I have been fortunate with the secondhand stores...I have purchased a number of outfits that are high quality and paid almost nothing for. I do have to agree with you, though, there aren't a lot of large sizes available.
I also take my good quality jackets to a tailor to have them taken in. I just can't part with silks and fine wools...my Scottish background just won't let me.
By the way, I know that I have three pairs of jeans - Size 14 Petite that I bought about 3 - 4 months ago. I have not worn them at all for the past 2 months. If anyone wants them, let me know.
I will go through my large clothes and see what else I have to offer as well. Someone is welcome to whatever I have. Hope that it will help out but just a bit, anyway.
Here's my problem: midget + pants + losing weight = pants dragging on the ground. I used to do the safety pin/paper clip thing to mock-hem them, but it doesn't look "professional," so sayeth my boss. I just spent $37 on a new pair of black dress pants for work, that are already getting too big in the waist for me.
This may seem overkill to some of you, but I definitely recommend getting a sewing machine. Even if it's just a cheapy. I'm not a big sewer (although I've made clothes, unholstered furniture, etc in the past), but I couldn't live without my machine for doing alterations to my clothes.
Laurie, if you keep any of your clothes for maternity wear, make sure you don't blow up to fit into the stuff! I gained 80 pounds during my second pregnancy.
LOL at getting a sewing machine. I have chainsaws, table saws, drills, you name it, but a sewing machine will never be in my house. In home ec class I broke 2 of them!
What a nightmare you must have been, Wendy.
I'm with you... I've got every tool imaginable, and I know how to use them. I hate that stereotypical "woman's tool" thing, but I think I'm over it. One of my best friends (a male) has a sewing machine, and he's just made himself some gorgeous roman blinds for his verandah. He once took a sewing class, and was the only male there. They had to each make a skirt. He still has his, although he's a little stouter than he was, and it no longer fits.
I agree - men's work is laundry, cleaning, cooking, etc.; women's work - the power tools.
When our boys were small, they decided that they wanted some of those patterned knee length shorts that all the boys were wearing at the time. Since it was summer and they were bored most of the time, I took them to the fabric store where they each picked out several pieces of fabric for their shorts.
I showed them how to cut the fabric, use the sewing machine, sew the shorts, press everything as they went and finish them off. They each made 5 or 6 pairs of shorts that summer. Although they don't make their own clothes anymore, they both know how to hem their pants, mend their clothes, sew on buttons and generally upkeep their clothing.
One of the kids is in the military reserves. A couple of weeks ago he needed to stitch something in his beret down before he could put his cap brass on. I came home from work to find him sitting at the sewing machine doing the job. It was good to know that, if they really have to, they can manage some of those skills on their own. BUT clean their rooms OMG!
My dad can sew basic things, like buttons, and I think that's great! DH, on the other hand, tried to throw out a shirt because a button he doesn't even use (on the collar) fell off. No way!
When Mom was a young woman in England, she had all her clothes tailor made. She still has trouble buying "off the rack". She can't stand to buy an article of clothing when there are twenty more of the same on the rack.
She used to make Dad's dress shirts for him. They were BEAUTIFULLY made! And I remember as a child... every year she would make herself a new Christmas gown for parties. One year she made the most divine, green sparkly mini-dress, and she even dyed a pair of spikes (the shoes in fashion at the time) to match.
Now she mostly just buys clothes and alters them as soon as she gets them home.
I used to love to sew and made all my clothes. Now I really have a hard time settling in to do it. Alterations are especially low on my list. I have pants to shorten from last summer that don't fit me now!
Sewing is one of the great lifeskills - for both men and women. Cooking is another. As to housework, fergedaboudit!
What a nightmare you must have been, Wendy. 
One of my best friends (a male) has a sewing machine, and he's just made himself some gorgeous roman blinds for his verandah. He once took a sewing class, and was the only male there. They had to each make a skirt. 
He still has his, although he's a little stouter than he was, and it no longer fits. 
What a great Mom you are!!
No way!
