When we go to the outer banks of North Carolina, we love to visit Belks department store. Maybe it's because it's at the beach, but they always have such interesting clothes there. I usually find dresses, skirts, blouses in styles and colors that just aren't available in my usual haunts here outside the Washington DC area.
DC is a workaholic place to live. Someone must have decided that neutral colors rule here. This year is a little more colorful, but it's pretty boring color wise. In NC, colors rule. I always look forward to that shopping trip.
So this year, I got my nieces and mom and we drove up to Belks. I was so happy when I walked in the store. The color palate was so bright and lively! Then I started picking clothes to try on. There were lots of hippy looking skirts - broomstick pleats with increasing layers. Too young for me, and very much too long. There were a few knee length skirts with wide pleats, not very flattering. There were many, many blouses, and every one I tried on made me look pregnant.
I'm not a big girl, but I have a big chest. A shirt gathered at the neckline fans over my breasts and balloons over my waist to my hip. Empire waistlines never allow enough space so the seam line often runs across my chest and the gathers below balloon in a most unflattering way. In the dressing room I struck up a conversation with a woman who said she was done with childbirth and would never buy maternity clothes again - she wasn't buying anything. She was of a more average build than I. I asked a sales clerk if she had heard complaints from customers. She responded that many people were telling her they didn't like the way the clothes made them look pregnant.
I usually spend somewhere between $100-250 in that store. (That's a lot for me, I'm a tightwad.) I walked out with an $11 tank top.
This experience isn't limited to Belks, I found the same styles at stores near home, but I was so hoping Belks would do better for me. Such a dissapointment!
So what gives? Did retailers decide that the look of the moment is pregnant so all items they put on the racks have to be that way?
What I find interesting is that maternity clothes currently celebrate the bump. I rather like this, there's something very wonderful about a stretch top that shows pregnancy with pride.
So if I'm not pregnant, I should want to look pregnant? No way.
As they say on the Fashion Show, I'm just not buying it.
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http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=48429&pid=653444&vid=1
and yeah, I completely look pregnant, but they are very comfortable.
I've even written letters to Target, Macy's and other retailers. I don't want to shop at the Big Girl stores...they have the same crap just giant. Who thought grown women wanted to look like little girls? I blame Hollywood. Emaciated morons and their teeny tees and little dogs. I mean the rest of us surely don't want to emulate that do we? I want my fashion icons back. Where's Audrey Hepburn when you need her!! Interesting post...rated.
I hate clothes that make me look pregnant. I don't buy them, no matter how cheap or comfortable.
Some women look pregnant when they really are not but wear tighter clothes. I'm sure what you saw is the clothing people responding to that.
Personally, as long as she is proportionate, I'm fine with her.
Hopefully these larger tops are open and loose and creeps like me can see in or down at a good angle.
Ms. M, I'm ready to revolt. You are so right about the fabrics being so unforgiving, especially those cheap looking paper thin knits.
Malusinka, I remember the holey jeans trend. It was also tiresome.
Mr. London, you're such a guy. Yes, because of the way they are cut, boobs are the emphasis and in my case, it's embarrassing. We are in general fatter than previous generations; but nobody wants to look fat. Or pregnant when you're not.
Another rant - many of the tops are cut so low that we've grown to expect that we need to wear a camisole under them in order to be presentable . What a joke!
I'm thinking it's not just couch potatoing. I think it's fried food, fast food, processed food, corn syrup, all come home to roost. Even now, I pop a teeny 'organic' brownie from downstairs cafeteris. Is the fine print on wherever it came from going to say corn syrup? I'll bet it does.
Excuse me, I got to go do my crunches now.
I like to dress comfortably and some things are too low cut for my taste and puffy short sleeves are not for me.
How about some nice, well made clothes that fit right and are comfortable?
If we stop buying these silly frocks maybe they will get the message and start finding out what we want!
hth :)
I especially hate despise revile those baby-doll styles, the puffy, banded sleeves especially. And every damn thing seems to tie in a bow in the back. Really. Who wants that? I know I'm a woman and I don't need to flash boob or frouf myself up in little girl styles to prove it to every random person I pass on the street.
My pet peeve, though, is shirts that are too short and show skin unless you keep your arms at your side at all times.
But high waisted pants, if they come back I will simply refuse. ugh.
Knowing how to do alterations (or being willing to pay minimal fees for them) is helpful...if you choose your clothing size based on something other than ego (as in "but I've always been a size 10!) it's possible to find clothes which will fit with a few alterations.
Best advice I've recieved in years is to buy clothing which fits your "trouble areas" well, and alter the rest so it fits like it was made for you. Most dry cleaners have someone who does alterations for very reasonable fees (think $10 to alter a skirt or blouse so it fits right) which puts well-fitting clothes within reach of just about anyone.
