i know, WHERE to begin?!? the state of my closet simply reflects the way i feel about clothes, i'm sad to say. i have been overweight my entire life, and this has effectively put up a barrier between me and, let's say, clothes in general. except for a few years in my twenties, i have always been uncomfortable about fashion. i can't put on anything without first determining how it will look from behind! i'll tell you, sometimes even black can't camouflage unflattering lines!
i am that classic apple shape. you know, the one that prevents you from wearing shirts tucked in (much less something that might be described as "cinched.") ladies tee shirts (they used to be called 'baby doll?')... they fit lovely through the shoulders, but then i have to deal with the dreaded 'muffin top!' spaghetti strap shirts... they don't make those cute "see-through strap" bras in my size!!
call me clothes shy, but for years, i have resorted to combing the clearance racks at target & cato. (something about shopping clearance racks - i don't feel the need to try anything on! i mean, if it doesn't fit right, at least i only spent $8.00 on it!! am i right??) shopping at stores like these, you don't really have to worry about FASHION. you're simply there to get clothed. (despite what i learned in "the devil wears prada," i will NEVER make a connection between my XL boatneck shell with lycra and last year's breakthrough designer at New York's fashion week!!)
therefore, i am left with a closet full of stuff. my clothes are old, outdated. they are shabby (and not in a "chic" way!) i'm losing weight, and i'm in that awkward in-between stage where i'm not quite ready to replace items. so, what WOULD i spend my $100 on?!?
yup. jeans! i want, just once, to own a pair of jeans that i LOVE. i want to be able to walk into the Gap (the Gap is still open, right?) or Old Navy, pick something off of the rack, and have it fit me in all the right places! i don't want anything low-rise, and i don't think i want anything with a flare leg. i definitely don't want anything with lycra in it! (who the hell decided that putting lycra in denim was a good idea? that's, like, giving perpetual dieters like me a reason to just give in to the battle of the bulge! if they keep putting lycra in denim, i can just keep getting fatter and fatter, and i will ALWAYS be able to fit into a size 16!!)
my jeans would be made for tall women (i am a tall woman! can't stand when my ankles peek out). they would be naturally faded, no acid wash or machine-distressed for me! the waist would reside comfortably just below my belly button (no plumber's crack!) they would flatter my hips and fit properly around my thighs (not too tight! not too loose, either!)
and most importantly, they would ALWAYS fit me perfectly. my own pants that will travel with me through the highs and lows (literally) of my life!
35 comments:
oh lelly-- you are so right. great fitting jeans can make all of the difference! i hope you find your perfect pair and i hope your journey of late is helping you feel better about shopping.
awhile ago i found a website quiz for finding the perfect jeans for bodytype. you answer a few questions and it spits out 3-4 brands of jeans to try. i will look for it. i actually did it and still need to seek out a few of the brands. (all kinds of brands out there-- i was shocked! clearly i need to get out more often!) if anyone knows where i found this quiz (on one of your blogs??) then let us know...
So well put!
missy
I love your post. And way to go on loosing weight! That is not an easy thing to do. Great jeans were on my list as well unfortunately my price tag on those would have put me into over draft. I'll spare you the price.
And for the record I still call them babydoll shirts. In my opinion skinny or not they still make you feel and look pregnant. Why do they make shirts like that?? Your SPT was great!
What a fun post.
That is great that you are loosing weight:)
Yes, I Vote for Great jeans. Perfect pair jeans can make any girl HAPPY:)
I too have the hardest time finding jeans that I totally love. I really don't think I have ever found that special pair. YEA! for loosing weight! That alone is a huge success! Thanks for the fun challenge this week.
I loved this post! A great pair of jeans is a great thing!
Great post. Jeans that fit, and look cute(even from behind) are definitley on my list to find. Of course the jeans I was are well over the 100 dollars I was given for this challenge, but if I find a pair I lOVE I may jsut have to break the bank and buy them.
I agree with Jenny the babydolls shirt make me look prego. If I was prego that would be fine, but worrying that someone may walk up to me and ask when I'm due is not so appealing.
Thanks for another great challenge.
Yes, you can link me to your blog for spt. I try to email you but i was unable.
Great jeans are a wardrobe essential, but they take so much shopping! Multiple brands, multiple sizes of each brand and fit, trying to find the right pair. You might have to book a whole Saturday!
A great pair of jeans is a necessity of life! We went to visit my sister in law, Kelly, in Portland this last September. I was SO excited to have SO many choices in stores. I tried on 25 yep 25 pairs of jeans in one night and came home with NOTHING. So I too share your quest for the perfect jean.
http://www.oprah.com/presents/2005/young/fashion/fashion_jeans_103.jhtml
i don't know if this will help but i thought it was interesting. i will also try to find that quiz since it actually listed the brands you should look at...
I love the honesty you wrote about. amazing that being all across the country and different shapes and sizes, we all have very similar wardrobe issues. I surly hope you find the perfect jeans, that look fabulous from behind!
