It’s not that I’m overweight, because I’m not.
It’s not that I’m petite, because I’m not.
I have the most frustrating body shape to fit into today’s designs for pants and shorts. I have a narrow waist and fuller hips, thighs and derriere. I went to Target yesterday to try and find some shorts that fit.
An impossible and frustrating task.
Due to the low rise waists in today’s fashions, I knew I was going to have difficulty, but I still had hope. I had different styles of shorts in different sizes, hoping I’d find something suitable.
So, I started out with a size 14. Nope. Huge, wide open gap in the back that no amount of belt is going to fix.
Then I tried on out with a size 12. Nope, still a wide open gap in back.
Then I tried on a 10, which I thought was hopeful, even though I felt my fuller legs would probably not appreciate it. Nope. Still a gap in the back. So I figured I was wearing them wrong. I pulled them as far down as I could so that they would be no gap between me and the pants. I had to pull them WAY down…and realized either my body type is a total misfit (and really, always has been), or I should embrace it and go into the plumbing business (ya know, plumber’s crack and all).
I seriously think I need tailor made clothes for my bottom half or give up trying to look halfway stylish and stick with my “too-big-for-my-waist-but-at-least-it’s something-covering-my-ass” shorts/pants and a smaller belt.
Okay, rant over.
Raising Smart Girls 
I accepted long ago that I have to find clothes that fit the biggest part and come home and alter the rest to fit. Nearly everything I wear has been altered.
Of course you know, long long ago before mass production, every individual’s clothes were custom made. Same with shoes. Levi’s recently introduced a “novel” deal where you send in your measurements and they send you a very expensive pair of custom-fit jeans. It was their bid at being modern. Brilliant, huh? (need eye-rolling smiley here)
I have to buy shoes to fit my right foot and have the left shoe stretched. Luckily, since I am done *forever* with lactation, I will never again have to buy shirts to fit the boobs and alter the rest, but I still have to alter pants.
The most frustrating thing, though, is that with the advent of mass production came the eventual advent of vanity sizing. What was a size 16 ia few decades ago is now more like a size 10. The measurements didn’t change, just the label. It seems every year the designers shift the numbers again. Come on, I don’t care what the number is. My psyche is not that easily manipulated. In fact, it really pisses me off that they think I’ll buy more just cause I have suddenly and miraculously dropped a size. No, this does not flatter me at all, because now I have to try on every damn size there is. In one day, I have come home with pants/shorts in sizes 16, 14, 12 and 10, all from different shops.
I share your anguish.
Man, now I’m really pissed! 😡
Grr!!!!
😉
“What was a size 16 ia few decades ago is now more like a size 10. The measurements didn’t change, just the label. It seems every year the designers shift the numbers again. Come on, I don’t care what the number is. My psyche is not that easily manipulated. In fact, it really pisses me off that they think I’ll buy more just cause I have suddenly and miraculously dropped a size.”
Oh – Jennaviere! This is EXACTLY IT. I knew I couldn’t be imagining things. I mean, I knew I lost a little weight, but I couldn’t have dropped 3 sizes!!!
I guess I’m going to have to figure out how to alter clothes with my sewing machine – and get a denim needle for it, because I’m a jeans kinda gal for the most part (now that I don’t have to impress anyone on the job).