response 176 of 200:

Apr 26 04:18 UTC 1998

I agree with the Lane Bryant catalog complaints, Misti.  I laugh every time
I see a size six model in the clothing.  The only time I see a heavyset woman
in their catalog is when they're modeling those stupid mumus.

response 178 of 200:

Apr 26 17:14 UTC 1998

I am 5'9" and a size 14, maybe a 12 depending on the line. I am longlegged and
carry my weight in hips/thighs, but have a relatively small waist.  Laura
Ashley stores have cut their clothes bigger as of late (and their clothes are
not as prissy as they used to be; I used to run from that place screaming).
American Eagle stores used to be a fave place until they decided to corner the
teenage market, selling stupid things like cutoff tops. I mean, bite me. Eddie
Bauer is a little weird, some things fit ok and some are cut ridiculously
small.

I am glad to see Lane Bryant in most malls now, although I have never shopped
there. But I can see also where the models/salespeople look like
less-than-plus-size women. Doesn't make any sense to me. I'm kinda irritated at
the term "plus size" anyway. I heard some statistic where I think 60% of women
wear a size 12 or higher. It's AVERAGE, not plus!!

And what is it with this damn size stuff anyway? I mean if you're a 34" waist,
that's it. You find the 34" pants. Simple enough. But a size 14 may or may not
fit. I've tried on 14s that swallowed me up, and then another 14 that I swear
fit like a size 8 (which of course did NOT fit on me!). It's insane. 

Worse still there seems to be this idea that a size 14 is huge. I was talking
with guys at work, and one said "Oh man a size 14 is really big." (His wife is
a size 6, and that's after a baby). I told him I was a 14 and he didn't believe
me. Then I told him to shut up. :) 

I dunno... I for one would rather have a little meat on my bones, and I think
deep down a lot of men feel that way too. I suppose an argument for the
superskinny models is that fashion is fantasy, and shouldn't be based on
reality (thus using normal bodied women). Problem is that line seems to be
disappearing. People think it's real. Funny you don't see little boys going on
diets.

response 180 of 200:

Apr 26 18:49 UTC 1998

My mother wore a size 14 and was 5'5" and 122 pounds.  The sizes also depend
on what size your bones are, not just your waist.  People are all different
shapes and proportions.  I am amazed that anybody can wear standard sizes,
but clothing does not fit as tightly as before ready mades took over.  When
we visited an Amish area in Ohio, the women all wore homemade dresses that
were about the same shape they were.

response 182 of 200:

Apr 30 00:10 UTC 1998

I'm still laughing at bee's rant about American Eagle and Eddie Bauer.  =)

My friend Kae (otter) said her doctor measured her bones, and if she was
simply a skeleton, she'd still be a size 8.  No thinner.  (Good, since I can't
imagine Kae skinny...she's wonderful around a ten-fourteen).

I'm still comforted by the fact that most men still subconciously go for women
with a nice waist to hip ratio.  This has been proven many times.  Hourglass
women rule!  =)

response 184 of 200:

Apr 30 18:32 UTC 1998

<grin>

Pleats?  AGH!!!  Run away!  Run away!  Pleats look *awful* on me since they
accent my tummy.

response 186 of 200:

Apr 30 23:07 UTC 1998

Re: #183
Ah, yes.  The "better concentrate on my body because the rest of me is
guaranteed 100% worthless" school of thought.  Very (self-) fulfilling.
If it wasn't your mom, i'd have something far less flattering to say....

response 188 of 200:

May 1 23:24 UTC 1998

I've heard sizes change over the years; a size 6 today was probably 8 or
10 some decades ago.

Not that I ever know what my size is anyway.  I just grab something, hold
it up to me, and if it looks like it could fit, head off to the dressing
room, or take out a tape measure and see if I and it have matching
measurements. 

Actually, I am curious.  Could somebody post sizes and measurements for
them so I can figure out what size I'm allegedly supposed to be?

response 190 of 200:

May 2 20:06 UTC 1998

Try the Land's End catolog for a list of sizes.

response 192 of 200:

May 4 23:07 UTC 1998

That's okay.  When I told Mike (nephi) that I couldn't stay the night 
because I didn't have any extra shirts with me he said, "Don't worry.  
I'm as big as you, so you can borrow one of mine."  I knew he meant 
well, but I thought Bob (brown) was going to choke on his soda when he 
saw my eyes fall out of my head.  Mike has a way of being blunt without 
meaning to be rude.  =)  I forgave him, but informed him that, "We're 
the same size" would have worked JUST FINE.

response 194 of 200:

May 6 00:26 UTC 1998

You should have told him you have a bigger brain...  ;-)

response 196 of 200:

May 9 18:30 UTC 1998

Otter's Shopping Theory: nothing fits.

response 198 of 200:

May 19 19:33 UTC 1998

It is my impression that clothing currently is not expected to come anywhere
near the body, so the number on it is not relevant.  Jim used to wear a men's
large and just tried on a small that is a bit roomy.  I ignore labels and just
measure the sleeve length.