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Post by 3piggles on Feb 5, 2016 17:26:08 GMT
Thinking back to your comment about there being a time when we could tell who was rich or not, by how they dressed, Jo. That was also a time when people, especially women, spent way more than they could afford on clothes, trying to fit in with the wealthy people. In that sense, it's good that we don't always know that about people.
I see men in the upper white collar jobs (banking, stock market, CEOs) wearing nicely fitting 3-piece suits. I also see salesmen in mens clothing stores wearing nicely fitting 3-piece suits. I'm kind of glad fashion isn't quite as absolute as it used to be.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 6, 2016 20:22:21 GMT
No Bean hun I am not, I just feel restricted in them. I wouldn't inflict my body with no clothes on to anyone these days love LOL! You are right as usual Piggles hun but I am talking about way back. Even then I suppose women spent more than they could afford to fit in, so yes, you have a very valid point. I am glad it is the way it is now too sweets, just more flexible all around.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 7, 2016 13:04:45 GMT
One thing I still don't like about fashion, is that male or female, it's designed for people with perfect figures, and a certain height. Remember the maxi coats that were ankle length? They looked great on women who were about 5'5" to around 5'9", and had a good body shape. Above that height, they looked like bean poles, and below it, we were all coat. I'm 5'2", so I'm speaking from experience, though I loved my maxi coat Same with mini and micro skirts. Twiggy looked great in them. I did not! Back in the 50s and 60s (and probably before, but I wasn't born yet), there weren't any off-price stores that sold last years or last seasons clothes at discounted prices. Those clothes all went to the charity shops, and no allegedly self-respecting person would shop at one of those stores. Then we got second-hand stores that sold everything from formal, designer gowns to camping equipment. Once that happened, recycling clothes and goods became a great way to earn a little extra cash, and buying recycled goods became the "smart" way to shop. That allowed us to wear a lot of things we either couldn't have afforded new, or wasn't the most immediate fashion trend, and pay less Also, fashion trends don't start and end as definitely as they used to. Fashions are added, but they don't totally end the existing fashions, so we can wear a lot more of what we want to wear, and even continue to find them in the stores.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 7, 2016 21:12:00 GMT
Oh yes, you try getting anything really nice in my size for instance, you are so right Piggles love and they are designed for these leggy types as well. I am only five foot three and a half and have always had trouble with having to turn things up. I hate my height, I have always wanted to be taller. I remember the maxi coats but I don't remember ever owning one. When you think about it though do you really think Twiggy looked good in them? She was far too thin and I am not being catty, I like her but if I had to choose a celebrity figure I would want to be like, there are those I much would prefer.
I have heard you can get some good designer wear in charity shops not that they would have anything in my size, but they are great if they do. I knew someone who bought all her clothes from such places and she always looked lovely.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 8, 2016 15:37:47 GMT
Twiggy had the stick figure popular in the 60s, though I don't know why it was popular. Most popular 60s fashions were meant for women with some shape, just not too much shape. I totally understand your problem finding clothes that fit. Here in the US, we have short/petite, average, and tall sizes for pants, which makes it a whole lot easier to buy pants that fit, than it used to be. Since those length designations have become standard, I think we're not the only short people who had to hem everything. I know my tall friends had an even harder time finding pants that fit, as pants were all average length, so too short for tall women. No letting out the hem, so most of them had to add braid or something to the bottom of each pant leg just to get the pants to be long enough.
We have many stores in the US that cater to larger women, as clothing retailers finally realized there was a huge market for those clothes, and money is the root of all good clothing trends. There are also many mail order clothing companies that provide catalogs and charts for how to make sure we order the right size for us. That's where I bought my bathing suit. The top fits great. The bottoms are way too big, but that's because I'm larger on top than on the bottom, and I had to order both pieces together. At least they offer some bottoms separately, so I can buy a pair that fits. It would be the same if I bought it in a store. I do better buying tops and bottoms separately.
Most recycled stores are hit or miss with sizes, as they sell whatever people give them to sell. The off season clothes that sell last season or last years clothes, have all sizes. Even Walmart has all sizes, just in different departments.
