Looking Good, Feeling Great - I hate Lane Bryant

I'm so sick of Lane Bryant being the only accessible store for plus sized women. Their clothes are hardly fashionable, their construction is questionable and the fabrics are hideous!! Just because I'm fat does not mean I have to be relegated to a life of wearing jersey!

And "Womens" sections in department stores may offer a bit better quality of clothing but don't get me started on their location. Why can't they be placed next to the regular sections? Why must the women's department be somewhere in the basement right next to the oriental rug section? Even maternity sections get to be placed next to other clothing sections! Do they not want us seen in their store?

What does a girl gotta do to get some affordable quality clothing without feeling like a leper in the mall?

Shop Macy's sales :) I haven't been in Lane Bryant for a few years.

I don't shop at Lane Bryant either - their clothes are made for very tall women - even their petites are disproportioned and like you said - horrid fabrics at inflated prices.

I shop Kohls, Macys and Penneys when they have sales. It's hit or miss - sometimes I walk out with nothing, other times I grab a handful of stuff. I find that the stores in the malls have a bigger selection than the free standing stores. Many people like Torrid but their stuff is more trendy than I'm allowed to wear at work.

I hadn't shopped at Lane Bryant for quite a few years but just recently bought some new clothes and was quite surprised by the selection they now had. Target is the one that drives me crazy because they mix their maternity and plus size clothes and their selection is minimal at best to begin with.

Have you tried shopping online. I work a second job at Addition Elle in Canada, i know that we have a site online where you can purchase clothes. Our sizes are comparable to Torrid.

The main problem I have with Lane Bryant is that I have to layer EVERYTHING with those camisoles because, for some reason, their designers seemt to be under the impression that every larger woman WANTS TO SHOW CLEAVAGE!! :devil:

Have you tried Torrid ?

I love their stuff, I buy on-line all the time. It is geared toward a younger crowd but I'm 27 and love it :)

http://www.torrid.com/torrid/index.jsp

I'm finding that as I lose weight that I am loosing my chest. This means that all of these stores have clothes that don't fit well up top anymore. I guess this is a good thing right? And the bottom half of me may catch up one day right?

Nikita -

Yes and yes!! :hug::hug:

When I'm in the mood to shop I like the process of going into the store and trying things on. Shopping online just seems so... deviant to me, like going through the drive-thru and eating alone. And what do you do when you don't like the clothes they send you? Pack it back up and stand in line at the post office? It sounds like a nightmare.

Does this Torrid place have a store?

I've never shopped at Lane Bryant. I don't know to much about them. I am blesssed to have a Catos Plus store here in town. They have awesome plus size clothing. That is pretty much the only place I can shop. The only problem I have with them is that their jeans are all to wide in the thigh and hip area. Not all plus sizes have to be wides. Oh well, maybe I'll find a good place with nice jeans also.

My issue with Lane Bryant is that all summer long most of the shirts were sleeveless and I just cannot go there!!!

Also, being 5'3", pants were a no go. I think they are under the impression that I would wear 4" heels with said pants. Wrong again!

The main problem I have with Lane Bryant is that I have to layer EVERYTHING with those camisoles because, for some reason, their designers seemt to be under the impression that every larger woman WANTS TO SHOW CLEAVAGE!! :devil:

This made me spray icy cold water out of my nose. Couldn't be more true. I have one shirt and one pair of pants from Lane Bryant. The pants are fine. The shirt... never again.

:lol: And, I love your avatar.

Wannabeskinny:

Yes, they have actual stores. Ours is in the mall.
The website has a "find a store" link on it and I saw that you are in New York, so here ya go.....



Torrid Stores in NY (listed alphabetically by city)
Crossgates Mall
1 Crossgates Mall Rd.
Albany, NY 12203
(518) 862-0840
Get map

Walden Galleria
One Walden Galleria
Buffalo, NY 14255
(716) 681-8920
Get map

Sunrise Mall
One Sunrise Mall
Massapequa, NY 11758
(516) 264-1310
Get map

Palisades Center
1000 Palisades Center Drive
West Nyack, NY 10994
(845) 353-6305
Get map

Galleria White Plains
100 Main Street
White Plains, NY 10601
(914) 686-5970
Get map

ive never shopped at lane bryant so im not sure how large their sizes go? oldnavy and gap.com go up to like 20 and xxl (and their stuff actually runs a tad large). oldnavy.com has womens plus which they dont have in stores. ;)

Wannabeskinny:

Yes, they have actual stores. Ours is in the mall.
The website has a "find a store" link on it and I saw that you are in New York, so here ya go.....



Torrid Stores in NY (listed alphabetically by city)
Crossgates Mall
1 Crossgates Mall Rd.
Albany, NY 12203
(518) 862-0840
Get map

Walden Galleria
One Walden Galleria
Buffalo, NY 14255
(716) 681-8920
Get map

Sunrise Mall
One Sunrise Mall
Massapequa, NY 11758
(516) 264-1310
Get map

Palisades Center
1000 Palisades Center Drive
West Nyack, NY 10994
(845) 353-6305
Get map

Galleria White Plains
100 Main Street
White Plains, NY 10601
(914) 686-5970
Get map

Great, I'll definitely check it out. Thanks!

I've only shopped at LB a few times. I prefer Torrid because it's geared more towards my age group.

try alloy.com and alight.com

wow, I actually love lane bryant! I'm 5'2" and their right fit jeans are the best fitting jeans I own. The tops can be a little difficult, as mentioned they do show alot of cleavage. However I used to admire how nicely one of the girls at work dressed and she told me she shops at lane bryant. my biggest issue was the price, but the sales and the outlet store offer some great bargains. The customer service is awesome, and I finally found bras there that FIT after a specialist measured me and I found out I was buying the wrong bras for years.

I used to shop at the Fashion Bug. They are reasonable, have sales and not sure if they still do but they had good coupons occasionally, $10 off $25 and such.

Their fabric and quality wasn't that great, the jeans all have the stretchy fabric and they tore, ripped and wore down easily. The shirts sometimes shrank when washed, so it was hit or miss, but they carried decent stuff that fit since I didn't care for the styles JcPenny, Macys and such have.

I just read Pita's post below mine... now I think about it, isn't Lane Bryant and Fashion Bug sister companies? I guess Fashion Bug is for younger style fashions.

I'm so sick of Lane Bryant being the only accessible store for plus sized women. Their clothes are hardly fashionable, their construction is questionable and the fabrics are hideous!! Just because I'm fat does not mean I have to be relegated to a life of wearing jersey!


I couldn't agree more! It is very hit or miss to ever find anything in there that is actually cute enough to buy, and when I have bought clothes there most of the time they fall apart. I bought the jeans and I HATE them! I do buy my bras at Lane Bryant, which I've been very happy with.

