Clothing gripe

**cab54** · 12-01-2011, 06:38 PM

Why do clothing makers think that if you are a plus size woman, you have arms (and need sleeves) down to your knees?

I have seen this with anything from WM clothes to L L Bean clothes and beyond.

I'd have to be 7' tall to use sleeves that are built into plus size tops!

**Momto5RN** · 12-01-2011, 06:50 PM

i dunno - same people that thinks anyone and everyone who wears a petite is not just short but also stick thin and wants lycra in their casual tops so they cling to you - after 5 kids and late 40s i prefer to hide flaws not have them emphasized !!

i find a shirt that fits well after a few washings i find a way to get a sale and a better discount and buy a few in different colors

**Momto5RN** · 12-01-2011, 06:52 PM

JCP has long sleeve shirts in their store brand that are in petites to plus sizes that have 3/4 length sleeves - so maybe they will fit better if you can check them out online

**MissSeetonFan** · 12-01-2011, 08:13 PM

Probably the same reason they think that if you have a narrow waist, you must have narrow hips. Trying to find slacks, jeans, even skirts at times can be a big hassle for me. Yes, I am overweight, but I've had this problem even before I gained it all. If I found anything that fit my waist, I couldn't get it past my hips. If it fit past my hips, it gaped so wide at the waist that even belts had a hard time controlling it.

**Libby** · 12-01-2011, 09:09 PM

I have this problem too - I'm that size between plus size and standard size clothing. Neither side will fit me properly so I will always appear to have wings for hips and a saggy butt. Oh and it looks like I'm anticipating a flood that I'm wearing someone else's pants that is taller then me

**Debbie-cat** · 12-01-2011, 10:16 PM

Originally Posted by cab54

Why do clothing makers think that if you are a plus size woman, you have arms (and need sleeves) down to your knees?

I have seen this with anything from WM clothes to L L Bean clothes and beyond.

I'd have to be 7' tall to use sleeves that are built into plus size tops!

I have the exact opposite problem. I have really long arms and everything is always too short!! Very frustrating .... Especially with jackets.

**grneyegrl** · 12-01-2011, 11:12 PM

debbiecat i feal your pain..i to have long arms and have a hard time finding stuff to fit..and im only 5'7(as opposed to my 6ft sister) now she really has a hard time finding clothes.

**frugalfranny** · 12-01-2011, 11:24 PM

Originally Posted by Debbie-cat

I have the exact opposite problem. I have really long arms and everything is always too short!! Very frustrating .... Especially with jackets.

Me too!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I can SELDOM wear women's pants, as I am long from my
waist to my crotch and all the 'regular' women's pants give me
a WEDGIE!!! Sometimes the tall fit better........and plenty long
enough too....love that!

I quit TRYING LL Bean pants..........horrible and inconsistent in the sizing...........sent two pair back and that was enough for me.

**dcompton** · 12-01-2011, 11:41 PM

Pants are tough for me too, Frugalfranny, with the opposite problem. When the length and waist are more or less ok, the crotch hangs halfway to my knees, or feels like it does. Saggy britches are an affliction!

**Libby** · 12-01-2011, 11:46 PM

Exactly! The rise in pants will never be perfect if the length is...something about Murphy?

**zakity** · 12-02-2011, 12:42 AM

**big sigh** Yeah, I know what you mean. I am extremely short waisted. There is about three or four inches between my waist and where my leg starts. I can never find anything that fits me. When I was thin and worked in an office, I wore skirts all the time because pants never fit me correctly.

**nuisance26** · 12-02-2011, 08:03 AM

~It is a problem for sure. The manufacturer's stupidly scale the sleeve pieces based on the trunk piece.
I wear XS and I get the too short sleeves problem. I have the arm length of an average 5'6" person of any weight. I generally pick up M and L's to have enough sleeve length or wear 3/4 length sleeves on anything I want to look fitted.
It just defies all logic to think someone's arms grow longer when they put on weight. Who is making these decisions?
Personally, I think we should go back to semi-tailoring. Like buying a special occasion dress, everything on the racks is a general size with extra length on sleeves and hems that can be taken off.
Ever since the seamstresses and tailors became less available, style of dress has gotten very sloppy. It's incredibly time consuming for the consumer to find items that fit their body well. It makes much more sense to make the clothes to fit the consumer well instead of making them go on a 20 hour, multi-day treasure hunt for good jeans.
Project Runway or shows such as this could set up shops around the county for this purpose. Their designers could get real world input and experience and people could look snazzy again.~

**cab54** · 12-02-2011, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by Momto5RN

JCP has long sleeve shirts in their store brand that are in petites to plus sizes that have 3/4 length sleeves - so maybe they will fit better if you can check them out online

Trouble is, I can do petite bottoms (short legs), but can't do petite tops (long waisted, normal arms). Petite tops look like high midriff tops on me.

Maybe the problem isn't clothing makers. Maybe it's my own weird body........

**cab54** · 12-02-2011, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by nuisance26

~It is a problem for sure. The manufacturer's stupidly scale the sleeve pieces based on the trunk piece.
I wear XS and I get the too short sleeves problem. I have the arm length of an average 5'6" person of any weight. I generally pick up M and L's to have enough sleeve length or wear 3/4 length sleeves on anything I want to look fitted.
It just defies all logic to think someone's arms grow longer when they put on weight. Who is making these decisions?
Personally, I think we should go back to semi-tailoring. Like buying a special occasion dress, everything on the racks is a general size with extra length on sleeves and hems that can be taken off.
Ever since the seamstresses and tailors became less available, style of dress has gotten very sloppy. It's incredibly time consuming for the consumer to find items that fit their body well. It makes much more sense to make the clothes to fit the consumer well instead of making them go on a 20 hour, multi-day treasure hunt for good jeans.
Project Runway or shows such as this could set up shops around the county for this purpose. Their designers could get real world input and experience and people could look snazzy again.~

You're right, now that I think about it, Libby. When I was really thin (eons ago) my tops sleeves were always too short.