For those who know me and/or have ever seen me, you know that I have rather large boobies. For years I struggled to find the right sports bra, only to resign myself to doubling up on two of Lane Bryant's version of a sports bra. I refer to them as LB's version, because what they sell is really just a wireless, cotton/jersey blend knock off. They have the look of a sports bra, just without the support for any kind of extensive aerobic/athletic activity.
Surprising, huh? Well, it shouldn't be.
I've long been a harsh critic of LB and other like stores (ex: The Avenue, Catherine's, Ashley Stewart). In fact, I've all together stopped shopping at these stores and not just because I've lost 34.5 lbs to date (shameless plug, yes I know, but it's my blog). I've stopped shopping at these stores because I'm convinced they just don't understand full-figured bodies and are skewed in their vision of what compliments a full-figured body.
First, there is the "all or all" design of the clothing. All or all is the assumption that if you have large thighs, you automatically have wide hips, big legs and a ginormous ass accompanying it. Or similarly, if you have big boobs, you must have the shoulders of a linebacker, huge arms and a protruding gut. This isn't always the case. In fact, many of my full-figured friends and co-workers are quite shapely and well proportioned. Those same people, also don't shop at these stores for this exact reason.
Second, there is the "middle age" designs. Just because a woman isn't a size 6, doesn't mean she should like a 50-year-old size 16. I'll admit, LB and other stores have a come a long way from their late 80's, early 90's days of elastic waist pants, floral prints and primary colors suited best for the 65 and older crowd. However, they still have a distance ahead of them. I'm glad they know full-figured women aren't just grannies. Now, I need them to understand we aren't all middle-aged either.
Third, "junior plus" clothing is an abomination. There, I said it. You find junior plus designs at Ashley Stewart, Torrid and many larger department stores. I'm sorry, but the the answer to making a young full-figured woman look young and trendy, isn't to make "tween" or "teen" styles in a 14+. There is nothing worse than a 30-year-old woman looking like a plus-sized Miley Cyrus.
The state of clothing options for full-figured women is upsetting. It speaks volumes to the fashion industry's unwillingness to embrace "FAT". I'm so sick of the "pacify it with inferior clothes" mentality that underlies our clothing options. All of the statistics I've read state that over 30% of Americans are obese, over 65% of Americans are overweight and the average woman is a size 14. Why then are clothes designed with some questionable 5% in mind?
Where are the well-made clothes for full-figured women in their late 20's to early 30's; or do I have pull out my sewing machine and take a few courses?
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