Re: Trying on clothes

[Guest guest]

Txbluebelle,

I am not sure if you are looking for problem solving, or just

venting...so please ignore my suggestion if it is out of line.

Don't know what stores are available to you...many better department

stores have a service called " personnal shoppers " ....I know you

mention that $$ is tight...but I am guessing that if you could call

around and see if you can find a store that has such a service you

might find that it would help you find a great, affordable outfit,

and save you many painful steps. Call and be honest about your

situation and see what is suggested...remember no matter what, you

are a customer and you deserve " customer service " . You probably

won't find that attitude in stores that have thrown their

employees " overboard " in search of profits....it may take a few

phone calls.

You have touched on a sore subject with me: re: places to rest while

shopping. Before revision (and considering how to

accomplish grocery shopping as I recover) the idea of making it

through to the end of a weekly shopping was/is impossible....made

worse by the fact that I realized there was not one place in the

entire supermarket to sit for a minute.

I remember when I had my son and started trying to manuver around

out town with a stroller/small child how difficult it was....it was

an eyeopener....I am wondering why the ADA laws doen't seem to

address the matter....they insure you have access to a business..but

once you are in there it doesn't seem that the store needs to

account for the small matter or a disabled person needing to

rest/pause for a moment.

I ordered a camping stool with a carry strap the other day, and when

it comes I plan to take it with me when I shop...perhaps the picture

of a " customer " sitting on her own chair in the middle of the aisle

will paint a clear picture for the mgmnt.....hhmmmm....

Cam

>

> Dear Fiesty Friends,

>

> Well I HAD to go clothes shopping yesterday. Our son is getting

> married in May and I have absolutely nothing to wear. So I went to

> Penney's. Money is very very tight and I was tired as usual. I had

> studied their catalog and thought I had a couple of possibilites.

It

> took all of my energy to walk into the store and find the right

> department. It seems the plus size dresses are NOT with the other

> dresses, they are in the women's department with the sportswear.

This

> in spite of the fact that petite size dresses, juniors, and misses

> sizes are all together in a " dress " department. There were no

clerks

> to help and half the dressing rooms were closed.

>

> Anyway, I pulled out two dresses I thought MIGHT be possibilites

and

> tried them on. The first one had a hem that looked like my

> granddaughter had taken the scissors to it. Not only was it

jagged,

> but it was multi-layered and with my left over scoliosis, etc. it

> looked like my slip was showing on one side. The second dress

made

> me look more twisted than a wisteria trunk! I don't know when I

have

> felt so deformed. It was a demoralizing as trying on a swimming

suit.

>

> I quit after trying on two. That was about all they had anyway. I

was

> exhausted and I had to wait at the entrance for my husband to get

the

> car since I couldn't walk that far. There were no chairs at all

> anywhere in the store to sit in except the shoe department. At

least

> I brought a cane to lean on. It does me absolutely no good

walking,

> but does coming in handy for leaning.

>

> In a few days I will have to try to get up enough courage to try

> again. I know I'm old and fat and twisted but I just want to look

> OKAY for one day. Is that asking too much?

>

> Txbluebelle

[Guest guest]

First, Txbluebelle, congratulations on your son'e upcoming nuptuals!

I really hear you about trying on clothes! Those " princess seams " that look so

beguiling on the semi-anorexic models never worked on my truncated trunk when I

was a thin 20-something; now they're absolutely ridiculous. I find the only

dress-up clothes that work on me at all (since my wedding gown which I made

myself and cut the bodice WAY short), are the two-piece deals with a skirt and a

jacket or sweater that sort of camouflages my skewed proportions. (And I'm

talking a waistline that's scarcely below my bra band!)

Which brings me to bras. Am I the only one, or does scoliosis tend to make

anyone else's chest size rather large for your cup size? Being scarcely a B,

while having a chest that's over 40 " does make it miserable to find bras that

fit properly. It was hard enough when I was a 34 " ! Thank heaven for baggy

sweatshirts.

Sharon

Trying on clothes

Dear Fiesty Friends,

Well I HAD to go clothes shopping yesterday. Our son is getting

married in May and I have absolutely nothing to wear. So I went to

Penney's. Money is very very tight and I was tired as usual. I had

studied their catalog and thought I had a couple of possibilites. It

took all of my energy to walk into the store and find the right

department. It seems the plus size dresses are NOT with the other

dresses, they are in the women's department with the sportswear. This

in spite of the fact that petite size dresses, juniors, and misses

sizes are all together in a " dress " department. There were no clerks

to help and half the dressing rooms were closed.

