Clothes Shopping Blues
We are going to a wedding in three weeks and I couldn’t put it off any longer. I had to go shopping for something to wear. We trudged from shop to shop looking for a top. I knew it wouldn’t be easy to find something that would be a bit dressy, summery and more importantly cover my beautiful, trim (well, it’s my blog so I can say whatever I want) backside!
Why do clothes manufacturers assume that if you are slightly over the so-called average size it must mean that you have no taste, no flair or fashion sense? We are meant to like, either dowdy clothes with no style, or sequins and stretchy fabric. You know, the sort of thing your mum would wear (though my mum wouldn’t have), or in some cases, the sort of thing your gran would wear!
The photo is of Twiggy and it was the era that marked the beginning of the end of fashion for the fuller figure!
I now know why my mum made all her own clothes! Being a plump lady AND a very stylish lady, it was the only way she could dress how she wanted to.
Having gone from shop to shop, searching through all the clothes that were obviously made for stick insects, I came home empty handed – yet again. I did see one top that I half liked but I’m sick of buying clothes I only half like. I want something that I’d look at and say “Oh, I love that top! I must have it” Is that asking too much? Well, is it?
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Jaffer
| 20 July 2009 at 0:29
I experience a similar frustration when shopping for pants especially.
I can find shirts in my size but pants are a whole different story.
I need to custom fit pants for formal wear – which can be pricey and When shopping for jeans, I end up finally choosing one from the “work-wear” department.
Jaffer´s last blog ..Yes, I’m still around and a couple of updates
Kathy
| 20 July 2009 at 0:45
It is certainly not asking for too much. I’m in the same boat as you with clothes shopping. All I wanted was a couple nice tops, as you say, summery, yet stylish. I shopped for three consecutive weekends and only found a single one. I’ve also noticed the styles this season are incredibly ugly. They’re not even something a younger set would wear. Who’s designing these things?
God, I could have written this post! I passed on a lot of possible tops because they didn’t WOW me. I want a WOW! Oh, do have better luck. You have some time left. Keep at it. Something is out there for you.
Kathy´s last blog ..The Summer of a Thousand Legs
Black Cat
| 20 July 2009 at 1:31
I do sympathise! I’m fairly slim, but even so, there seems to be nothing stylish out there for anyone who isn’t 20- and a stick insect! I do hope you find something you really like!
Black Cat´s last blog ..Awards and Ariel… We Hurt
Joanna Jenkins
| 20 July 2009 at 5:37
I hear you! When I need something I can never find it. When I’m broke with no place to go, I find tons of perfect cloths
Vampy Vic
| 20 July 2009 at 6:02
I know what you mean! When I was younger I didn’t even need to try clothes on, buy straight from teh rack, now I have stopped going to the gym and eating yummy foods, well, lets say clothes shopping is a real PITA.
hehe
I really don’t understand why women want to be that thin, thin people like Twiggy thin I look at and think jumkie.. most druggies are thin.. not to mention the bobbly head, like those dashboard Chihuahuas.
I know some people are just naturally slim, and you can tell because they look healthy but the ones that starve themselves just look like plain out junkies, let alone men are not really into such self obsessed people (well not usually)… I say bring back the Classic woman, actually bring back the woman’s body and let the little girls body (Twiggy thin) be only for little girls
Ok after all that…. I do hope that you find something you like, have you tried Etsy?
Barb-WillThink4Wine
| 20 July 2009 at 11:38
Apparently, so… All I want is something simple and classic in neutral colors. Does anybody really buy all those busy prints? And why aren’t there clothes for taller women? My inseam is 35 inches… how much do you think I like shopping?
Barb-WillThink4Wine´s last blog ..è finito
Jay
| 20 July 2009 at 11:47
Oh, Babs, I am SO with you on this!! I am overweight, no two ways about it, but I have a shape, and my legs are relatively slim. Can I find decent, stylish clothes to fit? Clothes with a little taste – maybe even flair, or style? Can I ‘eck as like!
I have actually bought a couple of kaftans recently, because like it or not, I do look good in them and they have style – providing you look carefully among the dross. I have a gorgeous one from Washington DC – in fact I’m planning to go back to the shop in October and try to get another. It’s a heavyweight cotton, beautifully printed, elegantly styled and could probably carry off a wedding – except that it’s dark green and gold, and clearly not formal wear. Depends on the type of wedding I guess.
Other than that .. well, Anne Harvey sometimes have good stuff, but they’re expensive. Mostly I find the other end of the market fits me quite well, if you can find anything you like and don’t mind buying cheaper clothes – which I do, often. Places like Bon Marche, for instance. Although Per Una at M&S can sometimes have some lovely stuff in my size.
beetle
| 20 July 2009 at 14:30
Jaffer: I didn’t think you would have problems! I always assumes that men would find shopping for clothes easy. I am surprised.
