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

[briggsy's girl]

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

[Astrid]

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.

[briggsy's girl]

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!

[*LittleMissSummer*]

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 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.

[Astrid]

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.

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

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!

[~Kim~]

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!

[Traveller]

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!

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

[briggsy's girl]

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!

[Astrid]

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.