Clothes that actually fit...
 

... me.

I know it's a common problem that's difficult to solve. I can hardly find a dress/work shirt that isn't too tight around the breasts or is so baggy (even when it has darting and a feminine cut) that it looks like I'm wearing a tent. However, with Eddie Bauer's clearance sales, I found some items that work shockingly well on me, and is finally giving me another option for work apparel than knits. It looks so good that I got more than my share of compliments today, which made me stand taller, and feel a little better about looking professional, which I haven't always been able to pull off. My pants fit wonderfully, to boot, right off the rack; another problem that has plagued me almost my whole life!

I feel so good about myself, I feel like I don't have to wait for sales there - I should just buy there for some of my office staples. (Sadly, they're having more sales, but things are so tight I can't justify the expense for a few more weeks)

Do any of you have a place that was a surprisingly great fit when you've had trouble elsewhere?

First off, yay for feeling good about yourself!

I haven't found any particular place with the perfect fit for me, but I might try Eddie Bauer now. Cuz I have boobs too! And have had some of the same fit issues you describe. Petite sizes generally work for me, but sometimes not. Do they think short automatically means flat?

Congrats Erica. I for one find jeans at Old Navy when elsewhere i have no luck. However after being on a well revising my eating habits (no not diet) and why i eat what i do when i do. I've been feeling so much better and looking better too. Lost weight and can fit into some of my old clothes again. :) So not sure where i will go to shop.

:cool: on finding well-fitting clothes that don't break the bank.

I make a lot of my clothes because a good fit is hard to find and because I have very definite ideas about what I want (princess seams in shirts, shoulder seams that end at my shoulders, not 1" down the arm, etc.).

Clothes that fit rule! I hope they last. I gave up on Eddie Bauer after I bought a bunch of stuff that didn't last more than a year before showing obvious signs of wear. Hopefully you'll have better luck!

I used to find Banana Republic clothes fit like a glove, then they started catering to more petite/short shoppers and they don't fit so well anymore. I'm not sure where I'll go to get jeans next. I've lost about 30 pounds and most of my jeans only fit if I cinch them with a belt. Otherwise, they just fall off. Even my skinny jeans are big.

Well done! :snap:

Not done yet!

Medium well?

I had moved away from Gap into Lucky Brand. However, because Lucky Brand costs so dang much I started looking for other jeans... and found that Gap released a new cut called "limited edition" that fits awesome. I used to buy Banana Republic jeans but I was never truly happy with their fit.

Yikes - I'll have to keep my eye on that!

Anyone have a good resource for affordable (around $40 or less) women's jeans with a higher waist?

Ever since standard pants went down to a "natural waist" a couple years ago, I don't like wearing jeans anymore, because they push my stomach up and over. :( I have an extra lumbar in my spine, so my natural waist is much higher. I've tried wearing up to 2 sizes larger, but it still does the same thing. (Just like low-waist jeans can cause muffin tops on some skinny gals.)

As for tops, I've started designing and making some of my own, just for fun. But, I still occasionally find something I like in the stores. :)

This thread reminds me - I have to buy some more Cassidy pants from The Limited online. I found one pair in the store that was my PEFECT size (incl short leg) and I would love to have them in many colors.

I've always thought I had longish legs but when buying pants it becomes obvious that I don't. And these actually fit my waist/hips so it doesn't pooch in the back.

Damn. They only have tan, black, and pinstripe black. :(

Check Kohl's. They carry a jean by Levi that they call a "slimming jean" but really it's a very high waist jean (compared to jeans these days). My mom has had some luck with their house brand as well (she likes high waist jeans) and they aren't "mom jeans".

Also, Old Navy and Gap online has larger sizes in all their styles. I've seen some higher waist jeans at both. If you sign up for their mailing lists they have been sending discount codes like mad. Their sites are combined, so you can buy from Gap, ON and BR and pay one flat rate for shipping ($7) and return to the stores.