I usually get my clothes at Kohl's, JC Penney, Dress Barn, or Belk.

Torrid is AMAZING. All of their clothes are a great fit. I've never found anything there that didn't fit right.

I also really like Kiyonna. Great basics and dresses.

Lastly...for something on the cheap side...check out Old Navy. I love their plus clothes and it's CHEAP!!!

I used to get all my bras and jeans at lane bryant. But in the past two months I have had to return one bra and one pair of jeans as they both wore out within a week. When I tried to exchange the bra she told me it must be because I dryed it in the dryer. I told her ahh no, not in a WEEK, lol.

Lane Bryant has changed over the past few years. They were at one time seen as the "upscale" store for plus sizes. No more!

I love that most department stores now carry plus sizes even if by the Oriental Rugs and Maternity mixed in! lmao

I am tall and have a long torso and unfortunately Torrid is a miss for me no matter how many times I go. Their jeans are very low waisted or really big in the *** (I WISH I had an apple bottom and not a muffin top when I try the jeans on! lol).

I shop LB for their business clothes (their RightFit jeans- SO NOT right for me), Avenue as well (they have actually improved a bit) while hitting Target (there are a few Greatlands that have a wide selection of ps's but go online to Target.com).

Every now and then TJMaxx throws me a bone w/ some cute shirts! lol

I love Old Navy's jeans but the tshirts always seem to get stretched out in the sleeves and it looks horrible I don't get it either that or they are too short lol I hate buying shirts lol

Personally, I love LB, but they are just too expensive for me. I shop at the Avenue and now I can start looking at other stores, JcPenney, etc, as they are more in my price range. I will say that I love the Avenue much more though as I find the price is just right, but not only that their lingerie is very pretty. Some of the LB stuff is a bit tacky for my taste, but maybe that is just me.

As for Old Navy, that was where I got my first outfit when I could fit into something "normal." You can only order online only for plus size. I did find their teeshirt/jersey material too thin and flimsy and I couldn't wear it. I mean it was literally stretchy in a bad way and so thin...it just looked bad so I didn't wear it out of the house. However, the jeans and other sort of greyish cargo pants I got are well made in my opinion. I still wear them, even though they are falling off of me now hahaha. I wear them around the house, works for me. I might order something else from there, but I'm sort of at the point where I need to try on things to get the right fit, so my days of online ordering are coming to an end for a lot of items.

even for jeans? at my old navy I think the jeans go up to 20 or 22 in the store

even for jeans? at my old navy I think the jeans go up to 20 or 22 in the store

I was beyond that size if that is what you are asking. I think mine are size 26/28 and I had to order them online at their site. I'm not quite there yet to shop in the store, but getting there! :D I'm pear shaped, so my tushy and hips need bigger sizes hahahaha.

i know exactly what you mean. the clothes is for tall ladies, im only 5 ft 1, and plus its mostly such matronly stuff, i think " you know what i may be big (size16 at my height, but i like to look trendy!) , on this site i recently found a fab store its alight.com, theyre tuff looks cool and trendy.

though im on a tight budget im planning on shopping there, the other one i like is avenue, they have some really nice clothes available, well i dont like the stuff they have now, but around nov, dec they have some fabulous dresses and tops that are youthful looking, so check them out.

oh and remember that if you ever buy clothes online first look up and see if theres any coupons available , cus usually if your a first time buyer they have coupons available so you get get a few bucks off your first purchase.

I've shopped at Lane Bryant, Torrid, Fashion Bug and Dress Barn too for plus size clothing. Walmart and Kmart seem to have a lot of plus things also, but some of them are "older" looking. I'm really happy to be out of those stores now and I'm promising myself that I'll never go back to needing to buy plus size. I totally relate to this, though. Shopping for clothes was always something I really dreaded. Now it's actually beginning to be fun....go figure!!!

Lane Bryant is really hit or miss for me. I occasionally find something that fits great there, but a lot of what they carry is useless for me. They seem to believe that all plus size women are six feet tall. As I am 5'4, this doesn't work for me. Also, my chest doesn't really change no matter what weight I am and this means that some of the tops are very loose up top. I find this weird since I'm a D-cup and it is hard to find tops at normal stores that cover my entire chest. Sigh.

I agree about Torrid! Love their clothes!! About Lane Bryant, for 1, I can't afford their clothes, and 2, why are the clothes SO ugly. I was at Walmart with DH the other day and they had a big plus size section and all the fabric colors and patterns are so ugly. I said to DH why do they think that over weight people can't look cute?! Why can't they make womans clothes the SAME clothes for plus size. I don't get it.

I agree about Torrid! Love their clothes!! About Lane Bryant, for 1, I can't afford their clothes, and 2, why are the clothes SO ugly. I was at Walmart with DH the other day and they had a big plus size section and all the fabric colors and patterns are so ugly. I said to DH why do they think that over weight people can't look cute?! Why can't they make womans clothes the SAME clothes for plus size. I don't get it.


No kidding why can't they just make the same clothes in bigger sizes...I want jeans that fit just below my belly button why is that SO hard people???(of course years of working in retail I know that a lot of people don't these kind of jeans, but grrr I DO)

and why is everything in lane bryant and empire waist?

I will be so happy when I CAN'T consider Lane Bryant an option anymore.

No kidding why can't they just make the same clothes in bigger sizes...I want jeans that fit just below my belly button why is that SO hard people???(of course years of working in retail I know that a lot of people don't these kind of jeans, but grrr I DO)

and why is everything in lane bryant and empire waist?

I will be so happy when I CAN'T consider Lane Bryant an option anymore.

I hear yah!! That gets me going. Seeing cute clothes. If I keep working out and eat right I WILL be able to wear those clothes. Keep thinking that ladies!!! :carrot:

Really Ive never been able to fit in Lane but their window display in downtown brooklyn be poppin..... but then again most things look better in the window... smh

opps i just looked it up....my bad its Ashley Stewart

the only thing i ever shop lane bryant for is jeans and bra's because no one in the world carries bra's large enough

i hate their regular clothing its so old lady and the patterns are horrendous!
i do looove torrid but its so expensive. i generally buy when its on clearance.

old navy has good plus size clothes but its online only and i have to try things on to know if i like it or if it will fit.

its a struggle with buying clothes. hopefully we will all meet our goals and be blessed with buying clothes in the regular people sections and be fashionable and hot! :)

My main issue with Lane Bryant was that almost every top they sold was polyester! If not polyester than some other horrible synthetic fabric that didn't breathe! Do they not realize that heavier people tend to get warm easily and need nice breathable fabrics like cotton? Living in Arizona this really drove me nuts!

