I so admire people with style. People who can pick out outfits and know they’ll look good before they even try them on. Actually, I also admire people who can try on clothes and know whether or not they look good. I’d probably be out in public wearing something like this and not know that I was making a fool of myself. Wait, wait. That’s kind of not accurate – I always feel like I’m making a fool out of myself because I know that I have no judgment when it comes to clothes so I constantly think that whatever it is I’m wearing, it must be The Wrong Thing.
Anyway.
The other thing is that I’m Plus Sized (I had written a whole huge long paragraph here detailing WHY I’m plus sized, but guess what? It doesn’t matter. I just am). It is very, very difficult to find plus sized clothing around here. There are two choices: Walmart or Pennington’s. Walmart’s clothes are all either very tweeny or very old-ladyish and almost all look like someone took a Bedazzler to them, but at least they’re cheap (if I’m spending $100 on clothes I had better have at least five items in my cart). Pennington’s aren’t that much better, but it’s around $75 for one shirt. I refuse, absolutely REFUSE, to do that. I’ve tried eBay, which has worked fine for *some* things but not for others. Yes, I realize that What Not To Wear says to buy a few “classic” things and then you can wear the same clothes forever, but that’s never worked for me. And either the clothes I’m wearing are too cheaply made (probable) or I’m just way too hard on clothes (also probable), because I was looking through what I have right now and what’s wearable to work? Almost nothing. I have one long-sleeved shirt, one sweater, two pair of capri’s, a t-shirt (which, it’s getting colder and colder and I can’t get away with those for much longer) and a pair of pants (which needs hemming at the moment – I was wearing them last Spring and noticed that one leg had suddenly gotten much longer. The hem had let go. Damn Walmart clothes). I have one pair of shoes. They’re pretty good shoes, not Naot shoes by any stretch, just a pair of black Doc Martens mary janes, but still. One pair. Plus my sneakers.
This will not do.
But where to get clothes that don’t look foolish? As I said, there are very very few options when it comes to brick-and-mortar stores around here.
But then Carrisa posted about how she spent $80 and got a buttload of really nice clothes on Old Navy’s website. I thought Wait! There’s an Old Navy here! Okay so it’s an hour and a bit away, but it’s still in the same province as me! and for a second I was happy. Super happy. EXTRA super happy. And then I remembered: They don’t sell plus sizes in the actual store. Whatever! That’s alright! I can order online! If stuff doesn’t fit I’ll just send it back! (in my thoughts, I exclaim alot).
Eh, yeah. Not so much. Oldnavy dot CA (the Canadian website) has no option for buying online (unless there is and I missed it, in which case, let me know, so that I can feel like an idiot but then buy some damn pants).
Next I tried registering at oldnavy dot com, and guess what? They wouldn’t let me. Because I live in Canada.
So it looks like I will be wearing the same outfit five days a week all winter. Hopefully the kids don’t notice, or if they do, they just think it’s a new school-uniform thing, only instead of for students, it’s for teachers! And not all teachers, just me!
Yeah, that’s the ticket.
ok, here is what you do. E-mail me with the items you want to order then let me do it thru the US. I will have them shipped to me and then forward them on up to you! It really is not a problem as I can easily ship items from my work. I could send it via US Mail since UPS charges high custom fees. And you can trust me because I have passed a background check for some volunteer work I do!
Nancy
My mother and I have found some pretty elegant plus-size clothes at Reitmans, and their prices are decent if you catch a good sale. They’re better than Penningtons for that, anyway.
Anyway, hi! I landed here looking for wig-care tips and was pleased/amused to find another wig-wearing teacher from the Maritimes. So, here I am in solidarity.
I FINALLY got some new clothes while on my vacation this week. There are outlet stores near where we stayed in New Hampshire, so I waited so I could buy more than just one item. I’ve gained a lot of weight, and for almost a year I’ve been wearing the same too-small things week after week. After trying on stuff in one store, and leaving feeling disgusted, I had some luck at Dress Barn. They have a great woman’s department! I don’t know if you can order from them online in Canada, but here’s a link that might help: http://plussize.lovetoknow.com/Dress_Barn_Woman
I have 5 tops and 2 pairs of capris. I wear the exact same things every week, but I least I can change it up a little!
I never had luck with Old Navy. Maurices is my favorite place.
You know where I stand on clothes buying… but I, too, am getting tired of wearing the same thing all the time. Plus, I have lost enough weight this year that all my shirts are oversized and baggy. I never thought that was a bad thing but, really, it doesn’t look good when you are trying to impress your “office crush”. LOL
My problem is I don’t want to buy any more clothes until I lose the weight I want to lose but it’s taking too long.
I was gonna suggest what Nancy did, but if you are scared to order online, I get it. Even though Old Navy will take them back via mail no questions asked. It’s probably still a hassle. I would play it safe with tops, but stay away from their jeans.