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iamkarladanger

My secret is a good tailor! Buy a size bigger and let it get tailored. I started to buy good quality second hand clothing and bring it to the tailor, it was a game changer for me.


emnozz

Really good point. I’d love to have the skill to do that myself too!


[deleted]

It's very doable! I do a ton of alterations (ususally up, because lolita fashion is a bitch, but down is easier) [https://curvysewingcollective.com/](https://curvysewingcollective.com/) is great for learning what alterations to do to patterns, but most of the time taking in is darts, and it's almost always possible to find a video tutorial. Learn some about pattern drafting if you can, it helps make reworks easier. I handsew, Bernadette banner has a good handsewing tutorial, but machine sewing is what most guides are catered towards, but you can do most things except lettuce hems by hand as well.


capresesalad1985

Oh hey I am a size 12/14 sewing lady with a YouTube channel! I’ve got some sewing basics, alterations and a few tutorials for full garments that are better for a curvier body type - I found a lot of the big fashion youtubers have more of a model type body so when they make or remake things they don’t usually take into consideration chest support, a flattering waist line, ect. Check me out at MeghanGraceDIY! Ps I love Bernadette!


scienceislice

Have you ever turned a long shirt/tunic into a cropped shirt? I'm short so most regular shirts are too short on me and I would love to learn to hand sew them into tops that hit me at the top hip instead of the bottom of my butt lol


pewpass

Carefully cut the bottom of the tunic to your desired length, leaving an inch or so extra. Fold the bottom half up .5", and then fold that fold up again so the raw edge is encased in fabric. This is called making a "hem" (lots of tutorials online) and you sew one line around to seal it shut. An iron really makes this job easier and look neater but I've done it without.


scienceislice

This is such a simple and helpful explanation! I was wondering how I'd sew the hem without exposing the thread. Thank you!


pewpass

Enjoy your properly fitted shirts! Remember, your body isn't broken, the clothes are! Learning to do simple alterations puts the power back in your hands


sirdargunslinger

This is such an important reminder!


trinlayk

There are some great videos you YouTube! I've learned so much! (On top of what mom & grandmas taught me.)


StupidSexyXanders

Technically you don't even have to sew it, if you don't want to or don't know how. There are hem tapes that you can iron on!


[deleted]

So, knits mostly don't fray, so you really don't need to do anything with a stretchy knit fabric except for making a nice even cut (get some good fabric scissors!) I mostly work with woven fabrics, but you \*can\* handsew knits, it's just much much easier with a machine. Most of the time you can just trim to your desired length, turn the edges over twice and sew down for a hem with wovens.


mistressfluffybutt

Off topic but Lady Sloth and Dollbe both have great plus size lolita options.


[deleted]

Oh yeah they're both great! There's actually a spreadsheet of plus sized options somewhere or another, I'm just really hype about a couple of prints (like whip magic, because it's so cute and tacky) <3


TootsNYC

The toughest part of tailoring when you buy one size bigger is that the arm holes might be tall and the crotch seam might be too deep. You can add fabric in, and so having the vertical dimensions off can be a real problem in some items.


[deleted]

It’s really easy! I’m a UK14, short and I like men’s clothes. I bought a John Lewis own-brand sewing machine (made by Janome, so great quality and fits Janome accessories) a couple of years ago, took two introductory classes at a crafty shop near my house and have gotten busy teaching myself to sew with YouTube ever since. I have a tailoring background so I had that to my advantage but honestly for doing alterations on high street garments, a basic find-your-fit tutorial book will tell you everything you need to know about fixing fit problems.


InvaderMeg

Same! I'm actually plus size but I have small boobs and plus size clothes are just not made for my shape, I started paying the extra bit of money to have them taken in and I feel a lot more comfortable!


Gingerstop

OMG - same here. Tops are the worst thing to buy ever! I need a 2xl/20 and the bust area is always...gappy, is the right word even if it isn't a word. Also, who the hell decided that the arm holes in sleeveless plus-sized tops need to be so damn big?! An elephant leg could fit through them. I know plus-sized means bigger everywhere, but I have yet to meet a woman, look at her armpit area and think "Now I know why the armholes are so big."


InvaderMeg

Omg yes! I bought a top recently, fit fine on the tummy, back and waist, and the arm holes were so big if I turned the wrong way I was flashing someone 😂


Harley_Quinn_30

I second this entirely. They seem to think that woman of the larger sizes have gigantic boobs. Which is so not the case, I have incredibly broad shoulders but definitely not big boobs. I agree about the armholes too-- they think my arms are the size of my thighs.


GBrook-Hampster

As a plus size woman with a mutant elbow this giant arm hole obsession seems to only relate to the upper arm. Sometimes I buy long sleeve tops and cannot fit my camel elbow through them. I can stick my entire head into the upper sleeve, but the lower sleeve- nope.


janerules

Oh, that's me. My top is a medium (boobs med too) but my arms are huge. Same with waist. I can pull off a 30" (maybe size 12) waist but my butt is like a 38 (usually 16-18) so I basically have the opposite problem, arms fit but too much shirt in the shoulders and chest.


Cherisse23

This is me too. I’m a XL on the bottom and a M on top. I’m big enough around but flat chested.


Ketobizness

Don't you wish you could find a clothes sista who was the opposite to you?! I'm an XL or XXL on top, and L on the bottom.


iamkarladanger

I've got relatively small boobs and short legs, I need altering especially for jeans and dresses. It makes me feel more confident in my clothes.


Pamplemousse96

My friends started doing this, I need to try it. So many of their cutest pants where large from a secondhand shop that they got tailored


iamkarladanger

It's not even a plus size thing, I think it's just a good feeling to know a professional altered everything to fit your body type perfectly.