Anyway, I pulled out two dresses I thought MIGHT be possibilites and

tried them on. The first one had a hem that looked like my

granddaughter had taken the scissors to it. Not only was it jagged,

but it was multi-layered and with my left over scoliosis, etc. it

looked like my slip was showing on one side. The second dress made

me look more twisted than a wisteria trunk! I don't know when I have

felt so deformed. It was a demoralizing as trying on a swimming suit.

I quit after trying on two. That was about all they had anyway. I was

exhausted and I had to wait at the entrance for my husband to get the

car since I couldn't walk that far. There were no chairs at all

anywhere in the store to sit in except the shoe department. At least

I brought a cane to lean on. It does me absolutely no good walking,

but does coming in handy for leaning.

In a few days I will have to try to get up enough courage to try

again. I know I'm old and fat and twisted but I just want to look

OKAY for one day. Is that asking too much?

Txbluebelle

Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment

Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or endorse any

advertised products.

[Guest guest]

Txbluebelle,

As someone else said, I am not sure whether you want a suggestion or

were more or less just venting, but another idea that came to my mind is

trying to save pennies by searching for a second-hand dress that appears to

meet your special requirements as closely as possible (easier said than

done, I know), either at a consignment shop or on e-bay, and then spending

some extra $$ taking it to a tailor or seamstress to see if they can make

any special alterations to optimize the way the dress looks on you. Not

being much of a sewer, I've no real idea just how viable that plan really

is, what a tailor would be able to do, but I would think that at the least,

with a little creativity, they could fix a " crooked " hem to hang so that the

edge is parallel to the floor. (I posted something recently about my

crooked house - when we hang a mirror or bathroom medicine chest or

something, we have to make sure it is not level so that it tilts at the same

angle as the sink or furniture below it - it's kind of the same concept with

the hem, I guess). Now that I think about it, I guess you would want to

talk to the tailor or seamstress first before spending $$ on the dress, but

it just might be a possibility? Special occasion dresses are particularly

easy to get in good condition second-hand, because people wear them once,

realize they will never wear it again, and are happy to get a little $$ back

for it if they can (at least sometimes). And plus-size ladies must dress up

occasionally just like the skinnies do, right?

One time I was getting my hair cut, and someone came in and said that

everyone there should go and check out the consigmnent clothing sale at the

shop next door. It turned out this very wealthy woman, who had started out

very large, then lost all her extra weight and got down to a size 4, then

got very large again, was selling all the clothing she had accumulated at

all the various size levels she had passed through on the way down and then

on the way back up. There were special occasion dresses (this gal obviously

lived the lifestyle of the rich and famous, or at least just rich) in every

size from 4 way, way, way on up, all expensive designer names and obviously

worn no more than once, if that. It was like a dream come true.

So anyway, it can happen, and it probably cannot hurt to look, especially on

e-bay, for which you don't have to leave the house. Of course, the big

question is, how much would alterations cost (and is that plan realistic),

but it might be worth considering.

Also, it has always astonished me that department stores (or any store for

that matter), can't give you a chair. You would think their mindset would

be that if they let people sit a bit, perhaps they'd be inclined to spend

more time in the store. I guess they want us milling around and looking at

their merchandise, not resting.

Please let us know how it goes, and contratulations on your son's marriage.

mary b

Trying on clothes

Dear Fiesty Friends,

Well I HAD to go clothes shopping yesterday. Our son is getting

married in May and I have absolutely nothing to wear. So I went to

Penney's. Money is very very tight and I was tired as usual. I had

studied their catalog and thought I had a couple of possibilites. It

took all of my energy to walk into the store and find the right

department. It seems the plus size dresses are NOT with the other

dresses, they are in the women's department with the sportswear. This

in spite of the fact that petite size dresses, juniors, and misses

sizes are all together in a " dress " department. There were no clerks

to help and half the dressing rooms were closed.

Anyway, I pulled out two dresses I thought MIGHT be possibilites and

tried them on. The first one had a hem that looked like my

granddaughter had taken the scissors to it. Not only was it jagged,

but it was multi-layered and with my left over scoliosis, etc. it

looked like my slip was showing on one side. The second dress made

me look more twisted than a wisteria trunk! I don't know when I have

felt so deformed. It was a demoralizing as trying on a swimming suit.

