Fashion questions for those of us with bigger partners (3XL plus)

Dh is a big boy, a mix of overweight and big build. So we have to shop for him in the bigger mens sections. We really struggle with this, as either it means old man styles or a lot of money (even then the styling is still not right for DH).
Even if DH loses all excess weight, he would still be in big boys clothes, he could only ever by from the normal range back in the 90's when the fashion was super loose.

Was wondering does your partner struggle to find clothes? Where do you tend to shop? Do you have much luck online? We normally shop at Target, but they seem to have drastically reduced the range (don't worry I have lodged a complaint ;) )

My DF is a bigger man. We tend to shop at Target, eBay, Big W and sometimes Best and Less...

It is hard though... I really like EBay - especially if you don't mind second hand clothes - you can get a really good bargain...

DF is a big guy. Like your DH, it's a combination of weight and build. He mostly lives in t shirts and jeans (which makes things a little easier), so we buy online. US sizes are much more generous than they are here. Most of his T shirts we get from Teefury and he just bought some Levi jeans from Amazon.

DH gets a lot of his tshirts and casual shirts from Target, tshirts from cafepress online (mostly ones he wears when dj'ing because he gets designs that suit the profession), and most of his work professional work shirts are from Lowes.

So are any of you finding a reduction in range at Target? Just wondering if it is a local thing, which is stupid, as the locals around here tend to be on the larger size.

Our local Target never had a huge range to begin with.

Target have definitely reduced their range for big guys stuff

DH loves Bundy Rum so he was buying off Ebay or direct from the distillery - haven't had to buy him anything in ages cos the combo of plain work-provided clothes and his bundy stash means he doesn't need anything

i will admit finding him the shorts he likes is near impossible now though

DH is after 3/4's at the moment and he is always a pain trying to find the right shorts.

DH is usually an XXL - he finds stuff at Rivers, Best and Less, cargo pants at BigW and has recently found a few pieces at Lowes

I don't have a big partner, but my brother is big. He buys a lot of surf brands for his shorts - he likes the 3/4 type ones too and they are quite nice, just a plain denim with a small logo on the back pocket usually. Our target is crap for larger mens clothes too - it's all just horrible t-shirts in dodgy dark colours or really baggy track pants.

Mainly Rivers for Work Shirts & T Shirts (long & short sleeve). Jeans and Cargo shorts from Just Jeans and work pants from Lowes. He is a XXL-XXXL but finds at Rivers the XXL fits fine and their work shirts are sold by correct sizing (ie: he is a 44).

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Our local Target never had a huge range to begin with.

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Yeah that. But we live in the centre of nowhere lol.

Essential Man have a decent range of bigger sizes and their XXL is really that. Not like some of the surf brands etc where DH needs 3 sizes bigger.
Just jeans have decent shorts and they are a good length, but they only go up to a 40. It is however a very generous 40 I have discovered.

Oh dear - DH is 7XL, if only he was XXL we would not have so many problems getting him clothes. I think we have differing ideas on what is a BIG man ;)

mine is in a 5-7xl, depending on where we shop - but then it's 3xl in some places too - it's a serious PITA trying to shop online if you haven't bought the brand of clothes previously too

i sometimes wonder if they think big means incapable of wearing clothes that fit properly - big people end up looking like crap not because they don't WANT to find clothes that fit appropriately, but because they physically CAN'T find it! so they get stuff that kinda fits and hope for the best

and so much of the clothes in bigger sizes for guys is as ugly as the stuff for bigger girls if you are looking in major chains - they're really uninspiring

my husband is very slim but I also have trouble finding clothes as he is 6'6" tall with a size 13 foot, and most of the local shops seem to assume if you are tall then you are also wide, which of course isn't true! We buy a lot of clothes online from specialist stores like kingsize and bigguy but it's a real shame as the bargain target stuff is usually unsuitable and he can't find cheap runners for wearing to work anywhere because being a carpet fitter he wears the toes out within a month or two no matter how expensive the shoe. He used to get $15 ones from target and k-mart but they no longer sell up to his size.

Very true BG. DH is so reluctant to buy online, in particular pants, he really needs to try them on and wants to wear more than trackies.

His mum used to sew a lot of his clothes when he was a teenager. It was worse then as he was still weightlifting, so had no neck and could not put his arms down properly. Thankfully now he is not like that, but still has the thick arms, broad shoulders and huge thighs.

It is easier to get him suits. They cost a fortune ($800+), but the stores fit them properly and get them tailored as required.

DH lives in casual clothes most times - he has a few pairs of jeans that he got when he was working (boss ordered them from the US) but he prefers to wear shorts and tee most of the time - which i guess makes it both easier and harder - it's great that he is very casual, but damned annoying when they don't have the shorts he likes in his size any more!

we have a rivers clearance centre here - he has been in a couple of times to look around but said it was all smaller stuff.