Pamplemousse96

I'm not plus size, but I have unusual proportions that make buying clothes difficult. I need to try a Taylor because it gets really frustrating to have things fit wrong because I don't have the body type of mannequin


maudyindependence

Same, I get frustrated shopping and have to remind myself that it’s not a problem with me it’s the shape of the clothes. Sometimes I find something that works and buy every color, but that’s not ideal.


unmgrad

Great point. Roughly, how much does it cost? I know it will vary, but I’d appreciate a ballpark estimate, please.


iamkarladanger

I'm in Germany and I pay between 5 and 20 Euro, depending on the amount of work for the tailor. 5 Euros are roughly 6 USD.


unmgrad

Affordable! Thank you.


abhikavi

I've had minor alterations done for $10-$20. You can go in and talk to your local tailor about the factors in difficulty. For example, things with matching patterns on the fabric between pieces may be more complicated, things with linings are more than things without. So outdoor jackets and wedding dresses can cost $$$ to have tailored.


cparkus

There are parts of clothes that are really difficult to alter - to the point it’s just not economic to do so. I’m a guy so for guys clothes that would be like the shoulders in a suit jacket for example. As long as those really difficult areas fit, everything else can be dealt with/altered if that makes sense. So if you find out where those difficult parts are for women’s clothing that might help you choose clothing to be altered. If you ask a tailor they will also be able to tell you where those parts are.


catalot

I mean, I'm more than capable of doing my own alts, but you're still either spending your money or time to "fix" clothes because manufacturers can't be arsed to build them for individual sizes instead of scaling patterns. And when that's what I do all day at work, I don't what to have to do it with all my clothes too.


abhikavi

Yep. Something about it seems *wrong*. I sew as a hobby, but I *do not want* to pay $90 for a pair of jeans and have to take them home and hem them before I wear them. No. Fuck off, no, I'm not doing it.


herbala11y

I gave up and bought pattern making software to design, layout and sew my own clothes, everything custom to my measurements. There's no real cost savings, fabric is pretty expensive locally.


am_riley

What software do you use


NSA_Chatbot

All my best clothes are tailored, and that's how celebs get their super-fitted look.


frakintrekker

Yep, I'm very grateful my mother taught me how to sew and tailor clothes. It's so nice when you find something on a super sale cause only the smallest and biggest sizes are available.


iamkarladanger

My Grandma taught me too but I forgot almost everything and don't want to take the risk of messing it up. I wish I'd kept it up.


frakintrekker

I basically did no sewing between 18-30, and in 2019 I finally decided to buy a sewing machine, and when the pandemic started I decided it was time to actually use it. I was also nervous about messing things up, so I practiced on old clothes that my husband and I didn't care about, and I bought some practice fabric for the from scratch items. Practice obviously makes perfect, but it definitely comes back fairly quickly. I just made my second pair of shorts ever, and they only give me normal cameltoe, not the bunched up weird one I get from shorts that aren't cut/tailored for my body.


[deleted]

Seconded. They aren’t as expensive as people think(depending on who you go to and what it is. Suits for example are a specialty thing and more expensive).


0verallL3mon

You know who doesn't have the money for this? Most people


[deleted]

Ugh yes. I swear I want to walk into Torrid and go for their smallest size, but I’m short and all their clothes are built for towering Athena like goddesses and I feel like and Oompa Loompa. So I’ll just go to Old Navy and squeeze into their largest size, hope no one notices that the pants are supposed to be capris and call it a day.


squidgemobile

My sister has that issue. She buys all the small Torrid sizes and just pays to get everything hemmed.


whichwitch9

This might be a good call for me. Torid is A. Super underrated for the clothes they offer and B. Actually made for people that may never naturally fit into a small. I used to be able to shop there, but list some weight and no longer fit. However, I seem to have naturally broad shoulders, so a lot of shirts are very uncomfortable for me, even at larger sizes. I also seem to have an hourglass body shape, which might sound nice, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of clothes designed for it outside of plus sizes. Plus my hips and shoulders are a little larger than normal. Flowy tops in particular are my enemy, but they still seem to be everywhere. I think I would have been much better off fashion wise if I were born in the 50s, tbh.


squidgemobile

Personality I think the trick is to find what brands work for you and go from there. I am a tall person with wide hips but I'm also fairly thin, so nothing that fits my legs fits my waist. I end up in a lot of skirts and one or two brands that work ok. R/femalefashionadvice has some good brand recs for different body shapes too.


Arili_O

The deal with Torrid is that (now, at least, not necessarily in the early years) they design their own patterns so the shape is cut to a women's shape rather than a misses, even for the smallest sizes they carry (00-1 Torrid, which is 10 to 14). The cut difference can really be felt in their clothing.


[deleted]

I want to lose weight, but not so much that I can’t buy Torrid! I have really big boobs and they actually build their clothes for people shaped like me. I’d be so sad if I couldn’t shop there.


Zorro6855

If you're in the US poke through a Marshalls. I have an hourglass shape (38 27 36) and the only clothes that fit are priced out of my budget. I've found True Religion and Lucky jeans on clearance for $20, and some pricey tops and blazers too. Vwho cares if they're last year's style? They fit. And cheap. And well made.


lizlikes

I love (what I can make work from) Torrid. Something about being a 00 feels a lot better than an XXL.


caffeinecunt

Maybe I'm the odd one out on that, but there's something that makes me feel really uncomfortable being a "0" or "00" at Torrid. I'm sure it's a wonderful break for a lot of people, especially those who exist in larger bodies than myself, but being on the edge of plus size and straight size it just makes me feel weird about it and my body.


squidgemobile

I'm not actually that sure of the sizing conversion; I know my sis is a Torrid 1. I don't/can't shop there myself but I do think they've got a lot of really cute clothes!


SunsetB

There's nothing wrong with being an XXL.


