I have a free month trial at Gwynnie Bee right now (clothes rental by mail, sizes 10-32), and I found a FB group of ladies who subscribe to the service. I love seeing real women trying on nice clothes. Everything looks good on the model, but since plus size women carry weight so differently, I can't tell from the model what's going to look good on me. I've seen some outfits that look better on a size 28 woman than they did on the size 14 model, because they were the right shape for her.
But it sounds like from this article that you're an exception, though. I think the author was very aware that plus-size women want better fashion choices; but it seemed like her point was that even though people complain about the skinny-skinny-everybody's-skinny marketing approach for clothes, they still are more likely to buy the stuff modeled by a skinny model vs. a "normal" or plus-sized one.
"The most perplexing insight of my career was when a plus-size retailer tested shoppers, showing the same styles on size 8 and 14 models, each to a different customer segment. The size 8 model translated into more sales nearly every time, even as customers demanded on social media that the brand use plus-size women in their product photography. This was not an isolated incident; industry friends shared similar anecdotes about brand after brand. And retailers are going to continue to create online shopping experiences that lead to higher sales. For example, brands frequently reshoot a slow-selling item on a “higher converting” model (to use the industry term for earning potential) to move inventory. "
I dunno, is it an aspirational thing maybe? But whatever the reason, it seems like she was basically saying that we're not going to see models bigger than a size 0 unless normal and plus-size models start selling more clothes than skinny ones, and so far she says that isn't happening.
I am just here to say that I discovered Avenue and pretty much love them for plus size clothing. I feel like they are comparable to lane byrant but better.
My problem is sometimes the plus size version of fashion is literally just a larger size/cut of the non-plus size. That doesn't fit me -- I have a STOMACH and TINY legs. I need clothes designed for plus size - curves and all -- not just larger cuts of thin girl clothes. Also I am poor and cannot afford $40 for one tee shirt.
I am also not a fashionista. I shop at Catherine's so I'm pretty much an old fugly lady.
And while I am on my soapbox - I used to LIVE in Lane Bryant. Stylish, young, fun clothes that FIT! YAY! Decent quality too and not toooooooo expensive when on sale (or when I worked there for the discount). I have clothes in my closet from 10+ years ago from them that still look good. But I also have stuff I bought there in the last 5 years that are worn out, ripped, holes, etc. The price has gone up, materials are worse and quality has gone way down.
This is a problem across the board, not just in plus sizes. I've noticed this with several clothing manufacturers that I always thought of as being high quality, and I've heard the same from friends about other clothing lines.
yup. I wash all of my clothes inside out, on the gentle cycle, and line dry so that they'll last more than a year before they fall apart.
I find most of their stuff too trendy for me. The last time I shopped there I found things I liked, but they had to go and ruin it by adding those terrible hi low cuts to everything.
I went in Maurice's the other day. They didn't have anything that wowed me, but I'll definitely keep stopping by occasionally to see what they stock.
I go to Avenue occasionally as well and I like buying underwear and tights there, but a lot of the fabrics are cheaper and I don't love that. I think Talbot's has spoiled me.
I usually get jeans there - they carry Silver jeans and I have had a lot of luck with those. I occasionally find a cute top there but mostly casual stuff, I don't like the quality of their dressier clothes.
I totally agree with having clothes stuggles. I'm probably an 18/20 or 20/22 on the bottom and an XL/1X on top and in my mid to late (eek!) 30s. I want classy, a little trendy but not over the top, clothes that last.
Oh and I don't want to drop $80 on a pair of pants. Neither do I want to order something online, try it on and have to return it to the store or ship it back. Ain't nobody got time for that.
So after reading this post last night I went looking for clothes online. Asos was way too trendy for me and too much see through fabric to be appropriate for work. Also too much black, I like color!
So after reading this post last night I went looking for clothes online. Asos was way too trendy for me and too much see through fabric to be appropriate for work. Also too much black, I like color!
I did order these from Dress Barn
I have the navy top in orange. Not sure what possessed me because ai don't really like orange, but I think it is fairly flattering:)
Post by cherryvalance on Aug 22, 2014 10:44:29 GMT -5
I'll throw in another vote for ASOS Curve, simply for the free shipping and returns. I haven't kept everything from there, but I love knowing I can try it on at home essentially for free, since I can just ship it back easily. I will say, though, that their sizes seem off to me and they tend to have a lot of tent dresses with no defined waist. I purchased a dress in a 16 (usually a 16, sometimes 14 or 18 depending on company) and I was swimming in it. It really looked more like a 20. That seems to be the biggest issue for me with PS; the sizes are all over the map (moreso than when I buy from a non PS line), so it just seems like a huge hassle.
ETA: And yes, Dress Barn! I NEVER would have walked into a Dress Barn because the name just says "Old ladies who have given up" to me, but they have a lot of great options.
