Hello Real Simple Fashion Mavens,
The fashion department wants you to tell us your fashion fit issues, so we can help you solve them!
For example:
1. I have a large chest…can I wear a strapless dress?
2. I have wide hips…and I see skinny jeans everywhere. Can that style ever work for me?
3. I have large feet…and I can never find strappy sandals in my size. Help!
Etc……
Whether it's trying to locate something for your specific body type or finding a style that works around a particular fit issue that you have, we are here to guide you in the right direction (clothes, accessories…anything!)
All you have to do is let us know what's on your mind….so remember to leave lots of comments!
comments
I have a large chest, got a strapless bra & tried to wear it with a strapless dress. It works … but it still slides down a lot … how do I stop the sliding!?
Two things..I have size ten flat feet so I’ve always been told not to wear heels because my feel roll in when I step. What can I do?
Also, I’m the typical apple shaped woman. I have great long legs but wear my weight all along my middle? What can I wear to look my best?
Ditto to Stephanie! Except, I’m a plus-size apple! All fashion advice for plus size women seems to focus on hourglass figures, and all fashion advice to apples seems to really be talking about those with “boyish” figures. I look terrible in empire waist! Help!
I’m built like a 12 year old! How do I find clothes that fit but make me look like a 29 year old mom?
I love the look of belts, but have a larger mid-section. Can I make a belt look flattering on my shape or should I move on???
I am 5’2″ and petite…can I wear capris?…can I wear long T-shirts? (These look cool and I’ve always been told to avoid them if you’re short.)
I also have recently put on an extra 10 lbs. Everything makes me feel and look heavy. Is there anything I can wear to look slimmer while I lose the weight? Nothing fits, not even my fat clothes.
Right now, I’m getting a Brazilian hair straightening treatment, so at least one part of me looks better.
Drives me crazy that I have to spend $80 to get a bra that is supportive and cute. Others can spend $12. We DDD’s have to INVEST.
I love maxi dresses, the colors, the patterns, the summeriness of it all. But I don’t own any because I’m not convinced they would look good on me.
I’m 5’3″ and my top half (chest and abs mostly) is heavier than my bottom half. I don’t like low-cut tops and I don’t like showing the top part of my arms. Wearing full-length skirts often makes me look shorter and heavier than I already am. How can I pull off maxi dresses? Are there accessories or shoes that would avoid these problems?
I am thin, but I have arm muscles. Therefore, I practically live in sleeveless shirts as any small sized woman’s top doesn’t have arms I can move in.
I almost exclusively wear skirts, but spend a lot of time on my feet. Heels aren’t practical for the surfaces I walk on. Is there a type of supportive, yet skirt friendly shoe I’m missing out on?
Thanks!
I need help finding jeans and cute pants that are long enough for me. I’m all leg and need at least a 34″ inseam to wear flats. I have lots of cute heels that i can’t wear with pants because they make highwaters.
(Capris are forbidden at work too!)
Long, affordable jeans and pants are my dream.
I’m with Natalia – I need a decent bathing suit that will fit someone who is tall! Also looking for dressy, work-appropriate (and night-out appropriate) tops for tall women. Help!
I want to get rid of that gap at the back of my jeans or any other pants! Belts don’t work because it just moves the puckers along. Come on jean manufcaturers get it together, the butt part needs to be bigger than the waist, and well there is a zipper and button (usually) to get the pants closed so make that waist line smaller.
I am 22, 5 feet tall, petite, and have a 36 D/DD chest. I need a SEXY, supportive strapless bra!!! Cameron Diaz once wore a strapless bra in a movie (which I can’t remember), but it was like a mini corset bra. The bottom portion went to about her navel. Maybe something like that? I want one that’s sexy and not over $50! Find me it, and I will love you FOREVER
I am very thin and yet I still have a hard time finding pants/shorts where the side pockets don’t stick out. What causes pockets to stick out like that? A certain body shape?
As far as I am concerned when it come to women that are 4’11″ and shorter the styles are ugly according to my taste. Aren’t there designers that are willing to produce styles for short women that are the same styles made for average women for an affordable price. The jean styles are for slimmer women that have no access fat and the zippers are much shorter (because the jeans are to fit to the hips, I suppose) From the time I was a teenager and now a woman of 65 years young I and many like me have had a problem finding affordable stylish clothes. CLOTHES THAT EVERYONE ELSE IS ABLE TO FIND. If you are between a size 12 to 18 womans size….why are we left out.
I am 71 years young and am unsure what the styles I should wear without trying to look like a teenager. I am 5’2″ and around 145#. I am “with it” and do not like “old lady” clothes.
Wow! Thanks so much ladies. Your comments are great…and I’m sure they parallel the concerns of many women across the country and world. We are taking all of your thoughts and incorporating/answering them in the magazine….so make sure you lookout for your questions each month! AND keep the quesitons coming. We LOVE it!
It’s hot and I want to wear short sleeved tops and blouces. The only thing out there are super short sleeved tops. I’m over 50, and that length is terrible on my not so thin arms. The most flattering length for me is two to three inches above my elbow. Am I the only woman with this problem? Where can I find young, hip styled tops, with a longer sleeve?
I’m 6’1, and I am constantly on the hunt for jeans and dress pants that have at least a 36″ inseam. I also struggle to find shirts that are long enough. I’m sick of wearing long sleeve shirts as 3/4 length!
I’ll echo the plus size apple shape issue, what style dress and top is going to be flattering? I have two other issues to add to it; a short torso and the area between my shoulders and bustline is too short to wear the majority of v-necks or u-neck tops without showing half my bra (always been an issue no matter my size). The usual fashion advice I hear for that issue is wear a tank or camisole underneath it. I don’t want or need the extra layer especially on 100 degree 100% humidity days. I have been avioding the lower necklines but it is harder and harder to find anything that doesn’t have one, what can I do?