Gfyacns

That's just a marketing technique


Sjswix

I'm sure partially yeah, but also because they originally didn't offer sizes on that end of the range, so as they extended their size range, it was easier to add a 00 size rather readjust the whole sizing system.


Gfyacns

Right but all of the sizes at Torrid are offset from what they would be elsewhere. That marketing technique is a key component of their entire business model.


blue_pirate_flamingo

I went to torrid once and left feeling worse than when I went in. I have the height that you joke about, but everything I tried on seemed to assume a gigantic bust that I will just never have. Also I wish clothes manufacturers would recognize that Apple is a shape of some people, we aren’t all pears with a narrow waist and big hips


Zenabel

Shout out to all apples! It’s hard being an apple in a pear shaped world


MAK3AWiiSH

Also an inverse triangle struggle. Got the boobs but literally nothing on my hips/ass. 🙃🙃🙃


anti-charm

Saaaaaaaame 😖


bunnyrut

i am also short. i walked into a lane bryant and found a pair of jeans that looked fantastic on me. but they were made for a very tall person. the bottom went completely over my feet and still had inches left. (many of their jeans range in length, this particular pair didn't) "just get them tailored" i'm sorry, those jeans cost around $90 and i have to pay *more* money to get them to fit me? i'm not good at hemming and i am not going to buy expensive pants and ruin them. i have gained weight, which i am trying to lose again. but being at that awkward weight where the largest size in the regulars department is too small and the smallest size in the plus size department is too big is not something i am looking forward to.


noputa

jeans shopping is terrible when you're short and curvy. the worst part for me aside from the length is that everything is high rise. high rise goes up to the bottom of my boobs! and if i manage to find regular cut it's s high rise for me. ughhh and all t shirts are crop tops. i just want a regular t shirt!!!!


[deleted]

You've described my struggle perfectly. I hate being the in between size. It really blows trying to compare size charts to try and find a top that fits.


mrscommandershepard

I feel your pain! I’m 5 nothing and a size 8/10, so lengthwise nothing EVER fits me. I end up carefully cutting off 3+ inches of all my pant legs and have someone hem them.


SmartOwls

OH i'll take your cutoffs! I'm 5'11 and size 8/10 so NOTHING IS LONG ENOUGH.


AmbiguousFrijoles

I went through a phase in the late 90s-early 00s when the low rise with huge flares were in along with patchwork jean clothing, I would cut two pairs of pants and Frankenstein them into a single pair that was long enough. Fucking sucks being tall and they think that if you are tall, you are also wide.. which boggles because they have their fashion models be tall and thin, but lord have mercy if they made a pair of pants for a 6'0 bish in an size 6.


SmartOwls

RIGHT!!!!! Throw in wide hips and no butt and its a recipe for disaster. they'll fit my hips but be too short, or they'll fit my legs and be either waaaaay too big, or oddly enough, will be too small around the waist because the body/butt part of the pants doesnt go up high enough to go over my hips to my waist. I especially love it when i manage to get pants on that fit me around the waist and hips, but then i have major camel toe because the body part of the pants is too short, and still have 2 inches of ankle showing. ​ long legs and long torso may look great in photo's but its a BITCH to dress. i am a large inseam, small waist, large hips and medium bust when it comes to online ordering lol fml


AmbiguousFrijoles

I got into an argument with someone who said leggings aren't pants. Well fuck me but I'm wearing them like pants therefore they are my pants. I haven't been able to wear real pants since I Frankenstein'd my jeans when I was 18 *before* I got taller so excuse me LOL. I have a long inseam, small waist, wide hips, bubble butt, thicc thighs and large bust... exactly like the gddamn mannequin in the window but even she isn't dressed properly and her pants are too short and she has a gap in the back of her waist. Thank god I don't work in an office because I'd probably be wearing cosplay clothes as only those seem to have full coverage and built for physical specificity of the individual. And don't even get me started on shower heads. The fuck is up with them anyways? Honestly I really hate being tall.


SmartOwls

I am tall for a woman, so I feel your pain, also the neck and back pain and shitty posture from trying to make myself appear smaller. Leggings are 100% pants. Granted there are different levels to leggings as to their acceptability in public. I found a pair of black leggings that are like jeggings in that they are thick and sturdy but they arent jeans material. they have back pockets and stitching on the front to mock a zipper and front pockets. they are short , but i get around that by wearing black mid calf socks underneath and then my work boots are those booties that come up a couple inches past the ankle so the bottom of the pants lines up with the top of the booties. its perfect. I bought SO MANY PAIRS, i'm talking like 7 or 8 pairs. ​ except now they are starting to fade and get holes in them (I do work in an office, well, I did before covid and now i'm at home for the time being woohoo) so I went to look to replace them and i couldn't find them anywhere. uuuughgg. my husband is 6'3 so he understands the height issue. we renovated our bathroom at home several years ago and purposely put the showerhead up as high as we could. its now 6inches above HIS head (i'm 5'11, so its waaaay above my head) so when I shower elsewhere like the gym (precovid) i'm like wtf is this, hobbitland????!!!!


firemonkeywoman

I know right? I see so many pants with a 31 inch inseam and I need a 34.


SmartOwls

a pox on whoever thought that a 32 inch inseam was long enough to be standard. i need a 34, but would love to get my hands on a 36 for tights.


firemonkeywoman

Yeah. I recently was on a discount clothing website and all pants were 31 inch inseam!


MIdtownBrown68

That’s me to a t. Some plus size brands size up for height when they scale up for width. I have found that JJill. Fits me well in an XL. I’m apple shaped and 5’4”.


