Can I get that in a 14?

So I am not a small girl. I never have been except for the months between birth and 6 months. I was not a skinny little kid and I relished my stretchy leggings and large t-shirts in the 80's. But once that went out of style, clothes shopping became like pulling teeth. For a long time I was a 12. Then I was a 14 in denial. Now I am 14/16 depending on who is making the clothes.

Now I am rather proportionate and when I tell people my size they sort of look at me in dismay saying, you don't look fat. Well I am. So there. And like every other person in America, I am working on losing weight. And I am, slowly. However in the meantime, I don't want to wear Mumus. And I want to look decent. Fashionable even.

The only place I can find pants that are even remotely fashionable and decently priced is Old Navy. But one cannot exist on Old Navy alone. The quality sometimes leaves things to be desired.

I went to help a friend go shopping this weekend and it struck me as I was walking through the Banana Republic and the J. Crew that they carried hardly anything that would actually fit me. It was rather sad cause I'd probably look very nice in much of what they have. Supposedly they carry my size on-line, but really with my figure I really have to try it on to make sure that it actually fits. And who wants to buy it and send it back, get the larger size find out that doesn't fit and end up with nothing in the end? No Thanks.

I can recall a past shopping experience looking for a pair of higher end jeans. I was honestly willing to pay up to about 120 for a good pair. But that whole experience went south and ended with me in tears. I don't fit in anything that Diesel makes, I don't fit in Lucky Brand, and forget about Guess/Marciano. Forget about the others like Seven for all Mankind, Paper Denim or even an Ambercombie and Fitch.

I had previously gone to Nordstroms to help a friend buy Jeans in a 14/16 and their selection was horrible. I have been to the Women's department at Macy's and other large department stores and I am sorry but all of that is made for really unfashionable women. And on the subject of Lane Bryant, I don't fit in their clothes either. They are too big. Even at the smallest size. And now I am looking on line for somewhere in San Francisco and all I can find are clothing stores that really awful ethnic "THINGS". I really can't even call them clothes. Cause they aren't. They are just ugly.

I really am tired of not being able to go to a mall and find something in my size. I also really hate it when I walk up to a sales person and ask "Up to what size do you carry?" and they casually say "10" or "12". Kong once got mad at me for rudely just turning on a a sales person and walking straight out. But honestly what else can I do? Discuss the merits of clothes I can't wear? No. I leave.

Will some very large multi-national company get off of the size two high horse and design something for real women? PLEASE? Something that's actually fashionable and works with the fashion trends everyone else works with?

I am not the only one here. From the Cotton Inc. website: "According to the Lifestyle MonitorTM, 49 percent of women lament that the current styles available do not flatter their shape, while 45 percent generally can’t find their size in the clothing they like."


I would like to give a shout out to all the places that do cater to real people. And don't charge and arm and a leg. Thank you Old Navy, H&M and ..... nope that's it.