I usually love Lane Bryant and splurge every now and then, but lately I have been so disappointed with their selection. It seems like the clothes are just garish and tacky. Maybe it's just in my area, I don't know. Even if I could afford it, I wouldn't buy from them
Lane bryant has poorly made clothes that are overpriced. The clothes are made from cheap, ugly fabrics. I never shop there. It makes me sick the way they overcharge for crappy clothes because they think fat people have no other choices.
I used to buy Lane Bryant pretty exclusively. I've noticed a decline in their clothing over time. Also, I dislike their new jeans line... basically because none of them fit me correctly *shrug* One is too curvy, one is not curvy enough And they're expensive.
I've now been shopping at Fashion Bug since their sales are pretty cool ($15 for a pair of jeans!) and since I'm losing weight I refuse to spend too much on clothing that I will (hopefully) only be wearing for like 6 months. Their clothes aren't exactly fantastic quality-wise, but again for short term clothing... it ain't bad.
As I go down in sizes even more I won't be opposed to going to Goodwill.
When I was wearing plus sizes, I shopped a lot at Lane Bryant. Partially because they did have awesome sales and coupons and I did like their clothes. Although over the years, the clothes did start to suck majorly. I was so glad to shrink out of Lane Bryant sizes though
I have shopped both through their website www.womanwithin.com and in their stores.
If you shop at one of their stores in a big city Mall you will find a much better quality of clothes than you will in their catalog. I spoke with one of their sales persons and she told me that she has thin pregnant women who shop at their LB store all the time! Again, the same sales are in the store too.
I recently bought some casual wear clothes from the catalog. I thought the prices were relatively cheap but then so was the fabrics too. In fact, I won't wear them outside the house. I think the fabric lost their shape almost immediately. I don't want to look like I am wearing clothes too baggy on me either! Only one of the items has really held up with frequent washings. I probably will not buy from the catalog again.
There are still a lot of really good plus size catalogs though to shop from. Some of you may feel they are more expensive than you would like to spend but I have found that well-made clothing also flatters better than cheap clothes. The cuts are more generous. There is usually more style in the fabric and cut too. It also helps with my attitude too. If I feel I look good, I feel good about myself.
I understand why some of you would prefer to save your fashion dollar for when you are thin but I feel differently. I feel good about how I look today. Who knows how long it will take for me to lose all of this weight? In the meantime, I have to face the world and I want to face it looking and feeling as good as I can---fat or thin!
For me, both are important as I face the world as a larger woman.
I've never done catalog shopping but I believe the catalog is actually a different company than the stores? I'm pretty sure the clothes have no similarities.
The catalogue is a different company. (I don't know how they got the same name...) And they sell vastly different styles of clothing. (I'm not a fan of either type atm.)
Long ago they were the same company. When they split, the catalog company probably retained the right (at least temporarily) to use the same name. Either their time allowance has elapsed, or they've finally gotten around to it, but now the catalog is called Woman Within.
Woman Within, Roaman's, Jessica London, King Size Direct, and several other catalogs are now all owned by the same company (I believe they also recently bought Avenue). The clothes tend to be cheap, but cheaply made (Roaman's overall seems a little better than Woman Within, and Jessica London better than either).
Catherine's is a somewhat higher quality plus size store. They run great sales too. (Online, not so much). I believe Catherine's is actually a franchise, so each store is actually owned independently (again, not guaranteeing I'm right on that, it's just what I've heard).
I too agree.....Lane Bryant sucks now. I used to buy from there every now and then but the last time I had gone there, their clothes are tacky and ugly. and expensive!!!
To be honest, I've always found their clothes a bit tacky. Instead of actually looking stylish, their clothes often look like they're trying to be stylish and failing.
I like some of lane bryants clothes, although I agree that they are way too expensive. My mom tells me that since her day, lane bryant has actually improved in clothing. Before, the clothes were really downright ugly. Now, she loves to shop there, even if they have the occassional ugly top. I guess it depends on a persons opinion. as for the right fit jeans, they definitely are overpriced and dont fit right, lol
I used to work at Lane Bryant, and now I won't even step through their door! I no longer fit into their tops, and their new line of jeans is pretty awful. One size is huge and the size down is too small. I actually went online to lanebryant.com the other day just to see what was new, and was surprised at how bad the styles were. The sales people now at our Lane Bryant are SO rude, too...that is another big reason why I stopped shopping there.
The Lane Bryant catalog is a different company, like the other post said. However, Fashion Bug and Catherine's are part of Charming Shoppes, which also owns the Lane Bryant store.
Is it just me, or has Lane Bryant's clothes shrunk? I have literally lost over 100 pounds and I still wear the same size from them as I did before I started losing weight (26/28). Maybe it's the way my body is changing shape, or the style of clothing is changing? Just wondered if anyone else has noticed a similar problem.
I don't like Lane Bryant, but there are so few choices. I live in a good size city, but Lane Bryant and Catherine's are the only plus-sized stores with clothes that will fit me. Other plus-sizes either run smaller, or they only have up to like size 20 or 22. The Catherine's here seems to cater more to an older crowd, style-wise. I'm in that in-between age, where I'm too old for uber-trendy, but too young for a more mature style. I wear stuff from Catherine's to the office.
I've been to the Lane Bryant stores in several states, and honestly wasn't much impressed! The stores up in Northern NJ were far better then in Lousiville, KY, but overall when I go I can't really find anything that I like. The jeans are expensive, I can go to DEB and buy the same type of jeans for only $25 compared to Lane Bryant. I usually just browse when I'm in Lane Bryant because I have shelling out all that money on things I only sorta like.
Lane Bryant is on the Top Ten Watch list to go under this year. If you have any gift cards or credits with them, use them up fast. They are scheduled to close at least 1/2 of their stores. From what you are posting here, I can see what went so badly with them
Disappointed with Lane Bryant..
And they're expensive.
Store or catalog---it makes a difference
