Aarrgh! Frustrations - YouLookFab Forum

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Aarrgh! Frustrations

cjh

(website)

Veteran

I know no one can help me, and I have looked online at every site I can find, but I just have to unload! No responses necessary…

I’m looking for slacks for my MIL, age 94, 5 feet tall, 160 lbs. She has specific requirements of elastic waist, pockets, not fleece, not joggers or skinny, and now she wants olive! Or at least something that’s not navy, black or brown. Ugh! (But then matching a top is super problematic.) I ordered her classic choice, and she’s swimming in the size she has worn in the past but the next size down is “too tight”, she says. There is no way she can go shopping as it took over an hour at her home to have her try on several items ordered from three different places, and there are no local sources to her home except Walmart.

Finding pajamas was hard enough but finally possible since they don’t require a perfect fit.

Anyway, as I said, no responses required. But thanks for listening.

Shopping

24 replies

Latest reply was from

Staysfit

Veteran

Is it possible to get the pair that’s too large altered a bit to fit her better?

Preppy Pear

Veteran

I am sorry - this sounds super frustrating! You are a kind daughter-in-law.

cjh

(website)

Veteran

Stays fit, I’ve thought of that but the pockets would have to go, or really it would be like remaking them instead of simple alterations.

madeline

Veteran

Have you tried Alfred Dunner?
Penney’s, Macy’s, Boscovs all carry this brand and usually have coordinating tops.

April

Veteran

Some ideas (and a ton of empathy for your project - not easy.)

https://athleta.gap.com/browse.....1&vid

https://athleta.gap.com/browse.....1&vid

https://www.jjill.com/product/.....?color=796

Chris987

Veteran

This one comes in a color called "balsam" which looks kind of like olive ... and a lot of other colors ...
https://www.appleseeds.com/pro.....6a6&a

I've shopped there for my 93 yr-old mom. There might be other possibilities at that same site.

agree with madeline to look at Alfred Dunner if you haven't already done so.

delurked

Veteran

https://www.appleseeds.com/sea.....PerPage=24

https://www.drapers.com/search.....PerPage=24

https://www.blair.com/search/w.....PerPage=24

https://www.kohls.com/catalog/.....zeRange:Pe

https://www.macys.com/shop/wom.....ort?id=157

https://www.haband.com/search/.....-size/peti

https://www.amerimark.com/anth.....nge=Petite

https://www.shopnational.com/c.....t_limit=40

https://www.talbots.com/petite.....#038;sz=36

https://www.serengetifashions......D=270,2623

https://www.coldwatercreek.com.....source=PDP

https://www.dillards.com/searc.....men-petite

Most of the above is petite, but maybe you need to focus a search on petite short? Also, there is a women's petite category for women who need a larger size and a shorter inseam. Many of these companies will have coordinating tops. As mentioned (and in a few of companies above), Alfred Dunner is a great resource. They always have coordinating tops. Plus, they have a sister brand Ruby Road you can take a look for as well.

ETA - I see Chris and I were posting about Appleseeds at the same time. Didn't think that would ever happen on this site.

A quick (not foolproof) way to see if something has pockets is that the picture will show the model with her hand in the pocket to make it more obvious to the customer.

ophelia

Veteran

Had just googled Alfred Dunner. They used to come in petite and regular but w/ short inseam. I sold a lot of this brand to older customers when I worked retail.
https://www.beallsflorida.com/.....;metaData=

nemosmom

Veteran

UGH, so frustrating! I know you said no response was necessary, but I couldn't help but share these:

https://www.everlane.com/produ.....chino-fern

https://www.everlane.com/produ.....ark-forest

and a matching top (it's a shirt) https://www.everlane.com/produ.....irt-forest

Aritzia? https://www.aritzia.com/us/en/.....olor=18257

You are a good daughter-in-law for trying to help her!

madeline

Veteran

https://www.alfreddunner.com/p.....nt-regular

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I don’t think I can pull up any better options than others have already done, but I know someone online who sews fabulous things like bog coats and jeans jackets that fit her perfectly and look amazing….. Seriously, how much harder would it be for you to make her some pants than find some for sale? Me, it’d take another 100 years, but you’re quite the sewing talent. Just a thought.

missvee

Veteran

Yes, I know the frustrations very well. My mom was very petite, so that added to the difficulty.