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Post by shades on Feb 8, 2016 16:04:45 GMT
If it's any consolation, shopping for clothes is also hit or miss for me too. I'm not particularly tall or big, but most shops just hold stock for the most popular sizes. And the clothes sizes are not consistent. Sometimes size XXX fits, other times I must have XXXX. Shoe shopping is not any better. More often than not, I go to the international shops like H&M or Uniqlo or M&S where the sizes are standard. And my wife likes to shop there, so win-win
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 8, 2016 16:41:45 GMT
We are definitely used to certain standards, but even with our standards, the clothes aren't always the same size. A friend of my grandparents, who worked in a clothing factory, said multiple layers of cloth of laid on a punching press, and the press punches out the shape for an arm piece, leg piece, bodice, etc. The topmost pieces of fabric get the right size cut, as they are the first to be cut by the puncher. The further down through the pile the puncher goes, the further off the sizes get, because the the fabric moves. So trying on one pair of jeans and finding they fit perfectly, doesn't mean just buy a few more without trying them on. They could be off just a little bit, but if each piece of fabric is off just a little bit, the end result could be enough to make the item not fit. Still, with our set size standards, at least we know where to start looking and trying clothes for fit. I have blue, black and beige jeans, all the same brand, but two different sizes. It's as if the beige ones were cut much larger than the blue jeans, and the black ones were cut smaller than the blue jeans.
When I wore a regular size, I found I was the most popular size, so the best things in my size were usually sold out, unless I got there early. Sales start on Sunday, here, and run through the next Saturday, so I did a lot of Sunday clothes shopping. Shoes, too.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 8, 2016 22:36:28 GMT
We have catalogues who cater for large ladies, I buy from them and the things are quite nice. There tends to be short, standard or long in trousers for ladies, 29" being standard which is usually OK for me. What I have trouble with is bras, I cannot find a decent one or one that uplifts me as it should, I have tried everywhere. I am even thinking of trying some sports bras as they seem to provide the most support. Bras these days are not made so you can shorten the straps manually, they come as standard and you cannot alter them which is real pain. I am not sure what the shoe sizes are in the US but here I am a 6 and a half.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 9, 2016 15:37:40 GMT
Sorry about the bra situation. In the US, all non-sports bras have adjustable straps. I've found a few good stores for bras that not only fit, but wear well. You need a very structured bra, with underwire and bones, and you need to pin or sew the straps at the right length. That's terrible about no adjustable straps!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 10, 2016 20:44:43 GMT
Thank you Poggles hun and it so stupid. Those that do have adjustable straps do not allow you to really use them to lift your bust. You are only allowed a small adjustment. I don't know what to do really, if I went out a lot it would be a real problem.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 11, 2016 14:07:59 GMT
If you have a way to access the Internet for searches, try searching for "support bras" and other such phrases, and add your size. So "support bra 38DD black" say, or something like that, and see if you get some better results. I've found finding the right combination of words for the search can be really difficult, but once I find it, I get the results I want. You need an elastic strap that won't stretch out. Non-elastic straps shouldn't stretch.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 11, 2016 21:36:03 GMT
Thanks for that Piggles hun, a great piece of advice. I have searched on line for help and one company told me to go to Marks and Spencers, a store which measures you properly as they have experts there. This is basically a brill idea but being disabled I am unable to get to the store and I know for a fact that they don't go up to my size which is in the 50's. I will do as you suggest and have a play with words to see if I can get something sorted out. I really appreciate your help hunni.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 12, 2016 13:45:41 GMT
Google How to Measure for a Bra, and see what that gets you. The online clothing companies have measuring charts for their clothes, but not for clothing in general. So you can learn how to measure, but not what the item is going to be like when it finally arrives. It may fit, but totally be the wrong type for you. If you can find a basic chart, that would let you know your correct size before you go to any store you can access, and that carries items you can try on in the store. Trust me, clerks in stores for larger women have seen it all, and they don't judge you. It's amazing how just one foundation garment that really fits right, can make your day a whole lot better!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 12, 2016 20:42:55 GMT
Thank you Piggles love for your kind advice and I have measured using a chart from the internet. The trouble is my boobs go so far south now I cannot get an accurate measurement and measuring with a bra on isn't much better. That is the trouble with the bras I have at the moment, I measured myself and bought bras that I thought were the right size, I put them on and there is no support. I realise any bra would have its work cut out for me but there must be some somewhere that would be right. I know what you are saying about sales staff having seen it all and I just wish I were well enough to get to a store, I have to rely on mail order and I think this is the problem. You are right, if I could find some good bras I would feel a whole lot better. Thanks for your advice dear friend and I will keep you posted.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 15, 2016 13:29:58 GMT
After a few that don't meet the requirements, you probably know what part(s)of the sizing is wrong. While you might need to adjust the sizing a bit, I think it's more the style than the size that's off for you. Sports bras tend to flatten rather than to support. The point to sports bras is to reduce motion when you run, jump, etc. Neither of us needs to combat much motion, lol Definitely try the one I mentioned in the PM, and see how that goes.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 15, 2016 20:47:01 GMT
Many thanks for your support (no pun intended LOL!) in this love but I have just been to the PMs and there is not a link for bras, just the green top. Would you mind sending it again please hun?
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 16, 2016 13:16:49 GMT
No problem, and since it's now half way through February, we can let January go, and continue this in PMs
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Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 16, 2016 20:30:21 GMT
OK hun
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