Clothes Whine

I am so frustrated about trying to find clothes that will fit me. I actually had an easier time when I was a 6X!! My problem is that I am tall (5'11"), and have a long torso. The talls I find are pants, which I can wear a normal size in. I need shirts that are at least 33" long, but I prefer 34". I can find t-shirts, a few button downs, but only at the "Fat Lady" catalogues, which are expnsive. Nothing in any store. Too make it even more frustrating, I can fit an 18-20 easily until my hips, which, since I need a long enough shirt to go over them, is more of a 20-22. If I try a 20/22 I end up looking like I am wearing a bag up top. I was hoping to find one of the "baby-doll" style tops, something empire waisted that would show I had smaller shoulders and an actual waist, but then be loose enough for the hips, but they are all very short. Then I have a pants problem as well. My thighs are normal sized, while my hips need a bigger size. I can wear a 2X in the hips, but I need a size smaller at least for the thighs. I need a fabric that has stretch to it, and an elastic waist because of this, and I am trying not to feel like a clothing failure by still needing "stretchy-gickies". It looks like I am going to be built like a man, like I was when I was a teen. I don't want to shop in the men's department after all this weight loss!! Wah!!!!!!!!!!!! Please, please, if anyone has already crossed this bridge, please write to me. Oh, and if anyone needs size 12 women's shoes, write me. I have some I hardly ever wore, low or flat heels, every day work type, not overly dressy, -Julie

Did you try JCPENNY?  I got  a few Babydoll shirts there a couple weeks ago. I'm not tall they are long on me i'm 5.5 Estelle

I don't have any words of advice but I can sympathize.  I'm 5' abouts - 5'1'' on a good day so I have the opposite problems.  Dresses and skirts that are supposed to be just under the knee are at my ankle.  Petite pants are still long in a lot of cases, I bought some yesterday from lane bryant and will still hem them about 3 inches.  I tried on a babydoll shirt there and it would have worked as a cute short dress.  Their capris are literally almost acceptable as pants for me.  Then I have the hip problem like you - shirts that fit well in shoulders and chest are too tight around hips but shirts that fit my hips are falling off my shoulders and incredibly baggy.  Pants that fit my butt are huge around my waist.  Grrrr.  I do suggest you try lane bryant for pants though, they have the right fit collection - the "blue" is made for big hips and they fit me better in hips waist and thighs than anything I've come across.  They are pricey for something you'll be switching out of soon probably, but I had to have a pair of dress pants for upcoming events.  And they are LONG on me in the petites, so maybe the talls would be decent for you.  Shirts, the babydoll style is definitely the most flattering on me.  Button up shirts aren't working because they are so baggy on top and tight on bottom. 

Hooray for "Blue" fit!  I love it.  Finally, a pant I can wear without having to use 80 safety pins at the waist to keep them on!  I'm a 3 blue P (curse those basset hound legs).  I noticed my 3 blue P pants I bought for my last job interview are now an inch big in the waist, so I might have to start using a safety pin again, darn it.  Or, I can stop being lazy and take them in an inch without ruining the fit. Kix

I love Lane Bryant.  They have the best clothes for all body types.  But I do agree their pants do tend to be on the longer side. Which for me it a plus considering their talls are long on me and I am 6'1-6'2.  But they do have a large range of tops for any desire. 

I have a friend who is 6'3 and she gets her clothes at lane bryant she has along torso and she is heavy to. I wish you luck my son gave me money for my upcoming bday and i dont know what to buy yet we only have fashion bug here so im looking online..

I am still shopping at womanwithin.com and romans.com and I only shop from the clearance area.  I've been pretty fortunate to find some really great deals.  I too have the same problem with the large belly and much smaller top. I'm almost to the point, most of the time, that I am comfortable tucking in my shirt so the smaller bottom portion on the shirt isn't so much of an issue.  I used to walk in to a store, look at something and know it would fit without trying it on.  Now shopping takes so much longer because I have to try everything on.  It's still fun and I enjoy getting dressed now because my clothes look so much better on me than before. Take a look at those two websites.  They are good about listing the length of the shirts so that should help too.  Good luck~

My suggestion is to buy less and have it altered.  Fit the largest part of you and go from there.  I am 5'2".  After plastic surgery I have no hips or rear, but I have a large waist in comparison.  I wear a 38D bra, but have narrow shoulders.  I feel your frustration.  Loris

Julie, I share your pain, but in the opposite direction.  I have basset hound legs and T-rex arms, and I am 5'5"/5'6" (depending on how straight I'm standing when you measure me).  I'm also all torso. My thighs are huge and in order to get pants to fit, I have to buy a larger size and cinch the waist in about 5-6 inches.  Even then, they are often loose in the hip/backside.  AARGH.  Shirts aren't as much of a problem except in the arms,  I do buy some of my casual shirts in the men's department simply because they fit better (I don't like the shorty arms on women's T-shirts because I'm self-conscious about Hoppy and Bob).  Have you tried the Land's End selections at Sears? Kix

No suggestions other than what other posters have mentioned, but I do share your pain and frustration.  Its super hard to find things that fit, hang properly, have the right rise, and that "masks" all this extra skin.  It honestly can take me hours of shopping and trying on clothes to find one or two pieces that fit and look okay.  But when I do find a few pieces that work, it feels worth the effort.  Good luck in your shopping efforts - hopefully you'll find some place that carries a line of clothing that works for your body type!  Kellie