Clothing rant--help needed for a pear shape!!

[Diana in OR]

I am a pear shape. I have always had a small waist in proportion to the rest of my lower half. I have heard that is the most common body shape.

So, why, oh why, do clothing manufacturers make their waistbands so BIG? I've trouble my whole life finding pants and skirts that fit right--small waist, large hips and thighs. It doesn't matter what size/weight I've been. It tends to be this way through various trends and styles, high waist, low-waist and in-between. I'm trying to find nice clothes for my campaign and it's difficult. I bought a fabulous pair of pants and TJMaxx that had wide legs and hips. They looked great, but when I wore them around the house for about 10 minutes, I was constantly pulling them up. The best jeans I've found are the now out of style, not-cut-the-same-way-anymore Eddie Bauer jeans.

I went into a nice ladies' clothing store and asked the clerk what they have that would fit someone with a smaller waist and larger lower half. Her response indicated that she'd never had that question before, and no, they didn't.

I wear a size 18, and have a 33" waist. And I can't even go in for Women's sizes, b/c the waists on those are even *bigger*. Anyone else have this problem, and what do you do? Am I stuck wearing elastic waists forever? :confused:

[KIN]

Try Lane Bryant. They have pants designed for different shapes, including the pear. :) They work great for me!! Also, Gap has different fits as well that work well for our shape.

[RoughCollie]

I am apple-shaped and I have the same problem, in reverse. If the waists fit, the pants are very baggy on my hips and thighs.

I guess I can quit wishing I were pear-shaped now that I see pear-shapes have problems too!

Here are my suggestions:

1. Buy clothes that fit and that look fabulous for your campaign and take them to a tailor (maybe there is one at your drycleaner) to have the waists taken in. Personally, I try this on one less expensive item to see if they do a good job.

2. You could also go to a store like Brooks Brothers which has a tailor, and get your clothing fitted. My husband does that for his suits and leisure pants. The big drawback is, IMO, the clothes are way too expensive for what you get.

3. You can go to Lands End and get $80 jeans and chinos that are made to your measurements. Click on women's clothes -- pants & shorts -- custom. They ask for your measurements when you get to the second page of the custom form. It takes 3-4 weeks to get them after you order them. You can also get custom bathing suits.

RC

I am a pear shape. I have always had a small waist in proportion to the rest of my lower half. I have heard that is the most common body shape.

So, why, oh why, do clothing manufacturers make their waistbands so BIG? I've trouble my whole life finding pants and skirts that fit right--small waist, large hips and thighs. It doesn't matter what size/weight I've been. It tends to be this way through various trends and styles, high waist, low-waist and in-between. I'm trying to find nice clothes for my campaign and it's difficult. I bought a fabulous pair of pants and TJMaxx that had wide legs and hips. They looked great, but when I wore them around the house for about 10 minutes, I was constantly pulling them up. The best jeans I've found are the now out of style, not-cut-the-same-way-anymore Eddie Bauer jeans.

I went into a nice ladies' clothing store and asked the clerk what they have that would fit someone with a smaller waist and larger lower half. Her response indicated that she'd never had that question before, and no, they didn't.

I wear a size 18, and have a 33" waist. And I can't even go in for Women's sizes, b/c the waists on those are even *bigger*. Anyone else have this problem, and what do you do? Am I stuck wearing elastic waists forever? :confused:

[Tea Party Girl]

Some websites allow you to look for clothes by shape. I found that on Nordstrom's the other day, I believe.

I often find the only pants that fit me in the waist and hips are Talbot's.

I've started to resign myself that I have to spend more for fewer clothes, especially as I'm getting older (40) to look decent.

[KAR120C]

I've got the same problem, only in a size 6-8 (but with an even-smaller waist!) Apparently someone with my waist is meant to be a toothpick from there straight down. :rolleyes: I've had good luck with the results from a http://www.zafu.com/ search... it turned up the one cut of Levis that fits (and I mean exactly ONE cut -- nothing else from Levis is even close!) and a bunch of other options I've not tried yet. I've also had moderately-good luck with L.L. Bean -- their proportions are very different from Lands End, but similarly good quality.

Hope this helps!

[Sunny]

Yes, it IS frustrating. Me too. I doesn't matter what size I am either, because whether I fit in my 6's or 14's, itis the same problem.
I found 1 LEE jean I liked. I can't find it anymore.
I found that some stores like Mervyn's will have a nice elastic waist jean. Gotta wear loose and baggy shirts though to cover up the stupid looking elastic.
Wear dresses. THey seem to fit better.

[Tressa]

I feel your pain. I have a small waist, but a nice cushion to sit on. So, I have a really hard time finding jeans. When I find a pair that fits I wear them until they are falling apart. The jeans usually look OK until I try to sit down. Low waist, high waist, it doesn't matter. I had good luck once with Gloria Vanderbilt jeans. Now everytime I try them on they don't work. Did they change their cut? Anyway, I suppose I am not much help, but I know how you feel.

[KAR120C]

I had good luck once with Gloria Vanderbilt jeans. Now everytime I try them on they don't work. Did they change their cut?
I think they must have -- I have an old pair of GV chinos (like 15 years old!) that fit perfectly, but nothing I've tried on from them fit at all anymore. Chic too... I have a few ancient and nearly shredded Chic jeans that fit like a glove, but on the rare occasion that I can find the brand at all they aren't the same. On the plus side I've gotten really good at patches and I have the best-fitting yard work jeans on the block... LOL

[percytruffle]

I wear a size 12 and Lee's used to fit, but they recently changed their cut, so the labels say. Ugh. It is very frustrating to have this huge gappy waistline in the back when everywhere else fits fine. I have one pair of jeans that is cut just like I am, but they don't make them anymore. I have had some luck with dress pants at Dress Barn. Some of their cuts are on the more shapely side. Most of the time I have to alter the waist on dress pants and then I end up wearing my Adidas sweat pants around the house instead of jeans. Jeans are just so darned uncomfortable when they don't fit right!

[Diana in OR]

The Comfort Fit jeans aren't too bad. But, I've only found the blue jeans to work, and not the black jeans or chinos. Not only that, I found what looked like an identical pair at TJ Maxx, but I'm betting it was last year's style, because it was cut completely differently.