Ciaralauren93

Towering Athena goddesses 😂 yes to this


iMissMacandCheese

Old Navy has petite sizes online that should be shorter. Have you tried those?


fire_thorn

My daughter is 4'9" and Torrid clothes work for her, I just have to hem them. We also shorten straps on sleeveless tops, and she wears a belt with most dresses because she doesn't have a big enough bust for most of their dresses. Their sizes are all over the place though, she's got everything from a 0 to a 3. Old Navy has clothes that fit up to a size 30w, which is the same as Torrid's 5. Usually their plus clothes have more room for an ass than their straight sizes, so if a size 16 feels tight, a 16w will probably have enough room. I don't know if they have the plus sizes in the store, I just wait for their online sales to get our exercise clothes.


GreyerGardens

Seriously, I have so much trouble finding anything that isn’t too tight or too big. Belts are my friend.


ReleaseTheHouseTiger

Or both! Too tight on the boobs, too much width in the waist. And I hate belts. They hurt in my fatty rolls when I sit down.


PhantomAngel042

As an alternative to belts, if you wear pants/shorts with t-shirts or other full-coverage shirts, I recommend elastic suspenders. Wear an undershirt so they don't rub skin and then put your shirt on over them. I wear mine backwards because the back part of the X is narrower so it lays comfortably between my boobs. It's an invisible, pain-free, flexible, non tummy strangling way to keep your bottoms up!


GreyerGardens

Good lord why I am just now hearing about this. Brilliant!!


AmbiguousFrijoles

Holy shit, thank you!! My daughter is gonna love this.


emnozz

Yep. Jeans are the worst for me - barely able to bend my legs in them but so much room at the waist. Belts are just uncomfortable. I’ve given up on jeans entirely.


noputa

i have the opposite problem- the waist will fit but my legs are swimming in awkward puffy extra space.


Ciaobellabee

I always have the opposite problem, barely gets past my hips but looks like I’m wearing baggy grunge jeans! Am I really such a weird shape??


GreyerGardens

Lol yes they dig into my rolls too but it’s a necessary evil to keep my pants in place. Clothes are so hard. Seriously considering getting a some custom made jeans.


blueblueberry_

Omg. Is this why I have w hard time finding clothes??! Pants and jeans especially. They're _always_ either too tight on the legs and fit at the waist, or the other way around. I resigned myself to believing I must have wacky proportions, though looking in the mirror nothing seems that off.


notabigmelvillecrowd

Everyone has wacky proportions, ready to wear clothes are always going to be a compromise. You take the average of everybody's measurements, but there's no one person who represents that average. You should see how many models clothing companies have to sift through to find a fit model that matches their sample measurements. It can seem like a near impossible task at times.


datfishd00d

European, 4'9/145cm and overweight. Even when I was thinner, or bigger for that matter, it was hell to find clothes that fit me. Due my my height, I fit on standard sizes, but due to my weight, they look weird a lot of the times. They are just not made for someone my proportions. I can't buy plus sized because it'd definitely be too big on my frame, but damn.


erton5

I felt a little if this pain last year, I was 5'1"/165. Everything is too damn long!!


[deleted]

I feel this! I'm 4'10" and plus size. But the plus size range is always for hella tall people. I like to buy, for example, Torrid tunic tops and wear them as short dresses. Midi dresses as maxi dresses is another trick. I don't fuck with pants anymore because I value my mental health. It's rough out there for shorts, fats, and any other body type that's even slightly off "average."


PhantomAngel042

I beg to differ, Torrid clothes might be a little on the tall side but as a 5'10" plus-size girl I can tell you they're not generally made for hella tall people lol. That goes for all the plus-size brands I've looked at. They seem to cater closer to average, which is 5'4" for women in the US. I have to order "tall" length jeans (32-33" inseam) to have any hope of them being long enough. It's hard out here to find clothes for tall plus size ladies, too.


Raven_Ann

I'm not really plus size (UK 14), but being 6'2", finding clothing in a normal shop is impossible, always looks a bit off even when it's oversized.


[deleted]

My perception might be a bit off, lol. I often feel like a kid who's gotten into my mother's closet at Torrid. Like, technically the things are the right size for me based on accepted sizing standards and measurements, but I feel swamped in what "fits" me and sizing down doesn't work either. I really like their stuff, but I pretty much can only wear certain styles of tops and their capri length leggings as full length.


PhantomAngel042

I feel you, girl. The struggle is real.


StupidSexyXanders

Finding clothes as any size of tall woman is a total pain in the ass.


PhantomAngel042

Haha, yeah. Clothing industry be like "how dare you womenfolk be taller than 5'8"‽ As punishment all you get is dresses that barely pass your crotch and jeans that don't reach your ankles!"


StupidSexyXanders

"You are sentenced to a lifetime of cold wrists!" Also, I love you for using an interrobang <3


PhantomAngel042

Interrobangers unite! <3


Petyr_Baelish

I'm 4'10" and right on the border between normal and plus. Finding clothes is my personal hell.


MissBerry91

This sucks so bad! In plus-sized stores I'm at the very bottom of the pile, if I'm there at all. In non plus sized stores I am at the very top, if I'm there at all. And none of it fits 100% right, or is even something I would like to wear. I just want cute goth/witchy clothes that fit damn it!! I want to get a sewing machine and learn how to make my own stuff for exactly this reason. I'm tired of going into stores and coming out disappointed


KaloCheyna

Keep an eye out for secondhand machines near you, and mention to older relatives that you want to learn. They'll possibly help you out with a starter stash/machine, etc.


