Fat? By Whose Standards?

I suspect that one of the most boring clichés in the world is women moaning about clothes sizes. But that is perhaps because the whole thing really is crazy. I have a wardrobe full of skirts that claim to be size 16(UK) that I can’t get into, but I regularly buy tops that are size 14(UK). Today, while investigating a sale, I tried on a skirt and two tops, all supposedly size 14(UK). The skirt was a bit loose, the tops were both way too tight. This (Internet retailers please note) is why I won’t buy clothes by mail order.

Oh, and for the benefit of American readers, I’m not quite that fat. Size 14 in the UK is supposedly a size 12 in the US, though I do own US-bought pants that fit and claim to be size 10.

Just don’t get me started on the impossibility of buying boots if you have calf muscles, OK?

3 thoughts on “Fat? By Whose Standards?

  1. I’m at least three different sizes, but the difference between my bust and my waist means it’s impossible to get tops that fit at all. If they fit at the waist, I can’t fasten the thing; if it gets round my boobs, the thing looks like a sack on me. This is, I suspect, why so many fat goth chicks sew that it’s a cliché

    Meanwhile, a new boot shop has just opened up in Edinburgh that claims to do any of their boots in a vast range of width and calf fittings. I plan to investigate soon.

  2. Sounds like a very good reason to visit Edinburgh, which is of course why it comes up a couple of days before I’m about to head off to California. Still, perhaps next year. Please let me know the results of your investigations.

  3. And for heaven’s sake, if you *do* find boots that fit women who do something besides walk to the office in high heels, I’d LOVE to know. I’ve not been able to buy boots that truly fit since I was about 17 — too much horse work apparently :>.

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