Have you tried Silvert’s? It’s an online company that specializes in clothing for people in retirement homes and long term care. I think most of the pants have elastic waists plus Velcro closures, which allow for weight gain/loss, or temporary bloating. Nothing is particularly trendy, but it’s durable.

Good luck!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

It's soooo frustrating! I empathize

Lots of great suggestions. I will add two sites that I've used for my Dad in the past:

https://www.silverts.com/shop-.....AYASAAEgKi

https://www.buckandbuck.com/

Suz

(website)

Veteran

This is so tough. I also shopped for my mother when she was in her 80s and 90s and disabled/ unable to get out. She had similar requirements for pants although she thankfully was an easier size (taller and slimmer). But in any case, we had luck at Land's End. These are not in olive, and for your MIL, they' might still have to be hemmed (though they are petite), but this style worked fo my mom. https://www.landsend.com/produ...../id_106981?

Another style, not knit: https://www.landsend.com/produ.....ibutes=199. They come in something called "forest moss."

And these -- warmer, though also knit: https://www.landsend.com/produ.....s/id_46374?

Sloper

Veteran

I hear you, I hear you!!!

The only other source I can think of is National, though I didn't find olive.
https://www.shopnational.com/u.....knit-pants

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Is tan ok or is it too brown? Kettlewell has these knit pants with elastic waist in a lot of colors, but stock is really low right now. They’re a perennial style there, so I assume new colors will come out soon. https://www.kettlewellcolours......y-trousers

ETA. Arg. If ylf permitted deletions, I’d take this down—no pockets in those pants!

Kate

Veteran

Alfred Dunner is a great source. The only issue is you won't have pockets (at least in my memory of them) in the classic straight leg pull-on pant. But it's a good pant, comes in a decent array of sizes (up to 18, I think) colors and patterns, and runs roomy. The wear like iron and wash up nicely. The price point is very reasonable and they are widely available.

I know when my sister and I used to buy them for our mother, they offered regulars, shorts, and petites.

https://www.alfreddunner.com/p.....color=Oliv

CarolS

Veteran

I don't think I can add anything more than has already been suggested here, but I can certainly empathize. I do hope the pants fairy visits soon with something that will fit the bill.

rachylou

Veteran

Argh. Yes. My two thoughts also were Alfred Dunner and Carol Wright and Lands End. Maybe having something made wouldn’t be the worst idea…

Fern

I used to buy my mom LL Bean “perfect fit” pants and she had the same criteria. Looks like they have “thyme” as a color; looks like olive to me. My mom liked any color as long as it was black.

Anonymous

Suz has already mentioned Lands End. They have a variety of pull on pants in different fabrics and colors with coordinating tops and toppers.

On some they will even hem pants to your specifications. You can search the site by color name to find out what else they have. A lot of pants are available in crops for summer, but that may be full length for her. Try second hand shops. I found pants with elastic waists and fairly slim today second hand and full length. The brands I bought were good…Royal Robbins, Anthropology and Everlane. I think I am fine with tops and toppers for these. There is a lot available in olive. If Lands End does not work, try LL Bean and Eddie Bauer. I bought some
burgundy Ponte pull-on pants Talbots brand last winter and have liked them, even if they are burgundy. At that time I also got olive Ponte Eileen Fisher brand pull ons at a consignment shop and a navy which had to be shortened. Good luck. Find out if pockets are a must.
If washed in commercial washing machines and super hot dryers, things will fade and shrink. Just something to consider.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

H&M has 19 pull-on style pants from $10 to 50 in their Conscious line. Here are a couple she might like. The light ones are sold out above L online, but maybe they’re in stores. Dark ones are available up to size 18. Also a light blue pair; maybe they'll work with the same things she wears with navy. https://www2.hm.com/en_us/wome.....ge-size=36

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Anonymous

Nothing more to add, but sorry for your frustration!
If you do order from Kettlewell, size up, cause they have European sizing.

Anonymous

Found some!
https://www.nordstrom.com/s/ca.....te/6519683