I am 19 years old, 5’1″ & 135 lbs. I can never find bottoms of any type that fit me. I usually end up with jeans with a huge gap in the back, inseams that are too long, inseams that are too short, some are too tight, some are too loose. Hunting for bottoms is so bad, that I really don’t know my size. I have bottoms in my closet ranging from size 5-9. HELP!!!
I have a large overhang on my stomach, which is larger than my waist. What style or type of pants should I wear?
I am petite with a butt and I have trouble finding pants or jeans that fit in the waist and through the hips.
I don’t think I’m a particularly large lady, but I can NEVER find to-the-knee (or even calf height) boots that fit me bc my calves are too big! Where can I find cute boots?
I always have to take up my size 12 swimsuits in the crocth and the bust size is barely large enough yet a size 14 is way to big in lenghth and leg size.What is wrong? I’m 5’2″ and 150 pounds.
I am not as freakishly petite as most of the girls my age, and so finding jeans that fit and flatter is virtuosly impossible. I don’t like spending much on clothing, simply because there are other things that also need to be purchased (food, rent, etc.). What style of jean flatters a girl with big thighs, a flat butt, and a poochy tummy? I’m working on getting rid of it all, but would like to know what to wear until then.
I have large hips, smaller waist and pants just don’t fit right. I have to put darts at the waist or they show my unders. I absolutely can’t stand low rise pants.
Oh where to start!
1)I have a very tiny waist and a decent sized derriere (something like 26-38), so nearly all pants gap at the waist and/or have pockets that stick out to the side. I could keep several water bottles in the extra space at the waist! Belts are not capable of fixing the problem.
2) I’m tall and slim. Most (affordable) designers seem to think height and heft are a package deal. This is especially a problem with coats and sleeve lengths on shirts.
3) I have bad feet (overpronation) and finding shoes that are comfortable (arch support!) and stylish is a full time occupation.
Help! I am 5’3″, wear a size 6, inseam 27 1/2″, and have a very difficult time finding pants/jeans to fit. The petite size is too short from waist to crotch & the regular size is 8-10″ too long in length which requires hemming at an additional cost of $18-$20. Any suggestions for brands that are regular size 6 & come in shorter lengths??? I also prefer a high rise, not the low rise that is so popular these days. Thank you!
As an “over 50″ reader, my friends and I are sooooo frustrated at not being able to find ANY jeans, shorts, or dress slacks to fit our NOT SO BAD bodies. Yes, we may have gained a couple lbs over the years, yes, things start to go south after 50 but YES we DO have waists that are smaller than our hips and NO our waists are NOT inches below our navels – Natural waists are where you see an indent before going to your hips – at or perhaps an inch ABOVE your BB. We panic at the thought of anything happening (wear, stains, snags)to the items we have worn for too long because we cannot find ANYTHING with which to replace them. Several of us are still in careers. We used to love shopping and being stylish but today’s fashions make that impossible! Anyone of any age with even a slight tummy “pooch” is NOT flattered by the low-slung or contour “waisted” current styles! The only women I see wearing these styles favorably are straight as a tree trunk and weigh less than 120 lbs. And no wonder all the loose blousy tops worn outside are so popular… they cover up a multitude of bulges at the “waistline”. Please please please help us “mature” readers get the message to manufacturers that there is another generation out there who don’t want to go back to our long-ago discarded hippie styles but who are not yet ready for the elastic waist cutesy matching outfits our 80-yr old mothers wear!!!
I’m short (5′ 3″) and a size 16/18 with smaller waist/larger hips and I have a TERRIBLE time finding pants to fit… And I’ve tried so many! When I try on petite ones, they are usually to small around the hips or waist, even if they are a so-called 16 or 18. When I try on plus size ones, they are too long and often have a very long rise. I’ve found that Old Navy and Lane Bryant offer pants in a petite size, but each one varies so much in sizing and fit, I end up spending a fortune in shipping fees to buy each pant I like in two sizes, try it on and still end up returning most of them. Would it be so hard for companies to at least have some “try-on” pairs in the stores?
I have found 18 Short pants at The Limited (online only), but they still have to be worn with heels or they drag on the ground. Sigh.
Also, what’s with pants stretching out after wearing for 5 minutes? They fit OK in the store, but sit down at my desk for a few minutes and I’ve got baggy-butt syndrome.
I’m 5’1 and 110 pounds, my 25 inch waist and 37 inch hips make it impossible to find pants that fit both my hips, waist and leg length.. I always end up with pants that are many inches too long at the bottom and several inches too big at the waist!
If I buy pants/jeans to fit my hip area then I have 2 extra inches at my waist. If I buy to fit my waist . . . then I can’t get them past my upper thigh. HELP !
I’m lucky that I like my body, but I think fashion designers need a challenge. Anyone can dress a model. But, can they accentuate the positive of an aging woman? One whose torso shortens? One with an osteoporosis hump? One with one hip higher than the other? I’d love to see designers cater to an aging female population and their natural body changes. I throw down the gaunlet, designers!
Large chested women, like me, can never wear empire or high waisted shirts or dresses because the seam line ends up landing right in the middle of the bust instead of under it!
I have lupus and have to wear hats and have always looked horrible in hats- my 2 adult daughters agree lol. I’m sure there are lots out there also trying to avoid the sun because of the damage it can do. Any suggestions?
What aout clothes for someone that looks like she is at 8 months pregnant? Family genetics in this case on both sides of the aisle.
I’m only 5’1″. I have a long torsel and very short legs so nothing looks good on me, especially slacks or jeans. I can’t wear high heels as I have feet problems. HELP!!!
