Vibrant Nation

I've had many clients who are plus sized. Therefore I made it a point to have only real women of all sizes and shapes in my 2 books (sz 4-22). Recently i included one of those models, a lovely African- American lady named Ife, to model on my CBS appearance on The Early Show. I had her in a great tunic and slacks--both from Macy's NY. They had a great plus sz dept . it featured larger sized versions of many items from their second floor which had 2-16. I was amazed at the good choices. I also recommend Sak's inventory in larger sizes. All the clothes I got for the same woman for her book photos (she's one of the gals on the cover of "Steal This Style"(Random House, April 2009) are from Sak's Fifth Ave.

Sherrie (www.sherriemathieson.com)

Right on sister!  I do not blame the Macy's and Kmart's but rather the designers and the manufacturers who refuse to make larger sizes.  As someone who sold haute couture for a couple of years, it was almost impossible to find any Italian wear larger than a 48 (approx. size 14).  This certainly limits the buyers (plus sized women have money too!) to the stick-figures that wear sz 2-4.

I am (thankfully) retired from 36 years of Government service and enjoying LIFE at 61.  Although my wardrobe is no longer a struggle to maintain, I remember many, many years of "hiking" to the dark, lonely corners of many a department store in order to find the larger sizes.  WHY do women's sizes have to be segregated from other clothing.  Fat is not catching and it's just one more slap in the face to us "bonus sized" women.  Once you've been lucky enough to find that quarantined island of aloneness (smile) one is confronted with mile upon mile (or else a single, sad rack) of Easter egg-colored converted draperies.  Conversely, I have been in stores considered "Hip" that carry clothing in larger sizes meant, apparently, for young women who have NO concept of the idea that "just because it comes in your size doesn't mean you should wear it".  There is lovely, stylish clothing for us out there but often those stores are far, far away.  Us country girls don't have a chance unless every day is Easter!

I have no problem shopping in the Plus Size department because I'm too large to find anything anywhere else. But my problem is that I'm a SHORT plus size person, and you can't just make things fit by chopping off the hems.  We are proportioned differently, as are the tall plus size people, but it's next to impossible to find anything that's proportioned for us.  I'm willing to pay, but first they have to exist.

As I posted below.  Alfred Dunner has decent clothes in large, short sizes.  JMS has nice classic jeans in 24W petite.

I'm the same way as many of the ladies here. I'm 5' 3" and I have a huge stomach and bottom. the top of my legs are huge, my knees are large, I have that hanging loose skin at the top of my arms that looks terrible with sleeves tops. I wear a size 18-20.  I go into most stores and have to find that wee little section hiden somewhere amoung the maternity and the junior items. It is usuaaly one rack of tops and pants and sometimes another one with dresses.  The problem with them is all of the items are just a basic stlye that has no style and if I put it on and walked down the sidewalk I could be seen for at least 3 blocks because of the bright colors and huge print.

I'm not a clown and do not wish to dress like one. I also do not want to be seen as a bright blimp everywhere I go. "Oh there goes mama look I can she her dress she's way over there about 2 blocks away."I also do not want to wear something that looks like a sack with 3 holes in it for my head and 2 arms. I also do not want to wear pants that do not fit my proportions and that has an elastic waist. Not all bigger ladies wants everything with no style and ill fitting things to wear.

I am a grandmother, I love stylish, pretty, sophiticated, and well fitting things on my body. Don't these people tat make clothes know that we have style and grace. We want to wear clothes that are form fitting, stylish, the same type of things they make for the size 00 to 3.  Why is it that they think these are the only ladies that can and want to look pretty in what they have on?  

I want things with lace, a bodice with darts in the front, buttons, lace up, zippers, and thing that will allow my tops, dresses, or skirts to fit better.    I can not wear polyester, wool, or any material that is rough or scratchy on my skin. I have very sensitive skin.            

I don't want to have to pay a lot for the clothes needed on a day to day basis and just because we are bigg I don't think that we should have to pay $10 to $25 more for the same clothing as a size 12 or 14 or even an 16 does.  I use to make my clothes when I was able to and the go up a size, (say from a 16/18 to a 20/22) it's barely an inch more material that's needed.  

I am in Tennessee and I have found a couple of stores that I can get some stylish things on and off for a decent price. One of them is Factory Connection, they have a website. They have sales every month and they have mens pants and shirts too. All kinds of accessories can be found there. I know they are here in Tennessee and in Mississippi.  There is also Cato, they cater to women, little girls, and young girls. The are a little more pricy on things than say Wal-Mart. They have sales about every week or month. I'm not but I think they have a website.                                                                                                                                                                                   We used to have a Goody's here but they went out of business  months ago. I'm not sure what size they go up to. I have bought 18/20 there. They have really nice dresses and suits (skirt or pants). They have sales once a month too.  I know they have a website.

