General Chat

Julia....I can so relate to the thigh problem, not all women have thunder thighs :-(

PP, I’m not into sparkly sequins either, I really don’t need to draw attention to my bangers, they manage that all by themselves

The same goes for my boys. They are 6'4 and skinny. So, I buy them a jumper or T shirt in extra large, the 'extra' in it is the width.........it's the length they need


Ladies, we need to start our own fashion range :-|

lol

I've had dirty looks from shop assistants, because I turn garments inside-out to look at the workmanship. Too many loose threads and I won't buy it; if there's a loose thread on the hem I won't buy it.

I've learned to do the inspection in the changing rooms.

I used to make a lot of my own clothes, but with the quality of fabric these days I won't waste the time & energy.

:-(

My OH has big thighs (not thunder thighs) because of playing football in his younger days. He has trouble finding "dressy" trousers....... if they fit his thighs, the waist is too big. I go shopping with him, because he's been known to buy more than one pair (all the same) if he finds something that fits!

Sooo tempted to ask for a picture of your OH thighs Scozz ;-)

My husband is an ex rugby player..........lurverly thighs :-D

I am about 5' 7" but I used to work with a woman who was 4' 11" whose legs were the same length as mine. My bum drags on the ground!

I have to go to the short range for trousers and then look for long tops which are not particularly long on me but,at least I don't get a cold belly.

Have you tried "Millets" I believe they cater for all things and sizes. :-D :-D :-D

Going back to the comments re: M&S - yes, their sizing and quality control these days is terrible, definately not what it used to be. I'm another who always looks at seems and hems, and check the labels to see what they are made of etc!!

I bought 2 jumpers for Mum - same style, both size 12, but 2 different colours. When she put them on it one was size 12 and the other more like a 14.
Same thing happened with OH's polo shirts - same style, same size, different colours - one fitted him, the other didn't.

I complained to M&S, they told me it's because the items are made in different countries! Apparently the labelling codes depict where the item was made.

I have complained numerous times to M&S about their (lack of) quality control. They tell me they DO have quality controllers but if we want it like the old days, then they would have to charge higher prices and then people wouldn't buy as much as they do.

I only wish M&S would go back to higher prices and better quality which for me lasted for years. I have some lovely quality and not particularly expensive clothes I can no longer get into. M&S trousers are now cheap, material and poor fit. I was so desperate for a pair of black trousers recently I bought a pair in M&S which so far I have not worn and probably never will. For some reason the tops of the legs look like those that horse riders wear (those big thighs again I suppose) and they are now medium/regular and now too short for me. I despair.

Vera

i don't have a problem with sizes
its just my wardrobe shrinks clothes so that i wear them hang them up and 6 months later they have shrunk
they say fat people are jolly but how can you be happy when your trousers hurt

Just reading the comments on this thread shows that many of us think the same. We cannot be alone, there must be hundreds/thousands of women out there who feel just the same as we do.
The clothes shops are still governing what we buy and they way we buy it - surely it should be the other way around :-P
I'm just thinking back to when you could let something out a half inch if it got too tight. No chance of that now - you're lucky if the edges actually meet let alone have any material in the seam itself :-S

1960's ...Adulthood brought curves, a size 14

1970's...Motherhood added to them, a size 16

1980's... Diet Clubs reduced them, a size 12
addendum... Dr's orders increased them, a size 14

1990's... Cuddly Granny, a size 16

The Millennium.. a rounded Granny on medication,size 18
....

In 1970 women's average clothes size was 14, we were fit & healthy, walked everywhere.

I recently went shopping with a Granddaughter, a group of anorexic young girls were giggling at size 14 skirts, saying they looked like tents!!! They were later to be seen trying to rake together enough money to get a taxi to the station (half a mile away) 'Coz they wur zonked' !!!

I fully understand the fact that obesity is unhealthy, but so is this modern culture that advertises using anorexic models.

When I visited my GP in 1980's proud of my sharp hip bones & size 12 clothes, having hit my 'Weight Watchers Target Weight', it was a shock to be informed that I was underweight & if I valued my health should put on half a stone. :-0

Retirement,bad health & arthritic joints, have resulted in me piling on the pounds over the last 5 years. I know I am overweight now & wear 'bigger knickers',but the fact that clothes sizes vary so much means that I can get into sizes 18 - 22 all in one day. :-S

I think they should also add to the label on clothes, the 'shape' of woman it will suit, ie;

Pear
Apple
Hourglass
Banana

I get fed up with larger size clothes having sleeves that are too long or being too long in length, I just need the extra width of a size 18, 20 or 22 depending on the style to cover my apple belly. Why do manufacturers think women have longer arms or legs or need longer t shirts just cos they need the extra sizing for boobs or stomach. It's put me off buying several items of late for this very reason, my arms are probably the same length as a woman with smaller boobs who needs a size 12 so why make them different.

Lizx

The manufacturers also think we large women have broader shoulders than thinner women, but my shoulders are no broader now than they were when I was slimmer. The shoulder seams of many garments come several inches down my arms with some garments. I suppose the answer is shoulder pads, but with my short neck I feel ridiculous with shoulder pads.

lol Gins

OH used to play Aussie Rules football, but his build is more like a rugby player's. His father used to play rugby, and father & son have similar builds.

My brother says OH's legs are like tree trunks :-D

Today in our shop I bought a kaftan, which I have seen advertised in mail-order catalogues (but I paid much less). I am wearing it tonight, and it is so cool and comfy made of a satin-type material in a deep turquoise colour with purply-red flowers on. No worries about a good fit.

Yes, it's a nightmare buying clothes that fit!! The manufacturers don't seem to want the 'grey' pound. Come to that, why don't they have some mannequins with grey hair and glasses so we could get more idea what the clothes would look like on us? lol.

I agree with all the comments!! I have a big middle now and the falling off the hips look doesn't cut it at all, nor do the baggy trouser legs when you are 5 ft 1inch. Who on earth thought that tops with the elasticated bottom edge were a 'good' look.......talk about emphasise your worst bits. :-0 Sleeves are too long so I only buy 3/4 or short sleeves. Cropped trousers are full length on me so have to be shortened. Oh and for goodness sake why don't they make more sundresses/strappy tops with straps that hide your bra straps instead of the bits of string you see for straps.

Shoes are just the same too. I used to be a size 4, but even with a wider fit often buy a size 6 now. Whatever happened to the half sizes .......they've become rare too. Once, if you found something that fitted really well in a style you loved you could buy it in several colours, but not any more. Often it is in just one colour and lime green isn't for all of us.

Huia, maybe the kaftan is the way forward!! :-D

I usually shop in Bon Marche, they do their tops in different colours, these seem to wash well & not fall apart.

Clarks shoes are always good for wide feet or a high instep

I bought a pair of work trousers from Sainsburys the other day. They looked small in the shop so I got a 14. Got them home and I could barely keep them up!

Took them back, exchanged for a 12, got home and I could hardly breath in them :-|

Whats that about then!

Going back today and will have to take the time to try some on...I HATE trying clothes on...I hate clothes!

Lets all go nude, its easier

I have come to the conclusion. There is only one answer for me. The midriff has to go. Those slimming things you can use whilst sitting down seem a good idea but they are said to be fiddly and time consuming. Otherwise it is down to the all elasticated trousers for me.

Vera

Nooooooooooooooo Vera, dont do it :-0



I called at Sainsburys again today and out of interest compared some 'same size' trousers

Three pairs of size 12 (all the same style) all had differing waist measurements

I did the same with size 14..............also all different on the waist

So, I guess its not down to the make, the shop or colour, it's all down to which pair you pick up!