Do you realize some stores only go up to 12 or 14? The average size of the American woman is 14, so the average American woman is not finding clothes. And just because you're a size 14 or 16 or whatever doesn't mean you're unhealthy. If you're going to use clothing size to gauge health, well then everyone should be a size 0!
Why do the department stores put the plus sized clothes so far away from the normal clothes? It's like they don't want us to shop there and if we do find our section, they don't want us to be seen. One time I went shopping they had even made the aisles in the plus section way smaller than the average sized clothes. WTH?
I come here every day, and I almost always learn something. Sometimes, I'll bookmark a particular article in my favorites. The following is one of them:
I was overweight my whole life (from age 6 to age 31). At my heaviest I was a women's size 30 (which is pretty much only sold online, - I bought most of my ugly shapeless clothes in the men's department). It took me 3 years, but I lost the weight and started wearing "normal sized" clothing. However I eventually got down to the point where I am having trouble finding clothing again, this time because cheap retailers only carry stuff like jeans in a size 6 and up and I need a size 4. Everything below a 6 is in the teen section and is low cut and styled way too young for me. I think that the point of the article should be that clothing retailers have a target audience and don't want to deviate from that, and as a result people at both ends of the weight spectrum lose out.
Not trying to be a hater here, but it's genuinely easier (and more rewarding) to loose weight and spend 3 min grabbing something off the racks than to create a new line for bigger people. Chances are you're still not gonna like how you look anyway.
If it's superior to be fit, blame biology not society.
You know, people are different and come in all shapes and sizes. I'm so tired of the cliches you just regurgitated. There are healthy and larger people all over. If you look at a history book you would see that. Perhaps we should stop producing petite or tall clothing too. It's just fair to accommodate everyone. BTW, I think you do have 'something' against plus size people.
Do the moralizers just lurk around sites waiting for their chance to pounce? Here's a tip: When you've lived your life all the way to the end, facing everything that gets thrown at you without any sort of failure, Then and only Then do you get to feel superior and give advice to other people.
The fabrics... and the sleeves. Why can't larger women (I'm a 14 which I don't consider huge) wear natural fabrics? I sometimes shop at Avenue, where they have cute styles, but most of them in plastic-fabric. And those huge flapping sleeves... I may have a thick waist, but my arms are more or less normal-sized. And the shapeless shirts -- I do not have football shoulders or ape-arms. And... and... and... Torrid reeks, as does Lane Bryant. About time somebody wrote this article. Thanks.
I'm working on losing weight. HOWEVER....if we are supposed to work out and exercise to lose weight, where is the company that sells (at a reasonable price) workout gear for plus sized women. I'm fat and I get really hot and sweaty. Where is my underarmour?
Where is my sports bra that actually holds it in without making me so hot I feel like I'm going to die.
Someone start a big woman's workout gear store...please.
Sure, losing weight is generally a good thing. But what about the people whose metabolisms are screwed up by the medication they need to stay healthy? What about those whose body types are naturally larger than whatever the general public has decided is the correct size? What about those who are physically incapable of weight-reducing exercise due to illness, injury, or medical problems? Not every plus-sized person is that size because they "choose" to be so.
The clothing industry has an extremely distorted view of the market as it is. Don't encourage it to get worse.
"Because fat people need to buy clothes, designers need to sell clothes... it's called capitalism."
That's only part of capitalism. The HUGE part of capitalism that you're missing is that if you see a need not being fulfilled adequately (which obviously you have) then in a capitalistic society you can start your own company and profit from that need.
I'm on the heftier side and part of why I hate shopping is because of that, but companies can make what they want to and it's their gain or loss for doing so.
As for designers, design is half commercial, half art. Since it's half art, and many designers consider themselves artists, they're going to design things that they like and are interested in. Like sexy skinny fit clothes for sexy skinny fit models.
I understand your view on this matter. I recognize that we live in a society that shouldn't have to cater to everyone and should be allowed to focus on a certain group of consumers.
I agree and identify with the points in this article as I am an overweight woman. I agree with the idea that it would be better if we worked at becoming more active to achieve a healthier weight. It is something I am striving for and working on every day.
