More Size Woes

I promised myself some new clothes when I reached my first goal of 22 pounds lost.

I went online and found some cute things at Blair.com. I checked out their sizing charts and also those at a couple of other stores. According to the measurements, I am still wearing the same size. What a disappointment!

However, my jeans are hanging loose. Certain shirts that were hugging my belly are now hanging loose, straight down like they should.

Perhaps the problem is not that I have not lost a size, but that I was wearing the previous size too tight?  It's just numbers, anyway, but if I am going to get something new, I so wanted to have it be a smaller size than everything else I have.

I think I need to drop in at a couple of local stores and try things on, just to see how sizes actually fit. Measurements don't always tell the whole story.  I looked at things at Dress Barn, but almost all their dresses are sleeveless, so I did not try anything on.  I was going to go to Cato, but I did not see anything online I like, and it's about a 45 minute drive to get there, so I am holding off on that one.

My daughter-in-law says "Blair" is "Blah" but they actually have some cute things this year, and they have things with sleeves! Maybe it's a rant for another day, but why do manufacturers think so many women want bare arms?  Especially plus size women?  I think it's far more attractive to cover up my arms and armpits!  

This is a pretty skirt,
in spite of the paisleys.

My husband likes this one,
but I'm not so sure.
It's kind of a crinkly fabric.

Not wild about the dark blue splotches.
Spiders? Handprints?  Palm trees?

I like this one. We both love the pink
but my husband dislikes the hem. 

This one is pretty; I like the cut but
not the color family used in it.

We both like this one but I kind of
wanted to get away from black.
Maybe I can get a colorful blouse,
and wear the shirt with other things.

I might get this skirt set in the fall; I love it
but definitely the wrong season.
Maybe I'll go down a size by then!

Is it political correctness, an international standard, or simply the internet causing all the confusion?

Through most of my life, there have been three size categories of women's clothing. There were "Misses" clothes, "Petite" Clothes, and "Women's Clothes."

Petite was the same as it is today. Women who are short wear petites so they don't have knee-length dresses hit at mid-calf, or extra fabric bunching above the waistline. It makes sense to me.

Misses was everything from size 0-16 or 18, but often you can't find anything smaller than a 6 or larger than a 16.  I'm not sure where truly tiny people are supposed to shop.

Women's clothing was about 16-18 on up to the biggest, depending on the clothing line. Sometimes marked with a W, a 16W would be bigger around than a 16.

Now, instead of Women's clothing, many manufacturers, stores, and websites are calling it Plus size. I guess that's more polite than calling it "chubby" or "husky" like children's clothing used to be labeled. I get most confused when I am browsing online. I can go into a store and quickly determine where the larger-size clothing is, but online the terms get all confused.  I'll see an ad for an adorable "Women's Coat" and click on the site, only to find out it is made no larger than a size 14.

Is this more of an international standard?  It makes more sense, really, because the whole "Misses" thing has no logic to it.  I am just having trouble at times sorting it all out.  Some websites clearly say "Plus Size"  which I like--as long as there is an adorable coat.  I found a red one on Groupon, and have been sorely tempted to order it.

For clothing, I am more prone to shop locally, so I can try things on, so this shouldn't matter. However, I like to get ideas of style and put things on Pinterest from the comfort of my computer chair.

What I Hate About Being Fat

I went shopping today and I really had to look at the mirrors. In doing so, I came to the sad realization that my belly sticks out further than my behind, or other significant anatomical parts. I look like I am pregnant! 6 months pregnant! I hate this!

I knew I needed new clothes that fit, but two sizes up in blouses? This was not a good experience, though I did find some really cute things, spent too much money, and feel like I can go out in public again.

Note to big-bellied self: don't bother trying on straight skirts again. They are not slimming when they go in just below the belly. Something with a little more fullness would look better.

Pet peeve: plus size tops with a band at the bottom--same idea as the straight skirts. Let me put on a belt or something to emphasize what waist I do have, not highlight the fact that it sticks out by bringing the garment in right below it. And here's a great example of what not to wear! Looks even worse in silver!

Pet peeve # 2: Plus size clothes modeled on skinny people. Come on, let's see what it will look like on someone built like me!

Century Club

Image designed in Scrapbook Factory.

God's Amazing Timing

This week I was complaining that I need some new fitness clothes. As my old sweats and t-shirts get too loose in the legs, the seams rub uncomfortably with the brisk movements of the Walking Diet. I knew I wouldn't get to the store before Saturday, but I planned some shopping time after work on Saturday.

Friday morning I picked up the paper, and there was a Shopko ad for a one-day sale. They had fitness clothing for 50% off, for Saturday only.

I picked up a cute outfit--black spandex capris with a flare leg, and a matching black and coral top--for a really good price. Best of all, they are large, not XL like all my old pants, and they do make me look and feel slimmer. During yesterday's workout I felt like part of a walking team! I think this was the breakthrough I needed to stay motivated.

Six Week Checkup

Six weeks, halfway through the initial twelve week program.
Weight 189
Weight lost: 7 pounds. (11% of goal)
Total inches lost: 9.25 (5 different measurements) (25% of goal)
Size: down from 18 pants to 16. (25% of goal)

I can see that the toning up is having as much or more effect than the weight loss. I am looking and feeling better even though the scales don't reflect as much difference.

Women's Clothing Sizes

Why are clothing sizes for women so weird? I've had shirts in SMLX, dresses and pants in 10-18, by even sizes only, or 14W-18W, (and is that W for Wide Load?)

Underpants are half the size of pants, so if my pants are a 10, (I wish!) my undies are a 5--and it took me 40 years to figure that out! Bras are by measurement around and cup size, so they are like 28AA to 52E. Shoes are 5-13, and socks are based on shoe size but they come in a range like 9-11, or 7-10, and often fit badly. And why do shoes start at 5?

Junior Sizes are 1-15, by odd sizes and are a narrower waist cut than misses or women's. So some very cute clothes are not going to fit the mature woman.
Then there is the problem of things that are sized 14/16, for example. Are they going to be too big or too small?

And then you get all that figured out and then you go to certain stores (like Bonworth) where everything is cut large, so a medium is a L-XL in any other company.
And lets not even go into swimsuits! And Petites! And what if my torso is petite but my legs are long, or the other way around?

Men's sizes are a much simpler system, but I'll go into that another day.

Dress picture from: Hasslefree Clip Art