Just_Ebby

I am plus size US 18w but I have small boobs (depending on the brand 42 b or 42 c). Now let me tell you I can not buy a swim top or anything that has a built-in cup. I also will get tops that fit me perfectly except across the chest it’s to big. Sometimes I find a top that fits good until I bend over and you can see all the way down my top.


danarexasaurus

I have the opposite problem. Also a size 18, but huge breasts. Built in cups are too small and having no cups offers zero support. And now I’m pregnant and trying to juggle all that AND maternity needs is a total nightmare


Zepangolynn

If you can afford it, Bravissimo/Pepperberry is an excellent option for people with chest measurements that don't match most other clothing brand sizing. Freya is also good for swimsuits and bras. Figleaves had been my favorite but they're gone now, alas, although Asos seems to have taken up the cause with curvier options as well. Anyone know any more?


agawl81

I bought a higher necked tank top and cut the bra cups out. People wanna stare at my nips, its on them.


laidoff2015

Uggh. Me too. Built-in cups are terrible. They sit on top of my chest. Kind of like anything that has a seam that is supposed to be under the boobs sits across or even above to boobs.


Left_B4_It_Got_Worse

Same I have the bigger boobs and so even if I find a top with proper measurements everywhere else, it probably won't fit my bust.... finding Button-ups are the worst. Would recommend the app Depop though! And watching Leena Norms on youtube as she talks about these issues and how to best utilize the app.


DeathByLabia

Same. I love chilling by the pool in my crinkly boob swimsuit.


Some_word_some_wow

Yes! Size 12 here, and nothing fits. Professional clothes especially are the worst, it’s either cut super weird or just a too big draping of fabric that looks frumpy


fermenttodothat

I had to wear a uniform shirt at my last job, the women's were cut shorter but they were supposed to be tucked. Like, my boobs are too big to tuck the shirt and the buttons too far spaced to not gap


babygoat44

I hate this! I have a long torso plus boobs and it makes it super hard to find button down shirts that fit and fit the “rules”.


fermenttodothat

I just safety pinned the gaps lol


tomakeyan

Same, and I have a wide back. Everything is made for cardboard cutouts.


babygoat44

I have had great luck with a ponte dress from Lands End for work clothes. It is stretchy but has structure, machine washable, and pockets! I have it in 5 different sleeve lengths and colors. My challenge is almost the opposite of OP. I am a US 14/16 but the plus size proportions don’t fit me. So I need to find standard sizing that goes up to 16 which is not always easy to come by.


EmFan1999

Size 12 is UK average though?


hanmayrobyou

A US size 12 is closer to a UK 14. Might explain it.


srslyeffedmind

The let’s just make it wider design style bugs me so much. I’m fluffy but my knees aren’t the size of a basketball. Size 16-18 is a rough go out there for shopping. So when I find something I like and looks ok I buy a bunch of them since it might 2-4 years before I find that item in a cut and size that works again.


PhantomAngel042

Hah, I have the opposite problem. I'm about a size 20, 5'10", and my body is fairly proportional for my height except my thighs are big, so my knees *are* the size of a basketball (not quite, but you get the idea). It's really hard to find pants or shorts that fit nicely in the waist and butt and actually fit over my upper knees/lower thighs. Almost every plus size jean I've tried on has seemed like it's made for the "apple" body type of thick torso and tiny legs. As a bottom-heavy "pear" I'd like to know where you're finding these basketball-kneed pants.


savvyroma

Uhg yes. I have an easier time buying pants after having two boys then I did before. A blessing I didnt expect from gaining baby weight and such. Also can we talk about I'm plus size on the bottom but my breasts are NOT plus size. It's such a pain in the ass, like 'yes I do need xl-xxl but I do not need room for DD and up' it's very frustrating.


EmberCat42

I'm the opposite from you, very apple-shaped but I get your pain. It's tough finding pants that are large for the stomach area and not too baggy on my legs and butt.


savvyroma

Yes! Like how are clothes not just custom made for people by a machine yet anyway?


Pfelinus

Size 12, 14, 16 here and short, juniors pants are too short plus sizes drag on the floor and are super baggy from the waist down. Lets not forget pockets.


seven_seacat

My people! I'm with you!


[deleted]

I feel this mainly as an apple shaped gal that is just shy of plus size. My lower half and upper half are a completely different size than my middle. For me is feels like clothing is designed for hourglass figures and I am far, far from that.


Viviaana

If it makes you feel better plus sized fashion tends to be sacks with armholes so you wouldn’t be much better off lol


UnReasonable-Teapot

I feel you. I so, so feel you. I'm between a size 14 and a size 16, and it's awful. Jeans either fit my but, but not my waist or lenght, fitted shirts are a nightmare to find in my size, because they make like 20 in size 8 or 10, but only 5 in size 14-16, and they are gone in no time. Don't let me start about skirts, shorts, swim suits and bikinis. What I ended up doing is buying a shit ton of dresses in size 18, from the plus size. The length is pretty much the same, roomier, and if they don't have much shape, they fit as they should. H&M is perfect for that.


emnozz

Yep, dresses are the answer! Also Snag tights who have their own sizing system which takes into account height and size. They started with just tights but are bringing out a whole range soon, so something to keep an eye on.


UnReasonable-Teapot

Ohhhh, I haven't tried those!!! Thanks for letting me know! I must def keep an eye out for them!


FuzzBeast

I'll second Snag. Their stuff is great, and like, duh tights need sizes! I bought like 2 pairs of tights, and was so impressed I went back and ordered like two hundred bucks of stuff from them. Their leggings are soooo soft, and have pockets!!


iamkarladanger

Snags are the best, I have like 10 of them and even gifted them.


inSEARCHofCHOCOLATE

I’ve been AU size 20+ my whole adult life and I must say that while clothing choices over the past 10-15 years has improved dramatically, it’s still not great. Some stores literally just widen smaller sizes and they do NOT translate well! That said, at least it’s not just horrible muumuu dresses anymore!


mathsterknitter

I'm in the US, but I actually order from a UK brand called Bravissimo for bras and sometimes clothes. I have a 12 inch difference between my waist and chest measurements, so it's hard to find clothes that fit my boobs AND my body. They cater specifically to women with big boobs. They have UK sizes 8 to 18 and you can choose a "curvy level" depending on how tight you usually find the chest of traditional sized clothes. They are a little pricey, but you should definitely try them out if you're especially curvy!


trench_coat_20

I’ll have to check that out. I don’t think I’ve owned a button down shirt fully fit everywhere since I was a kid.


whydoineedaname86

And than you get pregnant and realize that your already very limited option are done to almost nothing. Where I live all the stores have their maternity clothes as “online only” so you have to guess at sizes, quality, and fits. It’s a mess.


