I have found the answer in jeans - PZI jeans - first time I could wear jeans that actually fit without a gap in the back. My sizes are something like 28-43 and I wear a 10 in thier sizes. I was used to wear everything bulky and my husband was a bit in shock and these - they are a youthful fit - which means tight so order up I say based on thier sizes unless you are "youthful". The other thing I recommend is getting on the mailing list b/c the jeans start out high but "members" get pretty big discounts. I got mine for all about $39.

The pants I bought from them didn't fit at all though - still baggy in the waist. I remember seeing somewhere a company that would make custom jeans and pants for about 80-100 each.

Maya, to answer your question (and I don't mind you asking!), my chest is a 32DD (and in some brands, I need a DDD). I generally wear a size 4 and my measurements are 36-27 (maybe 28?)-36. Like many of the others on this thread, I'm definitely curvy, but I'm not overweight. I do think that at some point magazines started using the word "curvy" as a euphemism for overweight. That's not fair to overweight women--it isn't like there is *one* body type for larger women--and it isn't fair to curvy women who are smaller.

Back to brands, I forgot to mention my absolute favorite jeans style: Joe's Jeans in the Honey style. They are the only jeans that work with my butt (which isn't wide, but rather sticks out in the back) and my thighs, which are very muscular. As a warning, they do tend to be very low-waisted.

Angie, as for Pink Tartan and Theory, maybe it does come down to the individual item. A lot of the Pink Tartan pieces that I own are dresses that have some stretch in them, so that could help. But I also own a woven shirtdress, a button-down shirt, and a woven high-necked dress that all work on me. As for Theory, I do find that most of their tops are not cut for a more generous chest. However, their bottoms seem to work with my butt and thighs. I rarely wear pants because I think my muscular thighs tend to look heavy in them, but I do have a pair of Theory suit pants that I think are flattering, and I have a good amount of luck with their skirts.

Excellent topic, Sarah, and I'm reading this with interest to see if I can get pointers for pants (already took a mental note to try the new Gap curvy jeans.)

I'm very curvy in the hip/butt area (though not in the chest) at a size 8, and struggle a lot with finding well-fitting pants, both jeans and smart casual pants like micro checks. I don't have a big need for dressier pants (though I think Ann Taylor and the Loft have decent options of those for curvier girls, so they are pretty much my go-to store when I need more "businessy" pants). Otherwise I haven't found any stores/brands that I can turn to consistently, and there are lots of stores where I don't even try pants because I know they are made for slim-hipped women and are also way too low-rise for my taste and comfort.
Interestingly, I have a little better luck with pants in Germany; it seems like they offer more pants that are higher rise and better fitting for curvy hips/butts. I can't recommend a specific brand, it's just that overall I find more pants to try on there than here. I'm not sure this is a general phenomenon or somehow just my impression or what I find.

Anyway, sorry, no tips to share, except to encourage you to wear lots of skirts and dresses (which I know you do anyway), which look SO fabulous on you and go perfect with the curves. And I'll check back to see what others recommend...

It's good to "see" you, Antje!

**I wanted to make a point to clarify my topic title. I hope I didn't come across as complaining that you all, YLF, and especially Angie make me feel left out. I was just trying to be clever and catchy with my title. I certainly don't feel "left out" here at all! In fact, I was a mess fashion-wise before YLF because I had no idea how to dress my body shape at all.

Antje, try BCBG trousers. They occasionally have more casual fabrics and cuts in the store. I wear the dressier trousers now, but have had some of the solid cotton trousers in the past. And definitely try the curvy jeans at Gap. I will post pictures of mine in my outfits of the week post no later than Monday.