Sizes

I bought some new clothes recently. I hate shopping for clothes. I am far from average sized and very rarely do I find something that fits just right. This time I bought a mix of men's and women's clothing. In high school and college I used to wear men's clothing all the time. The styles leaned towards the baggy end of things (think grunge era) and menswear was the only way I could find things long enough back then. In the 15 years since I've graduated, things have progressed a bit in women's tall clothing, but I still struggle. Sometimes they lengthen the sleeves, but not the body. Or they'll add length to the bottom, but not adjust the rise. Back when I was 30 lbs lighter it seemed as if the stores didn't believe in people being tall and skinny. Now that I'm 30 lbs heavier and the styles lean towards the fitted - and tight! - I struggle to find things loose enough.

That was my problem this morning as I'm trying things on. The men's t-shirts that I bought are a sized tall large. Tall medium would have been sufficient, but they didn't make them in that size. So I have these shirts that are big and loose, although not horribly so. I don't think I would wear them in public if I was living back in Utah, but here, no problem. At least I know my wrists are covered and I won't be "revealing my religion", if you know what I mean.

The women's stuff - well, I bought a shirt in a tall large. It fits. Not super tight, but definitely fitted. The seams on the sleeves where the cuffs are attatched are almost tight. I do not have big arms. In fact, I think they are still fairly slender. Makes me wonder who they think will fit into this tall large shirt? I think it will be fine if I can keep it out of the dryer. The question is, can I? I have a pretty bad track record for trying to keep things out of the dryer, but then one week I'll be in a hurry on laundry day, lose track of what I'm supposed to pull out, and well, into the dryer everything goes. I usually don't realize it until I'm folding. So do I keep it or send it back for the tall extra-large? I also bought a few nicer looking sweatshirts. Those I got in a women's tall extra-large. They are sweatshirts afterall and I figured a little loose would be okay. Well, they are a little loose, but again, how will they fit after a run through the dryer? And while the sleeves are long enough, I wish they had another inch or two in torso length. *sigh*

I'm trying to learn how to sew, but everything I make looks homemade still. One of my upcoming projects is pajama pants for myself. I figure that's a good place to start.

Anyways, I'm tired of always looking like a frumpity frump, but I want to be comfortable. I don't want to be pulling at my clothes all the time (like I do now). I'd like things to fit in some places and be looser in others, but don't really want to look like I'm wearing maternity stuff either. I'd like to be modest, but also moderately in style. Again, *sigh*.

(Oh, and that's not a picture of me, but I thought it fit with the post.)