However, in the meantime I am struggling to lose the weight while continuing to do all I can to improve my appearance and health. Having to deal with the lifestyle changes and slow progress, it is easy to become disenchanted. Our self-esteem is already low because we don't want to be like this.
So when we have to try finding clothes to wear while we strive to lose weight, it is another kick to our self-esteem when we can’t find fashionable and proper clothing to wear. It is easy for us to want to give up because we may have a hard time seeing the end in sight. We feel that no matter what we do, we will never meet society’s standards.
A society that emphasizes that looking like a toothpick is the norm but continues to increase serving sizes and convenience foods that help enable obesity. A society that says bigger is better in everything except for fashion and personal appearance. Sorry for my rant…I am not directing this to you but wanted to highlight what we plus-size people go through every day.
A local radio station is taking one apart on the morning show tomorrow. I will post what we find out. I will also be getting a Walgreens battery to test the theory out. I have a 1 yr old so batteries are the households livelyhood right now.
Designers should cater to larger people because there's an unfulfilled market; therefore, a significant profit to be made. One thing I've learned in many years of marketing is that you can't tell the market what they want.
Nationwide fitness and healthy eating information and programs are everywnere. The problem is, a portion of the population doesn't want to take the time or invest the energy in changing their habits. There are some people that are just not going to change not unlike alcohol, drugs, nicotine, or other addictions.
Mac - yes, it is healthier to lose weight, but what do you expect me to do in the meantime? Walk around in muumuus so that you can continue to feel superior? Why should designers cater to fat people? Because fat people need to buy clothes, designers need to sell clothes... it's called capitalism.
First off, I have nothing against plus-size people. Anybody can take care of their body however they see fit, that's the American way, isn't it? However, why should designers cater to larger people? Why should society? Being large is bad for your health and each year a larger portion of the American population become obese. It is a huge epidemic as we become less active.
Instead of worrying about plus-size fashion, let's start calling for nation-wide fitness and healthy-eating programs. Get people more active. This will in turn decrease the risk of disease & hospital visits, thereby lowering the overall health insurance cost. Kind of a win-win.
I've been a Ready-to-wear size 16-18 for a long time, and rarely find clothing that fits properly. It's as if the manufacturers have decided that larger women do not deserve to wear anything but shapeless, drop-shouldered tent tops. Blech.
For the last eight years ago, I've been making my own clothes that fit properly and are styled the way I want them to, and without having to alter commercial patterns (which are also radically skewed against the plus-size woman). Hooray for pattern drafting software!! I use PatternMaster Boutique (www.wildginger.com) (I don't work for them; just a very satisfied user).
For those who say "I don't have time to sew!" Just think about how much time you waste slogging from store to store, only to settle on something you hate because it's the only thing you can find. I've made tops in as little as 45 minutes; a dress can take a day, but that can be spread out over several work sessions.
Learn to sew; you'll get the best possible fit without having to sacrifice style. And you'll look FABULOUS!!!
We live in a depressed area in Ohio and I lost my job in August 2009 I have paid my mortgage on time with no late payments ever for the past 10 years. I originally financed through countrywide and never had an issue with them nor was my mortgage subprime.
Bank of America took over my mortgage when countrywide failed. I contacted them about "O'bummers" loan modification program to see if I qualified. They said I could only qualify if my mortgage was over 30 days late, all I wanted was a reduced interest rate so that I could continue to pay my mortgage on time. It is currently 8.375% Yes I could have lowered it a couple of years ago before all this wallstreet meltdown happened. Anyway, Per their instruction I let my mortgage go over 30 days late.
I filled out all of their paperwork and sent in the necessary documentation. I get a letter about a month later saying I do not qualify for their loan modification problem and if I miss more payments they will foreclose on my property.
Until now my credit has been perfect, never a late payment in over 15 years. Bank of America can eat it. There are multiple houses in my neighborhood that are in foreclosure. I would be better off keeping my monthly payment and living in the house until the sheriff evicts us. Then just rent somewhere.
I have basically given up on shopping for clothing at the mall or local stores.
I instead search for clothes via eBay or online stores, but that's not an easy battle either.
