A frustrating shopping trip . . . I finally get it
I feel terrible even posting this - "Woe is me, I'm too small." If you would have told me a year ago I would be in this position I would have laughed in your face. So yeah, both upset and thrilled to have this problem.
I have no summer clothes that fit, and need at least a couple of light skirts and capris ASAP. I watch my budget pretty closely and try to get neutrals and classic styles that I can wear over and over again, especially when I'm teaching.
I went today to Target, Ross, Marshall's, and TJ Maxx. I started by trying on size 6s - too big. Then I tried on size 4s - also too big! What the heck?!?! When I went back out to the floor to look for size 2s, that was when I got the shocker - there were NO size 2s to be had! It's like they didn't exist. Argh.
So I decided to venture over to the Juniors section (keep in mind that I'm 33 and have never in my life worn juniors sizes). The selection there was much too "young" for me. Specifically, not classroom appropriate.
I know I'm a lot smaller than I used to be but I never realized being too small would be a problem!
Where do you find wardrobe basics without spending an arm and a leg? I've thought about Plato's Closet but worry that would be too trendy. An other suggestions?
I wish I could help you, but believe it or not, even at my size, I am having the same problem. Don't try Walmart either, I sized out of there several months ago. Unless, as you said, you try the junior's section, and at 47, I would look like an idiot.
I'm 44 and I wear junior sized casual clothing...but then again, I'm a big kid!
Seriously though...you can find some nice age appropriate fashions in the jr section...just try a major dept store...and no...no walmart! I know for certain that designer clothing go all the way down to size 0...and you can also find petite sizing there as well.
I'm getting there myself. I'm wearing the smallest size underwear at Meijer and wondering what the heck people smaller than I do! And I purchased a bathing suit at Lands End last night in a 4, and they only go down to 2. This is just so strange, isn't it? But I truly do not feel that small.
Heaven's though, I'd so much rather have this "problem"! LOL!
Try Old Navy! I can't wear the size 4s in most places. Sometimes Sears has some not too-teeny bopper styles in its Juniors department. Old Navy has size 2 and smaller in everything.
My problem is two-fold. I can't find the right size OR length. All the pants I find outside of Old Navy are too short.
Height: 5 ft 8.5" athlete who can give a punch & certainly take one too! :)
I'm 44 & like JF I too shop in the junior department. I am nowhere near as small as you, but they also have teeny tiny sizes available online. I shop wetseal.com, venusclothing.com, charlotterusse.com
I would think you can find things appropriate here as I work with the public on a daily basis and wear things from here & the clothes are cute & the prices are reasonable.
I saw a good value on flannel shirts at Costco, dug into the pile and discovered that the smallest they had was Large!! I was shocked; I had lost some weight to get to be a Medium and it wasn't to be had.
Too bad Ross didn't work out- I'm a big fan... You have Kohl's?
We do have Kohl's, but not in the same area. I need to check that out tomorrow or later in the week.
Quote:
Originally Posted by joyfulloser
I'm 44 and I wear junior sized casual clothing...but then again, I'm a big kid!
Seriously though...you can find some nice age appropriate fashions in the jr section...just try a major dept store...and no...no walmart! I know for certain that designer clothing go all the way down to size 0...and you can also find petite sizing there as well.
Happy shopping!
Quote:
Originally Posted by evilwomaniamshe
I'm 44 & like JF I too shop in the junior department. I am nowhere near as small as you, but they also have teeny tiny sizes available online. I shop wetseal.com, venusclothing.com, charlotterusse.com
I would think you can find things appropriate here as I work with the public on a daily basis and wear things from here & the clothes are cute & the prices are reasonable.
I wouldn't mind the Jrs. stuff for casual clothing (well, some of it at least!) but I draw the line at teaching with rhinestones on my butt.