I've been losing a lot of weight in the past 6 months, and made a deal with myself that I wouldn't spend a lot on clothes until I reach my goal weight in another six months or so..... The compromise for me is to buy inexpensive clothes (think no more than $10-20 per item) and alter them to fit (meaning no more than $20-30 per item) That way, I can re-alter as I lose weight, and wear clothes I like that fit well.
Hope this brightens your day.....make the best of what can be very forgiving styles if worn in the size that actually fits you, rather than trying to squeeze into "your" size, whether that's size 2 or size 20.
We're all more than just numbers!
You may be someone that can wear the trends that I can't - belts and layers. I admire all of the photos of the effortlessly chic ladies wearing a thin, unbuttoned cardigan over their tank, with everything cinched in the middle by a cute, skinny belt. Since I'm very high-waisted (and with very little "waist definition" to speak of), this look simply doesn't work for me. No need to draw attention to that area, so I'll stick with my empire waists and cap-sleeves!
I myself (being of the guy gender) am studying Michael Moore for couture ideas.
I admit to being a huge Jane Austen fan, but there is something wrong with having all of these empire waists foisted upon us. [In those Regency days, women were pregnant so often... perhaps they needed them.]
Thank you - thank you- thank YOU!!!!!
The rest of us need and deserve other options.
Also, may I point out that the maxi-dresses are cute and all, but it'd be nice if somebody made one that allows for bra wear underneath? The O-ring Halter Neck construction is adorable if one can get away without breast scaffolding; what are the rest of us supposed to do?
When I at my absolute thinnest (not at the moment)...I have a pretty small chest...the "empire" is the revenge that we "small-chesters" and "short waisters"get for years and years and years of things that bag and sag and are WAY too long. I love the "empire"!
I’ve also discovered that cheap places like WalMart should be avoided at all costs. It’s better to have a few pieces that fit, than a lot of pieces that don’t.
I was one of those skinny young things in the mid '70s and loved the pinafores and empire waist blouses - in addition to looking cute they were very comfortable. But they went out of style and I put them away, later wearing many of them when I WAS pregnant.
But I do agree with the majority here. My friend and I walked into Macy's a few weeks ago and were completely appalled at the ugliness of the colors. They were so loud that it didn't really matter what style the clothing was. So, I'm with most of you here: I'll be waiting until the style changes to buy any more clothing.
and are actually helping to organize home-sewers on the internet.
In fact, I hope that some guilty department store buyer is reading these comments.
Here! Read this and weep!
That is exactly what you are driving your greatest shopping demographic in history to...
So how do we let clothing companies know what we think of their wares? Not buying their clothes doesn't seem to do it.
Rated!
But yeah, I've had the same thought. Even though I always swore I would never wear "hatching jackets" again, I buy the stuff because my middle is a bit thicker than it used to be and these tops conceal it. (And yeah, I do get the irony!)
I wore empire waist dresses in high school (mid 60's) but my mother made them and they fit with the seam under the bust and not so gathered. Loved them. Wouldn't consider them now. If everyone looks pregnant does anyone? :)
And whoever said "heroine chic" - thanks for the chuckle. I know it was a slip and you meant "heroin", right? Love the resulting irony - or whatever it is.
But I decided later that it made me look no more pregnant than the smock did.
I DO have a few of those empire waist shirts, but without the billows, that look normal on my 42D with a waist and a belly short and chubby body. They are XL, so the seam DOES land below the boobs.
You know what is hippie chic and works? Tunics. I know, I know - next thing I'm going to be suggesting muu-muu's ala "Maude". But no, really - a nice tunic with a lower cut neckline REALLY works.
Hides the belly, accents the waist, hides flabby upper arms, does justice to the boobage - and they come in every kind of fabric and color!
But the essential complaint resonates with me - why does shopping for clothing (especially when you are willing to spend some money)have to make us feel and see ALL of our supposed inadequacies?
I love the story of the sales clerk, (above), commisserating with the commenter about the clothing companies.
As for women who love the empire waist - yay! It looks good on some women, and it's fab for you! I'll be the one giving you the woman nod when I see you looking great, sporting your empire waist duds.
As for the commenter dissing Chico's and Eileen Fisher - to each their own. I seek out Eileen Fisher clothes at thrift shops (can't afford it new) because they fit, and they look good on my aging self. Chico's - same thing. I can't afford to shop there, but I have two dresses and two "yoga pants" style pants that really fit. Plus, they don't disintegrate in the wash, like most other brands.
As soon as I get home, of course, off goes the bra and most of the clothing - I revel in sagging in my own stretchy, worn out favorites. luckily, we never get surprise visitors!