I have recently been going thru the hell that is swimsuit shopping for large women. I love aquatard swimsuits- I feel better covered and comfortable in them. Junonia is where I ordered my last suit- and where I want to buy another. HOWEVER it has been a saga of several months. In the early fall last year, I ordered the $100 suit I wanted and was told it was on backorder. No problem- this is the one suit in the world I wanted so I could wait. Over the following 3 months, I got multiple emails questioning if I still wanted the suit- and was ultimately told that the company was no longer was making the one I wanted. But after the New Year, out came the new catalog- and there was the suit. I debated for a while- but called about a month ago rather than ordering online. The customer service rep was helpful, but told me that it would be sometime before these would be in stock. Here I am again, waiting my life away for the one swimsuit I want in the world. FRUSTRATING.
I also look at some of the fashions online and sew myself if its something easy enough, like skirts and such.
How about the fact that it just plain tastes better? I don't know why, I don't know how- but this milk just plain tastes better then the other ones I have tried.
To me it is like drinking tap water versus filtered water- filtered water tastes better. Heck bottled water tastes better than tap...even if it tap water that is distilled.
I drink Horizon Milk b/c it tastes better- the rest to me is trivial.
I live in Orlando, Florida and really do try hard to not run the AC much at all. Our house has been 95+ degrees inside several times. That is hard to handle sometimes ( along with 100% humidity) but we try. When we turn it on I usually set it at 80.Usually we can tough it out during the day but 95 degrees at night makes for a restless night. I agree no AC is possible, many many people lived here before me without it.. I sure wish I knew some of there techniques and secrets to keeping cool!!
Do you realize some stores only go up to 12 or 14? The average size of the American woman is 14, so the average American woman is not finding clothes. And just because you're a size 14 or 16 or whatever doesn't mean you're unhealthy. If you're going to use clothing size to gauge health, well then everyone should be a size 0!
Why do the department stores put the plus sized clothes so far away from the normal clothes? It's like they don't want us to shop there and if we do find our section, they don't want us to be seen. One time I went shopping they had even made the aisles in the plus section way smaller than the average sized clothes. WTH?
I come here every day, and I almost always learn something. Sometimes, I'll bookmark a particular article in my favorites. The following is one of them:
10 Small Businesses That Are Free or Cost Little to Start Up
Everyone could use a little extra money, and I thought this article was a fantastic resource. :)
I was overweight my whole life (from age 6 to age 31). At my heaviest I was a women's size 30 (which is pretty much only sold online, - I bought most of my ugly shapeless clothes in the men's department). It took me 3 years, but I lost the weight and started wearing "normal sized" clothing. However I eventually got down to the point where I am having trouble finding clothing again, this time because cheap retailers only carry stuff like jeans in a size 6 and up and I need a size 4. Everything below a 6 is in the teen section and is low cut and styled way too young for me. I think that the point of the article should be that clothing retailers have a target audience and don't want to deviate from that, and as a result people at both ends of the weight spectrum lose out.
Not trying to be a hater here, but it's genuinely easier (and more rewarding) to loose weight and spend 3 min grabbing something off the racks than to create a new line for bigger people. Chances are you're still not gonna like how you look anyway.
If it's superior to be fit, blame biology not society.
Why not add a drop of your favorite essential oil to the vinegar. Rosemary is particularly good for hair.
You know, people are different and come in all shapes and sizes. I'm so tired of the cliches you just regurgitated. There are healthy and larger people all over. If you look at a history book you would see that. Perhaps we should stop producing petite or tall clothing too. It's just fair to accommodate everyone. BTW, I think you do have 'something' against plus size people.
Do the moralizers just lurk around sites waiting for their chance to pounce? Here's a tip: When you've lived your life all the way to the end, facing everything that gets thrown at you without any sort of failure, Then and only Then do you get to feel superior and give advice to other people.