I'm in between plus and "regular" sizes. I'm also really, really picky about how things fit me. I may be fat but I try to camouflage this as much as possible.
Because of this, I basically will not shop online. I may find 20 things that fit but only one will flatter.
I'm so fucking sick of having a hard time finding a 14 in stores. A 16 is damn near impossible and that's what I wear in brands that don't vanity size.
I never really had a hard time finding 14s or 16s when I wore that size. Where do you shop? BR was a favorite for dresses, still is. Also, I love Gap Modern Boot work pants. They fit ass and hips and they're really flattering. I think those go up to size 20 online and 16 in store.
Nordstrom Rack also has some great plus size options. Nordstrom does as well. Rack is just a cheaper alternative. I know most of the Womens clothing is fug. I've seen the plus size stores who make everything in cheap jersey and ugly styles. Not everyone wants to be a damn pin up girl with black and cherries all over shit.
sorry so far back in the thread, but that's that...
I'm PO'ed at Nordstrom Rack, because I used to be able to get amazing plus size stuff at their downtown Seattle flagship branch... until they moved to new digs and completely eliminated ANY plus size clothing, like, at all. They don't even have one pathetic rack in the corner. I was buying bras (which they did have to fit me) and the woman who checked me out was all, "yep, they don't do any plus here anymore at all, AND WE GET ASKED ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME, there are lots of people who would buy if it was here, and none of us working here know why they did it."
I never really had a hard time finding 14s or 16s when I wore that size. Where do you shop? BR was a favorite for dresses, still is. Also, I love Gap Modern Boot work pants. They fit ass and hips and they're really flattering. I think those go up to size 20 online and 16 in store.
Nordstrom Rack also has some great plus size options. Nordstrom does as well. Rack is just a cheaper alternative. I know most of the Womens clothing is fug. I've seen the plus size stores who make everything in cheap jersey and ugly styles. Not everyone wants to be a damn pin up girl with black and cherries all over shit.
sorry so far back in the thread, but that's that...
I'm PO'ed at Nordstrom Rack, because I used to be able to get amazing plus size stuff at their downtown Seattle flagship branch... until they moved to new digs and completely eliminated ANY plus size clothing, like, at all. They don't even have one pathetic rack in the corner. I was buying bras (which they did have to fit me) and the woman who checked me out was all, "yep, they don't do any plus here anymore at all, AND WE GET ASKED ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME, there are lots of people who would buy if it was here, and none of us working here know why they did it."
Nordstrom Rack. I have never bought an article of clothing there. Know why? Because in mine,you can't find the plus size department as there are no signs. Once I finally found a clerk to show me where it was, I got there, and discovered the reason I could not find it was because it's mixed into the petite department. Like completely intermingled. So you are sorting through a rack looking for 16Ws and it's shared with 6Ps. All the racks in that part of the store are mixed up, and it doesn't appear like they care. I thought it had to have been a mistake, like a moron clerk, but when I went again last weekend, same damn problem. WTF.
My problem w plus size clothes : - i dont want f*cking glitter on my shirt i am a grown a$$ woman! - in the winter i want a long sleeve not half a sleeve - i dont need paterns or words on tge front of my damn shirt.
let me tell you some bullshit about ON - i buy a few pairs of jeans once a year. as in two pair of jeans once a year and wear those fuckers out until the next yearly jean purchase. i am a 16 in jeans at ON. i find the 16 short sweetheart cut jeans that i like in a medium wash that fit decent. i grab the same thing (16 short sweetheart cut) but in a dark wash and that motherfucker fits me entirely different. IT SHOULD BE THE SAME MOTHERFUCKING JEAN. SAME JEAN.
RAGEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Real Talk. ON sucks ass when it comes to pants regardless of plus-size or not. I do not ever purchase ON pants. Tops only.
Post by statlerwaldorf on Aug 22, 2014 11:56:09 GMT -5
I hate 3/4 sleeves. I was so annoyed with Motherhood Maternity last winter. All of their plus size shirts were 3/4 sleeve. Many of the styles came with full length sleeves in the regular sizes.
My problem w plus size clothes : - i dont want f*cking glitter on my shirt i am a grown a$$ woman! - in the winter i want a long sleeve not half a sleeve - i dont need paterns or words on tge front of my damn shirt.
Sent from my SM-N900V using proboards
QFT.
Also, I want pants that go ALL THE WAY DOWN. For some reason, clothing manufacturers seem to think that if you're over a size 16, you CLEARLY HAVE NO NEED FOR FULL LENGTH PANTS. It's like every pair of pants on the rack is a capri.
And if we could have some pants that don't taper at the ankle, that would be nice, too... because I was taught that the best look FOR ME is to have pants that are wider (or the same) at the cuff than at the knee.