Trav - we are having that problem with clothes for DD!! she is in the 97 or 99th percentile for height, and nothing in her actual size is long enough for her . poor poppet spends all day hitching up pants that are too big in the waist/hips, and has to wear two tees most of the time (one to keep her upper chest and shoulders covered close in to her neck, and the other to cover her lower back - roll on summer when dresses will be acceptable or when having a bit of her midriff flashing every now and again won't mean she gets sick from exposure!

I don't know if my DP is considered "big" but hes an XXL t shirt and 38-40 pants. He only wears metal shirts which he either gets online or from concerts otherwise he wears plain collared t shirts from either best and less or most recently the puma outlet store in DFO. He has a few 'going out' shirts which he got from YD and man to man. His pants he gets from jay jays, jeans west or other outlet stores in DFO. He is very particular about what brands he wears, he wouldn't be caught dead wearing anything from target, kmart or big w :rolleyes: He only buys clothes if he DESPERATELY needs them so only has a handful of pants and maybe 10 t shirts and i think 2 going out shirts.

Edited the thread title to clarify a sizing 3XL and up.

Many of us would dream about being able to shop at every day stores in the upper end of the normal range, as opposed to the limited "Mr Fatty" range if they so happen to have one.

Trav - yeah that would be just as frustrating.

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DH lives in casual clothes most times - he has a few pairs of jeans that he got when he was working (boss ordered them from the US) but he prefers to wear shorts and tee most of the time - which i guess makes it both easier and harder - it's great that he is very casual, but damned annoying when they don't have the shorts he likes in his size any more!

we have a rivers clearance centre here - he has been in a couple of times to look around but said it was all smaller stuff.

Trav - we are having that problem with clothes for DD!! she is in the 97 or 99th percentile for height, and nothing in her actual size is long enough for her . poor poppet spends all day hitching up pants that are too big in the waist/hips, and has to wear two tees most of the time (one to keep her upper chest and shoulders covered close in to her neck, and the other to cover her lower back - roll on summer when dresses will be acceptable or when having a bit of her midriff flashing every now and again won't mean she gets sick from exposure!

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We have the same problem with DS1 and girltwin, it's a nightmare. I end up buying clothes a size or 2 too big for them and adjust the waist myself, but it's not so handy for DH :(

i think being away from the city doesn't help either Astrid - i'm sure there is a lot more choice if you're in the city or 'burbs - but if your area is anything like ours, there's lots of big guys and no where to buy for them!

That is what I don't get BG. The sheer amount of bigger men, whether it is being overweight, very tall, or just big built, is quite substantial down this way. I often want to approach some of the better dressed men to ask them where do they shop around here.
Honestly though it was not so great in Melbourne. High and Mighty in the CBD, there was Solways, but don't know what happened to them.

Astrid, definitely ask the well dressed guys where they shop. DH is very slim and we have the same problem on the opposite end of the spectrum. People are usually pretty accommodating and kind of flattered when you mention your hubby can't find nice clothes that fit anywhere, and where did they buy them :)

My Dad is bigger and tall. He shops at Big W mainly, sometimes KMart, sometimes Lowes. I know he finds it very frustrating finding a range of clothes.

Yes Lowes! I was just coming to post that. Really miss that they aren't in the western states.

Apparently they are! I don't know what made me look, but there seems to be stores in every state! Might have to start looking there for DF.

My hubby is a biggun as well, and I've been scoring awesome stuff at Myer for him!

There is a new brand *Jack Stone* which caters to the larger man :)

When they had their sales a few months back, I scored him 2 pairs of cargo style pants (for his golf), 4 polo shirts, a pair of shorts (for golf again :rolleyes: ) all for $58!!!

And, the best thing? he finds them SOOOOO comfy! I have seen denim shorts and jeans, dressier tops, jackets etc there as well ...

Also, if he needs business style shirts etc, Van Huesen (sp) have big mens shirts as well :)

Oh, and for cool tshirts try threadless dot com , an American tshirt place... FUN!

My dh has recently lost a lot of weight, think he was a 44 waist?

He had trouble getting clothes to fit cos most big men's clothes are wide, not wide and long.

Does your dh need pants? Dh has heaps of pants now that don't fit and he was going to give them to st vinnies - some he hasn't even worn. Would they fit your dh? I could send them to you :)

Professor is generally a 4-6 XL, and we generally get his stuff at Target - rarely on special :/ He doesn't normally have trouble finding something to buy for casual, but more formal shirts are a problem, 44 seems to sell out fast. Luckily we don't need to shop often for him!

Yes! big necked shirts sell out so quick. And tell me why they make the big necked shirts (DH is a 48) but they don't make the cuffs larger too? DH can never do the cuffs up!

DF is a 6xl in tops and usually a 3xl in pants but can get away with some xxl's. He has a HUGE gut and it makes it so hard to find anything flattering!!!
He is the same in he loves 3/4 shorts but they are no where to be seen... Argh!!!
Target has definitely reduced their range but I must check out myer!