The fabrics... and the sleeves. Why can't larger women (I'm a 14 which I don't consider huge) wear natural fabrics? I sometimes shop at Avenue, where they have cute styles, but most of them in plastic-fabric. And those huge flapping sleeves... I may have a thick waist, but my arms are more or less normal-sized. And the shapeless shirts -- I do not have football shoulders or ape-arms. And... and... and... Torrid reeks, as does Lane Bryant. About time somebody wrote this article. Thanks.
jesinalbuquerque
I'm working on losing weight. HOWEVER....if we are supposed to work out and exercise to lose weight, where is the company that sells (at a reasonable price) workout gear for plus sized women. I'm fat and I get really hot and sweaty. Where is my underarmour?
Where is my sports bra that actually holds it in without making me so hot I feel like I'm going to die.
Someone start a big woman's workout gear store...please.
sss
Sure, losing weight is generally a good thing. But what about the people whose metabolisms are screwed up by the medication they need to stay healthy? What about those whose body types are naturally larger than whatever the general public has decided is the correct size? What about those who are physically incapable of weight-reducing exercise due to illness, injury, or medical problems? Not every plus-sized person is that size because they "choose" to be so.
The clothing industry has an extremely distorted view of the market as it is. Don't encourage it to get worse.
Or you could just lose weight instead to be out of the plus-size range. Problem solved.
"Because fat people need to buy clothes, designers need to sell clothes... it's called capitalism."
That's only part of capitalism. The HUGE part of capitalism that you're missing is that if you see a need not being fulfilled adequately (which obviously you have) then in a capitalistic society you can start your own company and profit from that need.
I'm on the heftier side and part of why I hate shopping is because of that, but companies can make what they want to and it's their gain or loss for doing so.
As for designers, design is half commercial, half art. Since it's half art, and many designers consider themselves artists, they're going to design things that they like and are interested in. Like sexy skinny fit clothes for sexy skinny fit models.
Mac,
I understand your view on this matter. I recognize that we live in a society that shouldn't have to cater to everyone and should be allowed to focus on a certain group of consumers.
I agree and identify with the points in this article as I am an overweight woman. I agree with the idea that it would be better if we worked at becoming more active to achieve a healthier weight. It is something I am striving for and working on every day.
However, in the meantime I am struggling to lose the weight while continuing to do all I can to improve my appearance and health. Having to deal with the lifestyle changes and slow progress, it is easy to become disenchanted. Our self-esteem is already low because we don't want to be like this.
So when we have to try finding clothes to wear while we strive to lose weight, it is another kick to our self-esteem when we can’t find fashionable and proper clothing to wear. It is easy for us to want to give up because we may have a hard time seeing the end in sight. We feel that no matter what we do, we will never meet society’s standards.
A society that emphasizes that looking like a toothpick is the norm but continues to increase serving sizes and convenience foods that help enable obesity. A society that says bigger is better in everything except for fashion and personal appearance. Sorry for my rant…I am not directing this to you but wanted to highlight what we plus-size people go through every day.
A local radio station is taking one apart on the morning show tomorrow. I will post what we find out. I will also be getting a Walgreens battery to test the theory out. I have a 1 yr old so batteries are the households livelyhood right now.
Designers should cater to larger people because there's an unfulfilled market; therefore, a significant profit to be made. One thing I've learned in many years of marketing is that you can't tell the market what they want.
Nationwide fitness and healthy eating information and programs are everywnere. The problem is, a portion of the population doesn't want to take the time or invest the energy in changing their habits. There are some people that are just not going to change not unlike alcohol, drugs, nicotine, or other addictions.
Mac - yes, it is healthier to lose weight, but what do you expect me to do in the meantime? Walk around in muumuus so that you can continue to feel superior? Why should designers cater to fat people? Because fat people need to buy clothes, designers need to sell clothes... it's called capitalism.
What online stores would you suggest? I am sick of wearing guy's clothes >.>
The only plus-size store I'd ever heard of was Lane Bryant. I am fashionably challenged. lol.
First off, I have nothing against plus-size people. Anybody can take care of their body however they see fit, that's the American way, isn't it? However, why should designers cater to larger people? Why should society? Being large is bad for your health and each year a larger portion of the American population become obese. It is a huge epidemic as we become less active.
Instead of worrying about plus-size fashion, let's start calling for nation-wide fitness and healthy-eating programs. Get people more active. This will in turn decrease the risk of disease & hospital visits, thereby lowering the overall health insurance cost. Kind of a win-win.
