Apparently I am a rarity - YouLookFab Forum

So, I applied for a job this week and immediately realized that my existing "business" clothes are really not so great. They will do in a pinch but all of my trousers are unflattering and too short, while my jackets are all too long. So this week I have been researching my options in the local stores by going around trying on all the suits in my size, regardless of the cost.

Well. The pickings are extremely slim. If I want to have trousers with PPL I need a 34" inseam. I found exactly one pair, but they were too big in the waist, too long in the rise, and not made from a very nice fabric. I haven't exhausted every single option, but I will have to make a special trip out of town to check out the other places that I know of.

Apparently there are few tall-ish plus size women who want to buy business suits. I don't even think of myself as being particularly tall, but one chain does not carry anything longer than 29"!! Even the dresses and skirts were way too short.

Originally I was joking when I said I was going to learn how to sew my own suit. I think I am going to have to, if I want something that fits well. Sigh.

14 years ago

Meredith1953

Veteran

If you sew well then you can make the perfect suit! I wish I had learned when I took home economics in high school. Alas, I didn't realize then how handy this talent might be.

rachylou

That's very surprising! 29" is awfully short to stop at. What stores did you check out?

Transcona Shannon

Serously? 29"? I wear a 29" inseam (with a bit of a heel) and I'm only 5'1! That doesn't make any sense at all.

Michelle

(website)

"Why yes, fashion buyers, hot pants are the new business formal!" 29? Seriouisly? That's madness!
That said, Mander, I feel your pain. I'm 5-8 and plus-sized, and my recent suit hunt was a total bust. Nothing was cut right, and the inseam length limit I ran up against was 32. That just won't do if I want to wear heels, which I invariably would with a suit.
That said, I'm in Canada where the selection is notoriously not so hot. Have you tried Macy's? They seemed to have quite a selection online.

Amy

I need a 34" inseam too! I have found that Ann Taylor pants work well for me. I order the tall sizes online. Unfortunately, I have to alter the waistband though.

Until you find a great pair of pants, a nice skirt works well...less tricky to fit!

Mander

It's nuts, isn't it? This was a UK chain that is popular with the old dears, so that may have something to do with it, but even so the longest they have ever carried was 31". Most of the "long" length trousers I have seen go up to 32", but if I wear any kind of heel they are too short, and I really dislike ballet flats.

I might have to just make do until the next time I go to the States to visit my family. American women do seem to be a little bit bigger than British women -- not in the sense of being overweight, but we do seem to be taller and generally more "robust", for lack of a better word. Maybe this has something to do with the lack of options?

cheryle (Dianthus)

I've always though that 32 or 33 was normal length. I bought a few suits last spring and they are about 34". One is Jones New York and the other Calvin Klein. I don't recall trying any that were short.

Micnelle, the Bay often has a really good selection of suits.

Sveta

How tall you are, Mander? There is a Long Tall Sally in UK where inseams start from 34!
I hear you on the length but if you think you have it tough needing 34" with heels: I need 34" with flats!

ManidipaM

"Maybe this has something to do with the lack of options?" --- On my first quick read, I understood this to mean British ladies are shorter because the pants in the shops are, and they keep themselves sized to fit! (Yes, I clearly need to be caffeinated asap!)

Mander, I hope you can find a Long Tall Sally near you (have a friend in Leicester' with the same problem; no personal experience, though 28 seems silly even to 4'10'' me!).

For the jackets, would it be possible to alter their hems (straight rather than curved hems might be easier)?

Scarlet

Man, I don't think I have ever in my life found off the rack pants with a 29 inch inseam. I would be so tickled that it didn't need to be altered. Sorry that I can't give you tips, Mander, because I don't know UK stores. Maybe look for a cuffed trouser that could be turned down? Consider a skirt instead? Hop over to Germany for a shopping spree? Although I just had a quick look at an online German store for plus size women and the inseam length was only 30 inches. Bizarre! You would never find that in the non-plus size store, and petite sizing doesn't even exist. What on earth could they be thinking?

christieanne

I don't know if they ship (or the cost ) for overseas but Talbot's has very nice plus size suits and dressy wear in the US.
How frustrating for you! I am an odd fit myself with short waist and big chest and plus size tops do nothing for me (except hang to my knees) but I sometimes like the fit of a plus size petite pant better than a regular even if similar in inches.

Sometimes we have to work awfully hard at this and it seems the retailers are conspiring against us.

Do you find consignment stores in the UK? I see suits in ours around here all the time as more business is going to casual wear. Might be an option if you have them.

Vibes for pants!!

DragonflyJane

Active Member

I can sympathise with you Mander. I'm 5'7 & a size 16 and have only just found a pair of trousers in a decent quality fabric that were long enough for heels & I don't consider myself tall by any means. I actually found them in a "mother of the bride" type shop locally which I wouldn't normally consider but I was desperate!

M&S trousers are always a bad fit for me & their website shows them all worn way too short on the models too I've noticed.

How about booking a (free) personal shopper in Debenhams? I did this last year & she found me 3 pairs of jeans that actually fitted well & are the right lengths! You get to relax with magazines & a coffee/glass of wine whilst the shopper does all the hard work for you! I can't recommend it enough - I find shopping quite stressful & hard work but it was great fun.

Bon Marche was the place that only went up to 29". They do tend to have a bit of an 'old lady' vibe but I have found a few things there in the past.

I think that's why I was so surprised, Sveta -- I don't really consider myself to be particularly tall, just a bit taller than average. It must be a major pain if you are even taller!

I have never considered Germany, actually. I just assumed that everything there would be the same sizes as here. But we have found ourselves there on holiday more than once, so maybe next time I'll declare a shopping day and see what I can find.

Debenham's was a bit of a bust, as were John Lewis and Fenwick's. They had very little in the way of plus sizes at all, and the personal shoppers all said they didn't really have any business suits. So far, M&S and New Look have had the best options. I don't think I've ever seen a Long Tall Sally but I'll scout around for one!

Ornella

Mander, I'm delurking for just a quick note... LTS have free shipping this weekend, try them. But, they are pricey because they are associated with niche market we tall long ladies are! They just make fun of us (so it seems to me personally) with pricing with some of the very cheap looking things. Still, you can find good things there, check SALES section thoroughly.

Next suggestion: Dorothy Perkins & Next. Both have TALL ranges and they used to sell them in the stores but seem to have moved to on-line/directory sales only. Well worth a try. I think Next has sale this weekend as well, a friend have hinted something, but better check first.

Continental brands (Mexx, InWear, Mango - this one you can find in the UK, Mexx had disappeared, I'm not sure about InWear) have long lengths too.

Good luck. I SOOO hear you!

ETA: I'd also recommend focusing on skirts as the basis for the work wardrobe, a lot less stress...

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