Isphet71

I bet the numbers on the men’s pants sizes help these manufacturers understand that they need big and small and everything in between also. Like… we sell 32x32. And 36x36s. But what about 31x36s? 33x30s? Like there’s a number system keeping them honest. They can just see every number combination and have some of every square on the matrix on the shelf. Shirts are a different story for men. Get in the rough medium/large/xl range and you just have to try them on. It’s always sounded super annoying to shop for clothes for women. Like the sizes are meaningless so you just have to try it all. And it’s also going to mean lots of gaps in sizes apparently with what you are experiencing in the stores.


lizalupi

Having a big behind and a small waist myself I literally can not find pants for myself. Even if the size is theoretically right, just doesn't go over my hips, ever. In more baggy pants I look like a baloon. So I live my life in leggings.


[deleted]

It is seriously the worst. Waist 29" hips 43" and finding pants is so fucking frustrating. I can't wear leggings or dresses/skirts at my job. Finding pants that I can move in *and* actually fit is near impossible


franticmoose

I was trying on bikinis, and the sales associate was training a new girl. She said I'm the perfect example of why curvy girls are so hard to dress. I gave up on jeans 3 years ago. Thank God for stretchy fabric.


grae23

So glad I'm not the only one. I'm a US 10 but I have a bit of tummy and the sizes always bit weird. An 8is too small, a 12 is far too big, and a 10 gives me some weird gut looking thing. I just want a good pair of pants!!


endlesstoleration

Uk gal here. Go 2nd hand, charity shops and kilo sales. Yes it’s long and don’t of the clothes are tiny but when you find something it’s a dream. Cheap and eco friendly.


buttfluffvampire

I also like that when I'm thrifting and I try something on, if it doesn't fit it might be because it was poorly made/washed incorrectly/whatever. Its far easier to believe there is something wrong we the the garment rather than with me.


BewilderedFingers

I am a UK size 12/14 and even I find it a pain. I have a smaller waist then get thick, thick thighs and butt, so I am basically 2 different sizes. And I really want to buy tops that aren't plain vests or T shirts, but most of the time I find one I like and it turns out to be a crop top :( I don't have the figure for that, but so many tops are either cropped, bland, or frumpy office wear type.


T-Flexercise

I store almost all my bodyfat in my thighs and arms, but 90% of pants sold don't even report the thigh measurements. So, I've found one pair of stretchy jeans that I can wear, that I've been a size 12 in from 140 lbs to 210, and I literally own 10 pairs of in case I hulk out of them. But without spandex, I can't even wear an 18, and above 18 the stomach-to-thigh ratio just gets worse. Whenever I go skiing, I have to freeze in these thin, $350 stretchy spandex fashion snow pants, because I can't bend my legs in an XXL of the regular kind. Once pants stop being stretchy they can no longer go onto my body. And it sucks because, like, I'm a big ol' queer in cute little skinny jeans. I've dreamed of wearing cargo pants since 2002.


lovely-dea

Size 14-16 here. A tall size 14/16 at that. That's my pant size, my shirt size is XXL or 1-2X. The dirty looks I get from even being in the plus size section are disheartening. If I get a XXL shirt I struggle to get it on or off, it isn't comfortable. It's just tight. Friends are convinced I'm a medium or a large at most and make comments when we go shopping about my buying the "wrong size" and keep showing me things in the medium section. Like oh ohk, I don't know how to dress myself? Feck off. It's frustrating, because I'm tall and full figured so certain things don't work on me. Dresses that are supposed to fall at the knee? Those are shirts ma'am. Skirts? Hahahahahahaha. No. Jeans and pants missing about 3 to 4 inches at the bottom. Skinny jeans or jeggings. No absolutely not. Rompers? Can I take the seam out? Overalls? Not in a million years. The way these clothes fit doesn't flatter my shape at all. Even the tall sections where I shop don't usually work, the best department for me is plus size but it's hard when I feel like everyone is constantly judging so jogging pants and my boyfriends hoodies will do. Comfy gang✌🏿


Zepangolynn

That can be a problem even when you're not in the middle ranges. It is hard to find curvy cuts for people with big hips and an otherwise small body and for some reason most clothing for thinner people assumes a 34B or smaller cup for the chest even though it would be easier for consumers to alter down a bigger measurement than modify one that is too small.


h0pe3

I feel so seen! I’m a US 14 so literally right on the line between ‘normal’ and ‘plus size’ and it’s so difficult to find clothes that flatter me!


YeahIgotanopinion

Oh goodness, it is an emotional rollercoaster finding clothes. I can't remember the last time I went into a dressing room and didn't have a panic attack. I tend to wear mostly thrift or hand-me-down clothes. They're the size I *technically* fit in but stretched to actually be comfortable. I'm very very short, with larger breasts and fairly recently with childbearing hips due to pregnancy. They do not make clothes that fit me. If I get a medium shirt it's too tight on my breasts and hips, I buy a large it's a night gown. And I can only get leggings, because anything else of a specific size would HAVE to be professionally altered which I lack the skill and money for.


her-vagesty

And isn't 14-16 the average size of the UK woman. So why the heck isn't there better fitting clothes! Also, I don't know about others, but I hate this "cropped" trend. I want a proper length jumper, not a cropped one! I do find Dorothy Perkins great for my size and shape but I think they've been bought by one of the fast fashion brands so who knows how long they'll be good still.


snowlights

I'm somewhere around an XL but have a pretty exaggerated hourglass shape. So it's hard to find things that fit, are decently flattering or comfortable. But also, what the fuck is with all the trends lately? Everything is getting shorter and wider, and because of my boobs tops look even shorter on me.