I hate 3/4 sleeves. I was so annoyed with Motherhood Maternity last winter. All of their plus size shirts were 3/4 sleeve. Many of the styles came with full length sleeves in the regular sizes.
I actually like them but that's because full length sleeves usually come to my fingertips. 3/4-length usually hit about 2 inches above my wrists.
3/4 sleeves don't bother me. I actually prefer them because it's a top that is seasonless. Here's how I style mine:
Fall/Winter - Pair with blazer/jacket and scarf; pair with a long sleeve cardigan Spring - Pair with 3/4 length blazer or wear alone with a scarf Summer - Wear alone; pair with fun jewelry. It gives me enough coverage to keep me from being cold in the office; yet it's not a full sleeve so I don't die the minute I step outside.
Re: trendy items - you don't need all of the outfit to make it work. You can tone down a trendy piece by pairing it with a classic. Ex - peplum tops. I have one peplum blazer and one peplum top. I usually pair it with a pencil skirt or slim fit pants to make it work well.
This fall it looks like Print on Print is in, so, I'll do a print on print but pair it with a solid color blazer to tone it down.
let me tell you some bullshit about ON - i buy a few pairs of jeans once a year. as in two pair of jeans once a year and wear those fuckers out until the next yearly jean purchase. i am a 16 in jeans at ON. i find the 16 short sweetheart cut jeans that i like in a medium wash that fit decent. i grab the same thing (16 short sweetheart cut) but in a dark wash and that motherfucker fits me entirely different. IT SHOULD BE THE SAME MOTHERFUCKING JEAN. SAME JEAN.
RAGEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Real Talk. ON sucks ass when it comes to pants regardless of plus-size or not. I do not ever purchase ON pants. Tops only.
I must be the only person who ever has any luck with Old Navy pants. I live in their pixie ankle pants. (They just added grey and burgundy to the plus size offerings and I'm finding it hard to resist adding to my collection)
ETA: Screw it, I just ordered both of those colors, plus a black pair for back up and this dress.
Post by statlerwaldorf on Aug 22, 2014 12:29:46 GMT -5
I'm in my mid 20s. I was being unfair when I said it was too trendy. I don't write off all trendy items. I just hate that Maurice's jeans all have whiskers and are faded. Not only do they seem more suitable for teenagers, but they are horribly unflattering.
I am just here to say that I discovered Avenue and pretty much love them for plus size clothing. I feel like they are comparable to lane byrant but better.
Avenue and Lane Bryant seem to flip flop. One season one of them has awful choices, then they switch. Avenue used to be great years ago, then they went through a run of horrible stuff. Blech. But it's getting better again. Lane Bryant has some ok stuff right now, but so over priced. And those are the only convenient stores to me. I'll have to check out some of the others mentioned.
I'm in my mid 20s. I was being unfair when I said it was too trendy. I don't write off all trendy items. I just hate that Maurice's jeans all have whiskers and are faded. Not only do they seem more suitable for teenagers, but they are horribly unflattering.
See, I could still work around these tho.
Stripped tee and blazer. My response to make everything less trendy is a blazer. I actually counted last night and I have 22 blazers (4 of which belong to suits). LOL
Folks who are all anti-trendy....you're in your 30s, right? Why do you feel like you can't look trendy? Why this need to look and be conservative? Now, I have to admit, I see conservative as old lady frump, but I'm trying to figure out why that first outfit SMo posted wouldn't work for some of you. And I'll be honest, I hate every one of those tops that pugz posted. All of them.
I wasn't one of the people who said that earlier, but I'm not trendy largely because I despise clothes shopping, so I want to do it as infrequently as possible, which means I have to buy things that won't look dated the following year.
Of course, I probably do qualify as frumpy so you might not want to listen to me.
Post by lasagnasshole on Aug 22, 2014 12:53:37 GMT -5
Ugh. Blazers. I want to like them. They look good.
But they're fucking hot on my commute. So I can either leave a bunch at work or I can carry them on the Metro along with my bag and my lunch and my laptop and...ugh, so much work.
And then I just find structured sleeves so uncomfortable when I'm typing all day. Why is fashion so hard?
I think maybe it's my line of work (hospital social work). We are on our feet most of the day. We all pretty much wear dress pants, a top, and usually a cardigan because it's freezing in the building. Can't wear open toed shoes, heels are not comfortable with all the running around we do. Can't ever wear jeans. I've never seen anyone at my level wear a blazer either. By conservative I mainly mean no bra straps showing and skirts at the knee or slightly above. I work at a Catholic hospital with nuns.
If I had an office job like @kcpokergal I would entertain a blazer and maybe wearing a dress/skirt to work. On my days off and weekends during the summer I wear dresses and skirts. Jeans the rest of the year.