To be royally pissed off with retailers who don't stock size 16 work-out gear!

[Vagabond]

I am hardly obese but find it impossible to find anything that is flattering or looks nice. I'm just trying to get fit! That's supposed to be good? Right?

I went into Sweaty Betty only to be told that all their size 16s had sold out. Hello! Message to retailers - size 16 is the average size of British women. Where is the stuff that I WANT! So pissed off and humiliated. The sales assistant was great and apologised but still....

All I can say is thank goodness I didn't try on the size 14 she suggested! No need to heap on the humiliation, my dear

Stays on sofa, munches crisps in abject defeat

Next do different leg lengths in joggers and go up to a size 22. I always find them quite long even at regular length.

I went into Sweaty Betty only to be told that all their size 16s had sold out. Hello! Message to retailers - size 16 is the average size of British women.

Presumably they had sold out becasue size 16 is the average size of British women hence the popularity of that size.

Why not buy online, sweatty betty is always in stock in most sizes online.

Why on earth you want to pay so much money for SB's over priced, poor quality gym clothes is beyond me. They fall apart after a few washes.

A decent pair of trainers and a sports bra is all you need. The rest, buy whatever. Nike isn't massively expensive for their basic gym clothes.

Why would you feel humiliated because the shop has sold out of your size? That's not really a reflection on you, is it?
I was a size 18-20. I bought a swimming costume in Primark and some stretchy trousers in Asda's and dieted and exercised myself into a 12-14.

I think you're being unreasonable, OP. The designers have every right to restrict the sizes of their designs. I agree that 16 isn't huge but perhaps they have agreed a certain number to be sold and don't want the majority of people wearing their stuff to be a size 16, which would possibly happen as it's the average UK size.

You don't have to wear an oversize t-shirt, one that fits you but enables you to move will be just fine, ditto the bottoms.

I think you're making excuses or you just wanted to chat. Make it possible for yourself to go to this gym class - or put as many stumbling blocks in the way. I personally don't care - but you do, or say you do.

Wow there are some snidey 'size-ist' comments on here! - I say that as a size 16....... with a BMI definitely below 30 (thanks to whoever suggested that I'm probably obese due to being a sixe 16) but I am almost 6ft tall.

Ok for the fact that the shop may have just sold out exactly because it is a popular size.
My interpretation (sorry OP if I'm wrong) is that she wants to get fitter, has said she'll go along to the exercise class and is now maybe feeling a bit nervous about it and wanted to feel good in some nice new stuff to wear when she goes. Is that really so hard to understand?

A company generally needs to sell all its stock for a clothing line to be profitable.
This means that at some point, all sizes will sell out, and one size will sell out first. They might make more of the most popular size, but it still might be the size that sells out first. Anything that is left at the end of the season still needs to be sold so they get put on sale.

I think you are being both unrealistic and unreasonable.

I think you would have something to complain about if they didn't make your size, but thats not the problem in this case.

Try someone less expensive. Over the years I've bought excercise gear from Soccer Sports, JJB, Wiggle (online), Asda...anywhere that sells it. It doesn't have to be pretty, it just has to be comfortable.

And with any luck you won't need a size 16 for too long so no point on spending loads on it

I did feel like a bit of a monster many years ago when I went to buy some 'step' trainers for my first step class. I was told that 'they don't make them in your size', try the mens' section'. Ooh the humiliation! But years later and I don't give a flying toss what sex my shoes are as long as they are comfortable for running - have pastel purple sections doesn't make them any better, they just show the mud worse

This is a non issues surely?

You went into one shop and they had sold out of one size. That doesn't amount to a conspiracy.

Shop online is my advice.

pineapple at debenhams seem to go to an 18

I like their trackie bottoms to sit on the sofa in

TKMaxx is great for quality workout gear in lots of sizes - it's worth spending money on a decent pair of trainers but you can pick up the rest there for half price.

But YANBU for wanting flattering exercise wear to cheer you up at the beginning of your exercise plan. That's when you really need to feel good about yourself.

Hmmm I think some people have some very odd ideas about dress size and obesity! I'm a size 14 (and some places a 16) and my "BMI" (if it actually means a jot for probably about 90% of the population in reality) is 24. When I was a 16 in everything it was 25/26.

Some people are so obsessed with dress size/weight and other people's dress size/weight. It's excruciatingly pathetic.

OP YANBU it's annoying, I'm convinced when I go shopping that my OH phones ahead to the places he thinks I'll likely go to and tells them to hide everything in my size. (Unless, of course, it's nice underwear.)

grrr - I am size 24 and want to wear proper sportswear - not cotton. Cotton does not wick moisture, it absorbs it and holds it against your skin. I sweat a lot, but yeah, I get the message - fat b@stard, fuck off...or wear clothes that make you even hotter. Still I should be pleased I am not stoned on the street when I dare to venture out with my high BMI obese body

YANBU!!

I agree. I'm a size 14 in most clothes, but gym gear is made so small that I'm usually a 16 or XL or whatever.

Many brands don't even make these sizes so although I am the annoying beeatch down the front of the gym class who kicks ass and loves looking at herself in the mirror, there are many styles I can't wear because they don't exist in my size.

Baggy t-shirt? Er, no. Totally impractical, uncomfy and sweat retaining. I don't want dark, heavy sweat patches on my clothes, going cold and horrible during recovery periods. I don't want a loose item that will flap about and reveal my stomach as I jump about. Yuck! I want lightweight, skin fitting, stretchy gear, designed for the purpose.

And it's a no brainer that having lovely gear does motivate you to go to the gym. Why the feck anybody should be told to wear their husbands old tshirt I do not know - you are allowed to actually enjoy the gym you know.

