So here's me - very brave I thought. For once I am NOT going to be cramming my Christmas shopping in with the other crazy ones in the 24 hours preceding Christmas day. SO feeling very organised and, I might add, a little smug, I headed to one of the BIG shopping centres to brave the other smug crowds to begin the joyous task of my Christmas shopping - early!
So I was doing the right and smug thing when only about 20 minutes in, I thought, "Stuff it - had enough - I am going normal shopping" (read: clothes shopping). I know - so rapidly my self righteousness all but evaporated, BUT I figured I still had four weeks to do the real Christmas shopping (read: there's always those shops that stay open 24 hours before Christmas!)
So, for the first time in modern memory, I actually got to peruse the shops at leisure. I do alot of online preusing (I call it research) about the hottest looks and fashion trends - nay it is near to an obsession BUT, like many of us I'm sure, I rarely get to trawl the surburban malls to see what's shakin' in the real world as they say!
So, in the name of research and product development, I decided to check out every plus size section and every plus size shop I could find. I have to admit to being rather blissfully unaware of what is happening in the rest of plus-size land as I have my head down and tail up in my own fashion fantasy world much of the time. I have grown up trying to make an art out of my fashion. My best friend and I used to spend our holidays and weekends trawling through vintage shops before it was cool - yes - back in the days it was called Vinnies - remember? We would walk out with garbage bags full for under ten bucks with the treasured and the promises of treasures-to-come with a little nip here and alteration there. SO my obsession with making clothing work and create my own fashion signature was always present, as I think it is with most of us. It was more of a challenge to do this without the luxury of fitting into the traditional size bracket, so not having access to those clothes, but refusing to give up on my quest to find my signature by simply buying clothes that "served the purpose", I admit to being the one to avoid the "plus size" sections at all costs. SO traditional plus size shops and said sections in department stores have never been my most familiar stomping ground, so this day, I decided to really check it out.
Now I must admit I travelled both breadth and width of this MASSIVE shopping centre - into every possibility of plus size apparel. By the end, I was filled with dismay and dare I say horror, at the inability to find one pair - I kid you not - ONE PAIR of pants which did not have an elastic waist. I realised the only other place you see elastic waists are in the infant sections because:
a) You have to get a little waist to fit over a bum with a nappy on it and;
b) Most mama's have got a gazzillion other things to be doing and seriously don't have time and inclination to undo and re-do a million or even 3 buttons and zips for one or more squirming infants up to 20 times a day. So pull on - pull off Karate Kid like is excellent.
As an adult however, with no nappy, and ok about doing up my own buttons and zips, why am I ONLY able to get pants in elastic?? Ok, it can be comfy, but so are my 3/4 tights I work out in with a big tee shirt, but I won't be wearing them to the next wedding I attend, or even anywhere too public. Or maybe because if I had a big bum and small waist (the typical pear)and and had that "pants gape" above my bum, elastic would bring it all in flush. Now that is valid, but if pants are sitting in the right place - ie not the smallest part of the waist and midway between hips and waist (see pic left), this problem can be exterminated, dramatically minimised or worst case scenario, fixed with a very minor and inexpensive alteration.
So I was doing the right and smug thing when only about 20 minutes in, I thought, "Stuff it - had enough - I am going normal shopping" (read: clothes shopping). I know - so rapidly my self righteousness all but evaporated, BUT I figured I still had four weeks to do the real Christmas shopping (read: there's always those shops that stay open 24 hours before Christmas!)
So, for the first time in modern memory, I actually got to peruse the shops at leisure. I do alot of online preusing (I call it research) about the hottest looks and fashion trends - nay it is near to an obsession BUT, like many of us I'm sure, I rarely get to trawl the surburban malls to see what's shakin' in the real world as they say!
So, in the name of research and product development, I decided to check out every plus size section and every plus size shop I could find. I have to admit to being rather blissfully unaware of what is happening in the rest of plus-size land as I have my head down and tail up in my own fashion fantasy world much of the time. I have grown up trying to make an art out of my fashion. My best friend and I used to spend our holidays and weekends trawling through vintage shops before it was cool - yes - back in the days it was called Vinnies - remember? We would walk out with garbage bags full for under ten bucks with the treasured and the promises of treasures-to-come with a little nip here and alteration there. SO my obsession with making clothing work and create my own fashion signature was always present, as I think it is with most of us. It was more of a challenge to do this without the luxury of fitting into the traditional size bracket, so not having access to those clothes, but refusing to give up on my quest to find my signature by simply buying clothes that "served the purpose", I admit to being the one to avoid the "plus size" sections at all costs. SO traditional plus size shops and said sections in department stores have never been my most familiar stomping ground, so this day, I decided to really check it out.
