Hmmm . . . you know I walk by the Friendship Heights store nearly every day and, though I've never been in there (the ignominy, the humiliation is unbearable to contemplate), the window displays actually look not so bad. I'm early 50s and size 4/6. I usually shop at Bloomingdales, Nordstrom and boutiques, but maybe I'll throw caution and upper NW street cred to the wind and walk through those Chico's doors sometime. (I'll be the woman in the blonde wig, big dark glasses and treanch coat).

Chicos = clothing for retired old women in Florida who want to prove that they're still spunky

Agreed. Chicos started out with wonderful universally wearable normal jackets with pockets and full sleeves. They appear to be now manufacturing in sweat shops - awful fabric that looks like you're wearing upholstery, sloppy button stitching, hideous 3/4 sleeves too short to actually be called that. I agree about the terrible shiny fabrics and the low-low-low cut everything. We call it Cheap Hoes. Really, I have had to have a tailor remake every single item, and have had to have every necklace re-strung. One of the saleswomen told me "frankly, you're just not our type. We design for the 50ish short plump grandma. You got that right. Goodbye, Chicos.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a store for old ladies who think they are "funky" and also want to deny their actual mass with the weird sizing.

You need to leave this area if you think the "funky" ladies shop at Chico's.

Easy there. She said "old ladies who THINK they are funky". Big difference.

The prints are awful. Absolutely terrible. And most of the cuts are boxy and unflattering to me. I think they're designed for "apple" shaped bodies -- heavier on top and around the middle -- not "pear" or "hourglass" shapes.

That said, I'm almost embarassed to say how well their "So Slimming" skinny jeans fit me. Great dark wash, just the right amount of stretch, and a very flattering fit at the waist.

I love the cotton cargo in the summer, they are comfortable and pretty and make me look cute

Anonymous wrote:It is a store for old ladies who think they are "funky" and also want to deny their actual mass with the weird sizing.

You need to leave this area if you think the "funky" ladies shop at Chico's.

Anonymous wrote:i'm embarrassed to admit that i went through a chico's phase in my 20s! i shudder to think about it, but i was 20 lbs. heavier and, for some reason, thought my mom had fashion sense. anyway, a very good (and brave) friend told me it wasn't acceptable. Thank you. and now i never listen to my mom's fashion advice...i'd be wearing khaki's and a navy blue blazer everywhere with pearls and "cute" shoes. ugh. remember carroll reed?

That was me too! Now I'm almost 50 and I shop small boutiques - there are a lot of cool shops at the Delaware beaches (ESP Rehoboth). And of course the outlets. No TAX. DKNY, Talbots, mixed with stuff from Carleton's and other small labels. More organic / natural fibers that way too.

Anonymous wrote:size 14 in no way equals a 2x. A 1x is usually at least a 16.

The new size 14 is size 18 = 2x.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Sorry, but nobody 62 years old and 40-50 lbs overweight is wearing Gap. Gap 2x? Ann Taylor makes Plus 2x? I think you are overesitmating your mom's extra weight. 200 lbs?

I said 30-40, not 40-50! She wears a size 14, not 2x! At her height, an ideal weight is 130, and she is around 165.

Seriously, the poster thinking someone who is 40-50 pounds overweight wears a 2x has no idea of sizing these days! I suspect you need to be at least 100 lbs overweight to even get to 1x.

Thats pretty funny unless you like the plump sausage look!

I've found some cute pieces there from time to time, and now that I have a child I tend to shop there more because it's very close to wear I live. Overall, however, I'm just not a Chico's kind of gal. I'm not a hater, but my style is a little more JCrew or Banana republic. My mother -in-law is a big fan of Chico's. She's heavy set and their drapey fit and chunky jewelry just looks better on her than on me.

Love the "and then there's Maude" comment; makes me just picture Bea Arthur turning around in some ugly Chicos-like 70's muumuu.

I had the best luck the other day with Nordstrom Halogen brand. (Their in-store brand). Other places I've like some things are: The Limited (but it can look Jersey, watch out!) and white house/black market. But in general, it was such a pain to go shopping the other day.

I am a 40 year old who is 5'5" and 130lbs. I am roughly a size 6, but because I have the body of someone who sits in an office all day and has had 2 kids, nothing really fits me right, especially around waist/belly.

Also I've had too many things from Banana just absolutely fall apart after 2-3 wears. Ridiculous, when I spend $70 on a top or something there, even with sales, it should last more than 2-3 times!

size 14 in no way equals a 2x. A 1x is usually at least a 16.

Even their commercials are pathetic! LOL

Anonymous wrote:

Sorry, but nobody 62 years old and 40-50 lbs overweight is wearing Gap. Gap 2x? Ann Taylor makes Plus 2x? I think you are overesitmating your mom's extra weight. 200 lbs?

I said 30-40, not 40-50! She wears a size 14, not 2x! At her height, an ideal weight is 130, and she is around 165.

Seriously, the poster thinking someone who is 40-50 pounds overweight wears a 2x has no idea of sizing these days! I suspect you need to be at least 100 lbs overweight to even get to 1x.