Help! I have a 38″ chest, am not overweight, just have a big frame at 5’10″. The sizing around bras will fit, but the distance between the cups is standard whether you are a 32A or a 40D! Can you imaging how I look in in every 38B I try on? it is like the headlights on your car are set too close together, it looks ridiculous and is beyond uncomfortable – I resort to wireless bras (which still fit totally wrong) and bra-top tanks every day (you’ll know if it’s cold out). It is a curse I have resigned myself too after much searching, but I would pay any price to find bras that fit! Seriously – any price.
I can never find pants to fit!! I am tall – 5′-11″. I am not stick thin and have a booty. First, I typically cannot find pants off the shelf that are long enough. If they do come in “tall” and are long enough, to fit in the hips the waist is HUGE. Women’s sizes will sometimes fit, but are always too short. I am not a fan of elastic waistbands (whether full elastic waist or partial) in most women’s pants.
Thoughts?
I am a pear shape. My hips are much larger than my waist and top. So, I rarely find any pants that fit me correctly. I have worn anywhere from a size 10 to (now) an 18. It doesn’t seem to matter what size I am, if I find slacks or jeans to fit correctly in the hips they are as much as 4 inches too large in the waistline. Sometimes they are also way too long in the crotch. I usually have to alter all of my pants.
Thanks for your help.
I am petite (5′), and curvy. Most magazines only tell what to do if your curvy OR petite…not both.
I am 5 ft 1 1/2 in….I wear size 2 or 4, I am not petite for short sizes..I like my pants to go to bottom of my pumps so they will fit boots, pumps or flats, I cannot find pants in midrange pricing (only high price)for work cloths…I am professional and age 56 I like style (not old lady)and not teenage bellbottoms or hipsters or tight leg, also I have size M or 36 to 38 inch bust…finding nicer cloths that keep me looking somewhat younger and in not wild style, color or patterns…any suggestions besides making them myself….thank so much…Laura
Modest nursing clothing (arms to my elbows, neckline to my collarbones)…
I have no issues EXCEPT for a large stomach and tummy. What can I do to conceal them and NOT look like I’m wearing a sack of potatoes?
My biggest fashion fit is jeans – well, most pants in general. I have a violin deficiency coupled with largish thighs. I also have large scars on my upper buttocks which gives me the look of permanent muffin top. I have tried very low jeans and mom jeans, but cannot find a fit that looks right.
If anybody has any ideas, other than just sticking to dresses for the rest of my life, I would appreciate hearing them.
My problem is pants for my 18-year-old son. Although he has very “rounded” buns (think Buerhle’s swimsuit splitting), all the pant styles and manufacturers that I have bought for him have not worked to solve the problem of sagging seats from the rear view. He does nothing to help matters, choosing instead to wear his pants low, near his hips. Any suggestions of a style or manufacturer that makes a jean to solve the “empty seat” problem?
LENGTH!!!! I struggle to find sleeves and pant legs that are long enough. That is without a super long rise in pants. I can tuck those into my bra. Where is a good place to find clothing with a little extra length in the sleeve and pantleg?
My upper arms are large. I have a hard time finding sleeves that fit.
Whenever fashion magazines address women’s “shapes,” they neglect my shape: tall, relatively slim, small-chested, with a poochy post-pregnancy belly (read: muffin top). That is the only place I carry weight. I cannot wear babydoll tops because I look about 5 months pregnant, as my tummy sticks out more than my chest. I cannot wear belts. I cannot wear slim-fitting tees or blouses with buttons down the front. What type of shirt is flattering? I’m so over the baggy tunic w/skinny jeans look, which I’ve been wearing for two years since my son was born. Any suggestions would be appreciated!!! Thanks.
I live in NY and have a winter coat issue: What kind of warm winter coat fits OVER a blazer/cute leather jacket/chunky sweater? I can never find a flattering coat that is big enough in the arms/shoulders to layer over lighter-weight jackets (I’m a size 6). I end up spending the winter wearing tank tops with down puffer coats when I’m outside and carrying my sweater/light jacket with me to put on when I get to work. (I do not want to get a big shapeless trench/raincoat like a lot of older women wear, and I won’t wear fur.) Thanks!
Where can I find black leggings that go all the way to the ankle (below the ankle) so that I can wear little booties without my socks showing when the leggings ride up? (I’m 5’7″).
I’m very thin, small 0-2 Petite size woman that look like a child 13 in my 35. What can I wear the best to look like more feminine, adult and older ?
What kind of hat is best for round or oval face shapes? I find that some hats completely overwhelm my face!
Hi! I have a large tummy, wide hips and large thighs. I would like to know what type of jeans would be suitable for my kind of body.
I have sweaty feet and would like to wear pumps but don’t like to wear stockings, what else is out there that I can wear so that I look fashionable and comfortable at the same time?
My husband has a barrel chest. What is the best sort of outerwear for him to lengthen and lean his torso without being too long so he looks like he’s in the mafia? IE the long, thick leather coat I’m making him part with
.
I am 5 feet tall and 100 pounds. I love a lot of the trends out there right now like the tunics, longer belted coats and sweater dresses and all but feel like my tiny frame doesn’t wear them right. Also, its already assumed I’m a teen even though I turn 28 at the end of this year and have a 1.5 year old. I need to avoid things that are too “cutesie” but I don’t want to go too “mom” either. I would love a nice dressy holiday look that suits my frame, please help!
I have bigger calves and a lot of the new seasonal boots are over the knee but don’t fit my legs. Do you have any brands to suggest that have a wide calf boots that are still fashionable and go over the knee?
I have a narrow waist and LARGE thighs and butt. I feel like trouser jeans are the best cut for my thighs, but I can’t seem to find any that have back pockets. I feel like jeans with no rear pockets accentuate my large behind. Any suggestions/brands I should look for?
