he he he . . . it must be nice to be so small, dharma! I agree -- clothes are not made for real women's bodies. I have a hard time finding stuff I like because I have child-bearing hips and a rack to match. Most of the clothes (that are cute, anyway) are made for stick figure women. It's hard to find pants that fit just right, and I can't wear most of the tops because I look indecent in them. I feel your pain -- though I am jealous that you are so tiny!

I have a hard time finding stuff I like because I have child-bearing hips and a rack to match

When I was bigger that's the shape I was too.  A size 12 with a 36 DD rack....I was all boobs and butt!  I still had a hard time finding things that fit properly, especially length-wise.

The thing that really gets me is that there's little to no standardization of sizes.  I know that there will be some variations between brands and manufacturers...a size 5 in an Old Navy jean is going to be slightly different than a Levi size 5....but what I saw today was ridiculous.  I think that the clothing makers are putting smaller size labels on things to give women a (false) sense of feeling smaller.  What used to be a size 10 is now labeled as size 8 and so on....which is a good marketing gimmick, but not really fair!

Youll lose your weight, Tex...either that or I'll gain some and we'll even things out!

When I was bigger that's the shape I was too. A size 12 with a 36 DD rack....I was all boobs and butt!

he he he . . . you just about got me pegged right there.

think that the clothing makers are putting smaller size labels on things to give women a (false) sense of feeling smaller. What used to be a size 10 is now labeled as size 8 and so on....which is a good marketing gimmick, but not really fair!

That's absolutely what they do. Which doesn't really do us any favors as far as helping us stay at a sensible weight, and it makes it very difficult in the dressing room trying to figure out which size to try on first in any given brand.

Youll lose your weight, Tex...either that or I'll gain some and we'll even things out!

I like your thinking!

I was much smaller when I was nursing my youngest, and it was nice, but when I weaned him, the weight really came on. I'm about 10 lbs heavier than my adult norm right now, and I'd like to lose a bit of it, but I've decided I'm not in any hurry. Right now I'm at the high end of what's healthy and "approved" for my height and Adrian doesn't mind -- in fact he seems to like it. I don't think I'm meant to be small -- though I sure do admire the figures of those that are!

I'm REALLY fat and REALLY short...a mucho bad combination...

My main problem is shirts though...I guess I have a "long torso"...that's what the radiologist told me when she couldn't fit all of my upper body onto a cross-section x-ray like a normal person...and it makes sense...because shirts are always too short...they'd be fine on another woman my height who has normal proportions...longer legs...shorter waist...but...not I...so my fat rolls hang out. Yuck.

I've just started altering my own clothes--easy stuff like cotton t-shirts and skirts so far. I'm largish in the chest and smallish at the waist, which may or may not be sexy to H but is damn hard to find shirts. Larges look funny at my waist and mediums look, like Tex said, indecent. And don't get me started on pants...ugh.

Of course getting married didn't help--I've gained about 10 pounds in fourth months. Yucky. Why is that, anyway? Why? WHY?

-A.

My suggestion....find a brand you like, that fits (that's the hard part) and then just stick with it. Shopping sucks unless you are a "perfect size 6". I have one friend who waltzes into a store and buys the one and only pair of jeans she brought into the dressing room. (internal GRRRRRR)

I have a hard time finding stuff I like because I have child-bearing hips and a rack to match.

I agree with you too! Unless you want to hang out in all sorts of places, it's hard to find clothes that actually COVER said body parts. Contrary to photos on my blog, I'm not normally big on letting things hang out.....so I cringe every spring when the newest fashions are released....super, extra low rise jeans....miniskirts.....crop tops or halters....*Sigh* The worst though is Texas summers.....I see people wearing a bandana held on with a string for a shirt....and they are bigger than me. YIKES

don't think I'm meant to be small -- though I sure do admire the figures of those that are!

I didn't think that I was either.  I was always a bit heavy...my average weight our entire marriage was 140 lbs.  Right before D went to Greenland I shot up to 160, then after he left went all the way down to 104.  I've mantained my current weight for almost a year, and I'm not having to work too hard at doing it.  I look a lot smaller than I actually am; my doc says it's because I have more muscle than I used to and that's what's causing me to weigh more.  How tall are you, Tex?

I'm REALLY fat and REALLY short...a mucho bad combination...

I'd always wondered what you looked like, marcie!  I'm sure it can't be that bad...besides, you're a lovely, wonderful person....so the outside appearance is really moot, now isn't it? 