I've been a Ready-to-wear size 16-18 for a long time, and rarely find clothing that fits properly. It's as if the manufacturers have decided that larger women do not deserve to wear anything but shapeless, drop-shouldered tent tops. Blech.
For the last eight years ago, I've been making my own clothes that fit properly and are styled the way I want them to, and without having to alter commercial patterns (which are also radically skewed against the plus-size woman). Hooray for pattern drafting software!! I use PatternMaster Boutique (www.wildginger.com) (I don't work for them; just a very satisfied user).
For those who say "I don't have time to sew!" Just think about how much time you waste slogging from store to store, only to settle on something you hate because it's the only thing you can find. I've made tops in as little as 45 minutes; a dress can take a day, but that can be spread out over several work sessions.
Learn to sew; you'll get the best possible fit without having to sacrifice style. And you'll look FABULOUS!!!
#144 sounds like a plan.
We live in a depressed area in Ohio and I lost my job in August 2009 I have paid my mortgage on time with no late payments ever for the past 10 years. I originally financed through countrywide and never had an issue with them nor was my mortgage subprime.
Bank of America took over my mortgage when countrywide failed. I contacted them about "O'bummers" loan modification program to see if I qualified. They said I could only qualify if my mortgage was over 30 days late, all I wanted was a reduced interest rate so that I could continue to pay my mortgage on time. It is currently 8.375% Yes I could have lowered it a couple of years ago before all this wallstreet meltdown happened. Anyway, Per their instruction I let my mortgage go over 30 days late.
I filled out all of their paperwork and sent in the necessary documentation. I get a letter about a month later saying I do not qualify for their loan modification problem and if I miss more payments they will foreclose on my property.
Until now my credit has been perfect, never a late payment in over 15 years. Bank of America can eat it. There are multiple houses in my neighborhood that are in foreclosure. I would be better off keeping my monthly payment and living in the house until the sheriff evicts us. Then just rent somewhere.
Wallstreet can do it, why can't I?
I have basically given up on shopping for clothing at the mall or local stores.
I instead search for clothes via eBay or online stores, but that's not an easy battle either.
I have recently been going thru the hell that is swimsuit shopping for large women. I love aquatard swimsuits- I feel better covered and comfortable in them. Junonia is where I ordered my last suit- and where I want to buy another. HOWEVER it has been a saga of several months. In the early fall last year, I ordered the $100 suit I wanted and was told it was on backorder. No problem- this is the one suit in the world I wanted so I could wait. Over the following 3 months, I got multiple emails questioning if I still wanted the suit- and was ultimately told that the company was no longer was making the one I wanted. But after the New Year, out came the new catalog- and there was the suit. I debated for a while- but called about a month ago rather than ordering online. The customer service rep was helpful, but told me that it would be sometime before these would be in stock. Here I am again, waiting my life away for the one swimsuit I want in the world. FRUSTRATING.
I also look at some of the fashions online and sew myself if its something easy enough, like skirts and such.
How about the fact that it just plain tastes better? I don't know why, I don't know how- but this milk just plain tastes better then the other ones I have tried.
To me it is like drinking tap water versus filtered water- filtered water tastes better. Heck bottled water tastes better than tap...even if it tap water that is distilled.
I drink Horizon Milk b/c it tastes better- the rest to me is trivial.
I live in Orlando, Florida and really do try hard to not run the AC much at all. Our house has been 95+ degrees inside several times. That is hard to handle sometimes ( along with 100% humidity) but we try. When we turn it on I usually set it at 80.Usually we can tough it out during the day but 95 degrees at night makes for a restless night. I agree no AC is possible, many many people lived here before me without it.. I sure wish I knew some of there techniques and secrets to keeping cool!!
I use an empty shampoo bottle, drop in baking soda and water ...perfecto.
I guess the ratio is about 6 parts water, 1 part BS. (hahaha)
Personally, I feel like a sucker for all my years of commercial shampoo purchases.
Yea, I've heard that baking soda can be used for just about anything. But this is the first time I've heard of it being used as shampoo.