Comments on: The Big Question: Now with More Criminal Insanity

By: Barb

Barb — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 18:28:24 +0000

I’m going to agree with Rebecca on the bias-cut–it can be wonderful, if it’s *truly* bias-cut. The problem is that most ready-to-wear isn’t truly on the bias, it’s just not quite on the straight of the grain. That gives you the worst qualities of both–the garment hangs crookedly but doesn’t drape like a true bias-cut garment does.

And I’ll defend the 3/4 sleeve as well; like several of the other commenters, I often wind up pushing sweater sleeves up or rolling my shirt sleeves up to about 2 inches below my elbow. But again, to me, the problem isn’t with the design, it’s with the execution; most tops sold as 3/4 sleeves aren’t — they’re elbow length, and that’s a whole different breed of cat: one that needs to be humanely put to sleep.

So my peeve: the fashion mavens who keep insisting that drop waists or empire tops universally look good on Big Girls. Some do, some don’t. Actually, my peeve is the fashion mavens who insist that any trend of the month will “look good on everybody.”

By: Virginia Postrel

Virginia Postrel — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 06:05:58 +0000

Empire waists. No matter how good you think you look in them, you don’t. You look pregnant.

By: Kristin

Kristin — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 02:01:21 +0000

I forgot to sequins for daytime and nose piercings.

By: Sharn

Sharn — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 02:53:18 +0000

I haven’t been able to find jeans in my size (14-16) without stretch since about 2004, and I HATE STRETCH JEANS. HAAAAAAATE.

1% spandex is the kiss of death for pants. Seriously. If stretch jeans fit when I try them on in the store, they will be like elephant skin after I wear them for more than an hour or so. Because they change shape so much after wearing, I have to wash them every time I wear them. Who has that kind of time?
For awhile, I could still find pants with a jeans cut (like khakis and cords) without stretch, but now they’ve all got the taint of spandex too. Stop the madness already!

By: singerangel

singerangel — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 01:48:18 +0000

I agree with Miss Louisa’s love of the 3/4 sleeve- I too love to wear the superfantastic bracelets and bangles. I’m also a fan of the low-rise pants, but ONLY if they fit, and do not create the unsightly muffin top, or show “butt cleavage.” Who came up with that term?!? What I do hate is the skinny jeans- it’s almost impossible to find nice bootcut jeans at the moment. Most of the trends people have mentioned work on some people, but not on others, so I have to say, I wish people took their shape into account when dressing!! Oh and yes, another vote for outlawing crocs (although I do like uggs- but they are SLIPPERS to be worn with pajamas, not in public!) And no, it’s not cool to dress your 12 year old like they belong in playboy magazine!

By: E

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:03:06 +0000

Anything that was designed with a toddler in mind, but intented to be sold to a grown-up woman (baby-doll dresses, ruching, washed-out pastels…). Ballet flats: they’re everywhere, they don’t offer proper arch support, and they look bad on everyone who is not tall and very thin (stumps for legs…). Also, where is the 2inch heel height gone? Oh, and dresses/skirts that are too short. I’m tall, so on me, they’re barely decent. Please bring the hemline down to under or just above the knee! It looks better on everyone!

I am a size 0, in my 20s, and I find it pretty offensive to hear things like ‘clothes for the real woman’. Am I made of plastic? I’m sure many so-called ‘stick-thin’ (yeah, that too is offensive) friends will agree. I, too, am curvy. I’ve got an hourglass-shaped, with a very defined waist, hips and bust.

By: Tk

Tk — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 13:58:34 +0000

Formal. Shorts.

FORMAL SHORTS!! What on earth?? It’s been THREE YEARS of the formal short! Leave us in peace, formal short-driving designers and corporations and skinny girls with no sense wearing FORMAL SHORTS aggghhh. hate.

By: Kimks

Kimks — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 10:38:47 +0000

I am laughing at all of these postings- How funny that there is a huge debate about 3/4 length sleeves and low rise pants. Basically I hate the look of anything that doesn’t rock the wearer. If yout breasts dont fit above the empire waist cut- don’t wear the top or dress, if you can’t breathe in an outfit, don’t wear it, if you need to write across your bum or chest that you are Sexy or Hot, then you probably aren’t. Clothes need to fit you, your style, your personality and the environment you are in, and unless you are working a pole I don’t want to see you underwear in public.
Ohh– and please manufacturers, please stop trying to dress outr teenage girls like slutty little whores- Please- Please Please.

By: Miss Louisa

Miss Louisa — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 04:45:57 +0000

I agree with most of the posts, especially about the very skinny, extra low-rise jeans. I work in a high school and if the neophytes can’t pull off the look, then it is time for the rest of the world to graciously admit defeat.

I was just at the stores today and much to my horror, there were loads of legwarmers in a wide variety of colors and ribs. I guess they had to do something to make the skinny jean look more proportioned to the rest of the body.

I will defend 3/4 sleeve tops, as I like to wear bracelets and these tops show off my superfantastc jewelry.

By: Anpan

Anpan — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 01:14:57 +0000

I love Crocs! However, I wave my ‘disability’ pass at you all and say that I can get them on and they don’t make me fall down, so they can stay for the few of us who need them. They’re sure as hell not pretty or stylish, but neither am I. I’m happy to require people to get a Crocs license before wearing them. And for heaven’s sake, people, stop using them as an excuse not to teach your child to tie his shoes.

No puffed sleeves, no ‘mom jeans’, no acid-wash, no tie-dye, no sugar sack pants, nothing from the 80s, please, no leggings instead of pants (I hate that), no socks with heels, no high-necked t-shirts, no short hoodies, no unitards, no ballet flats (I really find these universally unattractive), and no bubble skirts, please.