I wish that I could wear wool and polyester knit as well as other things since they make the most beautiful things from these materials. Since I can not I wish they would make nice stylish things out of cotton blends and other soft none irritating cloths.                                                                                                                                                                 

I really do not like the way the people that make and sell clothes think about us either.  It's kind of like this, if we want the pretty, stylish things we will lose all that weight so we can get into what they are making or buying.   They just do not understand that many of us have tried everything beyond having surgery to lose the weight. We have medical conditions or it runs in the family,(it's in the genes) for us to be really big.  No one wants to be big. It's just something that we must deal with. We need people to make for us nice, pretty things that are affordable to wear and they need to up the limit on the amount of clothing they make. There are more of us out here then they think. We all need clothes and we have money to purchase them or is it that our money is not good enough for them?

I Love Lane Bryant.  They have a variety of styles, colors and textures.  The sales people are genuinely nice.  I am a teacher and I cannot have anything too short or revealing but I don't want to look dumpy either.  I have found some  lovely, functinaly clothing there.

Roadwarrior,

Size 16 isn't a "Plus" size!  I would kill to be in that size!!  Are you crazy?  Have you seen the polyester heaven in size 24??  It's enough to stretch around the world 4 times!  It's amazing that when I look at the clothing labels in the "regular" sizes, not the "Oh My God!"  sizes, the ample size always has the biggest stripes, flowers, prints all over it.  When I look at the tiny sizes, they have no loud prints over it.  Go figure!  I ALWAYS pay more for clothing that is inferior to regular sizes.  Ladies, have youi noticed that when you go to "discount" stores like Fashion Bug, Dress Barn, you pay "through the nose" for a pair of slacks that fall apart the first time you put them in the wash?  I usually shop at Coldwater Creek.  They should put "masks" on when they take your money there!  I've noticed lately, however, that the once good quality is slipping there as well.  A pair of slacks and a no-iron blouse will set you back $125!!  Unless you hit it lucky and have a "coupon", your weekly salary can be blown in minutes.

I'm totally disgusted with the way we "Plus" size women are treated by salespersons as well.  I'm disabled with Fibromyalgia, thus the inability to exercise without excruciating pain is almost impossible.  No, I do not stuff candy bars in my mouth in a continual motion, nor do I eat at fast-food restaurants, nor do I eat to excess.  But the looks I've received looking for a bigger size are truly "priceless". I am a professional RN, and I dress impeccably when I go for a meeting or an interview.  That's a whole other story.  I know I've been the victim of weight discrimination with some of my interviews.  I have been unable to find a part-time position for almost a year now.  My references are excellent, and many employers have commented on how "impressive" my resume is.  They are so impressed, however, they never call me again.

This week, after not being able to find work, I had an appointment with a Bariatric surgeon to consider the gastric banding procedure.  I'm finally waving the white flag; I've surrendered.  I give up.  I've given in to societal pressure and will become one of the "beautiful people" soon.  Are all of you young and beautiful employers ready for me?  Or will my age then be an excuse not to hire me?

I'm a bit bigger than that.  Sometimes the fashions seem to be designed for a size 6 and then just graded up.  Look at me folks!  I have a bust.  I have hips, and a bigger waist.  I need clothing designed to look good on me.

If you're in another country where pencil thin is not the style, shop.  Bring it home.

I would also ask the buyer to sit outside their stores and check out the approx. size and shape of people going in the door - and people not bothering to go in.  I think that would be enlightening too.

I once asked where the plus size clothing stores were in a mall.  I was told that the entire mall was phasing out clothing for plus sizes.  I asked if they had looked at the women walking around in the mall and judged if they would buy plus size clothing.  A large number would be wearing plus size clothing.  They had nothing to say. 

Apparently this mall thinks thin people buy more than plus size people.  Well, Duh!  If they had to wear plus size fashions they put in their stores maybe they wouldn't buy much either.

I am pleased to see independent stores now taking up the cause.  I have a closet full of cute clothing, but it took a long time to find out where to shop.

I'm 50 this year and energetic. I am also a size 16 and have found Woman's Talbots to be wonderful. I can usually wear a 14W with plenty of room to button and the sleeves are perfect.

When I tried on the 16 in regular jacket, it was hard to button and yet the sleeves are a tad long. 18 Regular was better at buttoning but looked too large in the shoulders and arms. The problem is there aren't a lot of Woman's Talbots around. I usually go to the one at the Forum because it has more selection. Online is nice but 14W's go fast and I can't afford to pay full price.

After working out for years and eating healthfully, I've finally worked into a 16 Reg pant. I never seem to find anything in the regular department stores. When I asked the Talbots at the Summit, the saleswoman said they don't carry 16in the store, only online and to check the other Talbot's stores.

I am not wealthy so I do shop the sales and take advantage of the 10% discount for using my card. Then I pay it off really quickly. Good luck.

Sure, seems simple enough. Do the math. 65% of us are overweight. So 65% of the clothing on the racks should be plus sized, right? Wrong. 65% of us may be overweight, but the other 35% are the ones spending most of their money on clothes. Therefore, the retailers and designers will go where the money is. Once again, the almighty dollar dictates fashion.

I smiled as I read your post.  You are so right.