Another beef I had with them and other plus size places was that everything ran large. I know this is to make people happy when they try on clothing and fit a smaller size so it makes them want to buy them. However, there is this mystery size between non-plus size clothing and plus size clothing that is REALLY hard to find clothing in. Basically if you are a size 14, most shops only go up to size 12. Then when you try on a size 14 in plus size it's too big! Has anyone else noticed this?

This is so funny, I woke up this morning thinking the exact same thing-- I hate Lane Bryant! I haven't even gone shopping since July, but for some reason, that was my first thought this morning. I just want to be done with her! Lane! AH! So that's motivating, I suppose!

I was actually thinking about how much I dislike their displays. I hate the way they tuck and pin all the clothes on those skinny mannequins. Their clothes don't actually look like that when you put them on.

I say we have a mannequin bonfire! I hate mannequins!

My main issue with Lane Bryant was that almost every top they sold was polyester! If not polyester than some other horrible synthetic fabric that didn't breathe! Do they not realize that heavier people tend to get warm easily and need nice breathable fabrics like cotton?

Oh my gosh, I've noticed this also! It drives me crazy! And it's not just Lane Bryant, a LOT of plus sized lines are heavy into synthetic fibres. I'm so not feeling that!

Also, a few people mentioned Wal-Mart. The last time I was there, they did have some cute things, but I found the sizing ran really small. Not that it really matters, since I'm the only person who would know what size I was wearing, but it's a little discouraging!

When I'm in Canada, I do shop at Addition-Elle, but they discontinued my favourite jeans from the MXM line, and a lot of the replacement styles have rhinestones or fading and that's not really my style. So I'm just wearing the life out of my old ones! lol!

I was actually thinking about how much I dislike their displays. I hate the way they tuck and pin all the clothes on those skinny mannequins. Their clothes don't actually look like that when you put them on.

I say we have a mannequin bonfire! I hate mannequins!

I noticed that recently. I went by a Lane Bryant yesterday and the window was covered with skinny forms with clothes pinned and tucked and etc. I was like "okaaaaayyyyy" lol.

I do like LB, but it just is too expensive for me. At the end of the day whatever I buy isn't going to fit well as my weight comes off, so why spend oodles of money on things now anyhow. And...I probably wouldn't buy much from there anyhow. I agonize over purchases so, just too much money for my blood.

The mannequin forms are a bit odd...I do have to admit and not to be offensive, but we that fat don't wear clothes like that lol. Oy.... I hope that didn't offend anyone. Seriously, there is no way I could look okay in the outfits they had displayed even at 160 pounds lol. I need layers, or just something to cover up my hips. Darn pear shape!

Another beef I had with them and other plus size places was that everything ran large. I know this is to make people happy when they try on clothing and fit a smaller size so it makes them want to buy them. However, there is this mystery size between non-plus size clothing and plus size clothing that is REALLY hard to find clothing in. Basically if you are a size 14, most shops only go up to size 12. Then when you try on a size 14 in plus size it's too big! Has anyone else noticed this?

I had that problem for a while. Then I passed through it (gained until the plus sizes did fit). Part of it was the cut too. Way too much room in the belly, both in tops and pants, even when the rest of the item fit. Eventually, I gained enough that I started to have the shape and then they fit better. Which wasn't actually a good thing ;).

Going down, it wasn't much of a problem because I didn't stay in that range too long and wasn't buying clothes anyway. But I know exactly what you mean.

I do not like LB for their clothes because I have chicken legs and a big waist so their pants look SO bad. Their shirts also assume I have a large chest which isnt true. I do however love their bras because I can actually buy a 42 B! And they are the same price as vicky slicky. I am a Ross girl all the way!

http://www.catherines.com/

I'm with many of you that Torrid is my favorite plus size shop, but Lane Bryant is my second. Macys and other departments store are so ugly and frumpy, not to mention they have like zero turnover. I shop at Macy's maybe 4 times a year and every time I go in they still have half the same stuff as the last time I was there! I tried the Avenue, Rainbow, and Ashley Stewart because they are close and cheaper. I've found one dress at the Avenue I love; never found a single other item I like there. Rainbow's clothes are mega cheap quality and usually fit weird. And Ashley Stewart just doesn't do it for me. I walked into Catherine's for the first time ever today; OMG it was BAD!!! ... Ugh, Lane Bryant's clothes aren't stellar but given these options, well at least I can find some decent stuff that doesn't fit like a potato sack!

i feel you on this one...i don't like LB either...their jeans come up too high, and their shirts are kinda tacky at times...
wannabeskinny, i see you live in nyc, just wanted to share- there is a vintage/resale store in brooklyn called re/dress. they have lots of cool stuff, all size 14 and up. its cheap, and i ALWAYS walk out with something. they have a website, i'm not sure if i can post it, but you can google it :)

I like Fashion Bug. I've never been to Torrid, but have been to their site and they have some good stuff too, but both stores are too pricey for me these days.

i feel you on this one...i don't like LB either...their jeans come up too high, and their shirts are kinda tacky at times...
wannabeskinny, i see you live in nyc, just wanted to share- there is a vintage/resale store in brooklyn called re/dress. they have lots of cool stuff, all size 14 and up. its cheap, and i ALWAYS walk out with something. they have a website, i'm not sure if i can post it, but you can google it :)


http://www.redressnyc.com/

Thanks! I'll try it out soon!

hi all,
i'm new to the board but just had to 'post :)
i used to absoultely LOVE torrid, now it's gotten to, i dont know, trendy, i guess. all the skinny/hi-rise jeans and 'twilight' shirts. i miss the days of wide leg jeans and cherry covered hoodies...
lane bryant has some cute things, but only on the mannequins. the jeans are incredibly hi-rise, even the 'low rise' ones. and i'm 5'9 with a 33" inseam, and can't get the pants the right length- either way too short or way too long.
one of my friends started svoboda jeans, and i'm trying to convince her to bring wide-leg back in style. so far no luck though.

try alloy.com
and
alight.com

I like Lane Bryant...Dress Barn, Fashion Bug, etc - but I don't need business clothes - and I'm not super choosey. Fashion Bug saves me money, so I try there before LB - more expensive.

Like Fresh Produce clothes too (can find online) - we had a small store that had it at the shore.

Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug and Catherines are the same parent company

Man, I can't wait to have new size selections! It's like an entire world of shopping will open up to me. Places I vacation, there are like 1-2 stores I can shop -- can't wait for that too!

