Spring fashion depression

[kwaniesiam]

Now that the weather is finally getting warmer and winter is at the end of it's life this season...it's time for spring shopping. I've gained a bit of weight since last season and I can't fit into my other stuff. This is rather upsetting since after looking through stores, I can't find ANYTHING even remotely to my taste or that even looks somewhat flattering on me. All they have are these loudly printed, brightly colored empire waist tops and ultra-ultra lowrise skinny jeans, shorter skirts, and sleeveless tops. I don't wear things without at least some sleeve, it makes my arms look huge. The empire waists are cute on others, but I'm short and round so they make me look pregnant :purplex:

Any reccomendations for stores to check at? I'm right on the border of the biggest junior size and the smallest plus size, so I can go either way depending on how it's made.

[Euphony]

You know I haven't gone to a store to shop for clothes in quite some time. What is your taste? I see what you don't like, and it sounds a lot like what I don't like. Except I tend to like loud prints, but perhaps not bright ones.

Have you looked at Fashion Bug? hmmm are they around anymore? I used to shop at Fashion Bug and loved them, I got some of the most comfy and pretty dresses from them. I still have a sweater I bought there well over 10 years ago and I still wear it.

How about online? I love Holy Clothing (http://www.holyclothing.com)

Eshakti (http://www.eshakti.com/clothpdpage.asp?catalog=Clothes&cate=short+tops&productid=CL0011272&pcat=tops) is awesome because you can change things - say you like a top they have, but it's got short sleeves and you like 3/4 sleeves - you can get it with 3/4 sleeves! I've never purchased from them, but I've drooled from afar.

Here's another I've never purchased from, but admired: Gypsy Rose (http://www.gypsyrose.com/)

Hmmm that's all I can seem to find in my mess of favorites (I really gotta clean that out!).

[kwaniesiam]

Ooh, thanks for the links. I love the first site, holy clothing. The others are pretty neat too. :happy:

I do most of my shopping online anymore...I just can't seem to find stuff I like in stores around here.

[feisty redhead]

I feel your pain. I do most of my clothing shopping online, because I just can't find anything I like in the stores. I hate not being able to actually see the stuff or try it on first but nine times out of ten it hasn't really been a problem anyway; most sites have pretty good sizing charts.

I really hate all the cropped tops I'm seeing right now, too. They just do NOT look good/right on someone is who... erm... pleasently plump, such as myself. And hardly anyone really looks good in "skinny jeans"... I'll keep my flares and bootcuts thankyouverymuch!

A few years ago I made an attempt to learn to just sew my own clothing because in all my life I have NEVER enjoyed shopping for clothes because my style just isn't what's "in", ever. But... that ended... very badly. :whyme: Maybe I'll give it another go though, as I now have a sewing machine sitting in the back of my closet doing absolutely nothing... of course the issue I face with that one is I can never find patterns for anything I like, and I don't know enough about this sort of thing to just make my own patterns. *sigh*

I agree about that holy clothing site too... I think I've found a dress to wear to my brother's wedding later this year, without having to worry about not wearing it again or spending too much money on it. Thanks for those links, Euphony!

[Euphony]

I've purchased from Holy Clothing, but sadly not for myself. DH and I had a renaissance/medieval/fantasy wedding and my step-mother was really clueless on what to wear and my MIL didn't want to buy a dress just for our wedding that she probably wouldn't wear again. So hubby and I decided to buy both of their dresses. My step mother wears a 14, my MIL a 22 and I've gained a smidge of weight since our wedding so I was wearing a 20 at the time. Both dresses were sent to our place, I decided to try them both on since they both looked like they'd fit. With the cut of the dresses I would've been able to wear both of them with no problem. My MIL's was a touch big but all I had to do was tie the back, my step mother's wasn't too tight - thought I probably would've felt self-concious wearing it in public.

[kwaniesiam]

I found 3 things from Holy clothing I'm definitely ordering, probably next wednesday when my gram gets paid :D

So you've found that their sizes fit well no matter what your shape? I'm getting a dress, skirt, and top. All size large, but now I'm wondering if it might be too large. The only problem with them is they don't have much in smaller sizes. I can sew pretty well though, and I guess if I have to take something in it's no big deal. It's impossible to find things like that at such great prices.

[Euphony]

Yeah I found those dresses fit well, but with the big size differences in them they fit "different".

I'm built a bit odd, my measurements are 50x40x50, now that I'm learning to sew I've found that those measurments actually range across three sizes. Considering my waist is the smallest of the three the ties in the back of the dresses made the dresses fit very well/very complimentary. I've never tried one of their tops, but I bet it'll look smashing on you! I love their styles.

The great news is, with the style they are - they will look good a bit big or a bit "hugging" - I don't want to say small because the dress wasn't "small" it hugged my figure (my husband actually wanted me to buy one in that size). The one that was for my MIL I would've worn with no problem even though it was technically too big for me - it looked very good, very flattering to my figure as long as I tied it.