I quit after trying on two. That was about all they had anyway. I was

exhausted and I had to wait at the entrance for my husband to get the

car since I couldn't walk that far. There were no chairs at all

anywhere in the store to sit in except the shoe department. At least

I brought a cane to lean on. It does me absolutely no good walking,

but does coming in handy for leaning.

In a few days I will have to try to get up enough courage to try

again. I know I'm old and fat and twisted but I just want to look

OKAY for one day. Is that asking too much?

Txbluebelle

Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment

Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or endorse any

advertised products.

[Guest guest]

txbluebelle,

Oh boy, do I feel for you on this. Thankfully, I can be a sweatshirt

and jean girl because I don't work, but for the ocassional family

wedding that I HAVE to go to, I have a terrible time finding

dresses. I usually have to settle for something that looks more

appopriate for an office than a wedding, and since I'm short, I

always end up spending an extra amount to get it shortened.

If you have any second hand shops around you, that might be an

option. Usually you can park close and there's someone stationed

near the door that can point you directly to the dress section. And

the price is more likely to be cheap enough, that even if it didn't

quite fit in one area or another, you'd be more likely to afford the

alteration cost. Also, if you have any dresses in your closet that

do fit well, you might try an internet search for the same brand

name, in hopes that other dresses of that brand would fit similarly.

If you haven't already done so, you might try a bridal store. They

might just have a clearance rack that would be affordable.

Are you looking for a full length dress or a shorter one?

I wish you lots of luck and stamina in your search.

loriann

P.S. I get so disgusted because some of the dept. stores in the mall

near me don't even have chairs in the dressing rooms!

>

> Dear Fiesty Friends,

>

> Well I HAD to go clothes shopping yesterday. Our son is getting

> married in May and I have absolutely nothing to wear. So I went to

> Penney's. Money is very very tight and I was tired as usual. I had

> studied their catalog and thought I had a couple of possibilites.

It

> took all of my energy to walk into the store and find the right

> department. It seems the plus size dresses are NOT with the other

> dresses, they are in the women's department with the sportswear.

This

> in spite of the fact that petite size dresses, juniors, and misses

> sizes are all together in a " dress " department. There were no

clerks

> to help and half the dressing rooms were closed.

>

> Anyway, I pulled out two dresses I thought MIGHT be possibilites

and

> tried them on. The first one had a hem that looked like my

> granddaughter had taken the scissors to it. Not only was it jagged,

> but it was multi-layered and with my left over scoliosis, etc. it

> looked like my slip was showing on one side. The second dress made

> me look more twisted than a wisteria trunk! I don't know when I

have

> felt so deformed. It was a demoralizing as trying on a swimming

suit.

>

> I quit after trying on two. That was about all they had anyway. I

was

> exhausted and I had to wait at the entrance for my husband to get

the

> car since I couldn't walk that far. There were no chairs at all

> anywhere in the store to sit in except the shoe department. At

least

> I brought a cane to lean on. It does me absolutely no good walking,

> but does coming in handy for leaning.

>

> In a few days I will have to try to get up enough courage to try

> again. I know I'm old and fat and twisted but I just want to look

> OKAY for one day. Is that asking too much?

>

> Txbluebelle

[Guest guest]

Txbluebelle:

Another alternative to mall shopping might be shopping online at either

www.overstock.com or www.qvc.com. I ordered a bunch of gifts for the holidays

from QVC and if the size wasn't right, or whatever, UPS picked it back up at our

house at no charge. I just told them that I wasn't physically able to get to

the post office and they said " no problem " . On the QVC TV channel, many times

you can see the suits/dresses/whatever modeled and hear the material & sizing

described, etc. Can you tell that I became a regular viewer during my early

post-revision days?! It sort of satisfied my shopping urges without having to

go out to the mall!