:Dugh I've gotten to where I hate Lane Bryant. Haven't shopped there in forever. In the past though that's the only place that I knew of that sold plus-sized clothing for women. But I've recently discovered some great new places that have younger more appealing clothing compared to the mawmaw fabric/moomoo's Lane Bryant tends to sale. So check them out ladies!..
(I can't post links yet since I'm a new member but here's the names)
Torrid
Alloy
Kiyonna
Forever21 (faith21 plus size)
bandlu
1-plus



Happy Shopping!!:D

I love Torrid but I find their sizes to be super inconsistent, like one size 2 top will be too big and another size 3 top will be too small. Kiyonna is expensive for what it is. And everything I've ever bought from Old Navy besides jeans has fallen apart way too quickly. Lane Bryant is hit and miss for me as well, I have found shirts there that I LOVE but they have a ton of stuff I would never wear. And I refuse to buy their pants (or is it just jeans) with those silly size guidelines, a size 18 blue triangle, quit trying to be different LB it's just confusing.

I'm sick of all of these stores selling shirts that have super short sleeves, or long sleeved shirts that cut off right at your waist, oh ya that's flattering.

Truly I haven't found any store that fits the bill for me so lately I've been buying clothes from QVC just because I can read their reviews and their return policy makes it super easy.

I no longer shop in Lane Bryant (their sizes don't go small enough and oh how I love that!) but when I did I was often disappointed, I thought the quality of the clothes was very poor and the fabrics were weird and it was sometimes pricey. Unfortunately right now I'm too small for plus size stores but often still too big for the large or xlarge in regular size stores. Argh!

Count me in as another hater of Lane Bryant. The clothes are not my style; they seem designed for women who want to hide their body under tunics that look like tents. I'm fat, but I have good curves and I'll be damned if I'm going to drape them in a muu muu.

There are lots of on-line alternatives available. Shopping on-line is not ideal, because you can't try things on, but you can always return things that don't fit, and it beats shopping in person at a crappy store you hate. Depending upon what kind of clothes you want:

* Torrid has already been mentioned
* Eddie Bauer is great for basics like jeans, polo shirts, sweaters. Most of their styles come in W or X sizes.
* Eileen Fisher is more expensive but absolutely wonderful for business or dressy clothes.
* eShakti.com is a lesser-known place that I shop from occasionally. They make traditional Indian clothes and Indian-inspired western clothes in all kinds of sizes. They can even make them to order on measurements you specify.

best of luck.

I leave in California...and here in the SF Valley there are a few storea called Fashion Q there wonderful I absolutely love them I am lucky that I have not gone to a lane bryant but I have bought from torrid and have to say that they are great too aspecially there boots since they make them wide from the calf love them.. :)

i second the Eddie Bauer- love them! Haven't found pants that fit right, but their tops are great.
i also hate the LB. i once bought a pair of capris that were long enough to be regular pants. yes, i'm short but seriously?!
also the bras? i would at the LEAST like my nipple covered up. what the heck? i know they're heavy but somehow the bra winds up UNDER my boobs instead. is this on purpose or am i deformed?!
frankly i don't need $80 pants that fall apart in a few months and go all the way up to my boobs - wait maybe that works better then their bras?! lol.

I know it is better to be proactive than to complain...I wish these designers would have to wear some of their items.;):D

Being petite, too many tops are far too long.

It is funny that you posted this: I thought this about my last shopping experience...many stores design as if you have one foot in the grave.:(

All we can do is dedicate our next workout to how much we abhor plus sized clothing stores and keep doing it until we reach goal.

those tops start out too long- but am i the only one who gets a top, washes it, and then somehow it comes out- shorter and wider then it started?! what the heck?!

It's interesting to hear the different issues people have. I'm tallish, so I don't usually have problems with the length of LB pants (occasionally the regulars are too short, but the talls are miles too long). And I never had problems with their bras not covering me. ****, half the time the shirts are lower cut than the bras! But they are great t-shirt bras, smooth and full coverage. I used to work at a Lane Bryant so when I go in I already have a very good sense of what does and doesn't work on me and don't waste my time on a lot of their stuff (i.e. I know that their stock jeans don't fit me right, but the specialty ones usually do). I also got lots of free bras. It was my favorite perk of working there. Every time they get a new style of bra in, the employees get one free so they can talk about the differences from experience.

And I guess I must have a long torso because I don't think their pants come up too high at all. I was so psyched when high-rise pants came in style and soooo sad to see them go. I hate how all my jeans come right below the belly button, because that's the widest part of my body. Having no hips/a$$ to hold the pants up, gravity takes over. Low-rise pants are even worse because then my belly hangs over the top. High-rise jeans are the only pants that stay up on my body, so I bought several pairs when they were in style (you know, that whole 2 months). But now I'm down 2 sizes and can't find high-rise jeans anywhere!

And I'm sooo with the rant about the weird sizing (they instituted this after I stopped working there and I don't get it at all). Sizes 1-7 circle, triangle or square, what the **** is that? It doesn't corrospond to anything! I went in and asked "I'm a size 22 or 3x, what does that make me in these sizes?" And she tells me, oh you can't go by that I have to measure you. Great. I don't like being touched. I hated measuring people when I worked at lane bryant and it's even worse being on the other end. Anyhow, she tells me I'm a 4 square because I have no butt (and feels the need to smack my non-butt as she says so). They didn't have any squares so I tired on the 4 triangle. They fit perfectly. Which leaves me with the question, what the **** do the women with big a$$es wear?

*note- I was just looking at the "rightfit" sizing on their website, and there is no option for your hips to be smaller than your waist. I guess I'm an anomoly.

wow, sorry so long

am i the only one who gets a top, washes it, and then somehow it comes out- shorter and wider then it started?! what the heck?!

Funny you should mention, I was trying on old tops today (mostly from LB) because I'm newly fitting in a smaller size. And nearly all of them were so freaking wide and short! They looked aweful. I like long tops, they lengthen and slim the torso

LB uck! I do go in occasionally 2 look around...I too don't like to show ALL MY CLEAVAGE LOL

What I don't get is this...just cuz I am a "wide gal" doesn't mean my arms are ape like....

Of course I am short and I wear a 4x...that size is hard to find...actually I like 5x but sometimes they are too big. I even have to shorten the petite pants!

Cathy

http://freshproduceclothes.com/

Lane Bryant usually fits me well, and I like to get my bras from them, but I am also a very tall lady at 5'11", and their clothes seem geared toward the taller people.

Most of their inventory is a bit frumpy, though, and not really appropriate for someone my age. I like a younger look. I use them for business attire, and I bought my suit for a funeral there, lol.

I really prefer Fashion Bug. They have the cutest things, their stuff seems to fit the best, and while they can be pricey, their sales are always fantastic!

I'm a little sick of LB myself. I do shop there. I like their t-shirts. Although, expensive, I only buy them when they are on clearance. If you go just about anywhere else these days, t-shirts are either too long for us short ladies and we look like we are wearing a shrunken dress with jeans or they are meant to "fit" your curves. I'm not one to enjoy flaunting the tire in my middle or my love handles. I know they are there, I am not oblivious and I don't want to show them off. lol Old Navy is probably the worst offender for constantly selling "t-shirts" that are suppose to fit you like a pair of tights.