Thanks!
I just read your bra fit lab, but did not see my problem. I have a very wide chest (40″) and small cup (A+). I cannot find any bras to fit, especially lacy/pretty ones. Where do I look?
Thanks, MM
I’ve had a Mastectomy and reconstruction but I’m still much smaller on the side of the Mastectomy. I will have more reconstruction next year but in the meantime sooo hard finding a bra. I’ve been putting a pad into the left side to even me out but it creeps around and drives me crazy. The bra’s for Mastectomy patients give me a horrible bust line look. I’ve read of a bra coming out in Feb that will have air filed inserts. Does anyone know of a bra available now that has that option????
Most underwire bras are cut too wide/low for me – my breasts pooch out of the center opening. My present bra fit around the rib cage, but was tight in the bust and my breasts rubbed together and I got a rash. Any suggestions??
I have a very small chest, where can I go to find a good fitting bra…How do I take the measurements? I can never find one that fits around the ribcage..they always slide.
Sandy,
My friends mother has the same issue. She has her bras custom made at Nordstroms. A little more spendy, but it fits perfectly…
I’m 5’2″ and slim. (I’m not a stick though.) I was fitted by a ‘professional’ in a 32F. It slides up in the back, was fitted on the tightest hook, and the underwire goes almost all the way up to my armpits. What on earth is the problem with that bra? How can we know where to go to get the anomaly sizes and whether or not we’re getting the appropriate thing?
how do i measure myself to buy a bra? also why are racerback bras not shown in your magazine… i would love to buy a couple of them, with underwire if possible… can you offer any help? the “regular/standard” ones keep falling off my shoulders, and it’s more than annoying on any given day!!!
I have a terrible time with bra straps because I am so shortwaisted. Some straps will not adjust short enough for me. Others are made of satin and slip throughout the day. I guess all the 34B’s out there are really perfect and long waisted. Please help!!!
Having lost weight I am having MORE trouble finding pants that fit. Someone stole my fanny but left my belly and hips! What fits at the waist looks like clown pants from behind, unless they are completely form fitting which makes me look like the anti-J Lo. So sad! And is there any way to know which brands might work for my body rather than going to all the stores in the mall? By the way, I’m not talking about jeans here – I need ‘nice clothes’ for work.
I have had gastric bypass surgery and used to be a 42DDD. I now measure 32″ around, but have so much excess skin, I can’t seem to be able to find a bra that fits. I wear a 36D, but the girls just don’t seem to be very “perky”. Can you make any suggestions as to how to fit a bra that helps with the excess skin and makes the girls happy?
I have an ongoing challenge of finding a bra to fit my small back as well as my cup size. 32 D- WHEN I do find this size which is very difficult, the cup is too small and the band around my back is too skinny for good support. The “experts” always tell me to go up in the band because the cup is too small. When I buy a 34 C, the cup does fit but it only fits on the tightest hook which stretches out quickly and then rides up my back. They stand in the fitting room not knowing what to do either! This is an expensive issue for me since I have to retire bra’s 3 – 6 months old. I take care of them by hand washing thinking I could preserve the structure of the bra more but they stretch out no matter what. I know other petite women who have an issue finding a 32 D and even national retailers like V.S make this size hard to find in many styles. Thanks!
I have sloped shoulders and bra straps are always slipping down. Any suggestions?
Help! I have had problems finding bras since I was in high school. I have a larger chest (DD to F, depending on the store and the person measuring), and I hate to wear bras! (but of course I do) They are either comfortable, but not supportive and flattering, or supportive and good at shaping but uncomfortable on my shoulders and around the waist band. I have chafing marks around my middle, which the sales lady said I would get used to over time (really?). Tight shoulder straps leave me with headaches by the end of the day. Sports bras, wires, no wires, molded cups, lace, cotton – they all frustrate me to no end! What is a girl (okay, woman) to do?
I was in an accident and broke my collar bone along with some other things in my shoulder. They repaired everything but my collar bone which in turn left my shoulder approx 1/2 inch shorter across not to mention my shoulder does slump slightly. So, the bra strap always slips off my bad shoulder. I am trying every racer back bra I can get my hands on but find that most of them bring the straps up closer to my neck than a regular style bra which causes the straps to show on most sweaters and shirts. Is there a racer back bra that will keep the straps from falling but the straps end up sitting where a regular bra with straps would sit? My acccident caused my issue but I’m sure there are others out there that must have a similar problem naturally.
The straps on all of my bras are constantly sliding off my shoulders. I have tried all the possible adjustments on the straps. Why does this keep happening?
I wish there were more front-closure bras available. They are so much easier to put on. I have arthritis in my wrist so it helps a lot not to have to reach around. Manufacturers need to know that there’s a market for front-closure bras.
I read your article in Jan 2010 on Bra Fit. I have a little bit of an unusual “fit” question. I am searching for a bra that covers up the “show” as they call it, BUT, (and this is the problem) does not add a HUGE amount of padding to the bust. It appears that if you want a bra that covers you if you have a nipple showing, ie in cold weather etc, then the bra also will have about a 1/2 inch of padding. I really do not need all that padding but would like to be rid of the “show”! Are there thinner inserts to put in bras that do not have pads or are there just better bras w/ smaller pads? I have requested a solution from a popular bra and undie Super Store but they just handed me a heavy padded bra. Please help! Thank you!
My bra straps are constantly falling down. I bought Strap Perfect but I find it impossible to put on by myself. Any advice?
I am a 5’3″ petite but have larger breasts, size 32C. I have an awful time finding bras that work and do not slide up in the back! I also can’t stand the Madonna cone look either, I like the rounded, not-too-straight-out shape! Help me find a bra that fits comfortably but is still supportive. Ugh. I also love knee-high boots with skirts. Do these make me look like a mushroom? Thanks for the advice!!
