o. daugher and she was able to find a lot of really cute things that were feminine and not immodest. She found tons of capri pants for summer on sale and cute T-shirts.

Dawn

Catherine,
Don't know what your budget or your local availability but the best fitting clothes I own are from Nordstroms. The other great thing about shopping there is that the sales people are VERY helpful if you ask for it. I tend to shop the clearance racks but have definitely spent some money at times but loved the clothing.

Also, I like Christopher and Banks and Coldwater Creek. Coldwater has a great internet site that is really easy to search for size, color, etc. and a liberal return policy.

Peg

I can completely sympathasize with you Catherine! I have a very hard time finding anything that doesn't show my boobs or my bum crack (or underwear) or that is skin tight. (Unless I want to go to a top end department store and spend $30 on a TShirt!!!!!) The clothing buyers for our area cater to a certain portion of our population, and I don't fit into that portion. So I end up wearing "grandma clothes"...because I will not dress immodestly!

And you think finding decent clothes for yourself is difficult....try finding modest clothing for you 7, 10 and 15 year old daughters!!!! nearly impossible!