LB is hit or miss with shirts. Sometimes they are just plain hideous. I don't really want to pay this amount of money to wear an old 70's couch pattern. But the upside is that when I do find something there, I usually fall in love with it! The jeans there are awful. I'm 5'2" and the "shorts" look like high waters and the "regulars" are even too long for my heels. Also, anyone ever notice that their jeans smell funny? Complete turn off. I love Target for shirts and Old Navy for pants/jeans. JC Penny's is pretty great too. Those are really the only stores I frequent.

hahaha i think it's funny so many people are talking about their clothes being frumpy. my last straw with them was that they were selling halter tops! I hope I don't offend anyone by saying this - but if you have to buy your bras at LB you probably shouldn't be wearing a halter top! it's been a few years but when i went in there it was all fairly trashy clothes.

hahaha 70's couch pattern.

while i'm at it- catherines here seems to be very... well i dunno maybe if i was 18 feet tall, 70 years old and on my way to church it'd be okay.... and then there's a CJ Banks here- hit or miss. their plain stuff is usually good for basics, but man do they go overboard with the applique's. like really- is this giant giraffe on my shirt supposed to distract people from my fat? why does everything have to be bedazzled?!

hahaha i think it's funny so many people are talking about their clothes being frumpy. my last straw with them was that they were selling halter tops! I hope I don't offend anyone by saying this - but if you have to buy your bras at LB you probably shouldn't be wearing a halter top! it's been a few years but when i went in there it was all fairly trashy clothes.

hahaha 70's couch pattern.

Honestly although I don't wear LB clothes I don't find the idea of halter tops appalling. Just because some women are overweight that doesn't necessarily mean that they look bad in clothes. It's actually a nice thing to see a variety of clothing when most plus size clothes are frumpy. Since when did halter tops enter the "trashy" category? I wore halter tops even at my heaviest... but I love every inch of the skin that was exposed (back and arms), and although heavy I still felt like I had a nice shape.

I'm not defending LB, just halter tops. Funnily enough I got one of my halter tops at LB, along with the bra I wore it with which had adjustable/removable straps. :D

I know they are there, I am not oblivious and I don't want to show them off. lol Old Navy is probably the worst offender for constantly selling "t-shirts" that are suppose to fit you like a pair of tights.

So true about Old Navy. I buy tank tops, long sleeve tees, and the occasional t-shirt there when they're on sale for about $7. I'm still wearing a large in their tees/tanks/etc, and I *like* to show off my waist.

I think things like halters are all in how you do them. They can be skanky on a size 6 and classy on size 20. It all depends.

I'm really suprised at all the dislike of Lane Bryant. I'm in "regular" sizes now, but it was a sad day when I realized that I don't belong in Lane Bryant anymore. For a long, long time, it was the only place that I could buy sweaters that fit and still made me look like I had a shape. In order to get tops to fit around the bust, they were huge around the middle at most other places, but I sometimes had good luck with tops that fit at LB. Bottoms were a little dicier, but I was often lucky enough to find pants that were long enough there. And for the short girls--you can cut pants off, but I can't make them longer so I appreciate it when manufacturers make pants long. Learn to love your tailor or your dry cleaners; they can hem your pants for you.

I did find LB to be expensive, so I tried to shop sales. I have many pairs of their bikini panties that I bought years ago and they still look and fit like new, so those were a good investment. I was never able to find bras to fit there since they didn't carry my cup size, but I always wished I could wear them because they were so pretty.

Yeah, I really liked LB. It was nice to take stuff into the dressing room and know that at least some of it would fit.

LB clothes tend to be a little flashy and youngish for me. I also don't like to wear short sleeve shirts, they seem to be big on that. I like their bras, always get mine there, and underwear. If I dig around at Macy's I can find tops that I like, they also have a good selection of nice suits.

I've been to Re/Dress in Brooklyn. I bought a couple of tops there. Great prices and fun clothes.

I love Dress Barn for women's sizes.

i guess it's not the halter top itself which is the offender-but the lack of bra that usually acompanies it. :D but if they made a bra that stays up to go with it- then that's awesome. the ones i saw when i was in there were meant to be skin tight and had that sorta flimsy shelf liner to hold up the girls. no thanks!

And for the short girls--you can cut pants off, but I can't make them longer so I appreciate it when manufacturers make pants long. Learn to love your tailor or your dry cleaners; they can hem your pants for you.

Point taken and tried. Honestly? After paying anywhere from $35 (on sale) to $70 for one single pair of jeans, which might I add is ridiculous, why would anyone want to pay even more money to go have said jeans "fixed"? If I'm paying that much money, they shouldn't have to be "fixed" by someone else. I've gone the route of sucking it up and buying super ridiculously long pants and had them professionally hemmed. No matter who I took them to or what the reviews were for said tailor, within 10 washes the hem was out and needed to be redone. I remember one particular time a pair of jeans came undone after ONE wash. Stupid ridiculous!!!!

I guess the grass is always greener. lol Sucks to be tall and short. But us shorties don't exactly have an easy fix either.

i guess it's not the halter top itself which is the offender-but the lack of bra that usually acompanies it. :D but if they made a bra that stays up to go with it- then that's awesome. the ones i saw when i was in there were meant to be skin tight and had that sorta flimsy shelf liner to hold up the girls. no thanks!

I haven't worn a halter top since I was 15. I'm 48 now, so the chances of me wearing one are.....zero, actually. LOL. But I had to comment on those stupid "shelf" bras. Is anyone really under the illusion that those provide any kind of support at *all*? That thin little piece of nylon lining and the tiny strip of elastic at the bottom!?? Usually the thing isn't even big enough to reach under where my boobs GO, let alone under them and to support them. I automatically reject any top that has a "shelf bra" because I know that A: I will have to wear a bra anyway and B: I will have a strip of elastic going across the middle of my boobs and showing through the other side!

I think I got like one good pair of jeans from there, but they got holes in the thighs which makes me sad because they looked so good on me. The jeans there suck some major nuts. They go all the way to my belly button so I feel like Urkel (more so than usual with those jeans there) AND the fly always comes undone even though they fit just fine. The fabric is, like mentioned, uncomfortable and I have to sell my organs on the black market just to afford clothes there. I have a better time going to like...Fashion Bug or even Wal-Mart and getting a cheaper top (Wal-Mart actually has given me a couple of my favorite shirts and sweaters in the past) that is simple and well...cheaper. I could buy like 10 shirts at Wally Word for the price of one at Layne Bryant.

I no longer shop at LB, because we dont have one in my city! And I'd rather not shop online with them, since their clothes are hit or miss when it comes to fitting me.