Martha

Barone <mbarone@...> wrote:

Txbluebelle,

As someone else said, I am not sure whether you want a suggestion or

were more or less just venting, but another idea that came to my mind is

trying to save pennies by searching for a second-hand dress that appears to

meet your special requirements as closely as possible (easier said than

done, I know), either at a consignment shop or on e-bay, and then spending

some extra $$ taking it to a tailor or seamstress to see if they can make

any special alterations to optimize the way the dress looks on you. Not

being much of a sewer, I've no real idea just how viable that plan really

is, what a tailor would be able to do, but I would think that at the least,

with a little creativity, they could fix a " crooked " hem to hang so that the

edge is parallel to the floor. (I posted something recently about my

crooked house - when we hang a mirror or bathroom medicine chest or

something, we have to make sure it is not level so that it tilts at the same

angle as the sink or furniture below it - it's kind of the same concept with

the hem, I guess). Now that I think about it, I guess you would want to

talk to the tailor or seamstress first before spending $$ on the dress, but

it just might be a possibility? Special occasion dresses are particularly

easy to get in good condition second-hand, because people wear them once,

realize they will never wear it again, and are happy to get a little $$ back

for it if they can (at least sometimes). And plus-size ladies must dress up

occasionally just like the skinnies do, right?

One time I was getting my hair cut, and someone came in and said that

everyone there should go and check out the consigmnent clothing sale at the

shop next door. It turned out this very wealthy woman, who had started out

very large, then lost all her extra weight and got down to a size 4, then

got very large again, was selling all the clothing she had accumulated at

all the various size levels she had passed through on the way down and then

on the way back up. There were special occasion dresses (this gal obviously

lived the lifestyle of the rich and famous, or at least just rich) in every

size from 4 way, way, way on up, all expensive designer names and obviously

worn no more than once, if that. It was like a dream come true.

So anyway, it can happen, and it probably cannot hurt to look, especially on

e-bay, for which you don't have to leave the house. Of course, the big

question is, how much would alterations cost (and is that plan realistic),

but it might be worth considering.

Also, it has always astonished me that department stores (or any store for

that matter), can't give you a chair. You would think their mindset would

be that if they let people sit a bit, perhaps they'd be inclined to spend

more time in the store. I guess they want us milling around and looking at

their merchandise, not resting.

Please let us know how it goes, and contratulations on your son's marriage.

mary b

Trying on clothes

Dear Fiesty Friends,

Well I HAD to go clothes shopping yesterday. Our son is getting

married in May and I have absolutely nothing to wear. So I went to

Penney's. Money is very very tight and I was tired as usual. I had

studied their catalog and thought I had a couple of possibilites. It

took all of my energy to walk into the store and find the right

department. It seems the plus size dresses are NOT with the other

dresses, they are in the women's department with the sportswear. This

in spite of the fact that petite size dresses, juniors, and misses

sizes are all together in a " dress " department. There were no clerks

to help and half the dressing rooms were closed.

Anyway, I pulled out two dresses I thought MIGHT be possibilites and

tried them on. The first one had a hem that looked like my

granddaughter had taken the scissors to it. Not only was it jagged,

but it was multi-layered and with my left over scoliosis, etc. it

looked like my slip was showing on one side. The second dress made

me look more twisted than a wisteria trunk! I don't know when I have

felt so deformed. It was a demoralizing as trying on a swimming suit.

I quit after trying on two. That was about all they had anyway. I was

exhausted and I had to wait at the entrance for my husband to get the

car since I couldn't walk that far. There were no chairs at all

anywhere in the store to sit in except the shoe department. At least

I brought a cane to lean on. It does me absolutely no good walking,

but does coming in handy for leaning.

In a few days I will have to try to get up enough courage to try

again. I know I'm old and fat and twisted but I just want to look

OKAY for one day. Is that asking too much?

Txbluebelle

Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment

Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or endorse any

advertised products.

[Guest guest]

Cam,

This would be a great solution if I had some money, but we are really

in dire circumstances. We are trying to survive on a small amount of

unemployment (my husband's) and the kindess of friends and family.

There are a few grocery stores here that have places to sit, but most

do not. Often the benches are filled with small children or

teenagers. I no longer try on clothes at a store if they don't have

at least a stool to sit on. I simply can't do it. I hope your camp

stool works for you.

There are a whole lot of baby boomers out there and we are ALL

getting older. You would think someone would wise up!

Txbluebelle

-- In , " cammaltby "

<cammaltby@y...> wrote:

>

> Txbluebelle,

>

> I am not sure if you are looking for problem solving, or just

> venting...so please ignore my suggestion if it is out of line.

