What is your basic item of clothing that is almost impossible to buy?

[peaceanddove]

For me it has to be a flattering t-shirt. The absolute unicorn of clothing items, in my book. Caught so many glimpses of one over the years, only to find the neckline was wrong, or it was too boxy, or the sleeves cut too high, or the fabric too thin etc.

But today, I not only glimpsed a unicorn t-shirt, but I actually managed to trap it, try it on and it is actually really flattering. Honestly. So, I bought it in every colour they had, and bought 2 in black.

I feel totally elated and strangely drained. I never thought I would live to see this day.

Jackets and coats that don't squeeze my upper arms so tight the blood circulation is cut off.

I admit it I am fat. I am size 16 - and I carry a lot of weight on my upper arms. Where are all of these size 16 women with skinny arms who fit into the coats and jackets?

Nice sliders/ flip flops in a range of colours with a lovely cushioned insole and with a band across the top that is soft and does not [inch or rub. No toe posts as hey make me physically sick to even try to wear. M and S used to do lovely comfy summer sandals. Now I resort to walking sandals - comfy but not nice to look at.

Scoop necks are my go to - JL used to have some

Now the tops are higher necked

I'm glad I'm not the only one who struggles with getting longer sleeve lengths. It is disappointing that clothes manufacturers are skimping on sleeve lengths to cut costs. I have a lovely M and S jumper that I bought about 3 years ago. I wanted some more in different colours and found that they still sell this jumper, but have reduced the sleeve length by a couple of inches.

I would say that I have an average sized torso, and don't find that camis, T-shirts etc are too short. If anything I find them too long. Do most of you who find them too short have very long torsos?

Oh, and I find H & M are very good for longer limbs. DH has very long arms and legs and has had a lot of success with H & M, and oddly enough, Tesco for jumpers.

I also find M and S men's department excellent for jumpers.

Trousers in short length but not petite

@HelloDaisy

A cotton, or cotton mix, zip up, long dressing gown that doesn’t make me look 90!

My last one was from M&S but they no longer do them and all others only seem to do fleece which I can’t wear as makes me static and itchy!

I’ve been searching for months and they no longer exist…

I'd vote for this

Thank you @Moonflower12 - I will check those ones out!

I always find sleeves way too long and have to fold them over - sometimes twice (especially in Fat Face!!) As a short person with a long torso, petite ranges don't work for me. I think I need to take up sewing

@StarlightLady
They might not be your thing at all but have you seen Snag’s mock garters?
snagtights.com/collections/mock-garters

In Australia we have a couple of great brands for basics which I think you can buy online in the UK. Bonds and Betty Basics. Lots of camis and comfy underwear, nice t shirts etc.

A proper bra slip - NOT a sculpting slip - preferably in silk

Anything long enough. I'm 5'8" so not excessively tall, but trousers are too short, dress waistlines are inches above mine, tights are a no no and nothing looks right.

Also size 8 shoes that are reasonably narrow. Just because my feet are long, it doesn't mean they are wide. Fed up with slopping about in things!

Anything long enough. I'm 5'8" so not excessively tall, but trousers are too short, dress waistlines are inches above mine, tights are a no no and nothing looks right

I’m the same height. Exactly the same issue. Sleeves are often not quite long enough either!

Me too, also 5’8” but I’ve been told by several physios and the frame builder who built my road bike tgst o have a very long torso for my height. I have back issues consistent with a long back. Oh, and size 9 feet…

I bought some crop tall dungarees.

They were full length on me, but they are fantastic. I’m not being cut in half all the time. And the bin is in the right place and not across my boobs.

A good quality fitted white shirt. I've got a large bust but small waist so they're either too tight on the tits and fit my waist, or too loose on the waist but fit my tits 😢

Pretty much everything. I'm average height but with a tall body and 29" inside leg.

I'm large around the bum and tum but with a narrow waist so if trousers/jeans fit my waist they cut into me elsewhere, and if they fit elsewhere they're ridiculously huge around the waist and look awful even with a belt. If I do find that holy grail it's never available in a short leg.

I also have long arms as well as the tall body so long-sleeved tops have always run short on me and so many t-shirts are so short I've resorted to mostly buying men's t-shirts instead. Shirts are impossible because of either the sleeves or the gapping around the boobs because I have a big chest. I also have rather sloping shoulders so bra straps always slide off me and I'm constantly having to fix them, no matter how well fitting the bra is (I also struggle with shoulder bags.)

I have fibromyalgia and my skin hurts a lot of the time so certain fabrics don't work for me. Basically it's a wonder I'm ever wearing clothes but can't exactly walk around naked either.

Skinnie jeans that stay up without a belt, I have a small hip size 10 but my waist is a size 12, so to fit my hips and bum the waist are always to tight.

@Missatkins

A good quality fitted white shirt. I've got a large bust but small waist so they're either too tight on the tits and fit my waist, or too loose on the waist but fit my tits 😢

You’ve got more chance for finding a unicorn in the wild! Been looking for a white shirt for about 25 years!

@WeAllLikeVindaloo I've ordered to try that! Fingers crossed 🤞🏼

Shoes that are comfortable but not uhly in a size 9 for women

A dress. I am 57 and have owned about 10 dresses in my life ( including my wedding dress) and almost none of them suited me. My wedding dress was ok and I had two dresses that over the years I wore to work in my 30s but generally speaking dresses do not work on me at all.

Have you tried Fly London?

@VioletLemon

Have you tried Fly London?

I’m a size 9 (43) and have only ever found Fly London boots in my size once, about 5 years ago, and never shoes.

I have learned to sew and make my own clothes, but have also found it really useful for altering bought things. Putting couple of extra darts in something (to reduce the waist area) is pretty simple - and I am definitely no expert. (For those wanting a fitted white shirt).

[quote hupfpferd]@WeAllLikeVindaloo I've ordered to try that! Fingers crossed 🤞🏼 [/quote]
Good luck! I’m a GG so tried and tested with running!

I think I found my perfect t-shirt. I bought loads and wore over the summer with joggers/ pallzo pants and little skirts. It’s high neck which I like, sort of capped type sleeves which are v flattering, skims over my mum tum and I think the cut is modern and doesn’t give they frumpy mom t-shirt look.
You need to size down. It comes up pretty big. I have the x small and small and am a 10/12 with big boobs.

www.weekday.com/en_gbp/women/tops/product.prime-t-shirt-black.0361973007.html