Stuck In The Middle

Dear Glinda,

One fashion problem I run into is that I am 40 years old and the clothes I find available in the mall are either for teeny boppers or the nursing home. If I can find anything in my size, which leads to...
Fashion problem #2: Finding fashionable clothes in a size above a 12 is really a challenge. The "plus size" stores usually have things in 20w and above. There isn't a lot of choice for those of us that are 14s and 16s. We're too big for the clothes sold at the Gap, NY, NY and Lerner and too small for Torrid and Lane Bryant.

-In The Middle

Dear In The Middle –

If I could I would beat the heck of out everyone who works in the fashion industry. It’s a bunch of fat men telling us we need to be a size 0. Luckily the voices of those who are denied fashionable choices are being heard. Stores like Banana Republic are now carrying pants, tops, dresses in larger sizes.

It’s more of a hunt when you have curves. It’s like being left handed – the world isn’t made for us (try being curvy and left handed – damn bastard genes). Fashion will just not be easy until you figure out your hotspots of finding fashions. You have to get into shopping and get into the hunt and try and make it exciting and fun for yourself.

It’s also important to recognize that stores that carry more “trendy” items are really not going to be somewhere you will want to shop. What you are going to be looking for is more timeless looks as opposed to stuff that will be out of fashion next season.

I would also hunt on the mall stores websites it seems to be in vogue now for the online retailer to carry plus sizes while the bricks and mortar retailer does not. I’d just check their return policy and order some stuff to see how it fits and go from there.

Fashionably,

Glinda