 

 

I've just started altering my own clothes

 I do that too.  With straight leg pants it's pretty easy, but with boot cut and flare...it spoils the fit and cut of the pants.  I'm thinking that I ought to hone my dressmaking skills and just start making my own clothes...

 

My suggestion....find a brand you like, that fits (that's the hard part) and then just stick with it

I did, and then theychanged the fit on me!  I used to wear AE jeans, size 5 petite, and they fit just fine.  Yesterday I tired 2 different pairs on, and they were too long and gaped at the waist.  That's the thing with having a big rear..things that fit on the ass are too big at the waist.  I can sometimes fix that by running a little strip of elastic thought the back just to tighten them up a bit, but the ones I tried on yesterday were too baggy for me to even want to try.

I guess I'll just keep shopping in the kids department until I can get myself a sewing machine or D earns enough money for me to have my clothes professionally tailored!

K~

Hmmmm...I think I might have some recent pictures at school...or I have my school photos even...

Help me out with how to post a picture and I'll get one up.

size 12 with a 36 DD rack

Hubba hubba! Great boobs with a big butt! *drool*

I do have to laugh at your clothes shopping conumdrum though, because frankly I've never understood women's clothes sizing. Mens clothes are easy to shop for:

Pants: waist, length, done.
Shirt: S,M,L,XL,XXL,XXXL, 30XL
Shoes: 1-infinity
Skivvies: Waist size.

Makes things so much easier. What the hell is a 4? Petite? Ehhh, glad I'm a man so I can enjoy other's...

size 12 with a 36 DD rack

.



-- B

Help me out with how to post a picture and I'll get one up.

First, you have to use an internet site to host the pictures.  I use MSN, if you set up a 'group' it's free.  Yahoo doesn't work well..I know, I've tried!

Select the picture you want to post by clicking on it.  Once you have the single image on your screen, right click on it and select 'properties'.  Highlight and copy the 'address' or 'URL' part, then paste that into the 'image' box when you're creating a new article for your blog, just like you would for a link or an email address.

That's all there is to it!  If you need any more help, drop me a line...but in the meantime I'll be looking for that picture!

dharma:

Right before D went to Greenland I shot up to 160, then after he left went all the way down to 104.

Yikes, dharma -- that's a big (and scary!) drop!

How tall are you, Tex?

I'm 5'5" -- not really short, not really tall.

Yikes, dharma -- that's a big (and scary!) drop!

Yep....I went from a size 12 to a size 3 in 4 months.  Even my doctor got freaked out about it...

I'm 5'5" -- not really short, not really tall.

Taller than me!!!  I'm not even 5'2"!!!

 

my life doesnt fit me, dharma. never has, no matter what i try on.

That's very cryptic and profound, LW.  You've got mail....

I have to admit that, now that I have a better half to shop for that, because of the above reasons I refuse to do so. I just won't buy her clothes. I will go with her, tell her what I think, but I won't buy anything without her there to try it on because there is no rhyme nor reason to the sizing. Mr_Frog said it right when he said men's clothing makes sense. And while there is some variation in sizing (trust me, a 34 waist is not universally a 34 waist) it is easy to adjust, since pants come in both waist and length.

My wife though, boy she has a hard time. She is on the taller side and skinny. Alas, she has a heck of a time finding pants that are size 4 or 5 and long. Too often they are regular and just don't fit quite right.

Me, I just buy what fits and have a much easier time. I have learned a whole new side to clothes shopping though.

I HATE shopping for clothes. Shirts are fairly easy to shop for, but shopping for pants suck. I am 5'6 and 1/2. I have, apparently, short legs, but when I get a petite size (which really makes me feel girly) it feels like my pants are going to fall off because the waist is definitely not at my waist. It fits my legs all right, but I can't really buy petites. So, I buy regular which either forces me to roll up my cuffs like ninety times, or beg my mother to fix them for me.
Pathetic, really.

I have a fat ass now, but when I was smaller I used to buy Junior sizes instead of "misses" or whatever in hell they call "grown up" sizes.  Juniors are typically cut smaller in the waist.  I also used to buy men's jeans because you can get them any length you want.  The other place that is nice is Lands End.  You can order a size + length (like 6 -28, 6-30, 6-32) in almost all of their pants and jeans, and their pants you can get a tailored size in many different fabrics.