Hurmpf

[hippybngstockng]

I had a long post going, but I was getting really tired of listening to myself talk. I think it's getting to be that time again where I will go all quiet and sick of myself again soon, though it's nice to have the weather trying to make up for it for a change. Today won't be much help though, it's dark and rainy. If I'd really wanted to spend today clearing out dead leaves and sticks I should have checked the weather yesterday before I tortured myself by going to the mall.

I was feeling good, uniquecrash5 was back from his trip and we were mainly going to help K adjust to the idea that he is back, but still needs to leave the house, so a trip to the mall one stop away from Daddy's work sounded like a fine time. It wasn't going to be a long trip, but I figured it would be a good chance for me to get some new underwear. I am old and wise enough, I should have known better.

Shopping for clothing is hard for me because I have to do it through a wash of suppressed rage. Rage at the clothing industry, rage at society that created the situation that is the clothing industry, you know, your basic over educated indignance. My temptation to rant about it is strong, but I know I'd be preaching to the largely converted, and the rest of you would be in TMI territory so I will resist.

What I will say is that I think it's appalling how much the price of clothing is rising compared to the fact that it's still being made by the horribly exploited 3rd world, or maybe these days it's more horribly exploited pockets of the 1st world, I don't know the specifics, all I know is it still strikes me as odd that the people making the clothes are still starving to death, and I increasingly can't afford the clothes that the starving people make, so somebody somewhere must be getting pretty rich.

I also still think it's evil, down right calculated evil, that men's clothing is so much easier to get in any old size and shape you want, all affordably for the most part, and I can't. Don't even get me started on that one or we will be here forever.

This last statement will only make sense to the other large women out there, but I am also tired of the VOID SPACE between slim and fat. It isn't such a bad thing when it comes to simple shirt and pants, but DAMMIT I CAN'T BUY UNDERWEAR TO SAVE MY LIFE! The one line I will save out of the previous post is this: "XL looks like something my husband maybe could wear, and XXL looks like I could transport my wardrobe in it. My ass is large, but it doesn't need its own transportation. I can't squeeze into the skinny stuff, and the fat stuff fits atrociously because of how much it hangs here or bags there. Consequently I always feel like I just crawled out of the clothes dryer." If we can have fat stores and skinny stores, CAN'T WE HAVE A HAPPY MEDIUM STORE FOR SIZES 14-26??? You on-the-fringe girls know what I am talking about, I am sure, so I'll lay off now.

On the flip side of shopping, we tried to get what I view as the last piece of the dining room. The main reason I haven't taken photos of the house is that while it's clean, the walls are still pretty bare. Mostly this is just a question of finding a few more things in storage and pulling them out and having a day of decorating, but I've also been waiting WEEKS it seems for a print to finish it. It's like the most common print in the world so you'd think it'd be easy, but alas commonality also spells "out of stock". It's not like me to spend real money on art, but when you see the finished product you'll understand. You will probably also laugh your ass off, but we'll see...

Hopefully I will update more later and be less boring and pissed when I do so. But it is glorious to have Crash home. That will likely be what I go on about later- he got me to play video games yesterday for the first time in years, hilarity ensued.

Comments

[rednikki.livejournal.com]

Ooooo, boy, I get this sizing rant.

I would suggest trying Lane Bryant's underwear, size 14/16 (if you're in that size range). They have gramma panties, but they have bikinis, too. You can even order online.

[hippybngstockng.livejournal.com]

I forgot Lane Bryant was doing online stuff, I think I will get some from them just to hold me over, even though I've been screwed by them before as well. Their cotton panties are often for shit, and I can't deal with too much of the fancy stuff all the time. My skin just needs a day to breath now and again ;)

I was actually really fond of the stuff I used to get at "Fashion Bug" at the mall near Hamp! Remember that place? They had it in Ohio as well, so I might wait until Easter and go for known crap there depending on how much Lane Bryant wants to ship to Canada...

*sigh* I just wish someone would decide it would be okay to make Joe Boxers in a size 22... They seem like you could wear those for a few years before they'd explode. I threw out some panties I've worn and washed 4 times the other day.... grumble....

[hippybngstockng.livejournal.com]

You know, while I have you in my clutches I should ask you if you or anyone you know has bought panties from Torrid? I've been looking at their stuff and it's actually a lot cheaper and more amusing than Lane Bryant, but I couldn't speak to the quality unless I had seen it which I have not- I plan to make a pilgrimage at some point, but have yet to get a chance... Any opinions you care to share?

[hippybngstockng.livejournal.com]

I always have anxiety about buying something I haven't gotten to hold in my hands and stuff first. I am also terrible about returning things when I do get it wrong, I just end up keeping the crap and have loads of stuff I end up giving away eventually (which is really nice for someone, but still does me no good since I'm out all the money). My larger problem is not knowing what to buy anymore- I haven't had a "brand" for years where panties are concerned. I've gotten lucky from time to time but then gone back and gotten nothing because of the change of colors and season and fashion... I should be like my grandma and buy 1000 right then and there! LOL

But I might go that route once I find something I can wear. If I know full well what it is I am brave- I bought a 12 pack of yarn online and my husband was freaking out, and I kept saying, "NO, SERIOUSLY this is a GOOD thing" :)

[neeuqdrazil.livejournal.com]

I totally hear you on the clothing thing. I've got one of those weird body types where I've got about 4 sizes difference between my top and my bottom, and it sucks.