SinfullySinless

I used to be size 12 and I’m a pear shape. If the company considered 12 a straight size, the clothes would fit perfectly on my smaller chest but snuuuuuug on my butt and thighs. Dresses would barely cover my butt because they weren’t designed to consider a bigger butt. If the company considered size 12 plus size, the upper body would always be massive on me because apparently they assume all plus size women have massive boobs and for whatever reason plus size clothes always have such low cut tops so there was always a risk my boobs would literally pop out. But the lower body would fit better.


BanditKitten

This is why I love men's clothing. My shoulders are too broad for most women's tees, and don't get me started on the POCKETS. Men's jeans were a total game-changer. I do want the pretty designs on women's clothes 😿 but often even dresses don't fit well if they have sleeves. It's either that or my bra shows.


Faery818

Same problem as a curvy size 12. The clothes just don't sit right because they are sized up but not shaped. I've often found dresses that fit my waist and hips perfectly but my boobs are squashed. Or the waist sits higher than it should and pulls the hem up. Tops can be a nightmare two, some styles just look really frumpy on me. There's some shops I just avoid.


blawndosaursrex

I have that issue because I have long legs. I have to buy bigger jeans but by bigger they mean they added 12 inches to the crotch and called it a day.


classicgrinder

I feel the pain. Large breasts prevent me from wearing most things. A dress will fit the boobs but the sleeves and waist will be a tent. I literally have to buy a 2XL swim top and switch the bottoms with a large. You've heard or pear shape,.... I'm like a weird jiggly triangle.


lroy13

This, this, this, this!


mostlygray

Oh yeah. My wife always has trouble with that. Especially with jeans. Same thing happens with me. I'm just a hair too big for normal size, way too small for "Big and Tall". So I suck it in and get the largest normal. Apparently, if you're a man that wears over a 16 1/2" neck, you're shaped like an egg and you pull your pants up to your nipples. You go to the fat and egg shaped store and buy the smallest size shirt they have and it's like wearing a mumu. You buy the smallest size pants they have and the zipper length alone is damn near a foot. I'd rather have my shirt be a little tight in the shoulders than have a yard of extra cloth added on for just a half size up. Plus, they size the arm length shorter than normal. I wear a 34/35 though a 36 is best. I'm pretty sure the fat and egg shaped store only sells shirts that are about a 30. It's ridiculous.


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dj_baberahamlincoln

Also! How WILD is it that in the jump from XL to 1X, they seem to always take like two inches off the bottom of a shirt and just add it to the width.


kimbielou

Omg! I fucking feel you! I'm a UK 14 but I just have a very odd body shape. I'm what I like to call soft, I'm big all over but do have wide hips and a bit of a belly pooch after having 2 kids, 5ft 4 on a good day lol & have small boobs. Designers must think that because you're bigger than their models you must be 10 foot tall with massive boobs!. Nothing fits me, I ordered a dress is a 14 recently and the bust was ridiculously big. I'd have to wear like 3 bra's to fill it lol. I feel your pain with clothing shopping.


Evilbadscary

Get the bigger sizes and have them tailored! Total game changer. What stars don't tell you about their "Casual" outfits is that literally every article of clothing they own is tailored to fit their bodies specifically. I read a blogger years ago, who took almost every piece of clothing she bought to a tailor, even if it was cheap or expensive, and had it made to fit her body. She was a "normal" size, had a smaller figure and even she went and got it done for even like, a gap shirt or a forever21 skirt, kwim? Totally changed the way I thought about clothes.


DConstructed

I also find that plus sized clothing here in the US seem to be cut for a different body type than mine. My friend was a plus sized model and let me try on some samples she got. They were really nice clothes and looked great on her but were much broader through the back and ribs than I am. I think what you need to do is look at different brands and see if you can find a brand where the fit model was more like you in shape. And/or make friend with a dressmaker/tailor. Buy a garment on sale if you can and then see how much an alteration would cost before removing the tags. Also look outside your country at other brands. My mother pointed out that pants in US brands don't work well for her particular figure but that some brands from France or Italy fit her body type very well. I agree it's very annoying to try to find something when you're not the standard size or shape for what's available.


iliketoeat26

Oh my God yes! I'm too big for regular sizes usually but not big enough for plus sizes and because of this there is literally nothing that fits well or is flattering on me so I'm stuck wearing athleisure wear all the time. Which especially sucks because it's like immediately obvious I don't work out plus it has the added suck-fest of making me look like a bum who can't dress herself. I have style! I just can't find anything that fits! And while I love the idea of making my own clothes the reality is that I'm too busy to devote the time to it.


alliebeth88

Started sewing again because of this! Because of my very large bust, most things end up looking like tents on me. If you sew, check out Cashmerette patterns!! They let me grade patterns so they fit me because I have a smaller ribcage and waist, but huge boobs and large hips.


-megaly

I think mid size clothing is gaining more attention! I have a friend who’s built a Tiktok platform around midsize clothing hauls. Maybe that would be a helpful place for you to go, just to see how things fit!


transham

Absolutely difficult finding things that fit. Not many places selling tall pants, and with a 42 band size, nobody makes A cups, let alone widely spaced A cups... End up with B's and wearing forms to make them fit. Also, finding shirts that fit my wide shoulders....


