Work Clothes For Thin Women

[Anonymous]

I am 5'4" and 125 lbs.....I have a hard time finding clothes that fit in the name brand stores - sometimes a size 2 is too large!......

[Anonymous]

Ok people. Everyone seems to think that thin people can easily find clothes to fit. Well, I'm thin and I have a terrible time finding clothes that fit just right. I've been through stages of being heavier and I still have a hard time. My guess is that all of us women, no matter what size you are, have a hard time finding things to fit. Just because you're thin doesn't mean you have a clothes horse supermodel body!

[Anonymous]

Yes, the media and fashion industry idolize a particular thin look for high-fashion clothes worn on runways. Yes, this is BS and stigmatizes those who fall in the statistically normal range. Yes, perfectly healthy girls and women develop complexes about their weight as a result of this, and it is terrible.

But, as 20:41 said, it's also true that regular clothes are not designed for thinner women, and our needs count too. I'm sorry that bigger women get such a raw deal, but the real issue here is society's treatment of women -- all of us. In general, if we were not objectified and judged primarily as sex objects, and if we didn't tend to internalize that objectification, our clothing and other needs would be more likely to be met and we would not be reduced to this silly infighting. Curvier ladies, the answer isn't to demonize thinner women or to assume that every thin person has an eating disorder. I can't change my metabolism any more easier than you can change yours, but we can work together to change the way society views us and the way we view and treat each other.

OP, I've had pretty good luck at Club Monaco, which stocks size 00 (and their size 00 is smaller than, say, Ann Taylor's, which does run big). I'm 5'7" and 116 lbs, though, so it is easier for me. I used to be thinner, around 107 lbs, and clothes shopping was impossible in the States -- but not in Asia, where smaller sizes are normal. With your height, you might have to shop around, but if you locate some Asian brands that cater for tall women you may have it made. I have had good luck with the Taiwan-based brand Shyangan.

Good luck. I feel for you.

[Anonymous]

Department stores definitely do not stock clothing that fits thin women. I am 5'5" and 112 pounds. My main problem is that any jackets that are small enough around the waist and back are cut VERY short (because if you are small in width you must also be short??), so that the waist falls at my rib cage. I need professional wear for law practice. I have had pretty good luck with Lafayette 148 suits at Nordstrom size 2, but they are pretty expensive, so I try to buy them on sale.

[Anonymous]

I'm 5'4 and 95lbs. Shopping for clothes is extremely stressful. Guess has size 23 pants and I get a lot of my work clothes at Guess by Marciano, but I wish I had more places to shop.

[Anonymous]

I realize this is an old thread, but I sincerely appreciate the recommendations on here. I'm in my 30s, 5'5" and 100 lbs if I'm lucky, and my doctor says that's just the way I'm built. Being skinny is not a picnic. Skinny folks are judged by their weight just like overweight folks are. For my entire life, I've been hearing that I have no shape, that I'm a stick, that I'll just blow away in the wind, that I must have an eating disorder, etc.

There have been many days when I've come home from clothes shopping, and cried in frustration. The last time I shopped for work suits was ten years ago when I graduated from college. At that time, because of my size, I was forced to buy "suits" from the Juniors section at Foley's. They were typical Juniors material--cheap and cheesy--but they were the only thing that came close to fitting. It was a humiliating experience.

My inability to find (and unwillingness to suffer further in pursuit of) quality work suits was one of the factors that led to my taking low-paying, nonprofessional temp jobs and freelance work-from-home jobs for the next ten years. Any job where I didn't have to wear more than a t-shirt and jeans. (Levi's jeans actually fit me well! Though I have to order online because the stores don't usually carry my size.)

Now I'm facing an opportunity to step up into the professional world and earn a decent salary, and I am determined to find a real suit this time.

I've already found that Ann Taylor and The Limited both run too large at the waist (and the smallest sizes are impossible to find reliably). Theory and its ilk are way out of my price range--until I can actually get a professional job that will pay for the clothing, anyway. But I do see some possibility at Banana Republic and a few other stores mentioned here.

So, thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your ideas about finding decent work clothing for skinny women. With any luck, I won't be frustrated to tears this time around.

[Anonymous]

PP - I think there's a Theory outlet in Leesburg - at least there used to be a few years ago. Also some of the dept stores have pre-season sales where you could pick up a suit for 20% off. Elie Tahari is also good for thin women. J Crew suits may work for you too - but they have had some size inflation lately so not sure. It might be worth investing in a suit from Theory or J Crew or Elie Tahari - they will cost more than Banana but will last longer.

[Anonymous]

I second the Theory suits. Banana's sizes are crazy big these days -- and not very high quality. I have two THeory Suits that cost more than I wanted to pay, but they look great after owning them for 4 years each. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I have the exact same problem, i have the fastest metabolism but im still taller then other skinny girls, alot of people dont understand. i wanna help you with the clothes thing but i cant find a place that has clothes that fit the way i wish either. i wish you the best cause i know what your going through. its really not easy. everyone thinks being fat is hard, i would like to see them in our shoes.

[Anonymous]

I have found Talbots to have some great work pants, and there size is the actual correct size, meaning a 2 is a 2, not actually a 6! Not sure if they have a 0 or a 00 but you can check or maybe get them online, they are way more fashionable than they used to be
Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Another thin woman here to say that it is actually quite frustrating to purchase clothes in this country (I've heard Europe is easier but would like to find European brands here in US)! I'm 5'4", 108 lbs, with very small bust. I find it totally ridiculous that I am buying clothes that say size 2 or 0 (I'm 49 years old and my weight hasn't changed since high school, and trust me I wasn't buying sizes like that then) and even then the sizes are often baggy! The catwalk models are all thin but the clothing in the stores is for the 'typical American female' sizing and that is not thin. PS I have 2 degrees in nutrition so please don't tell me I don't know what I'm doing.

[Anonymous]

Would like to add to this thread by saying that for those of you who find it difficult to find corporate-work clothing that fits, remember the What Not To Wear folks - buy something nice as close a fit as you can get, and spend the money to get it tailored! That is necessary even for not-thin folks. I am thin but only need casual clothing for work so T shirts and jeans with belt (and darts sewn into the waist band) work for me!

[Anonymous]

Really? I'm thin and it is pretty easy to find clothes that fit. I'm also tall at 5'9". My biggest problem is finding pants long enough.

I used to be a size 12 and just LOVE the way clothes fit me now that I'm a 4/6. So much has opened up to me.

[Anonymous]

I am thin as well. I'm 5'7" 120 lbs with no hips. A size zero skirt may fit in waist but looks silly in the empty hip area. I find that Express and the Limited have the best things for me. Also sometimes I can find pants at New York & Company. All three stores carry size 0. Express even has 00 now which is too type on my pooch of a belly but fits in the hips. And dresses look silly on me because I have belly fat but no hips.

[Anonymous]

Also try the Candie's brand at Kohls. BCX brand in juniors at Macy's runs small as well.