>

> Don't know what stores are available to you...many better

department

> stores have a service called " personnal shoppers " ....I know you

> mention that $$ is tight...but I am guessing that if you could call

> around and see if you can find a store that has such a service you

> might find that it would help you find a great, affordable outfit,

> and save you many painful steps. Call and be honest about your

> situation and see what is suggested...remember no matter what, you

> are a customer and you deserve " customer service " . You probably

> won't find that attitude in stores that have thrown their

> employees " overboard " in search of profits....it may take a few

> phone calls.

>

> You have touched on a sore subject with me: re: places to rest

while

> shopping. Before revision (and considering how to

> accomplish grocery shopping as I recover) the idea of making it

> through to the end of a weekly shopping was/is impossible....made

> worse by the fact that I realized there was not one place in the

> entire supermarket to sit for a minute.

>

> I remember when I had my son and started trying to manuver around

> out town with a stroller/small child how difficult it was....it was

> an eyeopener....I am wondering why the ADA laws doen't seem to

> address the matter....they insure you have access to a

business..but

> once you are in there it doesn't seem that the store needs to

> account for the small matter or a disabled person needing to

> rest/pause for a moment.

>

> I ordered a camping stool with a carry strap the other day, and

when

> it comes I plan to take it with me when I shop...perhaps the

picture

> of a " customer " sitting on her own chair in the middle of the aisle

> will paint a clear picture for the mgmnt.....hhmmmm....

>

> Cam

>

> >

> > Dear Fiesty Friends,

> >

> > Well I HAD to go clothes shopping yesterday. Our son is getting

> > married in May and I have absolutely nothing to wear. So I went

to

> > Penney's. Money is very very tight and I was tired as usual. I

had

> > studied their catalog and thought I had a couple of possibilites.

> It

> > took all of my energy to walk into the store and find the right

> > department. It seems the plus size dresses are NOT with the other

> > dresses, they are in the women's department with the sportswear.

> This

> > in spite of the fact that petite size dresses, juniors, and

misses

> > sizes are all together in a " dress " department. There were no

> clerks

> > to help and half the dressing rooms were closed.

> >

> > Anyway, I pulled out two dresses I thought MIGHT be possibilites

> and

> > tried them on. The first one had a hem that looked like my

> > granddaughter had taken the scissors to it. Not only was it

> jagged,

> > but it was multi-layered and with my left over scoliosis, etc. it

> > looked like my slip was showing on one side. The second dress

> made

> > me look more twisted than a wisteria trunk! I don't know when I

> have

> > felt so deformed. It was a demoralizing as trying on a swimming

> suit.

> >

> > I quit after trying on two. That was about all they had anyway. I

> was

> > exhausted and I had to wait at the entrance for my husband to get

> the

> > car since I couldn't walk that far. There were no chairs at all

> > anywhere in the store to sit in except the shoe department. At

> least

> > I brought a cane to lean on. It does me absolutely no good

> walking,

> > but does coming in handy for leaning.

> >

> > In a few days I will have to try to get up enough courage to try

> > again. I know I'm old and fat and twisted but I just want to look

> > OKAY for one day. Is that asking too much?

> >

> > Txbluebelle

[Guest guest]

Dear Sharon,

Don't get me started on bras! I started to mention that! LOL I am

possibly a 44 DD but NO bra really fits me. I've even been to an

exclusive bra fitting shop that works with people who have had

cancer. I was told my twisted trunk (and mind you I HAD surgery at

15) was what was throwing everything off. I am at least a full cup

size larger on one side and my " twist " seems to throw the underwire

right into my armpit where it stabs me.

One trick I did learn. Buy a bra extender to make it larger around.

It seems the size around I need to " fit " doesn't really fit because

it makes the cups too far apart in the front. I bet you are having

the same trouble. You might do better with a 38 or even a 36 and a

nice long extender across your back! But I must admit for everyday I

try to do without as long as I'm at home!

This wedding will be a real challenge because the reception is

outside in mid-May in the middle of Texas! And this menopause mom

gets hot at the drop of a hat! I will probably have to go the two

piece route. I have one two-piece outfit I have worn every week to

church for the last year! If I hadn't almost worn it out I could wear

that even though it isn't quite dressy enough.

I no longer have a waist. Just this equator around the middle of a

round ball. Sigh.......

Txbluebelle

> First, Txbluebelle, congratulations on your son'e upcoming nuptuals!

