"It makes no sense that..." - YouLookFab Forum

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"It makes no sense that..."

April

Veteran

...my calves are too skinny for almost every tall boot but too wide for almost every present-day skinny jean.

..."unscented" and "fragrance free" aren't the same thing.

..."normcore" is a fashion trend.

And what's perplexing you these days?

General

46 replies

Latest reply was from Mander

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Tighter band on your bra is supposed to minimize 'back fat' that's created by said band. How does that make sense? And while I'm at it - why can't bras be made in half sizes like 31D, or 30Dandahalf (not quite DD). Yes, that's it - I'll take a size 30Dandahalf please, thank you!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I am with you on #1, April. 110%.

And I'll add:

...that most dresses I try on are too short...and I am only 5'4"!!!!!

...that retailers keep pushing ankle pants, when the snow is knee-high.

rabbit

Veteran

I'll add one that was mentioned on another thread. It makes no sense that so many very light summer tops are see-through, necessitating an underlayer.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Lol@ Mo.

The sudden dramatic decrease in the calf circumference of most skinny jeans has me baffled, too. Last year I had no trouble finding skinnies to fit. This year, nope. Good thing there are boyfriend jeans.

rachylou

Veteran

Oh, I agree see-thru is difficult. And there is so much of it! And it's cute!

April

Veteran

@Mo -- pffft. That is all I have to say to that particular marketing ploy.

@ AZP -- high five. Thank goodness there is SOME way to combat the calf madness.

@rabbit -- Yes, the whole "hot-weather clothing that necessitates an underlayer" is a head-scratcher for sure.

@Suz -- same problem, and I'm only 5' 2".

@RL -- yes, why are the sheer tops always so darned cute?

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I have the same problem with dresses, suz, and it's like nuts! What do 5'9" ladies wear?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Dresses and skirts seem, with very few exceptions, to come in two lengths: mini or maxi. Grrrr.

Cute patterns in shorts only seem to come with a 3" inseam. Why? JCrew, I'm looking at you.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh, and slightly tangential, but it's fashion-related and a big peeve of mine:

I am taller than the "average" Amercan woman, and weigh less than the "average," yet a model who is my size (US 6-8) would be considered "plus" by modeling standards.

whirlwindgirl

I am 5'7" and I have to have all of my pants hemmed? When I was a teenager and twenty-something that wasn't the case, but now pants all seem to come in super long lengths even when they are regular sizes

And not only are so many of the cute tops sheer, but it is impossible for me to find a shelf bra camisole I like (I have three that are about three years old from Athleta and the area no longer have them, before that I had some from Eddie Bauer, also discontinued long ago.

Anonymous

Most summer blouses /tops /knits are polyester or rayon and I live in humid southern Ontario, these toppers are hot and sweaty. Where are the pretty cotton tops?

Anonymous

I'm 4'10" and I sometimes find dresses or skirts that are too short for me. Although I do have hips that are probably eating up some of the length. But still.

Summer shoes seem to come in "boardwalk" or "evening soiree" with very little in between.

So many bags have these cute little structured handles that you can't actually use if you want to have both hands free. Then they'll also have a longer strap so you can actually carry the bag, but the structured handles will either sit straight up and get in your way or fold over and look messy and useless.

Neel

Veteran

.... Flared skirts are mid thigh length on 5'4ish me. I see that many of us are encountering that. What are they? Micro minis on taller lasses?

.... flimsy tops are everywhere.

.... Almost every top I tried in the past week had super deep neck for regular use. I don't want to wear a Cami underneath. It's just too fussy and spoils the neckline. I mean I buy a v neck for a reason!

...... Sales people have no clue what they are selling.

..... Store websites show a certain item but it's not available in their retail stores. Now that's perfectly fine if the said store offered online shopping.

Mochi

Veteran

I'm extremely short waisted, yet tees and button downs are too short for me.

leopardluxe

Veteran

It seems that most contemporary jackets (especially the leather ones) are being made with longer and longer arms. Necessitating alterations or leaving me just having to be okay with pushing up or tucking under at the wrist.

I don't have tyrannosaur rex arms. According to golden ration proportions my arms are the correct length for my body size/proportion.

So how is it I keep finding jackets that fit absolutely perfectly everywhere else but the sleeves are like waaay too long (not just a little bit).

I got a leather moto last year where the fit was perfect but literally the sleeves extended more than 6 INCHES PAST THE TIP OF MY FINGERS (not my wrist --my freaking fingertips)! Seriously?! Who on earth is that made for? Do women all of a sudden have gorilla arms? And I even like my sleeve lengths to be slightly overly-long but that was just ridiculous. It also obviously was not intentionally designed to have extra long sleeves (as an avant garde style or something) because it had the zippers and studs at the wrist area.

Thank goodness for talented seamstresses but it still makes no sense that these jackets are being cut this way.

April

Veteran

I'm wondering if some of these weird proportional issues come down to retailers who are shipping their manufacturing over to low-wage countries where those same retailers are not really doing much quality control?