Kathy: I agree that the clothes are not at all attractive at the moment. Where are all the good fashion designers that create clothes that are flattering to the body?
Black cat: Yes, Mo says it’s a world for the young and we have become invisible. I think she is right, sadly.
Joanna: Oh yes, that is so true also! I’ve bought some of my best clothes when I haven’t been shopping for them
Vampy Vic: Where has the shapely woman of the fifties gone? Do they even exist anymore? They didn’t need implants. They had it all naturally
Barb: I am surprised. Funny how we picture people. I pictured you at about 5′4″. I agree about the loud printed tops! There were plenty of those to be bought!
Jay: Mo loves kaftans!! Our pastor, who went to Africa, brought us two genuine African tops back and we loved them! Sadly we outgrew them
I do have some Anne Harvey blouses and they are a lovely fit, though I have no problem with buying cheap clothes, as long as they do the job! It was Bon Marche that I found the ‘half liked’ top I think.
Comedy Plus
| 20 July 2009 at 15:03
I’ve wondered the same thing too. If you are trim then the clothes are awesome. If you aren’t, then there isn’t much to choose from. I can so relate. I hope you find something you really love very soon.
Have a terrific day Babs.
meleah rebeccah
| 20 July 2009 at 20:41
UGH! Clothes shopping is always such a nightmare. I hope you can find something that is stylish and pretty and not so, um, lame! Have you tried any online shopping? Maybe you will have better luck with that? Unless you are like me and HAVE to try things on before buying them!!
PS: Twiggy has always frightened me!
Yuck!
meleah rebeccah´s last blog ..My Nephew, Has Recently Become Obsessed With The Movie: ‘The Wizard Of Oz’.
Michelle Gartner
| 21 July 2009 at 3:41
Love the picture of Twiggy… and I can relate to the post. I have been big and little and all in between. It comes with having 5 children the natural way… without a Hollywood surrogate – oh and Jaffer is just trying to relate.. men actually have no clothing issues. ;0P
Michelle Gartner´s last blog ..I Finally Did It
Swubird
| 21 July 2009 at 16:14
Babs:
All I can say about this topic is keep on trucking. In my local mall they have a store for the larger sizes, but I’m no expert on how stylish they are.
Happy trails.
beetle
| 22 July 2009 at 13:39
Sandee: I’ve got so I almost don’t care any more, as long as I don’t end up in jeans and a T-Shirt ha ha!
Meleah: Unfortunately, I do have to try clothes on as it seems that no two of the same sizing are, in fact, the same size!
Michelle: I never had problems with clothes and could buy with ease until I gained more pounds. Now it’s a nightmare, unless I buy T-Shirts or a particular (expensive) brand!
Swubird: We have a similar store here but I find them too large and they don’t hang right on me. Oh well, I’ll keep trying
Maureen
| 22 July 2009 at 15:46
Try shopping with a slim teenage daughter who looks fab in EVERYTHING…. sometimes I would kid myself and actually pull a few things off the racks while she changed into a thousand different styles… only to get frustrated and peruse the jewellry section instead. *Sigh*
Hope you have better luck. Either that, or get out the sewing machine like good old mum did.
Maureen´s last blog ..And Here I Felt Soooo Special
Jackie aka Shinade
| 22 July 2009 at 19:54
Okay I’m really not here. As you will read on FB I am taking a nap. But, I simply had to drop over here first!
I have to agree with you and everyone else. I am heavy through the middle, yet, I am also short and have very short legs, along with being fairly well endowed in other areas.
If I find pants that fit around my waste then they are about a foot too long. If I find a shirt that will fit around my breast area then the sleeves are way too long.
I also agree with Kathy. Everything is just ugly this year. They seem to get worse and worse every year!!
I do so hope you both find something nice though and that you will have a great time!!
Big hugs…I have missed you and I hope you are still doing stories on Saturdays!!
Off now for a quick nap!:-)
Jackie aka Shinade´s last blog ..A Bird Nest In My Basket
beetle
| 22 July 2009 at 22:40
Maureen: I know, I see so many clothes I would love, but it’s all just dreams of what once was
Jackie: I am just the same. I always have to take about four inches off the legs of trousers I buy. You can’t often find ’short’ length, if ever! Tops are often too tight around the boobs too. You’d think they would accept that we are not all thin and tall!
Liudmila
| 23 July 2009 at 10:41
Eeee… This is the reason why I have a sewing machine. 1- I rarely find what I like, 2- I don’t like to look as I went out from the same incubator, 3- I don’t understand why I have to pay a fortune for 2 badly made seams…