>

> I really hear you about trying on clothes! Those " princess seams "

that look so beguiling on the semi-anorexic models never worked on my

truncated trunk when I was a thin 20-something; now they're

absolutely ridiculous. I find the only dress-up clothes that work on

me at all (since my wedding gown which I made myself and cut the

bodice WAY short), are the two-piece deals with a skirt and a jacket

or sweater that sort of camouflages my skewed proportions. (And I'm

talking a waistline that's scarcely below my bra band!)

>

> Which brings me to bras. Am I the only one, or does scoliosis tend

to make anyone else's chest size rather large for your cup size?

Being scarcely a B, while having a chest that's over 40 " does make it

miserable to find bras that fit properly. It was hard enough when I

was a 34 " ! Thank heaven for baggy sweatshirts.

>

> Sharon

>

>

>

> Trying on clothes

>

>

>

> Dear Fiesty Friends,

>

> Well I HAD to go clothes shopping yesterday. Our son is getting

> married in May and I have absolutely nothing to wear. So I went

to

> Penney's. Money is very very tight and I was tired as usual. I

had

> studied their catalog and thought I had a couple of possibilites.

It

> took all of my energy to walk into the store and find the right

> department. It seems the plus size dresses are NOT with the other

> dresses, they are in the women's department with the sportswear.

This

> in spite of the fact that petite size dresses, juniors, and

misses

> sizes are all together in a " dress " department. There were no

clerks

> to help and half the dressing rooms were closed.

>

> Anyway, I pulled out two dresses I thought MIGHT be possibilites

and

> tried them on. The first one had a hem that looked like my

> granddaughter had taken the scissors to it. Not only was it

jagged,

> but it was multi-layered and with my left over scoliosis, etc. it

> looked like my slip was showing on one side. The second dress

made

> me look more twisted than a wisteria trunk! I don't know when I

have

> felt so deformed. It was a demoralizing as trying on a swimming

suit.

>

> I quit after trying on two. That was about all they had anyway. I

was

> exhausted and I had to wait at the entrance for my husband to get

the

> car since I couldn't walk that far. There were no chairs at all

> anywhere in the store to sit in except the shoe department. At

least

> I brought a cane to lean on. It does me absolutely no good

walking,

> but does coming in handy for leaning.

>

> In a few days I will have to try to get up enough courage to try

> again. I know I'm old and fat and twisted but I just want to look

> OKAY for one day. Is that asking too much?

>

> Txbluebelle

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod

Malalignment Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads

or endorse any advertised products.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

There is one second hand shop that has plus sizes near me. I'll

probably try to go there tomorrow. I am NOT too proud at all to buy a

used dress especially one for a special occasion. I just hope they

have something suitable. I have bought clothes off E-bay for my

granddaughter, but she is easier to fit! I can shop for her by brand

and size.

I honestly think I am getting more crooked the last few years. Maybe

that is just because I have shrunk 1 1/2 inches and it just looks

worse. I have one shoulder that is visibly higher than the other and

that often messes up hairdressers. I can't tell you how many times I

have come out with one side of my hair 1/2 inch or MORE longer than

the other!

I can sympathize with that very wealthy woman who kept changing

sizes. I have been everything from a size 10 to a size 26. I have

boxes of beautiful clothes that do not fit. For years I donated them

to charity. I have found every time I gave them away I changed sizes

and then I didn't have the money to replace them. I am hopeful once

my husband gets a " real " job again I will be able to lose once again

the 80 pounds I had lost and re-gained.

Txbluebelle

>

> Txbluebelle,

>

> As someone else said, I am not sure whether you want a

suggestion or

> were more or less just venting, but another idea that came to my

mind is

> trying to save pennies by searching for a second-hand dress that

appears to

> meet your special requirements as closely as possible (easier said

than

> done, I know), either at a consignment shop or on e-bay, and then

spending

> some extra $$ taking it to a tailor or seamstress to see if they

can make

> any special alterations to optimize the way the dress looks on

you. Not

> being much of a sewer, I've no real idea just how viable that plan

really

> is, what a tailor would be able to do, but I would think that at

the least,

> with a little creativity, they could fix a " crooked " hem to hang so

that the

> edge is parallel to the floor. (I posted something recently about

my

> crooked house - when we hang a mirror or bathroom medicine chest or

> something, we have to make sure it is not level so that it tilts at

the same

> angle as the sink or furniture below it - it's kind of the same

concept with

> the hem, I guess). Now that I think about it, I guess you would

want to

> talk to the tailor or seamstress first before spending $$ on the

dress, but

> it just might be a possibility? Special occasion dresses are

particularly

> easy to get in good condition second-hand, because people wear them

once,

> realize they will never wear it again, and are happy to get a

little $$ back

> for it if they can (at least sometimes). And plus-size ladies must

dress up

> occasionally just like the skinnies do, right?

