I needed new pants. I’ve needed new pants for weeks. I kept putting off buying them, because I hate shopping under the best of circumstances, which, at my current weight, cannot be achieved. But today, because I am sick unto the very *death* of wearing floppy pants, I went to Dunnes to buy jeans.
Every pair of women’s jeans available gleefully advertised themselves as “skinny jeans”. Overlooking the fact that I am a far cry from skinny, even when I’m at my slimmest, my thighs do not fit in skinny jeans. I am not shaped that way. I wasn’t even shaped that way when I was fifteen. It is occasionally possible to find snug-fitting flattering jeans, but not when they’re advertised as “skinny”; they just will not go on my body. And everything else they had were slacks or three-quarters length slacks or leggings to wear under skirts/long shirts.
Frustrated beyond belief, I went to the men’s section, where I could tell at a glance which ones were going to fit my waist because hey, THEY’RE SIZED BY WAIST AND INSEAM. I tried two pair on, and now have two new pair of jeans, one of which needs hemming, but both of which come up to my goddamned waist without squeezing, fit my thighs, and which cost me at least fifteen dollars less than the women’s jeans would have.
I swear I’m going to quit writing and take up designing comfortable, attractive women’s clothes and shoes that fit. *grumpy face*
Skinny jeans are incredibly popular right now, but to flatter a curvy figure most shops have cuts that are roomier through the thigh, slightly taper in around the knee and then flare out at the bottom. This evens out the figure and looks very nice. Also, the less polished looking (but very comfortable) ‘boyfriend’ and ‘straight’ jeans would probably work for you.
I don’t know about Europe, but in America there’s AE’s ‘Artist’ (http://www.ae.com/web/browse/category_full_fashion_guide.jsp?catId=cat90120) or Gap’s ‘Curvy’ (http://www.gap.com/browse/category.do?cid=5664) that were made with curvy girls in mind. Gap even has extended sizes–with every shape in mind: tall, petite, size 0-20. :)
If you can make that happen, I’d be in line to try out your jeans!
yep, and i have a “low rise” and most jeans/pants have a 12″ rise – which puts the waist around the bottom of my ribs…… so, either a medium rise in a petite (meaning for low rise, not for skinny) or a low rise in a regular – VERY hard to find – oh, and shoes?? i have extremely high arches AND insteps and so my foot is basically wedge shaped…. i PAY for shoes and unless i know the company and style, i HAVE to try them on……. major PITA
back when I was thin I used to wear men’s pants because I liked they way they fit my butt.
Now that I am much fatter I just buy Old Navy plus size jeans with the lowest rise possible due to my short-waisted-ness. If I couldn’t get pants from Old Navy, I’m not sure I’d be wearing anything but sweats!
If it could actually be managed you’d make your fortune!
I buy pants from the men’s department a lot for the same reason – the inseam and waist are listed by a NUMBER not a generic size – WHY do the MEN have it better than the women? We buy more clothes!
My main complaint is the length on women’s pants (although I too, will never fit in anything labeled ‘skinny’) most are just too d*** short.
On a side note, I like the women’s departments in JC Penney and Kohls – it’s much easier to find pants that fit in the waist and the leg.