Fashion and Beauty Equality

[Plussizer]

With online shopping increasingly the only option for women to buy clothes, why are we happy to put up with inconsistent sizes, limited availability for plus sizes, tall women and women with wide feet? Men often have choices. We don't. M&S is classic example - tall trousers but no tall tops so we look ridiculous with a waist fitting just below our bust. New Balance trainers in 2E width easily available for men but not for women. Men pick up last season's for £40 - we have to pay top price from New Balance of £120. But at least New Balance make them!! Most of the online sellers like Amazon or Freemans state a UK size but when the item arrives it's up to 3 sizes out. Bra sizes larger than FF are hard to come by and J cup or above almost impossible. Then there is the appalling lack of control of beauty product advertising who are allowed to lie in our faces all over the media. Why do we put up with this. It's also another issue that affects poorer women who are wandering around in clothes that don't fit and unable to do aerobic sports without £50 needed for a bra. Isn't this just as important as being able to afford tampons?

I do think sizing that is honest would save us time. So in straightforward cms rather than strange concepts like XS and petite.
It’s not perfect for males though. DS is very tall and thin and needs huge shoes. He can’t buy anything on the high street, order only.

I don't understand why men's socks come in sizes but women's are nearly always "One size – fits 4–7". My feet are size 3 and I usually end up with the heels somewhere around the back of my ankles.

Agree about the lack of standard sizing and tall tops, and tall trousers have all the extra height in the leg rather than the rise too. The best sports bra I've ever found though is £9 from Asda and goes up to a G cup.

@GreenVaseline

I don't understand why men's socks come in sizes but women's are nearly always "One size – fits 4–7". My feet are size 3 and I usually end up with the heels somewhere around the back of my ankles.

And mine are size 7.5, with proportionately large ankles, so they don't fit me, either.

And don't get me started on pockets!

@GreenVaseline

I don't understand why men's socks come in sizes but women's are nearly always "One size – fits 4–7". My feet are size 3 and I usually end up with the heels somewhere around the back of my ankles.

Wouldn't you just buy kid's socks though? Older kids and smaller women's clothes sizes overlap considerably, in my experience.

GreenVaseline
I don't understand why men's socks come in sizes but women's are nearly always "One size – fits 4–7". My feet are size 3 and I usually end up with the heels somewhere around the back of my ankles.

I have the opposite problem with feet a bit bigger than a 7. Socks always seem to shrink in the wash too. I now just buy men's socks.

Ah: the grass is always greener on the other side. I have had to get down on my hands and knees in Walmart to find underwear in size small. The medium size ranges seem to sell out first, leaving XS and XL. Same for shoes. I have admired many an outfit only to find it is for plus size only. So many nice bras are not available in the smaller sizes.

I don't think it is much better for men. Only one brand and style number of jeans fits slim DP. He buys in bulk.

Re the sizing issue. I refer to the size chart measurements and hope for the best. It helps to have that outdated (woman's) skill of being able to alter clothes.

I think essentially it's because-

• Women's bodies I think have more variables. Notably breasts and how their size can be totally unrelated to the build of the woman

Combined with-

• Clothes designs for women tend to be more form fitting, less forgiving
• The speed and frequency of change of women's fashion meaning they will maximise the speed of getting new lines in the shops, they don't have to design loads of size height etc permutations which would take longer, and leaving a higher amount of leftover stock. They might make more women happy but in the end. They fit most of their target market well enough that that is where they make their money.
• Things which don't fit men so well are not as much of a problem as they often are not so tight, it's more acceptable to wear things that are a bit big or long, there's not so much scrutiny etc

The thing that has always pissed me off loads is that jeans and trousers in so many shops seem to be designed for a woman of about 5'8 who is wearing 6 inch heels. I mean yes I'm short but having more than a foot too long is just silly. I know a couple of really tall women and they say trousers being too short is a big problem. A foot too long though!!!

Personally I have always preferred shops and clothes designed for men.

Just a few nice things rather than an often overwhelming mass of colours shapes styles etc all much closer together etc etc

I like the more space in men's shops, I prefer simple designs and cuts, there have waist leg. Easy. Tops generally fitted, standard, baggier. Job done!

Obv can't wear them as 5'3 booby woman.

DDs both have men's socks.

Try being short and fat! Most plus sizes seem to be aimed at women 5ft8 and over. And those shops that do a petite range usually stop at size 16 or 18.

It's the clothes that are not right, it's not you!

I always try to remember this. When I think to myself. It does fit because I'm too short, my boobs are too big, my bum is too small with tummy too big I'm the wrong shape.

When I realise what I'm thinking if I realise I change deliberately to thinking.

It does fit because it's too long for me
This is not cut at all for short small women with big boobs
This doesn't fit because it is cut for 'pear' shape which is more common. X shop has things cut better for 'apples' which is my shape and that's perfectly fine and a fact of my build that is unchangeable.

I mean if anyone notices themselves thinking like that!