Ahhh, I just watched Sisterhood of the Traveling pants. That is what we all need!
And what IS SPT? I love going through everyone's commentaries!
That is a great thing to buy--jeans!! I found some great ones (see my blog) but the cost is way too much! I will say the great jeans do cost more, unfortunately!
I know that in between phase can be SO frustrating!! Sometimes it is a nice pick me up to just get you a new item to reward yourself for the good progress you have made.
I did that when I was losing weight. I didn't buy a whole lot of the in between stuff because I was hopeful it wouldn't fit for long.
If it wasn't so warm and humid here I would want new jeans also. But instead I have been on the hunt for the perfect jean skirt. I know what you mean about lycra. I lost 30pounds last year and my jeans still fit as snug as ever.
Great Post.
Oh man what I wouldn't give for the perfect pair of jeans! I work to stay positive but why do I have to try on 15 pairs only to half way like one pair? Injustice for sure!
Good job on losing weight!
It's been so long since I have truly loved how jeans fit that I forget that there is such a thing as a "perfect fit". I've become happy with jeans that fit...period!
Great post.
Can I have a pair of those jeans? I posted about jeans too. They are so important. The right jeans are irreplacable.
And yes to the tall thing! It's easier with jeans, but with pants, they just never make them tall enough! Why can't we have sizes like men where we pick out the width AND height and not just have one height for all women of a size (unless you buy petites or longs)?
I love your SPT uurrrrr photo!!
Cute post. I often think 'I wonder if I had clothes custom made for me, would that work better!'
The perfect fabric,fit, color, size,etc.
Of course, if I sewed that would help!HA. Even then, I would want the magic fairy to whip something up for me to wear ;) -Janae
Muffin top! I feel your pain. I live in jeans, and not one pair is flattering.
I love your SPTs, and I've been seeing them around on my friends' blogs. I really want to join in. so fun!
Oh, I am so with you on a great pair of Jeans, but my price tag is too high.
Congrats on loosing weight!
Ahh - a perfect pair of jeans! I always think I find the right pair and they never seem to keep fitting right! Good luck!
I'm with you! Someday I will go to a rack, pick it up and know it will fit me and actually look good on me like the picture of it shows..lol!
I love the perfect pair of jeans...and, as always, your SPT. I think I'm the only person who honestly went out & spent money. I was searching for a permission slip, so thanks for signing it!
A pair of jeans that fit great and are comfortable. Now that is worth the virtual money. Don't we all need that. Great post! Thanks for the fun challenges.
I keep hearing that Gap do the best jeans, but I've never bought any from there yet!
Changing rooms are just nightmares. I agree with you on the trying things on scenario. It drives Paul mad that I NEVER try things on and then have to haul stuff back to exchange.
Well done to losing weight! How are you doing it? Email me if you have some brilliant method, as I need to shift a lot of pregnancy weight! LOL to the lycra in denim. I never thougth of it like that!
That is the pefect shopping for jeans face. How could one article of clothing be so elusive in its perfection? Not easy to try on, either. Good luck on your quest!
Lelly,
You do not know me but I loved this post... You hit the nail on the head for my closet & my body...
So nice to know I'm not alone....
Thanks for making me smile...
I enjoy reading your posts...
Darla
Lelly-
Ahh! Jeans, it is too warm for jeans here. So, I would love to find a great pair of denim capri's that looked cute on and fit me like capri's should, but alas since I am so short they always fit me like floods. But the jeans, that is something that I can never really find that make me feel like a real women and not like a little boy!
Congrats on losing weight, that is always a gratifying thing- keep it up!
I'm glad I'm not the only one who struggles to find a good fitting pair of jeans that makes me feel great. I would definitely check out The Gap though when you are ready. That is where I have had the most luck for my curvy shape. THey aren't mom jeans but they also don't make you feel like your plummer's crack is showing when you bend over.
I thought I had already commented. Wonder what happned. I too love a good pair of jeans. Simply cannot have too many in my wardrobe.
congrats on losing weight!
You said it so well.
The hardest thing to find is a great fitting pair of jeans, but oh how wonderful it is when they are actually found!!!
hi lelly: awesome, congrats on losing weight.
hay, guess what? i really like your SPT idea. i wrote and posted my own SPT last night. come see and answer my question, too, if you want. does this sound like SPT to you? i think SPT is when we write about something that explains who we are and what makes us tick. what is your opinion?
happy day :)
I am so in love with this post. I have been lurking about your SPT posts, as well as others who have posted, for some time now. I love it! One of these weeks, I'll actually get up the gumption and planning to participate ;-)
I love clearance racks, feel the same about not trying on, then wonder why the shirt shrinks up 4" after the first washing - shouldn't I have gotten more for my $5?!? I am also tall, so shrunken shirts, hi-water jeans, etc., just don't work for me.
Keep up the good work - thanks for the entertaining posts!
Fun post. A good pair of jeans is priceless. Wehn you find the perfect fit....buy a hundred pairs :D.
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