And what bloody world do they live in?

[reynardo]

I'm a larger woman. I'm 175cm tall (5' 9" for those metrically-challenged, or 69" for the others). I weigh enough that I'm curved, but not outrageously. In Australia, I take a size 18 for most things, with the occasional incursion into something slightly larger for trousers and smaller for shirts. And it's a pain - you can shop at Woolies or Kmart for polyester joy or hit the tunic-and-Mama-Cass outfits at Maggie T, or track down the odd other one (like the new one that's opened in our shopping centre, that I must check out).

So when I heard on the radio that there's a shop that specialises in nice clothes for the taller woman, my heart went "Woot"! I hoped for something corporate-style, some nice flowing tops like the tiny baby sized girly shops mainstream shops show, and maybe even a denim pinafore.

So I hit the web site.

Most of the clothes are sizes 8-14. To give you an idea, Elle McPherson was a 14 when she still had curves. To be a size 14, I would be slim. To be a size below that, I would be dangerously thin. A couple of size 18 black trousers, and that's it.

While I accept that overweight is a problem, I don't appreciate the message here. They won't even get the publicity of being named here as a result.

Comments

[mr-figgy.livejournal.com]

They're very mean to you. *figgyhugs*

[lirion.livejournal.com]

My current favourite store is Big City Chic - though I don't recommend judging them by the fashion they show on the website *cringe*. They do ahve a lot of 'fashionable' stuff, btu also good basics. And clothes that are actually tailored for curves, rather than just sacks.

My size is getting ebtter too, though expensive :(

Um, katies are often ok - there's one down here which also has a 1626 (which has just been renamed, btu I can't recall what to).

Also, Mum was telling me about a place called Towanda, but I have no firsthand knowledge of them (I think there's one in Sydney though).

As we can tell, I have some experience with the joys of shopping for curves...

Hope that helps some hon.

[reynardo.livejournal.com]

TOWANDA! THAT'S the name of the one they've just opened in Eastgardens, and what a brilliant name!

[lirion.livejournal.com]

Ah cool. Well if you happen to go past it, let me know what they're are like - prices, styles, quality etc? Pretty please... :) I'm always looking for another good place

[echana.livejournal.com]

big city chic is a great store. Also try My Size. They are in bondi junction westfield on level 2. They would have good stuff for work.

[sarin-girl.livejournal.com]

While I'm not tall, I'm curvy and the girls are rather large.. haha..

I usually find some nice, reasonably priced stuff as Sussan, (their pants come in different lengths too!) though their range can be small, and there's also a range stocked at David Jones called Sara, and they do nice dressy clothes.. and nothing too pink or with too many bows..

maybe we should go shopping sometime soon :)

P.s I will be coming off gravies on Sunday morning, but sunday afternoon can work :)

[sclerotic-rings.livejournal.com]

The Czarina's even taller than you (she's a solid six feet tall), and she has the same exact problem here as well. Apparently tall women are acceptable, so long as they have the dimensions of Celine Dion.

[emmasee100.livejournal.com]

Meh. I have, in my wardrobe, items that actually fit properly in the sizes 6 through to 24. This is obviously ridiculous.

I am a big fan of Antons. They vanity size, I'm about an 18 but short, and I am a 6 - 8 there. They also have lovely trousers that are sold for me, but that I really like.

[reynardo.livejournal.com]

I adore Antons, but we're a one-salary family right now, and it's on the wishlist.

[frou-frou.livejournal.com]

I've got some lovely brand new Anton's pants in stock right now for a good price. Email me your measurements (waist, hips, length of leg) and I'll see what I can do for you.

[frou-frou.livejournal.com]

PS: I've heard good things about Towanda. Many of my curvier customers rave about them. Personally - I just go for a)vintage, b)Antons (when I'm cashed up) and all the time c) flary skirts that don't care how big my girly hips are.

[freyaw.livejournal.com]

They live in a world where all persons fit in the 'average' box. Which is true of maybe a quarter of my co-workers. t 5'2" I'm the shortest person here by five inches or so, and the shortest woman by about six.

The only items of clothing that I have bought for myself using a non-eBay store this year have been socks, shoes, and undies. When I use ebay, I can go through the trousers sitting down, instead of walking around 'Petites' holding them up so that the bottom covers my toes and discovering that every single pair is long enough that the waistband is higher than my nipples.

[mdsteele47.livejournal.com]

I don't have any productive comments for you on the situation, but I will take this opportunity in the context of issues related to women's shapes, sizes, and body images to tell you that you would be shocked at exactly how many women in this country have received copies of that Kaz Cooke book you originally sent to harliquinn as a direct result of your thoughtfulness.

I just thought someone should take a moment to tell you how extraordinarily wise and kind you are.

[cheeseisfunny.livejournal.com]

its ok, you can admit you like to shop at

http://www.bigguy.com.au/

;)

though I do agree with the above.

[notasquirrel.livejournal.com]

ther ther. *gives them terrifyng revenge bites*

[shadow-5tails.livejournal.com]

I'm sure there's a way a woman can look healthily proportionate at ~six feet and size 8, but I don't believe I've ever seen it. Erk.

If you're still looking for alternatives, you may find this thread interesting. Or when I finally get someone to help me through the basics of the sewing machine, I can start my own designer comfy-but-stylish-stuff-for-reaslistically-shaped-folkses line...

[fluffy-cloud.livejournal.com]

In the States, there are far too many larger sized clothing stores who have slender women model their clothing. It annoys me every time I see it.

[velvetink.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't have thought you were size 18 from the two times I've met you I thought maybe 14. But then Im no good at judging size. and have a hard enough time finding clothes that actually fit myself, being short. We have a Millers http://www.retailclub.com.au/index.asp?res=1024
up here (central coast) they have kids thru to large +plus women sizes. I look in there as sometimes they have ok dresses and skirts in the kids range that fit me..lol. but notice the plus size styles dress/skirts nice (they do have a lot of nana style stuff too and I don't recommend the pants.) My friend a size 16 recently found this place... and got a couple of business type outfits she was really happy with, she also shops at a 1626 store here and there is one at Epping, not sure where else they are.
http://www.2roads.com.au/business.asp

[wingedkami.livejournal.com]

There's a company over here called Long Tall Sally that do some nice clothes in sizes 8-20. My sister used to buy her trousers there - at 5'10" there wasn't really anywhere else she could go a few years ago, although since then some chains have spotted that there's a few tall people about and even (gasp!) people with big feet.

That reminds me, I have to shop for shoes again. :-( It's amazing how what looks cute in a size 5 looks like clown shoes in a size 8.

LTS do deliver worldwide, but then you'd be paying for delivery as well. Someone needs to get on and invent that teleportation machine.

[psychowoof.livejournal.com]

it's amazing how what looks cute in a size 5 looks like clown shoes in a size 8.

You should see it in a 10.5 or 11 (UK 8 or EUR 42)! I've owned shoes that should qualify as land yachts!

[wingedkami.livejournal.com]

I am a UK size 8 (I have no idea of Australian or American shoe sizes). I had a lovely pair of black trainers once that I eventually gave up wearing because they made my feet look so enormous. Small children could have gone canoeing in them.