Okay, so yesterday I went shopping for new jeans. I had a Groupon for the Gap, so I decided to go there first. It's TOM, so my scale was not being nice to me yesterday morning, so I was feeling a little bummed out.

I go into the store and am a little overwhelmed, because I haven't bought a pair of pants that weren't LB pants in years. The salesguy helped me a little, and I took three pairs of jeans back to the dressing room. All 16s. The first two pairs, HOO MAMA, they were skinny jeans, and my hips and thighs still do not agree with that style. They fit, but just barely.

However, the third cut of jeans pulled up, and zipped, with room to spare. "How are you doing?" asked the salesguy from outside. "Um...these are good, but...do you have them in a fourteen?" I asked, handing over the pair that had fit. "Sure," he replied, going to get them for me.

He brought them back, and the fourteens FIT. They are a little bit tight, but another 4-5 pounds should take care of that. The best part? The cut of the jeans are "long and lean". HA!

So, I'm doing a happy dance out of the Gap after using up my Groupon, but I still need a pair of jeans I can wear right now. I have a coupon for Lane Bryant, and I figure I can get an "interim" pair for pretty cheap since they're having a pant sale.

I go in and try on a pair of 16s there - they fit about the same way the Gap 16s did. Then I tried on a pair of 14s and it was like trying to squeeze my legs into sausage casings. WTF, Lane Bryant! I compared them to the Gap 14s, and they were a good 1/2 inch smaller on either side of the waist and legs.

I bought the 16s to tide me over, and now I am convinced that there is a conspiracy at Lane Bryant that when you get close to "sizing out" of the store, they make the 14s so small that you're stuck in them until you're a 12 in other shops, lol!

LOL! Quite possibly! The only pants that ever fit me at LB were the right fit styles, so I have no idea. And I skipped 14's at retail stores and just did thrift store buys.

I love the Gap! That store was THE store to shop in when I was a teenager and it still is! That store has grown up with me, which rather cracks me up. Now my 17 year old sister won't step foot in that store. But their pants have always fit me. I'm wearing a pair now, actually.

Interesting theory. All I know is the second I was able to fit in clothes other than LB I NEVER went back!

I can clearly remember vowing to myself that once I got into lower sizes I would never go to Lane Bryant again! This store was a lifesaver for pants when nothing would fit me, but I am so glad I can shop wherever I want now! I used to hate the fact that I "had" to go there to get generously sized pants for my big rear end! Never again!

Ha! I recently found a pair of cute, cheap transition 16's at Target (14's were zipping, just not quite there yet but soon!) and literally in my head was wishing Lane Bryant a not so fond farewell!

When I used to venture to the mall just for Lane Bryant, I always had to pass the Gap that's right close to it and HATED THAT. Now when I get down to 12/14, I can't wait to head straight to the Gap instead!