Mochi

Veteran

Thanks, leopard luxe! I'd totally forgotten about that maddening thing with the gorilla arms. Are most women built like that, really?

leopardluxe

Veteran

April, I think that might have something to do with it. I've really noticed it lately. Recently I ordered some BR pants online in 00P in 2 different styles (Hampton and Sloane) because I've been trying to find some more slim trouser style pants small enough to fit me without requiring alterations. I then happened to find myself in the mall shortly thereafter and thought I'd try a couple of pairs on and see if they had other colors/patterns while I was waiting for my online order to arrive.

Tried on blue Sloanes in 00P. They were oddly tight in the butt and crotch.

Tried on a pair that I had almost ordered online in wonderful kelly green Hampton fit. They were so big and droopy in the butt I looked like I was carrying around a load in my pants.

So I figured when my online order arrived of the same models/sizes in different fabric and/or color I'd be sending it all back.

Nope. They all fit great (the sloanes are a bit snugger than I prefer for a trouser but they fit well and were in my favorite pumpkin color and were on clearance for $26 so I kept them. Unlike the blue ones I tried on in store that were so snug and weirdly cut they dug awkwardly into my crotch area).

Seriously, WTH?!

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Janet, I totally hear you on the height/weight/models thing (I'm 5'8" and we're the same size) - whasup with that?

And why are all the models in the catalogs about 20 years old (now I'm looking at you, J.Crew)?

always trying

Veteran

Why are jacket sleeves so long?

Can't find a nice white, ivory or such top that is not transparent. why are all fabrics so thin and flimsy?

pants and jeans seem to be working better for me than they have in the last couple of years, so no complaints there.

Shoes are confusing-many comfy in lower price ranges, and many higher price ranges are not!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Yes, to the expensive shoes lack of comfort! Why did my almost $200 Grey City low heeled booties feel so stiff and hard on my feet? I have 3" heels that are more comfortable!

MRL

Veteran

This is a great thread, April!

if anyone finds a nice white/ivory/cream color top that is not transparent- let me know!

I have noticed that pants are getting longer. I'm 5'7" so while that has been good news for me, it's not for others. I have wondered for years why clothing makers assume that all women with a certain size waist have a certain length legs???? Men's pants have different inseam length's , but that's not common in women's clothing.

Twenty five years ago, I wore medium width shoes. Twenty five years, 10 pounds and 2 kids later I have discovered that somehow my feet got narrower (?). While some people find that shoes fit them better now, I know many women with the same problem that I have.

catgirl

Veteran

...camisoles meant for coverage show so much cleavage.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I am with you on #1, April. My 13 inch calf is very hard to fit into a tailored tall boot.

Actually, normcore makes perfect sense. It's celebrating the freedom of fashion, which is very 2014.

What makes no sense to me is seasonally confused outfits (no socks and bare legs in cold weather) - and consumers are adopting the look (street style and bloggers seem to have little trouble with this). Pumps paired with cropped pants and puffers/scarves/beanies with snow of the ground is beyond my comprehension. Pumps are my Summer shoes. (I know I run very cold and am very biased, but there it is).

I'll second the fact that really expensive shoes should guarantee comfort - but they sooooooo don't. You have to pick and choose, and be careful.

It also makes no sense that the size that is in-between regular and plus does not exist in the retail market. This is the size of the average American woman. Crazy. Such a missed opportunity.

April

Veteran

Wow, I opened the floodgates here.

I can sympathize with just about every single issue that's been raised. I haven't noticed the sleeve problem yet but I'm sure it will happen to me, like, tomorrow, now that it's been brought to my attention.

Yes, Angie -- 12-inch calves here, and yesterday I had to wrestle off a pair of skinnies by midday because they were absolutely choking my calves. They were one size up from my usual!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

April, I'm convinced that the calf measurement stays the same regardless of the size! At least that is how it seems. I am wearing a pair of calf suckers today, for boot tucking in horrid rain. And will probably have to peel them off backwards tonight, like skinning a fruit.

I'm grateful they exist in my climate, but I am going to be so glad to see the end of wearing them for the year. Yes to my BFs and even slouchier skinnies!

nancylee

Veteran

It makes no sense that almost every light color blouse these days is too sheer to wear without a cami.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Minor epiphany here - I don't have that calf sucking issue because my thighs are so much larger, and I have to fit them first! 12 1/4" calf here and never a pant that was too snug on them. NEVER.

Lisa

Veteran

I second nancylee about light color tops and needing cami's. I also don't understand why some dresses are cut just low enough to require a cami. Where are you supposed to tuck the cami into? Underwear?

Edit to add: I forgot fitting shorts. Most are jean material and I fit jeans pretty easily but shorts, they are so
hard for me to fit, often too tight in the thigh. And when I get the
waist taken in so they fit the thigh, I can't pull them up anymore
because they are too narrow to go around my bum.

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