I tend to shop Kohl's (and proud to say I bought my first XL and L sweater from the regular section this month - its been years since I could do that!!), Dots (but their clothes can be umm... slightly trashy sometimes), and sometimes ON online (since we dont have one of those either).

I'm not really a huge fan of LB anymore, either. Especially since the sizing system has changed. I can't understand it at all anymore. I could only ever afford to shop there when I worked there some years ago and got a discount. The 40% (at the time) discount brought the prices down to "reasonable".

And to those who commented about the mannequins, I always hated that too. I learned when I worked there that the mannequins are sized between a 12 and 14, since LB doesn't even carry sizes below a 14, I always thought that was hugely misleading to those of us who shopped there.

I find shopping an adventure. I only go to Lane Bryant for panties and sleepwear on sale. I shop at Ashley Stewart and they have great sales but I have to go through a bunch of stuff to find something that compliments me. Not a big fan of Catos because their clothes seem to run small. Kohls clothes seem to be geared towards an older crowd. Of course I have to really look through the macy's sales rack to find something I want to pay for good thing I didn't buy a lot the last time because by the time the weather is good for wearing the pants I bought will be too big!! I love the sweaters and Penny's and Sears. I have found nice pants on sale at Sears so I love that. Then there's Ross...I usually rack up there. Oh and let me not forget Burlington Coat Factory.

In case you couldn't tell, I LOVE SHOPPING. That's why I can endure the adventure.

My biggest issue with lane bryant jeans is that the crotch/upper thigh area is always really...baggy and weird. And the more I wear them, the looser and more noticeable that becomes. The last couple times I went to L.B., I overheard the salespeople telling customers that the clothes had a lot of stretch to them. Why??? I'd like my clothes to fit about the same at the end of the day as they did in the beginning!

I really like Old Navy for cheap stuff...and of course, Ross and Marshalls and Kohls. Target kind of gets on my nerves because it doesn't seem like they have their plus size stuff organized or set apart, really ( at least the one here), so I end up wandering around for a really long time....

I love shopping too though :)

I hate Lane Bryant's tops. They apparently think that plus sized women all have huge boobs and like to wear Omar the Tent Maker outfits. I have seen some cute things there, but not many.

Can't there be a middle ground between Lane Bryant and Torrid?

Can't there be a middle ground between Lane Bryant and Torrid?

Personally I find the Avenue to be a middle ground, but it can also be a hit or miss. Sometimes I find absolutely great deals and cute shirts, other times I find nothing. They have very nice deals too. Much better prices if you go on sale days than other plus size stores. I still wear some sweaters I bought last year for $10 each. The only thing I haven't really tried at the Avenue is pants and undergarments. I have to admit I do like Lane Bryant for those. Avenue also carries some nice jewelry.

The store I dislike the most and won't shop at again is Catherine's. Their clothes are very "boxy" and have absolutely no figure to them. I don't think the quality of their clothes hold up in the longer run for what you pay for them.

So I failed to read the 6 pages of this thread, hopefully no one is upset,lol.

I just wanted to mention that here in NE Ohio gabriel brothers buys the clearance items from LB, Torrid, and some other plus stores. The plus section is reasonably sized, and usually I find a few things I need that fit right like jeans and tops. the key is to have the time to dig through the volume of cheaply made/damaged goods. This is a regional chain, so maybe y'all have one near you to check out. i know that I personally can excuse the weird way LB jeans fit when I only pay $5 a pair.

Lane Bryant does serva purpose, its really a mixed bag. Just like anything in life, you're gonna have to shop around. If you own a tape measure and have abuddy willing to help you measure yourself, you can try ordering from milanoo.com. I have had them make custom things for me and that way i get a well sown, quality outfit in my size. for anyone wanting to do this, i would highly suggest reading the faqs about placing a custom order. Mostly because little things like the with and lenth of your arms may be wider/longer than what they tyoically make. I did this and i found the price to be moderate, their eta is failry accurate and they will answer your questions before you place an order.

Personally I find the Avenue to be a middle ground, but it can also be a hit or miss. Sometimes I find absolutely great deals and cute shirts, other times I find nothing. They have very nice deals too. Much better prices if you go on sale days than other plus size stores. I still wear some sweaters I bought last year for $10 each. The only thing I haven't really tried at the Avenue is pants and undergarments. I have to admit I do like Lane Bryant for those. Avenue also carries some nice jewelry.

The store I dislike the most and won't shop at again is Catherine's. Their clothes are very "boxy" and have absolutely no figure to them. I don't think the quality of their clothes hold up in the longer run for what you pay for them.


I'll have to check that out!

I forgot, have you ever been into CATO? They carry misses and plus sizes and when there's sales there's good deals. Not to mention some of their clothing is really cute. I totally forgot about them, I haven't been in there in over a year. Might check it out since we have one near.

I whole heartedly agree. Unless you have a coupon, it is EXTREMELY expensive! I tend to get disgruntled with most plus-sized fashion departments/stores....why do they think that overweight people want to walk around with Looney Tunes characters or Winnie the Pooh splattered all over their shirts? I do like Torrid....they have some very stylish things. I think the thing that bugs me the most about plus sized fashion is the flimsiness of the fabric.

I also hate Lane Bryant I am so glad I have falllen off the plus size charts and can wear large and xlarge and size 14 again. I am 5'10 and I don't like the fit of lane bryant on me. IMO lane bryant runs small second the clothes are expensive for the quality.

I always shopped Macy's or Jcpenny. I also like Tjmax and marshalls.

I forgot, have you ever been into CATO?

Hmm no, never heard of that place. I'll have to look it up and see if there's one close by sometime. I'm finally starting to fit back in to some of my older clothes, so no shopping sprees for me just yet.

I didn't read every previous entry either, but as for me:

I don't *hate* Lane Bryant. Maybe it varies by location, but here, I could find some cute outfits. I also like their Cacique undergarments. They tend to hold up better than Just My Size, and they're more comfortable than 18-hour.

Online, I like Roaman's or onestopplus.

And as for placement of the "women's" clothing, I wanna know why it's always right smack next to the the junior petite!

I like Lane Bryant to a point. It cost so much though and like others we don't have that money.

I shop a lot at Torrid and Marius.
Granted a bit expansive but they're super cute!

Interesting, I find that the Lane Bryants where I am are very fashionable so are the Ashley Stewarts (more so Ashley Stewart than Lane Bryant).

I'm 6 feet tall so my clothing, particularly my pants, have to be long (tall) and Lane Bryant is perfect for that.

I do enjoy shopping online for my shoes- I tried Torrid. Too bad Cato isn't in my area. From the website they look pretty fashionable.

As far as Lane Bryant, I can take/leave their clothes...but I LOVE their underwear and bras. I only go there when they have a big sale. I like them because they are trendy and they don't just have black/tan/white bras for my size. I can actually have a pretty bra there!

