CLOTHES SHOPPING SUCKS TRULY

[jeshyr]

Now I remember why I totally hate shopping for clothes, even online...

No, I do not want anything that can mostly be described as flirty, cute, frilled, ruffed, feminine, lacy, asymetrical, transluscent, or sexy.


Aaaaand then I look at the sizing chart and it has measurement for bust/waist/hips and each bit of me falls into a different size range of course, making purchase of anything quite hazardous and subject to potential returns which are a huge pain for mail order.


I have also decided that there are only two categories into which at least 90% of clothes will fit:
1. Hideous
2. Hideously expensive


Cheers,
r

PS
Did eventually find some CJ Banks stuff I liked and then got to do the "We only serve USAians" dance, so I found a nice American friend who was willing to receive the stuff and ship it on to me ... then I found they only accepted USA credit cards so I had to paypal her the money so she could order them for me ... such hassle!!!

Anyway, is now done and I shall have five new shirts which fit me and even look nice! Woot!

Comments

[acelightning]

as you know, i don't wear anything "flirty, cute, frilled, ruffed, (or) feminine" myself :-)
my measurements don't fit neatly with the charts either, although "women's" or "plus" sizes are the closest. it's safest to buy things that come in size ranges (such as "1X" or even "1X-2X") rather than in specific numerical sizes. it's also safest to buy things made out of soft, stretchy material.

i have bought a lot of leggings, pants, and t-shirts (both long and short sleeves) from Decent Exposures (although they consider themselves primarily a company that makes bras, they sell all sorts of other things as well). if you give them exact measurements, they will make garments to fit, usually at no extra charge. they are a bit on the pricey side, and they charge for international shipping (i don't know how much). but they are very accommodating, and their clothes are comfortable and durable. you can email them with questions - their customer support is quite good.

*hugs*

[jeshyr]

OMG I adooooore Decent Exposures!! Their international shipping is very cheap and actually my biggest beef with them is that they're slow!

This is the stuff I ordered from CJBanks:

• CJ Banks Aqua Botanical Peasant Top, Colour: Luna Blue, size 2X


• CJ Banks Swirl Burnout Print Tee, Colour: Multi, size 2X


• CJ Banks Medallion Tunic, Colour: Multi, size 2X


• CJ Banks Splash Dot Tee, Colour: Imari Blue, size 2X

I already had it typed up :) They're the sort of slightly-more-pretty stuff that Decent Exposures can't do.

[lauredhel]

I love the bras from Decent Exposures, but I got a pair of undies from them and they were bizarre. Cut completely flat, like someone had just drawn undies on a piece of paper off the top of their head, then cut it out with fabric, without actually ever fitting onto a woman. Or maybe they'd used a size 6 or 8 fit model then scaled up to fat-sizes without ever re-fitting. The fit was just so utterly _wrong_, not in size but in shape. They dodged and weaved when I asked them if they'd ever fit-modelled this design in plus sizes.

[freyakitten]

Speaking as a skinny person, that method wouldn't have made a pair of undies that I could wear - I find myself buying the larger sizes in childrens briefs, because I am small enough, and then I get pirates and puppies... But they still have some curve to go around my bony butt :-P

[jeshyr]

Pirates and puppies! I am all envious :)

[jeshyr]

Wow, that sounds like a truly sucky experience :( I hope they offered a refund etc.

The undies I ordered weren't like this and they have fitted wonderfully. Was it a few years ago? I wonder if they used your issues as impetus to improve the shaping? In any case I'm 150% happy with mine from the past 12 months.

[lauredhel]

Nope - it was within the past 12 months. They offered an exchange, only if I would pay shipping back to the USA, tell them how to adjust the pattern, then pay to have the new item shipped to me.

[jeshyr]

That pretty much sucks! :(

[acelightning]

it makes me happy to know that you already knew, and liked, Decent Exposures! *hugs*

would you believe all of those styles are too "girly" for me? :-(
my everyday clothes are plain cotton or cotton/lycra knits (and fleece, if it's cold enough); the dressier things i'll wear run to either texture (velvet, velour, shiny knits) or sparkle (metallic, glittery, sequinned), or combinations thereof. one of my favorite sort-of-dressy items is a purple stretch velvet t-shirt i bought in Melbourne (what's the name of that big department store?).

[jeshyr]

I'd totally believe it - they'll be the most "girly" stuff I'll have by a fair margin. My usual fare is standard T-shirts (men's style, usually) plain or sometimes slogan/print stuff from zazzle/cafe press plus jeans or t-shirts. I have some slightly tailored plain cotton shirts I wear for special occasions but not as "girly" as these!!

Actually Juliann sent me three of these shirts with a bunch of craft stuff - different designs but the same basic shirt - and I liked them even though it wasn't something I would have thought to pick up. So I'm expanding my wardrobe :)

[acelightning]

i've expanded my wardrobe lately as well. i bought a pair of silver metallic leggings - not purple! of course, i wear them with things like the purple velvet t-shirt :-)

i forgot to mention that One Stop Plus has a huge selection... but not all of the brands they sell are available for international shipping. (it will tell you when you look at the details of the item.) they are more "conventional" than Decent Exposures. oh, and Sara is actually in Australia :-)

[jeshyr]

Thanks for the shop links - good to know!

[acelightning]

you're welcome, as always!

[rainne]

What a ridiculous pain in the behind end.

If you ever need someone to handle USian end of things, let me know. <3

[jeshyr]

Thanks!! Luckily I have lots of USian friends :)

[cedar51.livejournal.com]

sounds like a lot of 'fun' - online is supposed to be so much better for shopping...

[jeshyr]

Usually online suits me great, it's just that so many American stores think that the entire online world lives in America!

Hmm...

[ysabetwordsmith]

I can sympathize. I loathe shopping for shoes. Clothing is hit or miss for me; sometimes there are things I can wear, other times nothing.

Have you tried searching for "modest" clothing? There are various companies that cater to Muslim, Amish, or otherwise conservative women who don't want to put their bodies on display and also don't want to look like they dressed in a flour sack. I was out researching that stuff for some project and remembered it.

Also, a good pattern with plenty of ease in the design will be more forgiving of unusual body shapes than something closely tailored. I've made Renaissance and fantasy garb for myself and find that very convenient, because I have boobs and hips but a tiny waist and short frame, which basically nobody makes clothes for on the rack. If you want to take that loose-fitting garment and make it look more fitted, you can use something like a bodice or waist-cincher: the trick being, the adjustment item only has to fit you at ONE measurement point.

Re: Hmm...

[jeshyr]

Ohhh! I had not tried searching "modest" stuff and it is indeed a very cool idea. I live in RL in the midst of a very very orthodox Jewish neighbourhood so I should have thought of that!

Unfortunately the self-tailoring is trickier than it seems. I have the knowledge of sewing and even have a machine but my disabilities make it very very hard to find the energy to sew things :( I'm teaching my flatmate to sew but it's hard to find the energy for that either so progress is unfortunately slow.

Re: Hmm...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>I live in RL in the midst of a very very orthodox Jewish neighbourhood so I should have thought of that!<<

Bullseye! They should have a shop and/or seamstress catering to the folks who don't make their own clothes. Also they have some very dapper stuff if you like the scholarly look (which I do).

>> Unfortunately the self-tailoring is trickier than it seems. I have the knowledge of sewing and even have a machine but my disabilities make it very very hard to find the energy to sew things <<

Alas! I do my sewing by hand because it's too hard to keep a machine running. But that's mostly for recreational or ritual use.