By the way - Primark have an amazing sports bra out just now - it's called 'Rock Solid' and is based upon the shock absorber design, but is actually even better in my opinion. It's for D cups to F cups only.

It looks the biz too, as it's black with fluoro pink piping.

It holds me like no other, and I'm a DD.

All for £8, what's not to love.

YANBU at all. I'm a sturdily built size 14/16 who exercises 5-6 times a week. BMI well below 30 - I'm just muscular

I find shops often don't have a big stock of 16s, and it's really frustrating. We're not all teeny-tiny 5'2"s, after all! But Sports Direct often has decent stuff in my size at good prices.

Damn this thread. I've got a sportswear shopping twitch now.

Hello! OP here thanking you all for your comments. Duffy and Morris and OThe....thank you specially (and I'm sorry if I forgot any posters down-thread).

It is clear to me that few women under size 16 understand the frustration we plus size girls experience when we try to shop for clothes. Let's not forget that we buy clothes to make us feel better about ourselves. Imagine how bad it feels when you're told that they don't have your size. Ouchy! You hardly feel better, do you?

I'm astounded by the comments that I should just wear a sloppy t-shirt and get on with it. Don't they realise that it's all about being in the right state of mind?

I've recently reduced from a size 20 to a size 16 so I feel great about my achievement so I don't particularly like it when I'm told that I'm fat and need to get off the sofa. I've already done that. I'm TYRING.

My story about not being able to buy my size is not based on one experience. It's based on two years of it. Please don't patronise me by telling me that I'm trying to 'find excuses' to munch on crisps on the sofa and crap like that because I can't find the right clothes. Why would I ask if I didn't care?

And why would you want to hurt me, knowing that I do care?

I thought this was supposed to be as supportive forum for women?

I am very petite. I have plenty of trouble finding clothes in my size. As in, most retailers don't make them small enough. And if they do, they don't accomodate my boobage, as obviously being small mens you have the figure of a boy. And we'll ignore the problems with my height. You are deluding yourself if you think big women are the only people who struggle to find clothes that fit. Thats just playing the poor hard done by pathetic card.

They make clothes in your size. They had just sold out of them. And your having a sulk about it. You could shop online to find the same stuff - chances are with a bit of effort you'd find a stockist.

And then you have a pop at women who aren't your size because they suggest something else and you happen to not like any of them. And make some rather ill informed and nasty remarks about smaller women.

-sigh-

Go figure. Not got a lot of sympathy for your attitude.

To me the 'right state of mind' doesn't depend on the clothes I am wearing. It depends on me making the maximum effort with no excuses.
I'm now size 12-14, I still haven't gone out and bought any trendy sports wear. I don't need it.
And if you were serious about laying on the settee eating crisps because your favoured retailer had run out [not didn't stock] of your size then you don't really deserve any sympathy.

Cherry Topping.... seriously?

You use expressions like "deluded", "hard done by", "pathetic" and "sulking" to describe me when all I want is to buy work-out clothes. I'm just trying to do something good for myself. Can't you see that!?

I could say to you: "Shop in the children's section and shut up, you petite, fascist, size-ist cow - boys or girls' options both available at Mothercare". But I would never insult you that way.

Honestly. I just wouldn't. You also have your cross to bear. It must be soooo hard being soooo tiny. Have a and eat a croissant.

fatlazy..... it was a joke! The bit about the sofa.... it was supposed to be an ironic statement to express my exasperation. Gah! Pretty obvious.

Maybe I would like to wear the same brands as you and anyone else. But I can't. They have plenty of stuff in your size on their website. And you are still whining...

You have just insulted people by saying that woman under size 16 don't understand how difficult you find it to but clothes that fit you. Thats rather patronising don't you think?

FWIW, I'm not fit. It would be nice to buy work out clothes too. But hey I'm just lazy and admit that. I'm not so precious that I have to wear a particular brand or scream wwwaaaaaa its not fair.

You're a real charmer, Cherry. I'm warming to you by the minute.

FWIW, I fee sympathy for you too. Petite sizes are also under-catered for. Somehow, it just feels like a daintier problem

TBH, the nature of AIBU threads are 'whiney' so cut me some slack, eh? Of COURSE I'm whining! I was hardly going to post this subject on a fashion thread?!

DH suggests having a look at www.patagonia.com (go to EU site) or www.prana.com for some nice work out stuff. They do sizes 4 - 20. Prana is stocked at Go Outdoors. He thinks patagonia is still stocked at Cotswold Outdoors Stores (they used to be at least and from memory I know their rockbottom outlet stores frequently have size 16 in as it tends to get overlooked as a place to shop). Its in the same sort of price range as Sweaty Betty. Both are high quality decent stuff (reflected in the price of course - its not the cheapest). Some of the stuff is similar in style to Sweaty Betty, some of it is more outdoor style clothes.

Patagonia is a general sports brand, but in the UK they are better known for being outdoors stuff. Prana are a yogo/climbing brand.

Might give you somewhere else to consider instead if that helps at all.

I cut slack, if its fair point. But I thought you were reading too much into other posts in your post at 20:10:04 and being quite patronising, and it really annoys me when bigger women seem to think smaller ones have it easy and were having a pop. We all want to look good in what we wear and just about everyone has hang ups about their body. Especially if we are exercising and feel a bit exposed. Don't make assumptions that people are always being sizest.

I think the thing with MN, is you'll get support and sympathy more depending on how your attitude comes across rather than your actual whinge.

Thank you Cherry. I will look up your links. Zumba!