I usually shop Lane Bryant, Torrid, Avenue, and occasionally Maurice's.

If I had to pick a least favorite plus size section, I would pick Old Navy. First of all they are only online so you can't try anything on. Second of all their sizes are too variable. I bought two plus sized dresses there, one in a 2x and it was huge so I sent it back to get a 1x, then i bought another in a 1x because I figured they would be the same, and it was too small. Most of their clothes though just seem like you might as well be wearing a freaking potato sack though, they just don't know how to design for plus sized women.

I think its funny too about the tops. Not all of us Plus Size Ladies have large boobs. lol I wish I had that problem but I dont. I tried some shirt on once there that was super cute on but it looked like I could smuggle two small infants in that area. And Target is ridiclous with there maybe two racks of plus size and one pair of jeans only in a 24. And those were super ugly!

I can't wear the Lane Bryant bras but I love their underwear. I've got about 7 or 8 pairs of their string bikinis that are at least 5 years old and they all look really, really good. They've held up great!

I do all my shopping at thrift stores (except for underwear and socks)....Goodwill, Salvation Army and Family Thrift Center (a great local thrift store).

For one thing you already know how they will launder, etc. But it's the variety and the prices I love....not to mention the whole treasure-hunting aspect. I love hunting for treasures.

I have dropped 5 jeans sizes in 8 months...from 40" waist to 32" waist. Every time I dropped a size, I'd have had to purchase rather expensive replacements in a store...that I was planning to quickly diet out of. And I have a large family and can give all the 34's, 36's to sisters, etc. It's been just fabulous to drop a size and go get smaller jeans for just a few bucks and not have to worry about damaging your budget.

The other thing I really like about thrift stores is that there are often times that I don't like the popular styles of the moment.....and wish I could find older styles that I really liked and fit me well. You can't find these in regular stores but you CAN find these in thrift shops.

And honestly, after a few washes, the stuff looks just like the stuff in the stores....so why pay so much more? And you can get some great quality, brand-name stuff if you hunt....and they often look almost new.

deena :)

You have a good point, Deena. Losing weight, it would be impractical to keep buying everything new.

My solution is to sew clothing. I have fun doing that, and besides, I can get two entire business suits for like $50, materials included. :)

I'm so sick of Lane Bryant being the only accessible store for plus sized women. Their clothes are hardly fashionable, their construction is questionable and the fabrics are hideous!! Just because I'm fat does not mean I have to be relegated to a life of wearing jersey!

What does a girl gotta do to get some affordable quality clothing without feeling like a leper in the mall?

While I do agree that LB is overpriced, and the quality is questionable, I am not sure about the Jersey comment. I will also admit that even though I have about 5 LB stores within an hour drive from my home, what each store offers can vary alot. Some stores are too casual, some stores have a lot of professional clothes and very little casual, some stores have a whole separate room for just lingerie type items, etc.

What I find is that lb has nice dress shirts and to get them on sale and with any coupons possible.

I hate shopping, so I'm a little surprised I just read and enjoyed this entire thread! :dizzy: I feel like such a girl! LOL!

First off...many of you women who posted on the first page of this thread back in September can't be wearing LB anymore, according to your tickers. :carrot: Congratulations!

I love Lane Bryant as much as I hate it.

Pros:
I love their solid colored t-shirt type material shirts. They're comfortable and they're flattering when they don't plunge too low.

I love their Right Fit line, though the exact same line is 50% cheaper at Fashion Bug. ;) I just discovered that. Though their sizing chart must be inaccurate because it thinks I'm a triangle, but curvy fits like it was tailored for me. I have a large rear and hips and a small-ish waist.

This must be an age thing (I'm 35), but I feel like they're trendy. :o

Cons:
I hate feeling like I've been delegated to a special store, like I don't fit in the regular store. I think all stores who carry plus sizes should just mix the plus in with the regular! Why is that so hard? Each clothing rack holds more than one style, so just put one style in many sizes on one rack. I really don't get it.

Their patterns are hideous. I don't wear clothes that shout "LOOK AT ME!"

All non-right fit pants fit horribly. They think we're all apple shapes. If I manage to get them over my rear and hips, the waist gaps terribly.

On the plus side, I can almost officially say I can't shop there anymore. :carrot: I'm finally in a size 16, but now and then I still find a pair of 16's that are too small. I am on the edge and loving it!

I am a size 14-16 and I can get the best of both worlds at times (depending on the item )-- I really like Kohl's Plus Sized department and some of Lane Bryants stuff is cool -- I just know what styles work for my body (Thank You What Not to Wear !! ) I used to like Torrid when I was younger , but since I am in my 30's now , I find their clothes too trendy for me --
Dress Barn and Fashion Bug can have some nice items too !!

You just have to go into the stores and find styles that work for YOU !

Target is ridiclous with there maybe two racks of plus size and one pair of jeans only in a 24. And those were super ugly!

It's all about finding the right locations. I know of 2 locations (one near my current place and one near my parents old place) that have a good plus size section. The countless other locations I've been to suck. Their winter stuff is ugly though. I got lots of cute dresses and a few tops last summer, but I haven't found anything since around August.

I so agree about Lane Bryant catering to the 6-foot and taller woman. And the styles -- yikes!! I must admit, however, that I love LB's Cacique bras and panties. They're awesome!

Old Navy has a fairly decent selection of plus size clothing, but again, the jeans run fairly long.

Before I transitioned from plus size to misses, I found a lot of very nice-looking business casual clothing at CJ Banks, but I would never pay full price for anything there, as it could get a bit costly. I could get pants at a length that didn't require additional hemming and the blouses were always very flattering.

And now that I'm in misses sizes, Coldwater Creek is a definite monkey on my back! Stop me before I shop again!

-- JJ

I don't go to Lane Bryant either.

I shop TJ Maxx & AJ Wright, their stores near me are huge & I always find stuff really cheap.

Online I do Chadwicks & Roamans which I think both might be sorta comparable to Lane Bryant BUT you can find really low prices and search for coupon codes. IDK, I got some cute plus size sweaters and tops from Chawicks this winter and I even bought a jacket & a houndstooth coat that is adorable. Quality is sometimes an issue but as I said, I coupon & clearance shop so I don't pay a lot. Don't feel bad then, if I wear a blouse 3 times and then toss it. Would never never buy their jeans, though.

Also like Fashion Bug pretty well, their Studio 1940 clothes especially and I coupon/clearance with them too and get great deals! Five dollar espadrilles was one of my recent finds, also got some pretty nice yoga pants for seven bucks : ) and they fit great.

I live in Oklahoma and they opened a new store called avenue. I really like it and their close are fashionable. I am 22 and my mom is in her 40s and we both can shop their and find great buys. They do have a website. Just google avenue or avenue plus size.

