OP again, now that the people telling me how gross I am or that I shouldn't even need to ask this question have (hopefully) lost interest in this thread, I wanted to say how excited I am for all the ideas you have given me, from Leesburg to London, cheap to expensive designer.

I'd come to dread shopping, not even because the best-fitting clothes are more expensive but simply because I'd lost the patience to dig through the racks, or to have sales assistants bring me piece after piece that didn't fit. I realized that I was probably not looking in the right places so armed with your ideas, I'm going to start shopping. A thousand thanks.

My only parting request is that anyone who wants to comment further on London Lady or other random topics would also add her two cents worth of advice!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:European designers. They have not had the size inflation we have. Armani Exchange for one, still cuts true to size. You missed the January sales but it might be worth running over to London for the weekend for just this reason. Also try Les Copains, Chanel, etc . Theory also seems to run a little smaller as someone else pointed out, and possibly Elie Tahari.

In my pre-kids and (particularly) pre-post 40s metabolism slow down I had exactly your problem. Now, I'm 5'4" and 120-125 lbs and wear a size 2 in most American designers. Yeah, right... In London I am at least a 10.

Gimme a break.

Hey, London Troll -

I'm 5'7" and weigh 125. I'm a 6 or an 8. So how are you a 2 - even by our "American" standards?

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks 12:07 and 12:23 for the responses. There is no "problem" (13:24) other than that my work wardrobe is starting to scream "mid 90's". Will start my search with Ann Taylor and Banana Republic (have had some success in the past with both).

I don't know if "the fashion industry caters" to people who are 5'8" and weigh 103. I'm just looking for brands, stores, etc, that would work at my workplace and that might fit. If I have to resort to alterations (thanks for the tip 12:07) then so be it.

12:49, I wandered into Lane Bryant once as a teenager, not knowing who the store catered to. I got some strange looks...

Are you sure you didn't transpose the 0 and 3?

For the first time in my life, I rely on department stores.

Seriously, I don't have time to shop anymore. I used to shoo salespeople away, and now I want to be effeciently waited on while people who know something about style bring things to me!

Nowdays I go right in and announce I'm a working mom and I have exactly on hour... I need "three pairs of pants and three blazers in the XXX price range. Here are some things I've picked out. Can you suggest other things that might work with my butt/stomach/shoulders/whatever?" I try to approach someone who seems to "get it" right away, and I'm not shy about asking someone else if my first pick isn't pulling stuff that suits me.

But I'm always polite. Folks work hard, and I appreciate it. I got shopping for me maybe three times a year and I really do have about an hour or two to get it all done!

Macy's and Nordstroms haven't let me down.

I too am rather thin and have trouble finding stylish, well-fitting clothing -and here is the key- doesn't cost a fortune. Yes, I am well aware that high-end designers cut for smaller proportions, but I cannot afford, nor do I want, to wear Chanel and Valentino to work.

I have had decent luck with J.Crew - they run great online sales on out-of-season suits. Ann Taylor runs too big (and pants are too short) for me. Zara works, but the quality is not that great. Banana Republic runs a little big, but will do in a pinch.

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks 12:07 and 12:23 for the responses. There is no "problem" (13:24) other than that my work wardrobe is starting to scream "mid 90's". Will start my search with Ann Taylor and Banana Republic (have had some success in the past with both).

I don't know if "the fashion industry caters" to people who are 5'8" and weigh 103. I'm just looking for brands, stores, etc, that would work at my workplace and that might fit. If I have to resort to alterations (thanks for the tip 12:07) then so be it.

12:49, I wandered into Lane Bryant once as a teenager, not knowing who the store catered to. I got some strange looks...

Sorry OP, I'm not sure why people are being ao hostile to you. I'm 5'8 and weigh 110 pounds. I like Theory suits and when I'm looking to update my wardrobe I head to Bloomingdales and try a variety of different brands to see what fits best. Also, generally I find that European brands fit me much better. The lower priced American clothing lines like Old Navy and Gap are cut really large so when I need some lower priced basics I go to Zara.

Don't feed the London troll

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, but I go to London for the weekend on a fairly regular basis. I've even taken my four year old along. Didn't realize DCUMers couldn't find their way off Route 7.

You could just as well take the Bolt Bus to NYC for the weekend and get your shop on there. The choices are just as good if not better... and you could spend more on clothes when you're not shelling out a grand for your plane ticket.

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, but I go to London for the weekend on a fairly regular basis. I've even taken my four year old along. Didn't realize DCUMers couldn't find their way off Route 7.

Good for you. I travel outside the US routinely, with and without my children--but not for a pair of pants. Suggesting someone go to London for a weekend is absurd, and you know perfectly well that it isn't the norm to go for a weekend of shopping.

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, but I go to London for the weekend on a fairly regular basis. I've even taken my four year old along. Didn't realize DCUMers couldn't find their way off Route 7.

Well isn't that special. Could it be that the "Gimme a break" was a comment on the cost of a transatlantic flight for "the weekend" in order procure clothing? Your entitled tone is incredible.

Sorry, but I go to London for the weekend on a fairly regular basis. I've even taken my four year old along. Didn't realize DCUMers couldn't find their way off Route 7.

I'd try the outlets in Leesburg, or Tysons Galleria before I jet off to London for the weekend, but maybe that's just me....

OP, 19:25 here. Glad to hear it's your normal weight. And a bit envious, I run like a fiend to stay at 135! Anyway, like a PP said, check out Theory, too I forgot that one. Bebe used to be good, but think you'll have tough time now, they seem to have stopped doing much office clothing. Theory does run small, but they have great suits. Also, Barneys has an in-house label with great suits that also run small, you can buy them online or at the outlet in Leesburg (ditto for Theory).

Good luck, have fun shopping!

Anonymous wrote:European designers. They have not had the size inflation we have. Armani Exchange for one, still cuts true to size. You missed the January sales but it might be worth running over to London for the weekend for just this reason. Also try Les Copains, Chanel, etc . Theory also seems to run a little smaller as someone else pointed out, and possibly Elie Tahari.

In my pre-kids and (particularly) pre-post 40s metabolism slow down I had exactly your problem. Now, I'm 5'4" and 120-125 lbs and wear a size 2 in most American designers. Yeah, right... In London I am at least a 10.

Gimme a break.

European designers. They have not had the size inflation we have. Armani Exchange for one, still cuts true to size. You missed the January sales but it might be worth running over to London for the weekend for just this reason. Also try Les Copains, Chanel, etc . Theory also seems to run a little smaller as someone else pointed out, and possibly Elie Tahari.

In my pre-kids and (particularly) pre-post 40s metabolism slow down I had exactly your problem. Now, I'm 5'4" and 120-125 lbs and wear a size 2 in most American designers. Yeah, right... In London I am at least a 10.