I’ve had both breast removed and can’t do reconstrustion surgery for at least a year. What tops that are not too low cut will help be not look so flat chested?
Solve this !!!!!
5 ft
20lb overweight
34 (small)DD
Manufacts seem to think DD means a big wide women. Haaaaard to find bras.
Lee
If you can tell me a solution to my continuing annoying problem, I will be
forever grateful.I have very small shoulders,width wise that is, and I wear
a size 30/C or D cup bra.With some bras I can wear a 32/C or D cup. My immence problem is that the straps on the bra continuously fall off my shoulders regardless of what I wear.Even though I make the straps shorter,
which as you know is not correct, they still fall down and I am uncomfortable and embarassed often by having to pull the straps back on my shoulders.Help !!!!!!!
Hi Real Simple! I love your magazine, but my biggest fit issue is that I’m petite AND busty. It’s really difficult for me to find dresses, skirts, or tops that are flattering. I try to de-emphasize my chest so I don’t look skanky, but I’m also young and don’t want to look dumpy. It’s so hard. Please help!
How can I find pants that fit when I have a big mid-section, no butt, no hips, and small thighs? I can’t button any pants that otherwise fit perfectly.
(yes, I am working on losing the belly weight but it’s apparently decided to be the last to go)
I am an average 5’6″ 136# twenty-something female. I have muscular thighs and for the life of me I cannot find jeans that will fit both my butt & my thighs…
Also, I have about a dozen jeans and dress pants in my closet that don’t fit me anymore because they SHRUNK in the dryer!!!! I haven’t changed my size in 2 years, and they shrink. It is the most frustrating thing EVER!!
I have a large breasts and my straps dig into my shoulders making my shirts sink into the area and it looks a bit unappealing. Is there anything I can do to make my straps not sink into my shoulders?
I don’t understand why I can’t find pants to fit. It is impossible to find pants that will fit my thighs and hips and not gap at the waist. And I’m talking serious gaps – you could fit a loaf of bread between the back waistband and my back on a pair of pants that fit my thighs. Surely I’m not the only pear-shaped woman in the world! (I won’t even go into the pear-shaped woman’s classic dilemma – dresses. It’s too depressing!)
I have wide hips and a decent sized butt and thighs, but I’d love to wear skinny jeans that actually look GOOD. I’ve tried a few different stores, but I just feel like giving up on skinny jeans all together. Either they look horrible on me, or they don’t fit around my butt or thighs. HELP PLEASE!
JEANS. If the waist fits, the legs are big enough for me and another person. If I get the legs to fit, the waist makes me looks like I have a big, fat muffin-top under my top. It is really unattractive.
It is so frustrating to go jeans shopping anymore. I have four pairs that I wear now. When I go back to get that same brand and style, they either don’t make them anymore, or something on their sizing has changed and they no longer fit as they once did. I’ll just wear the 4 pairs that I have now and will stay in the house when they fall apart, which may be soon.
REALLY! Can’t someone come up with nice looking, nice fitting jeans for REAL SIZED WOMEN SIZED 10 – 14 that don’t cost $150 – $250????
I wear a size 10.5 Narrow shoe. Thankfully, there are some online shoe stores that carry my size. Before the internet, shoe shopping was a nightmare. (Yes, I’m a woman who HATES shopping for shoes!!!) It would be really nice if I could find cute, stylish shoes that actually stayed on my feet and fit properly. I always have to settle for ugly, plain shoes instead of anything trendy, and even if they say the size is a 10.5 Narrow, the fit is never good.
I have big ankles. I am so self concious of them that I almost never wear shorts or skirts (unless I am wearing boots with them). Is there anything I can do to make my ankles look slimmer?
I am always looking for the perfect black dress that I can dress up or down with a blazer or sweater. My problem is that I am plump and short (5’4″). My arms are round and aging. I would like to look pretty or sexy, not dowdy. What kind of dress should I look for?
I have a small waist but a big rear end and the tops of my thighs are bigger than I would like, so I have a tough time finding jeans that fit. They either fit in the legs but are too big in the waist, or are too tight in the upper thighs (and so start to ride down in the back, exposing my undies, as I wear them). I tried buying jeans with stretch in them, but they stretched out so that the waist is now too big. Which jeans are best for an hourglass/curvy figure like mine?
I have a small, relatively well shaped body for a 62 year old woman, nice bust, good legs, nice arm shape. However, I have developed a pot belly——I look like I am pregnant, but I’m obviously not. What styles are good to hide this belly issue? Thanks for your help!
I have a pretty small waist but a very large “pooch” thanks to having a big baby (2 years ago…this pooch is not going away). I am petite everywhere else too. Short of living in Spanx and shopping in maternity stores, what kind of clothes/outfits can I wear to flatter my body and shape?
I have thin “lupus hair” and a small head. Are there any hair styles out there that are flattering?
I have a large chest (34DD) on a smallish stature (5’6″) and I carry my weight around my middle, even though I am at a relatively healthy weight (135lb). Are their any stlyes out there that don’t make me look like a dough ball with stick and arms and legs sticking out?
I am in good shape; I exercise and have lost a lot of weight over the last few years.
My fit problem is that my waist measurement doesn’t work with my other measurements in the same size. It’s bigger. In other words, something that is the right size in the bust and hips is too small for my waist and what fits my waist is too big for my bust and hips.
Pants are a particular problem. I don’t have a big bottom or heavy legs and I’d like jeans that show that off.
I am long waisted and this seems to be difficult to find clothing that fits.
