clothes that flatter?

[molly]

Can anyone explain why the high street shops are full of clothes designed to only suit anorexic teenagers? At the same time we are being told more and more people are overweight. Surely clothes designers could come up with something that would suit everyone.

[Jaybee]

Probably because fashion designers don't know how to design clothes for those of us in "the real world". It's much more difficult to design attractively shaped garments for people with curves. So they don't bother trying.

[WaldoMcFroog]

Since thin is decreed to be the aspiration, designers design for it - fashion is designed around notions of surface over substance - 'simply by wearing these clothes, cool is conferred', 'By having this body shape, fashionability is acheived'. One doesn't have to approve to recognise the essential principal at work is 'if you don't meet these criteria, then you're not attactive/ desirable; in short, you're not 'in''. Very few people, even fashion disasters like me, aspire to be undesirable...

[molly]

So where does a middle aged woman with a (slight) middle age spread buy her clothes? I don't want to look like 'mutton dressed as lamb' , but nor am I ready to look like a granny. Maybe I should be asking the clothes designers.

[robber1]

They do it so men can say to each other "look at the state of that!", when a size 22 wears something that is made for a size 8.

[anthomson]

Probably because anorexic teenagers spend more money on clothes than middle-aged women. Not much better for middle aged blokes either - we are expected to buy all our clothes from sports outlets.

[archhippy]

I always buy from QaS they cater for all sizes but the best bet is charity shops you buy em second hand and then you know they shold be the size you want but dont go for those that arn't clearly marked british standard size.

[woofgang]

good old M and S seem to have finally caught up and have got some nice things in sensible sizes. My sister shops in America, has gorgeous clothes and make me sick when she tells me what she paid. I get nice classic things from a mail order catalogue firm called Nightingales. I was born without chic, but have just bought a nice green trouser suit from them that makes even me look presentable

[molly]

woofgang is quite right. I find more often than not M&S is the only place I can find anything suitable.

[Hellion]

Redoute Catologue is good, they go up to size 30 Wallis, Per Una at M&S, H&M and surprisingly George at Asda I have a similar problem I'm no longer the 5'10'' size 10 Rock Chick I once was I'm more size 14/16 Rock Hen I find you have to shop around , buy plain understated stuff as a sort of blank canvas then glam it up with great jewellery, i.e. spend more on your accessories than your clothes!