*grumbles about not being able to find jeans that will fit*

[arethinn]

I'm starting to seriously consider shelling out the bucks ($54) to have a Land's End custom-fit pair made. I usually buy all my jeans at Goodwill or similar thrift stores, since the huge variety of brand and cut and size means that I generally can find at least one pair that fits when I go shopping. But for the past few months I've had no luck at all and I'm down to five pairs, two of which are really more "stonewash grey" than black, and another of which is quite faded from the rich black they were when I bought them. If I look at the sizing info on Land's End's pre-manufactured pants (and similar, e.g. Eddie Bauer), the numbers always look to me like they could never possibly fit. A common problem is that the "rise" (measurement from crotch to waist) is too tall for me. The regular inseam is 31 1/2 inches - too long - but the petite is 29 1/2 - too short, although by only about half an inch, so I might be willing to deal if I were confident they'd fit otherwise, but I'm not. Jeans, like bras, really are not something I can buy sight unseen by its supposed measurements, unlike (say) shoes or t-shirts.

The ones that I have that fit well happen to be a CK pair, some London Jean sort-of-flared boot cuts, and some Liz Claiborne stretch jeans. Fuck buying any of these new, for a couple of reasons. I've found what looked like the same CKs at Goodwill a couple of times, but trying them on always resulted in disappointment (usually the waist being too big, and in one case the legs being too long).

fnerk.

Comments

[shalora.livejournal.com]

I detest shopping for clothes. Aside from the fact that I hate my body, I get so sick of the fact that all of the cute clothes end about 3 sizes down from what I actually wear. Do they think that all women who are large happen to be my mother's age or older, have no fasion sense, and are colorblind?
I need to bite the bullet and start shelling out the money for Lane Bryant or some such. At least I can usually get decent-fitting scrubs, but I can't wear scrubs all the time!
And of course I'm going to a wedding in July. Summer clothes are even worse; they're always tight and straight cut!

[starlightforest.livejournal.com]

My problem with jeans is usually that ones which are full enough to be comfortable in the hips and thighs are too big in the waist, even considering that I like to wear my waistband well below my natural waist (bigger circumference there, although it compounds the rise-height problem). You may think you're too big but I'd be willing to bet you're at least self-proportional (at least you were when I last saw you) - that is, you're the same size top and bottom. I tend to be a medium on the bottom and an extra small on the top, which makes it impossible to wear one-piece things (dresses, catsuits) and have them look good. :P

this sure is constructive bitching, innit? lol.

[shalora.livejournal.com]

Actually, not so much self-proportional, except that recently I've gained enough weight that it's starting to even out. But about 30 pounds ago, I was an extra-large for pants/skirts and medium for shirts/blouses. Plus my breasts were way too small to balance my hips. That finally changed when I went on the pill (did wonders for the cramps!), and now with the weight I'm an extra-large all over. Which really didn't help, I must say! :)