I have broad shoulders and slightly long arms. Whenever I get a shirt or jacket that fits the rest of me, I am barely able to move my arms forward because it is so tight in the shoulders. I’m always struggling at the store to decide between one size up (to fit the shoulders but look baggy and less flattering) or take my regular size and know that I’ll be somewhat uncomfortable all day. Besides ordering a size up and going to a tailor, are there any budget-friendly options (I’m a grad student) for solving this problem?
I am 5′ 3″ with an athletic build and soccer player legs … and a soccer player bum! I love wearing trendy things (leggings, flats, skinny jeans) but I feel so short and stumpy when I wear them! I feel like I have to wear heels with every outfit I own to “stretch” myself out a bit. When I wear dresses with high boots I feel like I end up carrying all my weight in the middle, is there any compromise for this? Should my dresses be shorter (I mean a few inches above the knee not mini!) so my legs look longer?!
And what can I wear with leggings without making me look short and stumpy? I am so lost when trying to pair tops with the legging look.
How do you choose fashions if you have more than one “trouble spot”? I am overall an hourglass shape with an apple midsection – and “designer solutions” that are supposed to flatter one often make the other look worse.
I am 29 years old and I suffer from mi middle body. I´ve got wide hipps, tummy and big legs, but only on the upper part, the lower part of my legs are quite thin. I have a pear figure. I love sweaters and jackets but I really struggle if I have to dress more casual. I got lot of suits for work, I would like to look fashion and chic. What do you recomend. Thank you.
I have a postpartum (a year and a half later!) flab situation going on! I have tried every piece of shapewear in the book but I can’t seem to a) keep the bulges under control, AND b) keep myself from looking like I have a six-month pregnant belly! Until I can shed the weight, what styles can help me conceal my belly situation?
I have slim hips but heavy thighs. So am I a boyish shape or not? Also have issues with pants because my hips are small but my stomach/waist area is heavier. So I can wear a smaller size to fit hips, but can’t get them buttoned around the waist. Help!
I am frustrated in trying to find jeans that fit. I do not seem to have a waist any longer and never had a behind. I like the skinny jeans but they are all low rise and make for an awful “muffin top”. Then there is the attempt to find a belt to keep them from falling down, and the finding a top that camoflages the muffin.
It is helpful to know that I am not the only one with these type of problems.
Jan McCann
I also have large (long) feet, but they are skinny. I normally wear size 10 4A shoes. I could use sosme new sources for shoes.
I also need some tips on finding styles that work for someone who is thin, but has a large waist. My hips are 39″, but my waist is 30″. Tips please!
Lucky to be a tall, fit athlete…but I have a swayback, athletic quads, and a 32 inch inseam. No pants fit quite right or flatter my protruding derriere. Is there hope?
I have a very small chest (38 AAA!!!). What type of tops and dresses would look best on me?
Hi.
I (like most women) have a jean fit problem:
1. I am very skinny (usually size 1-2, maybe 3, in Juniors) but have an hourglass or pear shape. (Most fashion advice for skinny people just assumes that they are all rulers!)
2. My thighs don’t touch, & my butt is average/big for my body frame. Oh, and I have what’s known as chicken legs.
3. I have a small waist in relation to my hips.
(4. Oh, I’m also 5’5″)
So, to get to the point, what brand/cut/style of jeans will look best on my body without making my thighs look like sticks and isn’t too low cut?
Your help is much appreciated.
I am age 50, very petite at 5 feet and 105 lbs., but am also very curvy with a large chest.
Where can I find age-appropriate, figure-flattering clothes? The department store petite departments seem to be shrinking, and while I’m not interested in skin-tight low-slung jeans, I’m not ready for elastic waist polyester pants, either.
Please help!!!
I have athletic legs, a larger back end and a curvy figure – so, most shorts have a tendency to look rather silly on me and make me look larger than I actually am. Is there a fit you would suggest for my particular issue?
I have Barney Rubble feet, wide! They are of average size though (7-8) but I can never find sandals other than flip flop type that fit and I like to have my feet contained so they at least appear narrower. Where can I find cute and modern shooes that fit my foot and my budget?
I am skinny except for my size 34D boobs. One of my friends described me as a drinking straw with boobs. To make it worse, I have no butt. Help!How can I dress to look more evenly proportioned?
I am a plus-size shopper and am tired of wearing sacks! I have a great hourglass figure – it’s just a little bigger than ‘average’…I’d love to know where to find some lovely shapely larger sizes.
And! It’s summer and I am – once again – on the hunt for board shorts in plus sizes. Those I can find are either ‘swim shorts’ or meant for teens. Any ideas?
Thanks so much!
I am on the short side (5’3″) and have very muscular thighs…it is almost impossible for me to find pants that are not too tight on my thighs but that are small enough to fit my waist. Any suggestions? I know several other young, athletic women that have this same exact issue all the time.
I have a large chest (D cup) & the girls could use a little lift. I love strapless and backless dresses but have not worn one since high school because strapless bras never stay up for me (I have about 4 different brands buried in my lingerie drawer with the same problem.) Is there a bra, now, that I can use under these cute dresses? (I have been hearing about NuBra- but the manufactuer’s website states D cups shouldn’t use it for support.)
I am 5’9″ tall. No hips to speak of and 65 years old. I have a problem finding jeans and slacks to fit my frame. They all seem to sag in the butt. If I get a 10 they are a little too big and if I get an 8 they are little too tight. I tried the skinny jeans but they sag in the butt we well. My right cheek seems to be a little bigger than the left. Help, I hate looking like I have on a diaper. P.S. I look to look stylist and don’t want to wear high waisted granny slacks.
I have a boy figure, tall, thin, with no waist to speak of, and not much in the way of hips. I feel like pants universally do not fit…there is not enough hip/butt action to keep them where they should be, so I go with a belt, which just accentuates the straight line effect. I have almost decided that pants and skirts are just not for me…maybe I’m a dress girl??