However, I'm really happy with my Jockey Elance underwear. They're getting hideously expensive, but at the Bay, at least, they have a range of styles (string bikinis, regular bikinis, briefs, hi-cuts) and they're 100% cotton (afaik). And they last a good long while, too. They have lots of sizes (I wear a size 7 or 8 for their sizing, to give you an idea, and I wear at size 20-22.)

For fancy underwear, though, I'm screwed. I've only very rarely been able to find nice lingerie that actually fits.

Additionally, Cotton Ginny has a pretty nice line of plus size clothing, and since their plus and regular are all in one store, and they're mostly the same clothes, just different sizes (and some different cuts) you can find things to match if your top and bottom are radically different, as mine are. I usually only buy stuff when it's on sale, though, as they're also pretty expensive.

[hippybngstockng.livejournal.com]

Heh... Since we were at Scarborough Town Center or whatever it's called I walked by Cotton Ginny probably 4 times since it was right by the train station entrance! I kind of cast my glance in there briefly and thought I might have seen some bigger stuff, but it was awfully pastel in there ;) I got scared! Now I know I should go in anyway :) Thanks for the tip! I found more stores with plus sections this time around, but still very few with panties, at least other than granny-types, it was WEIRD!

[neeuqdrazil.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it does tend toward pastels. But they often have nice pants (I've had all my pants from them for the last quite a while, actually.)

[morganminstrel.livejournal.com]

men's clothing is so much easier to get in any old size and shape you want

Hahahahahahahaha! Oh, would that were so...true, women's clothing is definitely a worse situation, but as a male who is not of an, to say the least, easy size to fit, I can't say I agree with you totally here. I can sometimes get clothing that kinda fits, but all too often I find myself either shopping in the sigh boys section or buying things that are too big, need tailoring or are fine in the shoulder but long in the sleeve/fine in the shoulder but short in the sleeve, etc. etc.

Not saying that the women's clothing industry doesn't suck the big one, but I think if someone's an "odd" size, it sucks no matter what gender you're wearing. (I'm actually told it's not good for big men either, but I don't know how much I believe that...)

As for Lane Bryant, Amythyst loves their stuff. Though, I must admit, I'm not sure where she buys all of her underwear...

Finally, the clothing industry: Yes, it sucks. But the more I learn about the textile industry (in history), the more I realize it's always sucked, it just sucks for different groups depending on the time period. Not a solution, god knows, just an observation. At least it's nominally safer work conditions now than 100 years ago...(the anniversary of the Triangle Shirt Fire was last week, I believe...)

[hippybngstockng.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know the history behind all of it is pretty complex, and it lends one to want to hop on the make everything yourself band wagon, but that is such a pain in the ass...

I wonder why if we can have body scans and such why we can't have custom made computer manufactured clothing- they can work from a basic pattern and size it by your specific shape, and then feed the info into a machine that cuts everything and BLAM instant perfect clothing for tiny folks like you and somewhat weirdly large shaped folks like me... It doesn't even sound past technology I think we have today! It's a conspiracy I tells ya!!!

But they make some pretty hot stuff for boys these days, maybe you're just not shopping at the right kids clothing stores ;) A comic book geek like yourself should be swimming in super hero shirts by now!

Also, you could explore your teenage girl side- they have some sexy stuff I could see a boy comfortable in his gender identity looking mighty hot in a Artist Formerly Known As kind of way ;)

Then again, I have freakier taste than most...

[morganminstrel.livejournal.com]

Boy style is definitely not my style. ;-) Besides, my problem is I often fall through the cracks between juvenile and adult, size-wise. It's obnoxious, believe me. I just have problems looking good in stuff off the racks (minus t-shirts, which I can just buy since I don't have to worry about the shoulder/sleeve issue). And unfortunately, both my embarrassment-level and my income level keep me from buying the girl's clothes that often. (I look at Young Miss, but I don't often buy...!)

As for the computer cut-out thing, well, there are custom made sites out there, but they're waaaay expensive. (I may bite the bullet and have a very good shirt made at some point!) Whether they should be or not.....that's another question....

[hippybngstockng.livejournal.com]

*chuckle* I am tempted to ask if you want to do a "Bi eye for the Bi Guy" makeover next time I'm out there, but I know you, you're stubborn, you'd never wear the stuff after I left ;)

But seriously, if you want help at a girl's store sometime you should ask a girl! I can think of 3 off top of my head who would likely be amused enough to do it :) And you could end up looking quite sexy! Skinny men in frilly stuff.... Mmmmmmmm.....