Why I'm starting this blog

Over the past two years, I've been visiting various fashion-oriented message boards and blogs, mostly to find out what's out there. I don't consider myself particularly trendy--in fact I'm far better at dressing for work than casually, not exactly a plus here on the West Coast ;). But I like to look up to date just like anyone else and even at my age, I like stuff that's a wee bit ahead of the curve.

I'm a "tweener," averaging a 14-16 (misses). I'm what you'd call a pear shape, smaller up top than below decks. This means it's not too much trouble to find tops in large or extra large but it's an effort to find dresses, skirts, and pants that truly fit. Many of the "hot" lines, not to mention the real high end stuff, don't even go past a size 12 yet the stuff at Lane Bryant Land cut for women's/plus sizes are often too big and baggy.

Even though the average American woman is a size 12-14, women like us are an anomaly to the clothing/retail industry. To the plus size set, we're no different from Kate Moss. To the fashion industry and to retail, we're no different from Jabba the Hutt. I've read posts by a boutique owner who claimed that the stores often have to put designers in a headlock just to make a size 10. Yes, a 10. Several years ago I was at a Gap store when I overheard a male employee speaking to a customer over the phone. After he got off the phone he told a co-worker that the customer was asking if a certain dress was available in a size 14. He and the co-worker joked about the customer being a "heifer."

In recent years, stores have either cut back on 14-16s or eliminated them entirely. I've purchased stuff from Banana Republic for 23 years, back when it was the poor man's J. Peterman and the stores had this Indiana Jones theme going. It was never any trouble finding stuff in my size until a year or two ago. Tops are no problem; but I've noticed that size 16 skirts, dresses, and pants are suddenly scarce. A new Bloomingdales doesn't carry anything over a 12 in its contemporary wear department.

But this isn't going to be all about complaining and crying over how much the industry hates us. I'm no Stacy and Clinton, but I can point out cool stuff available to us in any price range. I can point out ways to beat the system.

I hope you'll enjoy and participate.