I am a misses size 14/16 on top and a round plus size 16W on bottom. I am 5’10″ as well, and need a 34″ inseam for pancake flats and 35-36 for heels.
The Lane Bryant Right Fit Blue pants in 1 fits perfectly, but the choice of styles and fabrics is limited. If I lose anymore weight, I’m out of luck.
Dresses can fit okay of they have a fuller skirt, but so many, including almost every one you ever show in RS, are already short on the model, and I need a 40″ length, or at least a 25″ skirt.
I see lots of women as tall or taller than me now, especially younger ones, and many are larger than a 12!
I have a big – big bottom and wear a size 14. I am only 5’3″ tall.
I also have chubby arms. I am old, but I want to look younger. I am fun, even though I am old.
What is the best style dress for me to wear to my step-daughter’s wedding, when I am the only big person in the family.
She doesn’t want it to be too dressy or formal, but it is dressier than a work dress.
She hasn’t told me what color to wear yet.
Thanks,
Lyn
I am tall – 5′-11″. My arms are long. My legs are long. Off the rack clothing rarely truely fits me. Pants are not a huge issue anymore as many retailers have tall sizes online in pants. Tops are another story. Even tees look as if they were made for someone a few inches shorter. With regard to fitted tops and dresses, waistlines are too high and bust darts looks as if they are pointing at my neck rather than my bustline. These things are not correctable by a tailor either. I have to let bra straps out all the way. Swim suits must have adjustable straps or run long – not so easy to find.
I have found tall sizes in some tops online at Old Navy, Banana Republic and Gap but the selection and quality are not so fabulous.
I would love to see tall sizes in stores so that I don’t have to waste time and money returning things that do not fit.
Oh. I wear size 11.5 shoes and my heel is narrow while the front of my foot is medium. I can not wear pumps. If they are comfortable in the front I walk out of them and if they are snug enough in the heel my toes are squished. So, I look for mary janes and sling backs. I would love to see shoes made on a double last.
I am petite and slender but have wide hips. Shorter legs coupled with wider hips make it really hard to find trousers and jeans that look right, jeans especially. So frustrating is the search for a decent pair of jeans that I have all but given up wearing them. Point me in the right direction please!
I have a big belly and skinny chicken legs. I can’t find a pair of shorts to fit both sizes. HELP!!!
My pants always gape at the waistline because my hips/bottom are much larger than my waist. Where can I buy pants that don’t cost an arm and a leg. One hundred for a pair of pants is not in my budget! In addition, how to find dresses that don’t accentuate my bottom half. Pencil skirts or anything tight are a definite no!
I would like to find a pair of jeans or pants that fit my middle age waist and don’t bag in the bum area.
I have a waistline only one inch smaller than my chest and it comes with no hips or butt. Who makes pants that would fit me? I would like to mention one more of my many issues and that is I have fat arms. I really have trouble finding shirts that fit. If I buy shirts to fit my arms and shoulders then the waist looks like a tent. What kind of pieces should I be looking for?
im having a HORRID time… im five feet tall and have size five and a half feet (so lets not even start on jean fit…) but from many years of being an athlete, i have a HUGE ribcage compared to my waist. 36 versus 24, I think. So these empire dresses fall straight from my ribcage, and totally obscure my waist… which i would love to show off! Where can I find dressed that are tailored all the way down through the waist.. or what styles might work? thanks!
where can i find cute/fun/flirty clothes in petite sizes. other brands that have petite sizes are too grown up looking for me.
I’m short (5’2″), full bust (38DD)with a short torso. I love the look of sheath dresses but find it impossible to get one to fit me. What type of dresses would work for my body type?
I have wide hips, and wide thighs to go with them. It’s so hard to find jeans and shorts that fit properly. Help!
I have multiple issues. First – my chest. Depending on bra cut/brand, I can wear anything from a 36D to a 36F. Most of the time though, it’s a 36F. I am 5’3″ tall and thanks to medications, I am at a hefty 170lbs. My thighs are a bit big and were always muscular, making skinny jeans look ridiculous, and now my stomach is an issue since it is now a bit bigger than my hips (and much squishier!). I can’t find anything that I like. I am a casual dresser and run around with my 4 boys. I prefer bootcut jeans, but can’t find anything that I am not constantly having to yank back up over my rear end. My shirts – forget it. Nothing is ever long enough since the only difference between medium, large and X-large is 3-5 inches in width. Everything is either turtleneck or super lowcut, which only highlights my extreme chest as it is. Bras are always padded or made to look dumpy.
Before my medication, I was an easy 125-130lbs, and easily wore my jeans, comfortable tank top that didn’t plunge to show too much cleavage and a flannel shirt. Now I can’t find a flannel, let alone a blouse, to button over my chest.
I have long torso and finding pants to fit is HUGE problem. It seems that the designers are constantly changing the fit. What can I do.
My biggest fit issue is that as a 50 yr old woman I would like to have tops that aren’t form-fitting. Every top that I try on in the stores today wants to cling to me! I know that this is attractive on the 20 yr olds, but I am a bit self-conscious and would rather not show every flaw.
I have narrow hips so it’s hard to find pants that fit well. If I pull my belt tight enought to keep my pants up, then I’m left with a muffin top. Help!
I have such a hard finding a bra that fits. I can’t 32D, I’m settling for because htey don’t make bras with a 33 band.
I have a long torso, broad shoulders, large chest, a bit chubby arms, and not too much waist. I would like to accentuate more the hourglass shape but it’s hard because most tops are much bigger on the chest than the rest of my torso, but if i get them taken in, when i sit down, my little belly shows. What kind of tops are best for my figure, and to accentuate and create curves?