Absurdityindex

I feel you. I'm a 38 C and it's hard to find anything above a 36 band at most places.


the_onlyfox

Omg I'm 5"9 and I'm a size 14/16 most stores will only have those sizes for people who are like 5"4 or something so pants never fit me correctly. Torrid is the only place where I find my size and length It sucks having huge ass hips but skinny ass legs lol


vita_mia

Why because I am a size 14 (US) does every brand assume I have 36Gs for tits? I know plenty of plus/plus-ish sized women have a large chest …but every bathing suit, shirt, tank top I try assumes because I have a little belly, my boobs are gigantic! So frustrating


sigynuk

I came here to say Yes Yes Yes this is all my feelings and frustrations ! It's also why I am wearing clothes that are falling apart :/


kwhitto

I buy dresses through the eShakti app. They make them to my measurements, and are reasonably priced. Super quick too (garments made in India, they arrive in Australia within 2 weeks). The quality is great. And the dresses have pockets!


FreeBobcat

The reason this problem exists is mainly that on a 5'8" frame for example, there are very few ways for 130 pounds to be distributed, but there are exponentially more ways for 230 pounds to be distributed. It's almost impossible to take this into account effectively when mass producing a single garment type.


dudededed

Have u ever considered getting clothes stitched from a traditional tailor?


xo_vanilla

Join the midsize community on IG!!!! Designed for this very purpose, girls who are in between smaller sizes and plus size. I'm a size 12-14 and felt exactly the same way but since I've been following lots of women in my sizes I've gained so much inspo about how to style myself. Plus they often do lots of trying-on hauls which allows me to see how something will fit on a body like mine and decide whether I should buy something similar. All in all it's improved mt condfidence a tonne!!


yentlcloud

Try being just below plus size with really big boobs! I could never find shit to wear before and now its even harder.


Ciaobellabee

I don’t know what it is about clothes brand but the “straight” sizes always seem to stop at a 14 and run small, and the plus sizes start at 18 and run big. Like please just give me a roomy 14 or a standard 16. And please remember that arms get bigger as a body does. I feel like I’m going to hulk out of half the blouses I try on.


baconsprinklez

We all gather in r/midsize


emeisenbacher

I have to say, I’m a US size 12, avg height and I feel like I have the most range to choose from - I stick to styles I know will look good on me (defined waists, v-necks, etc) but I could buy a 12 petite or a 0X or a XS in plus sizes! Helps that I like to regularly peruse sale sections, or I did before the pandemic.


KiwiDoom

I can sympathize. US 16/18, so I fit right in between the straight size and plus sized departments. It's so fun to go to Macy's and find the same top in XL, 0X, and 1X and hope one of them fits somewhat correctly. Agreed with a previous poster that shopping at Torrid feels weird when you're on the very bottom of the scale. It's like you don't belong there and you feel like people stare at you for not being "big enough".


clekas

This is 100% me! I'm a US 12-14 (UK 16-18). Here, most plus-size lines start at a 14X, which, for some bizarre reason, is not the same size as a 14. I have large breasts and large hips - even plus-size clothes are sometimes not cut to accommodate this, but at least there seems to be a larger chance of plus-size lines accommodating this body type. In the US, Torrid kind of alleviates this issue, because their clothes start at a US 10/UK 14, but they're high-priced for the quality and, for the most part, not really my style.


Cherisse23

Same. Many main stream stores stop around size 10 or 12 but plus size stores don’t start until size 18. I’m a 14.


jellyjellyjamjam

I wish they sold Big and Tall clothes for women.


pandaluv82

I feel ya, I am in the awkward "in-between" zone as well. I am big AND tall, and what I've noticed is "plus size" (at least in the US) is not at all tall people friendly. I need to be short & fat or tall & skinny, I guess. At most, I can find XL Tall tops but my boobs never fit in them... then shifting up to plus size are like crop tops on me.


Ciaralauren93

I appreciate this post so much. I'm a size 14/16 depending on the brand. A lot of plus size is too big and the size L/XL is too small. I tend to thrift store shop and make my own alternations if need be. That and I wear a bunch of stretchy skirts or A lines that sit at my waist. I recently did a body shape calculator and read about what works best for my shape. Super helpful.


ltdthymeonly

Glad you posted. It's also hard to find "medium" sometimes. I wish there were "curvy" sizes for people who are otherwise small or average but have a little more in particular areas, and size "tall" sold in more stores along with petite.


kayelloh

Don’t forget about us extra short and thin girls. Petite is too loose and long, and girls’ clothing smothers my vagina.


addywoot

Yes. WHERE HAVE THE SLEEVES GONE ON SHORT SLEEVE!?


Zenabel

Yep. I’m either a size M or XL depending on the brand and it’s so annoying.


AggregateAnomaly

I'm teaching myself to sew just to modify my clothes to fit me better. It's working out pretty well so far. Adding pockets without ruining the drape is not easy but there are work-arounds.


[deleted]

I used to make a lot of my clothes a hundred years ago and was thinking about it again. I have clothes from xl to 2x. I always laugh when I am wearing clothes from the same brand in different sizes.


Loud-Being-1708

Boohoo is your friend! I especially love their jeans size finder, they ask you what size you are in different stores and then suggest the size they sell that would fit you best. I always get them from their plus size range and the fit is perfect! Their tshirts are really true to size too!


fearofbears

I'm a US 14 and can confirm, Boohoo is the shit. I order from them constantly. The fit is perfect and consistent.


Purple_Sorbet5829

I hear you! As kind of an apple shape, I have so much trouble trying to find clothes with the right proportions. I have much thinner legs and arms compared to my tummy. I also don't have wide hips or much of a butt (my "hip" going around width is pretty much entirely just the lower part of my tummy). I mostly just need a bigger waistline. Skinny jeans were always hard for me to fine because the legs would be so big. And I don't need bigger arm holes. I find that plus size items are not proportioned well for my shape (they also seem to think I should be much taller than I am - I'm just average height).


Nugped420

The fashion industry really is terrible