Now I must admit I travelled both breadth and width of this MASSIVE shopping centre - into every possibility of plus size apparel. By the end, I was filled with dismay and dare I say horror, at the inability to find one pair - I kid you not - ONE PAIR of pants which did not have an elastic waist. I realised the only other place you see elastic waists are in the infant sections because:
a) You have to get a little waist to fit over a bum with a nappy on it and;
b) Most mama's have got a gazzillion other things to be doing and seriously don't have time and inclination to undo and re-do a million or even 3 buttons and zips for one or more squirming infants up to 20 times a day. So pull on - pull off Karate Kid like is excellent.
As an adult however, with no nappy, and ok about doing up my own buttons and zips, why am I ONLY able to get pants in elastic?? Ok, it can be comfy, but so are my 3/4 tights I work out in with a big tee shirt, but I won't be wearing them to the next wedding I attend, or even anywhere too public. Or maybe because if I had a big bum and small waist (the typical pear)and and had that "pants gape" above my bum, elastic would bring it all in flush. Now that is valid, but if pants are sitting in the right place - ie not the smallest part of the waist and midway between hips and waist (see pic left), this problem can be exterminated, dramatically minimised or worst case scenario, fixed with a very minor and inexpensive alteration.Now, read on for the reasons I personally refuse to wear elastic except when excerising. Elastic is one of the least 
flattering situations to go on the waist because it reduces the fabric by gathering - gathering creates puckering, puckering creates volume, and on the waist that's bad news (see pic left - and that is MILd elstic in soft fabric - not denim etc!) None of us want to tuck into elastic, so we usually wear OVER elastic, and what happens? Underneath an already somewhat loose top, we have bulk. Best case scenario - we look shapeless (read: sensual-less) and bigger then our size, worst case scenario - ummm - think maternity... We may think it's flattering because it's not clinging, but it actually serves to make us look fatter because it does not FIT and does not come in where we come. AND - admit it - we spend the whole time pulling at said top to make sure it is not clinging to the millions of little tucks it can get pulled into. The immediate action preceding this is the elastic-squat-hitch. You know it - slight bend of the knees (squat) whilst hitching pants high back up to position (hitch), or if this has already been done several times - in frustration the hitch ends much higher then it should (think under bust - very, very bad) Now, the elastic pants went south because spread of bum when sitting pulled them down or simply walking caused them to loose their position because elastic has no structure - bad - very bad... In extreme cases, the elastic-squat-hitch can be mistaken for a new dance move - hmmmmm - doesn't sound too comfortable after all?? Yes even those jeans with the elastic at the back and side - same thing. Just trying to trick us into thinking , "oh - these are real jeans - they only have elastic at the back..."
Pants neeed to sit FLAT and have structure. Even if you want to wear a longer over top, you are one step ahead, because you are layering over a FLAT surface rather then a puckered, pleated, full surface (see picture left)
SO I was dismayed that after all the years of fashion evolution we are still stuck with the only option of an elastic waist. I guess as a designer for Entitled, it's good news BUT as a woman and consumer, I am annoyed that I am still being dressed for "ease". An elastic waist means that you and I - even though we may be 2 sizes difference, can wear the same pants. We require minimal service and assistance, and the sizing will require no effort at all. Now that's all good, but the end result is pants that don't maximise my finish and that, by the end of the evening - I feel dreadful in :(
I have never been a "one size fits all" kind of girl, and neither are you or wouldn't have read this far into this blog. The powers that be have given me free reign of this blog, and I am not about bashing other plus size companies, I am airing my personal frustration at the industry catering to me as a plus size woman. Why am a wearing the same jeans as a 3 year old?? I can't imagine my sister, who happens to be a very fashion-savvy size 8, would even entertain the concept - and yet, at this massive shopping centre - it was all I could find!
SO anyway, I left pretty much empty handed, bewildered, but happy that I am in my small way, making a difference in changing the perception of who women like us are and what we want. For every size 18 woman that is happy and excited about elastic, there are a million that want an alternative that maximises their shape and they feel sexy in. It's not a shameless plug. It really is my personal experience on that particular day. Unless you love it - don't compromise on the elastic. Search far and wide, spend good money, and get the pants you feel totally sexy in. If you love the elastic, wear it fabulously!!!!