At least plus-size apples can get plus-sized clothes, that are designed with plain, lengthening, slimming lines. I’m a regular-sized apple and it seems like all “misses” clothing has horizontal lines, pockets, buttons, lapels, stripes, anything to make one look wider. And jeans! All these companies that claim they have one’s “perfect” fit, ha! They pay no attention to rise — and that is one area that tailors cannot properly adjust. Only the super-low rise, teenager jeans fit my very short rise in front but then the back is way too low, as in plumbers butt. My waist is as big as my hips — If I buy proper waist size, the crotch is halfway to my knees and even with “slim fit” the empty hips flap out like jodhpurs. And another thing — “knee-length” dresses and skirts are recommended by many fashion articles, and that is my best length too. But who makes knee-length skirts nowadays? I shop and shop and see nothing but mid-thigh or mid-ankle. Help, help, help.
I am 5’8 and 125 pounds. I have long and really skinny legs. I love skirts, dresses and high heels but I think I look horrible on them. Also my friends tell me I should not wear skinny jeans…I go to the stores and I think I dont look good on anything!!!! What kind of skirts and shorts should I wear? Should I just wear flats?
Please help!!!
Thank you so much for your help
Fatima
I carry my weight in the hips and thighs, but I also have a large (DD) chest. What can I wear on the top to balance out my bottom without over-emphasizing my bust?
I keep flashing my belly since my shorts & jeans stretch out and slip down. Any suggestions for those with narrow hips?
I am 48 yrs old, 5’5″/145 lbs and exercise a lot. I lift weights + have large quads in my legs. I’m working on flattening my stomach a little more but basically have an hourglass figure according to your description. My arms are pretty strong and I’d like to flatter them. I’m a 36C so I’m a little bit busty.
I am an arm amputee on one arm (below the elbow). I have a prosthetic arm that I wear that has a greifer hook attachment (I don’t wear the hand attachment since it is not very useful). I’m not trying to hide that (I wear sleeveless shirts without hesitation) but it does make fashion a little challenging. Regular bras are difficult at times since my arm does not always function. Halters or anything that ties is also out. It seems like everything this year has some kind of bow or tie. I realize that amputees/paralyzed people don’t make up a huge percentage of the population, but no one ever writes anything about the fashion challenges. There are quite a few military personnel returning from service w/ major injuries that might really appreciate finding some helpful suggestions.
My second problem is that I recently retired + have a casual wardrobe. I basically live in jeans + workout gear. I don’t go to many formal events but am looking for casual event things for my wardrobe. Any suggestions on tops that dress up jeans a little bit?
my feet are large AND wide. Where do i find cute summer shoes (without breaking the budget)??????
I have a very small, boyish figure, and recently I’ve found that in some of my favorite stores, there are no clothes small enough to fit me! Where can I find cute styles without resorting to the children’s section?
This is one of the best posts that I’ve ever seen; you may include some more ideas in the same theme. I’m still waiting for some interesting thoughts from your side in your next post.
I m 5’3″ and 1/2. I am sort wasted and thick wasted. I carry my weight well which is l42. How do I buy jeans that fit? I read all shapes and the jeans for that shape but no mine. I also have a flat but and slender legs. It sounds like I am describing a chicken. I really don’t look that bad. Also I am 63 but because of my profession, I look 50. I really don’t want to look or dress old but I want to look nice. Help!
Jeans seem to be getting skinnier and skinnier. Hard not to wonder how far it will go. I have very full hips and thighs. I’m wondering if it’s possible to wear these super skinny jeans.
My son is getting married next July. I don’t know what kind of dress to get being the mother of the groom. It is a morning wedding so I will want a short dress. I am very large on top (42DD), an apple shape and have thin legs. Very hard to buy a dress that fits my top and bottom at the same time. Would like some kind of short or cap sleeve. It will probably be very hot. Help!
say, have you ever checked out bravissimo.com? they have a video sizing a woman the way NO american company ever has (that i know of!)
its amazing.
and even across an OCEAN they were able to size me better than any place ive ever been to in this country.
I have an hourglass figure and I can’t seem to find pencil skirts or sheath dresses that fit me. If they fit enough for my hips they always gap several inches at the waist. Do you have any suggestions?
My mom has always struggled with finding the right bra. She is big around, but has small breasts. Where can I help her look to find a comfortable bra that fits and helps her feel like the beautiful woman she is?
Hi! I’m 5’6”, built like a boy, no hips, no rear. I’m all legs, and need longer lengths. My problem, bunching. Between the waist band and back pockets of my jeans, there’s always a bunch. The waist band slides down and I’m continually pulling up my pants. No matter what I’ve tried, I can’t find a petite size pant with a longer length. I’m assuming a need a petite size. I really don’t know. I am totally frustrated, and ready to switch to skirts!
I only see questions – no answers. What’s the deal?
Another plus-sized apple here. My arms and legs are slim and my bust is modest, but I carry a lot of weight in the middle torso and belly. So many plus-size style strategies involve drawing attention to a marvelous bustline (which I don’t really have), or using belts to fake a waist (which makes me look like a trussed-up rib roast). How do I try and flatter my top and bottom halves while downplaying the middle? And any recommendations for affordable custom jeans? By the time I fit my waist in most brand names, the legs are a size and a half too big.
My sister calls my calves “piano legs”! I have heavy thighs and it just seems to continue on down the line to my calves. I avoid wearing dresses or skirts at all costs because I feel so “ugly” in them and I think everyone will be looking at my “piano legs”. What can I do?
Should I wear dark tights or pantyhose?
I am 60, 5 ft. 2 in. with small shoulders and a tummy. What should I look for in a dress?
I suffer from pectus excavatum (concave chest) and have a very hard time finding a bra that fits properly. Any suggestions?