I am surprised by all the Torrid mentions. I like to be trendy and hip as much as anyone, but their stuff is so whorish and poor quality.

I am a big dress wearer and will invest in pieces from Nordstroms or other box corver mall stores. Avenue has some nice things, but they are getting more suspect in quality lately too. LB has good pieces and I will buy online much cheaper than in stores many times.

whorish

Torrid skirts f* for money? Exactly what are these skirts made out of?

I use Lane Bryant for pants and jeans, cause their Right Fit actually DOES fit!
However, their tops NEVER do! I use Avenue for tops. They've got a decent business collection, however they do tend to be a bit long... the "tunic" go to my knees...

I have found some good plus size stuff at Newport News, and Penneys too, needed to find a decent dress to wear to my son's wedding for example. Have moved between fitting into Victoria's Secret at times, but still cling to some plus size items for comfort around the house, depends on how the eating is going. Maintaining is harder than losing, to me at least.

whorish

Torrid skirts f* for money? Exactly what are these skirts made out of?

:lol:


I haven't had any problems with cheap clothing quality for Torrid. They do carry a variety of brands and you have to find what fits you. For example, Tripp makes a lot of their more punky clothes (which I was really into around 15-17 years old), but Tripp uses a lot of weird stretch materials and always fit me horribly (pants- tight in the thighs, huge in the waist; shirts- tight in the waist, huge in the bust). But a lot of the other brands there fit great and last much longer than my Lane Bryant shirts (which as mentioned earlier in the thread shrink in odd ways to become super wide and short). Some of the brands, like Z.Cavaricci (my favorite brand for jeans) are also carried in overpriced plus size boutiques.

I weigh a bit more than you but I can still wear clothes from many mainstream stores. Have you tried Gap, Old Navy, or Banana they all go up to at least 18, 20 if not higher:)

What does a girl gotta do to get some affordable quality clothing without feeling like a leper in the mall?

I also love Old Navy's stuff. LB clothes always make me feel like an old lady, but Old Navy things are usually very flattering on me. I wear an XXL tops and plus size bottoms, so I can only buy tops in the store, but I get almost all my clothes there. It's pretty cheap, so I buy a ton of stuff pretty frequently.

I went to Old Navy a couple weeks ago, found some great outfits that were super cute then left crying after I tried them on. They were not flattering at all. As for Nordstrom or places like those I, as well as some others, cannot afford to shop there. I was laid off in October so funds are tight. Forget Walmart because we all know how cheaply made their clothes usually are and even Target lately doesn't have anything I would wear in public. Lane Bryant pants are too big and long for me and their tops make me feel I am wearing drapes. I have given up on shopping for clothes. I figure that's one more motivation to lose weight.

Fat doesn't set so well on 5'3". It's so hard to find clothes for my shortness that don't make me look even more squatty and fat than I already am.

I have had a mix of experiences. Layne Bryant is hit and miss for me and so is Torride, Avenue, and Catherines. As a result, I really have had to be creative.
For me, I have found the opposite. I feel like some of the plus size clothes are all triangle cut.... That All of us are all boobs and bellies with no other shapes to worry about. I know I am fat, but for heavens Sake! I still have a body!

Okay.... off the soap box now... I have found also that places like Ross or Marshalls, have a decent (not great) plus size section. You have to look, but I have found some really cute tops and jeans there. Good luck!

Why do people hate Lane Bryant? There's some REALLY cute stuff in there, you just have to look for it. In fact, most of my clothes are from Lane Bryant and I have gotten plenty of compliments on how I dress. Of course there are some hideous pieces that I would never wear, but I see those in EVERY store. I can't WAIT until I can shop in "regular" stores, but I am very thankful to Lane Bryant for giving me cute clothes to wear while I'm well over 200lbs! In fact, I'll miss a few tops once I can't fit into them anymore. Torrid also has some cute things sometimes.

I think its all about your style versus your body type. Personally i find places like Catherines, newport news, and dress barn has clothes that, in my mind, are the school marm look. Its just me...it may work wonderfull on someone else. at my heaviest (and widest)the bulk of my clothes came from LB and, suprisingly enough, Macy's. as Ive dropped down, I can now shop at Old Navy and the Gap for pants, and trendy stores like Forever 21 for tops. I try to stay out of a lot of plus size stores as they tend to be similar. When i was younger fashion bug had nice styles, but now they tend to have clothes for the older (30s & up) woman. Ironically a lot of their "regular" sizes keep with the times a little better...i think it has something to do with the cut.

Now compared with 15 years ago LB had done a great job in keeping with trends. Still its hit or miss for me, and i only buy stuff that is on sale - rarely at the original price. and I'll say this for LB, their bras hold up way longer than some other brands *coughvictoriassecretcough.*;)

I'm so sick of Lane Bryant being the only accessible store for plus sized women. Their clothes are hardly fashionable, their construction is questionable and the fabrics are hideous!! Just because I'm fat does not mean I have to be relegated to a life of wearing jersey!

And "Womens" sections in department stores may offer a bit better quality of clothing but don't get me started on their location. Why can't they be placed next to the regular sections? Why must the women's department be somewhere in the basement right next to the oriental rug section? Even maternity sections get to be placed next to other clothing sections! Do they not want us seen in their store?

What does a girl gotta do to get some affordable quality clothing without feeling like a leper in the mall?


I've always thought that stores should all be together clothing wise. What size they go up to? Who knows. I've been as high as 26 in pants and 28 in shirts, and now where a 14/16 in each. But why not have size 0-whatever all in the same section?

ANNNNNNND you'd think that stores like pac sun, Buckle, Gap, Hot Topic, etc would carry more sizes for those who weigh more than 130 pounds. :/

I have the opposite problem at LB as many posters have. I'm super tall and most shirts, expects those designed to be tunics, are too short (this is the case at all plus size stores). And the pants...the LB stores in my area have stopped carrying their tall lengths in store. They can order and ship them, but then there is the hassle of buying something without trying it on and potentially having to return the pants.

I hate LB too. Their clothes are shapeless and ridiculously overpriced.

Torrid has SOME cute stuff but a lot of it is really cheap quality and too overpriced but they are GREAT for shoes.

Forever 21 + / Faith 21 has cute stuff but it's so dang limited and they only have the great stuff online so shipping and not being able to try on is a thumbs down too.

I absolutely hate Lane Bryant. I've been saying it for years. The only reason their clothes look good is because the pin them back (alot) on the mannequins! I hear their lingerie is pretty solid though from other girls. The bras don't fit right for me though. If you're looking for stylish plus sized clothing shop the sales at Torrid or torrid.com. They can be pricey but their sale items can be great. Often their stuff is just fitted enough and their styles range from nerdy to urban to chic and its always pretty awesome!