So back to wear it all started - that was the fateful, I'm-so-much-more-organised-then-everyone-else-this-year day. Now I know you wouldn't know me if you fell over me, but you can take some comfort in knowing that I will NOT be the one filling you with dread and panic when I smuggly let you know that "I have finished my Christmas shopping and oh hasn't it come upon us quickly!" No - not I! I will be the one - maybe with you - on the night before Christmas running around filling my trolley with stuff they probably won't even want because I have yet again left it to the very last minute. But I will absolutely positively NOT do that next year (???) and that smug expression I started with will be firmly wiped OFF my face when we try to beat each other to the only car park left in the whole of the shopping centre - c'mon please let me have it - I bet I've got even MORE people left to buy for then you....
In it all, smile but don't smirk and have a wonderful, blessed silly season and stay fabulous in the madness!
With love!
Your designer of Fabulousness :)
flattering situations to go on the waist because it reduces the fabric by gathering - gathering creates puckering, puckering creates volume, and on the waist that's bad news (see pic left - and that is MILd elstic in soft fabric - not denim etc!) None of us want to tuck into elastic, so we usually wear OVER elastic, and what happens? Underneath an already somewhat loose top, we have bulk. Best case scenario - we look shapeless (read: sensual-less) and bigger then our size, worst case scenario - ummm - think maternity... We may think it's flattering because it's not clinging, but it actually serves to make us look fatter because it does not FIT and does not come in where we come. AND - admit it - we spend the whole time pulling at said top to make sure it is not clinging to the millions of little tucks it can get pulled into. The immediate action preceding this is the elastic-squat-hitch. You know it - slight bend of the knees (squat) whilst hitching pants high back up to position (hitch), or if this has already been done several times - in frustration the hitch ends much higher then it should (think under bust - very, very bad) Now, the elastic pants went south because spread of bum when sitting pulled them down or simply walking caused them to loose their position because elastic has no structure - bad - very bad... In extreme cases, the elastic-squat-hitch can be mistaken for a new dance move - hmmmmm - doesn't sound too comfortable after all?? Yes even those jeans with the elastic at the back and side - same thing. Just trying to trick us into thinking , "oh - these are real jeans - they only have elastic at the back..."
Pants neeed to sit FLAT and have structure. Even if you want to wear a longer over top, you are one step ahead, because you are layering over a FLAT surface rather then a puckered, pleated, full surface (see picture left)SO I was dismayed that after all the years of fashion evolution we are still stuck with the only option of an elastic waist. I guess as a designer for Entitled, it's good news BUT as a woman and consumer, I am annoyed that I am still being dressed for "ease". An elastic waist means that you and I - even though we may be 2 sizes difference, can wear the same pants. We require minimal service and assistance, and the sizing will require no effort at all. Now that's all good, but the end result is pants that don't maximise my finish and that, by the end of the evening - I feel dreadful in :(
I have never been a "one size fits all" kind of girl, and neither are you or wouldn't have read this far into this blog. The powers that be have given me free reign of this blog, and I am not about bashing other plus size companies, I am airing my personal frustration at the industry catering to me as a plus size woman. Why am a wearing the same jeans as a 3 year old?? I can't imagine my sister, who happens to be a very fashion-savvy size 8, would even entertain the concept - and yet, at this massive shopping centre - it was all I could find!
SO anyway, I left pretty much empty handed, bewildered, but happy that I am in my small way, making a difference in changing the perception of who women like us are and what we want. For every size 18 woman that is happy and excited about elastic, there are a million that want an alternative that maximises their shape and they feel sexy in. It's not a shameless plug. It really is my personal experience on that particular day. Unless you love it - don't compromise on the elastic. Search far and wide, spend good money, and get the pants you feel totally sexy in. If you love the elastic, wear it fabulously!!!!
So back to wear it all started - that was the fateful, I'm-so-much-more-organised-then-everyone-else-this-year day. Now I know you wouldn't know me if you fell over me, but you can take some comfort in knowing that I will NOT be the one filling you with dread and panic when I smuggly let you know that "I have finished my Christmas shopping and oh hasn't it come upon us quickly!" No - not I! I will be the one - maybe with you - on the night before Christmas running around filling my trolley with stuff they probably won't even want because I have yet again left it to the very last minute. But I will absolutely positively NOT do that next year (???) and that smug expression I started with will be firmly wiped OFF my face when we try to beat each other to the only car park left in the whole of the shopping centre - c'mon please let me have it - I bet I've got even MORE people left to buy for then you....
In it all, smile but don't smirk and have a wonderful, blessed silly season and stay fabulous in the madness!
With love!
Your designer of Fabulousness :)
