In search of a mythical suit

For almost a year, I’ve been trying to buy a nice suit. I don’t like to buy online because I don’t fit the cookie cutter body of even plus size wear and going to the post office to return anything is one of my levels of hell.

I've pretty much given up on department stores ever having plus size business wear, not to mention the poor quality of materials, or the fact Macy limits which malls have plus size wear other than sweat pants (they should just stain it with chocolate ice cream to complete the stereotype). Plus size stores have sizes but not the selection. It's disturbing that a person size 12 and under can find a variety of styles. I bet it would be easier to find a business suit in maternity wear that in regular plus size. 

 My solution will most likely have to be to go to an expensive boutique. The good thing is I have the finances to purchase something from them without breaking the bank.

But I have to wonder about my poorer sisters who don’t money to buy a nice suit and have to hope the outfit they pick from the internet fits or hope for a lucky find at a department or close out store. I have to wonder when I hear about fat people in poverty. Is it because it’s so hard to find affordable, nice clothes that they look like a joke at an interview? There’s a reason why the only time I was somewhat fashionable (or at least wearing clothes other than jeans and a tee-shirt as I considered myself a fashion misfit who refuses to wear trendy clothes) was when I had access to the plus size consignment store Re/Dress and the Fat Girl’s Flea Market. The loss of Re/Dress (which BTW is reopening as a Fab online store and maybe even a brick and mortar one) left me to really only have the Fat Girl’s Flea Market (Now called to the Big Fat Flea for so fatties of all genders can have clothes.)

I love the Big Fat Flea. Even as someone who hates crowds and last year because it was on Mother’s day I had to go in the mad rush beginning, I went home with a decent amount of clothes, but no suit. While they have lots of clothes and I always come home with a variety of clothes, finding exactly what I need is again luck. Still it’s sad that I have to get the majority of clothes from them because the department stores and most plus size stores have failed me.

The Big Fat Flea is coming back to New York City on June 9^th in a new Venue at New York University Law School. (BTW NYU Press is the publisher of the fabulous Fat Studies Reader). If you live in the area, get yourself there. Buy entire new wardrobes for next to nothing and tell the department stores to suck it. 

Comments

[Dee]

Just FYI, I've always gotten most of my suits at Jones New York outlets. They only go up to a 24, but their clothes run big, and you can get a well made plus-sized wool suit from them. Also, an off the rack suit will usually need to be tailored, for anyone. They almost never fit perfectly right off the bat. It's just something to include in the planned cost, and it's why they look so good.

[chutti]

I'm not sure what size you are, but gotta echo the love for Jones NY. They tend to be pretty conservative, so last quite a while without going out of style. I'm on the high side of 22 and very short.

Also- I wear suits regularly, and buy a lot at Talbots. At full price they are very spendy, but they have a lot of sales. Their quality is the best, and their women's petites are the only pants in the world I could walk out of the store in without altering.
If you are lucky enough to find one of their clearance stores during sale time, they often have no item over $19.99 or $24.99. I've gotten gorgeous wool suits under $50 in the summer. Off season is the way to go!