Also, I avoid malls like the plague. I'm guilty of thinking that they're always the more expensive option, but I know that's not true. I need to retrain my brain in that respect. And the idea of ME (thinking of myself as "fat me") shopping in Wet Seal or Charlotte Russe is so weird!! I would never even think to go in there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eliana
I'm getting there myself. I'm wearing the smallest size underwear at Meijer and wondering what the heck people smaller than I do! And I purchased a bathing suit at Lands End last night in a 4, and they only go down to 2. This is just so strange, isn't it? But I truly do not feel that small.
Heaven's though, I'd so much rather have this "problem"! LOL!
Indeed! To everything you say!
Quote:
Originally Posted by MindiV
Try Old Navy! I can't wear the size 4s in most places. Sometimes Sears has some not too-teeny bopper styles in its Juniors department. Old Navy has size 2 and smaller in everything.
My problem is two-fold. I can't find the right size OR length. All the pants I find outside of Old Navy are too short.
I'll try Old Navy, too. But my tiny little legs have the opposite length problem.
This can definitely be a problem if you shop at places like Marshalls or in most suburban outlets/malls catering toward average Americans. Demographically, thinner ("normal" weight spectrum) women also be younger, urban, or wealthy. Note the "or" -- there are retailers selling to each of these groups that doesn't vanity size and has "true" size 2s and 4s that should fit you.
I wouldn't suggest going for juniors or young women brands (i.e. Forever 21) because of inappropriate styles and really uneven quality (usually bad). You can get lucky with Forever 21, for sure, but it's usually a bad call.
On the other hand, there are great lines that are somewhat expensive but higher quality, and being thinner now means you can shop at all the designer-fire-sale websites too! In order of how much I like them, Swirl by Daily Candy, Ideeli, & Gilt Groupe all have "sample sale" emails. Also, 6pm.com and Bluefly.com (I prefer 6pm) also have mid-range designer clothes in sizes 0-16 for about 50-70% off, so they should end up at about Gap/ON prices for much better quality.
If you're okay with the kind of interesting mixed selection browsing at Marshalls & TJ Maxx, definitely check out consignment shops in your area. They're like Goodwill for higher-end stuff and in my experience tend to have really trendy stuff in sizes 0-10 or so (rich women are small, have great taste, and wear their clothes lightly, so visit shops in nicer parts of your city). I'm a college student and literally half my closet comes from consignment shops -- the rest comes from Urban Outfitters or cheap outlets --- and the "used" clothing has held up much better.
Big tip though: Before you go to a consignment shop, take a look at some designers online (I know they're steeply priced, believe you me) and get to know what labels have styles you like and what their normal prices run. Good ones to check out for casual/dressy work clothes suitable for teaching: ModCloth (mix of cheaper/more pricey designers), BCBG, & Anthropologie. Talbots & JCrew are preppier. Calvin Klein is great for classics. All these brands are expensive (they target urban/wealthier women) but again, all of them are available consigned or at sites like 6pm (which is seriously fantastic).
Last edited by lackadaisy; 04-16-2011 at 10:12 PM.
One more thing to add: since you're petite, you might love Banana Republic's petites. I'm short-torsoed, so I sometimes grab petite tops instead of regulars, and love them -- they're sized slightly smaller than regular in width too, so a 4P is about the same in bust/waist/hip as a standard 2, etc.
Like Gap and Old Navy, BR definitely does vanity sizing (they're all the same company, after all), so at your height/weight I'm guessing you're a size 2P-4P or 0-2. You should check out their sales online but also, like I mentioned, consignment shops, outlets, and overstock stores. I'm in Boston so I shop at Raspberry Beret, Second Time Around, and Filene's Basement -- they all have websites if you want to Google them and look for the same kind of store near you.
I can usually get clothes anywhere from 50%-90% off retail prices with these strategies so if you're willing to hunt (as I'm guessing you are as a Marshalls shopper -- I LOVE Marshalls so much), there's definitely designer gold out there now that you're looking for smaller sizes!
A frustrating shopping trip . . . I finally get it
I know for certain that designer clothing go all the way down to size 0...and you can also find petite sizing there as well.