>

> One time I was getting my hair cut, and someone came in and said

that

> everyone there should go and check out the consigmnent clothing

sale at the

> shop next door. It turned out this very wealthy woman, who had

started out

> very large, then lost all her extra weight and got down to a size

4, then

> got very large again, was selling all the clothing she had

accumulated at

> all the various size levels she had passed through on the way down

and then

> on the way back up. There were special occasion dresses (this gal

obviously

> lived the lifestyle of the rich and famous, or at least just rich)

in every

> size from 4 way, way, way on up, all expensive designer names and

obviously

> worn no more than once, if that. It was like a dream come true.

>

> So anyway, it can happen, and it probably cannot hurt to look,

especially on

> e-bay, for which you don't have to leave the house. Of course, the

big

> question is, how much would alterations cost (and is that plan

realistic),

> but it might be worth considering.

>

> Also, it has always astonished me that department stores (or any

store for

> that matter), can't give you a chair. You would think their

mindset would

> be that if they let people sit a bit, perhaps they'd be inclined to

spend

> more time in the store. I guess they want us milling around and

looking at

> their merchandise, not resting.

>

> Please let us know how it goes, and contratulations on your son's

marriage.

>

> mary b

> Trying on clothes

>

>

>

> Dear Fiesty Friends,

>

> Well I HAD to go clothes shopping yesterday. Our son is getting

> married in May and I have absolutely nothing to wear. So I went to

> Penney's. Money is very very tight and I was tired as usual. I had

> studied their catalog and thought I had a couple of possibilites.

It

> took all of my energy to walk into the store and find the right

> department. It seems the plus size dresses are NOT with the other

> dresses, they are in the women's department with the sportswear.

This

> in spite of the fact that petite size dresses, juniors, and misses

> sizes are all together in a " dress " department. There were no

clerks

> to help and half the dressing rooms were closed.

>

> Anyway, I pulled out two dresses I thought MIGHT be possibilites

and

> tried them on. The first one had a hem that looked like my

> granddaughter had taken the scissors to it. Not only was it

jagged,

> but it was multi-layered and with my left over scoliosis, etc. it

> looked like my slip was showing on one side. The second dress

made

> me look more twisted than a wisteria trunk! I don't know when I

have

> felt so deformed. It was a demoralizing as trying on a swimming

suit.

>

> I quit after trying on two. That was about all they had anyway. I

was

> exhausted and I had to wait at the entrance for my husband to get

the

> car since I couldn't walk that far. There were no chairs at all

> anywhere in the store to sit in except the shoe department. At

least

> I brought a cane to lean on. It does me absolutely no good

walking,

> but does coming in handy for leaning.

>

> In a few days I will have to try to get up enough courage to try

> again. I know I'm old and fat and twisted but I just want to look

> OKAY for one day. Is that asking too much?

>

> Txbluebelle

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod

Malalignment

> Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or endorse

any

> advertised products.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Isn't that funny. For me it's the opposite. If I use a bra extender the chest

fits but the cups are too close together. Being a bit " better endowed " , you've

probably never had the problem where small bras are made like bras for bigger

gals, only proportionally smaller. Kinda cone-shaped, which I'm not. And the

stretch bras never seem to give adequate coverage under tight-fitting clothes.

Oh, well. It would be nice if these were the greatest of our problems.

Sharon

Re: Trying on clothes

Dear Sharon,

Don't get me started on bras! I started to mention that! LOL I am

possibly a 44 DD but NO bra really fits me. I've even been to an

exclusive bra fitting shop that works with people who have had

cancer. I was told my twisted trunk (and mind you I HAD surgery at

15) was what was throwing everything off. I am at least a full cup

size larger on one side and my " twist " seems to throw the underwire

right into my armpit where it stabs me.

One trick I did learn. Buy a bra extender to make it larger around.

It seems the size around I need to " fit " doesn't really fit because

it makes the cups too far apart in the front. I bet you are having

the same trouble. You might do better with a 38 or even a 36 and a

nice long extender across your back! But I must admit for everyday I

try to do without as long as I'm at home!