[kwaniesiam]

Thanks for all the help, Euphony :) I'm an odd shape. Well actually I lack one, so I'm thinking their stuff will fit nicely. I'm excited now :happy:

[Euphony]

Thanks for all the help, Euphony :) I'm an odd shape. Well actually I lack one, so I'm thinking their stuff will fit nicely. I'm excited now :happy:
My MIL has a pretty straight up and down build, a bit rounder at the waist and she looked wonderful in that dress!

You will post pictures ~yes~??

[kwaniesiam]

Of course! But it will be a while...I'm ordering wednesday. Did it seem like you got your purchase pretty quickly? I always get so impatient when ordering online things.

[florenonite]

Can you knit? I don't know what constitutes 'spring' weather where you live, but here in Britain (and in Canada, where I LIVE-live) spring can be quite chilly, but not cold enough for full-out jumpers. You can find sort-of-lacy patterns for cardigans that are for mild weather (I'm sorry ,that was a really bad explanation).

I also like llbean and lands end. Some of their clothes are too old for people our age (and the kids' ones are too young) but they have more classic styles and you can get plain t-shirts, etc. that are good quality.

ETA: This is the sort of thing I endeavoured to explain in my first paragraph: http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall05/PATTarisaig.html

[Euphony]

It was a while ago, but I'm thinking it took 2 weeks, but no more than 3. If I remember right they are sent from India.

[kwaniesiam]

I don't knit but I can crochet. I'll check those out too, thanks :)

[kwaniesiam]

After showing my mum the stuff I wanted from Holy Clothing, she liked it and got it today, plus something for herself :D

http://stores.channeladvisor.com/Holyclothing/Items/h221300?sck=22134863
In forest green for me and black for her.

http://stores.channeladvisor.com/Holyclothing/Items/h111300?sck=22134863
for me, even though I don't normally like sleeveless, I really liked this one.

http://stores.channeladvisor.com/Holyclothing/Items/h159400?sck=22134863
And finally this in black. Can't wait for it to get here :D

[Euphony]

How pretty!

[Katze]

I've got similar issues to you - I'm around a size 14, and a bit more weight than I'd like. Plus size is cut too big for me while juniors is too narrow, and "womens" is just too much like my mom's wardrobe. Although I'm 35, I don't have to dress like I'm middle aged!

Lately I have really been loving the straight legged jeans with longer (hip length) tops. I'd like to wear the babydoll look, but it's a bit too unflattering unless the cut is just right.

H and M, at least here, has a line called "big is beautiful" where I can sometimes get the smallest pants to fit me, though they are often sold out. There are some other brands here in europe (S Oliver, Goood Jeans, Mango) that also work well with my shape and size, though I have to dig around a bit. it seems like size 14 is a very popular one!

We don't have secondhand, vintage, or thrift here, sadly, so I miss out on that.

If you can sew, you can alter stuff (take the waist/hips out or in) especially on higher-quality clothing (where there is often some extra in the hem). I also took a tshirt dress I liked (American Apparel) and used it as a pattern to sew 2 of my own tshirt dresses with cheap cotton jersey, one in a beautiful dark teal.

good luck! I know how hard it is to be in between sizes or a size that doesn't get much attention, hope you find something!

Katze

[kwaniesiam]

So my Holy Clothing order has not yet come in, and I got an email saying it had shipped on March 10th. I'm getting a bit annoyed and concerned, I ordered $100 worth of stuff plus I haven't heard from them since and just sent them an email today.

[kwaniesiam]

So they got back to me, and weren't all that much help. I got the number stamped on the parcel and they told me to go check at the post office since once delivery is attempted twice they hold it there? But I've never gotten a notice from them saying they have anything for me...this is annoying now. Has anyone else had problems with them/getting packages from them? Anyways I'm off to the post office tomorrow to see if I can sort this out.

I can understand post running late, but by nearly 2 weeks during a non busy season?

[kwaniesiam]

I got my order! (finally) Turns out my post office is just dumb...but I LOVE the clothes! :D They're gorgeous, and everything fits perfectly. The skirt is way too long, but I can manage. The dress and shirts are awesome. Very happy with my order, now that I finally got it.

[Rosemary]

I got my order too! I love the clothes. I bought them a bit big because I'm hoping that I will be pregnant this summer, so I can wear them into the autumn months. ( I have had fertility issues for five years, Now we are pulling out the big guns... my first round of invitro is next month.) It's nice that all of the skirts have drawstrings as well as the elastic, so they stay up no matter what size you are.

I thought the skirts were a bit long too, but I just put them in the washer on the handwash cycle with warm/hot water and they shrunk to the perfect size! The length is as perfect as perfect gets, now. And the nice thing about the fabric is, if you don't like how much it shrunk, or if you gain weight later, you can get the fabric wet and stretch it!! I did it with one of the shirts (my boobs are too big lol) and now it fits great in the chest area.

The colors were nice too. I actually made another order and am waiting for it to arrive. My only complaint is the loooooong time it took to deliver. I looked at their feedback on their ebay site too, and the negative feedbacks were all due to slow shipping.