BBW's in Spandex
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
United States
December 30, 2006 6:52pm CST
Now I know it is to each his/her own when it comes to tastes in fashion. But when I see a woman or man in something so tight that every roll and dimple shows it makes me shake my head. There are so many flattering fashions out there for plus sized people to wear. Skin tight just doesn't cut it.
Choose clothing that is flattering. Take a friend with you when you shop. Do not solely rely on the opinion of the sales person. They are likely looking to increase sales and will tell you anything to have you buy something.
Let me tell you as story of a good friend who bought new clothes for herself. She asked if she could model them for me. She came in with the first outfit, it was spandex. The top was okay, but the skirt looked like it was a web that she walked through. Not that it was a web, but it clung to her hips and thighs. It did not flatter her pear shape what-so-ever. The next two outfits were about the same.
The next day we went back to the clothing store together. She got had her card credited for what she bought. The woman said that she thought that my friend looked great in the outfits. This woman was a size 2 if that.
I helped my friend pick out some outfits that I knew would flatter her figure. She was delighted and thanked me for her help. I asked the skinny sales girl if they were hiring because I would love to work with people and really show them how to dress. She stuck her little nose in the air and walked away.
7 people like this
24 responses
@craftwave (1338)
• United States
31 Dec 06
I'm glad you took your frined shopping. Some people have to rely on others because they truly have no idea what looks good and what doesn't. I can't stand seeing every roll of mine show. Spandex is for the skinny minis like my daughter.
3 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
31 Dec 06
Even some thinner people shouldn't wear spandex. I have seen smaller people wearing it and I have to laugh. Just because they have a smaller frame, doesn't mean they look attractive in spandex.
1 person likes this
@craftwave (1338)
• United States
31 Dec 06
How true. if you are skinny with a straight frame it only makes you look like a zipper if you stand sideways and stick out your tongue.
2 people like this
@KrauseHome (36447)
• United States
31 Dec 06
There is a woman who attends the same Church I do who is the same age as I am. (42) One problem I have with her is the clothes she wears. Most of them are tight on here, and make her look bigger than what she is, and I find they make her look pretty bad. She is not a bad looking woman if she took time to care about her clothing, and how it fits her, but she is always saying she can never afford anything new. I think a lot of the clothes she bought when she weighed less, and they might have fit her good then, but now she needs to realize for herself it would look better if she could change.
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
31 Dec 06
If I couldn't afford to buy anthing new, I shop at the Goodwill or Salvation Army stores. I also shop at the second-hand stores. You would be amazed at what you can find there and the cost is so much less than new. Offer to go to on a shopping trip to these stores with your friend. She just may need some guidance.
2 people like this
@canadabis1 (1952)
• Canada
31 Dec 06
I know what u mean...nuthing is worse than a bbw with spandex and a long tshirt...like they r hiding anything...plenty of clothes out there for bbw that an accentuate their curvacious body.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
31 Dec 06
I agree. I do not own spandex. My wardrobe compliments my figure rather than bring attention to the peaks and valleys.
1 person likes this
@margieanneart (26423)
• United States
31 Dec 06
I like tight clothes. If you are thin, and have a decent figure, why not. But, age plays a roll in this too. A lot of fashion is for the teens, and a lot of older people wear things that look foolish on them. But each to their own. I do agree that tight clothes on young or old, doesn't look good if they are over weight.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
31 Dec 06
I have seen clothes that are not tight, but are form fitting and they look great. Tastefulness is key when choosing fashion.
@margieanneart (26423)
• United States
31 Dec 06
Yes you are right. I have seen fashion on young girls, like hip huggers, and their bellies hanging over it with a short top. That is not tasteful. Better to just wear a tee shirt with them.
2 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
31 Dec 06
NEWS FLASH!!! Not everyone dresses for your enjoyment. If you don't like what she's wearing, Don't Look!
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
31 Dec 06
IN truth it is how they want to dress. My point is in bringing it to their attention that there are other ways to dress on a more positive note. Thank you for your response. I have given you a plus rating.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
31 Dec 06
Whiteheather, it does bring attention to them. Some dress for the reaction that the draw from people. Many people are still into the Goth look.
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
31 Dec 06
That's true but we can't help looking if the they are drawing attention to themselves by their choice
2 people like this
@mamabulldog60 (351)
• United States
31 Dec 06
Fat teens don't look good if they are in tight skimpy clothes, young don 't mean pretty and showing every lump is not sexy, Ones' gut rolling over one's hip huggers is nauseating at the least and laughable most of the time.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
31 Dec 06
I agree on the belly dunlop syndrome. That is when the belly rolls over the pants.
@sharone74 (4837)
• United States
31 Dec 06
You are right, spandex is not the best look for a big body. Of course there are small bodies that don't look good in spandex. I am on that bordeline at a size 6 for whether or not to wear spandex. However we have this one Mexican lady at our gym. Just the most darling woman that always wears black spandex pants to the gym and I am not quite sure how they hold together as this girl is a size 20 or larger. She has lost over 25 pounds but still spandex and lycra should not be phasing into her wardrobe yet!
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
31 Dec 06
If you ever notice, mos of the people working there are small. They don't care how you look. They just get paid by the hour and can't wait until their shift is over. If they would hire someone who is about the size of the clothes they are selling might help some, because most are self conscious. I always take my mother with me, even though our tastes are not quite the same, she will tell me if it looks bad.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
31 Dec 06
I trust the opinions of a friend or another plus size woman. When I have shopped for clothing and a skinny sales person tells me I look good in something that I know is untrue I will loudly announce that she must be blind because it looks like crap on me. I actually made one of these clerks nearly run to get away from me. LOL
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
31 Dec 06
Oh I couldn't agree with you more. It's one thing for someone who is bigger to wear spandex shorts if the tshirt comes down to mid-thigh. Then you aren't seeing them. I've done that but mostly for when I'm working around the house or out in the yard.
My mother is the same size as I am, I wear anywhere from a 20 to a 24 depending on the styles. Now and then an 18 but that is rare. My mother won't admit she has to wear above a 16 so her clothes always look tight on her. They show off all the rolls etc. They are very unflattering. We try at Christmas or her birthday to get her clothes the right size and she is like "Oh they are gallons too big for me". We are like no they fit correctly.
It doesn't help that designers have a tendency to just take skinny clothes and make them bigger. It doesn't work that way most of the time. Yes some things it does but often they don't make them to flatter the fuller shaped figure. If anything it can then be unflattering because the lines end in the wrong place, don't fit right etc.
I wish they would get more fuller figured sellers in the shops for fuller figured clothes. Then at aleast they might have an idea of how the clothes should look.
2 people like this
@MissGia (955)
• United States
4 Jan 07
I shake my head as well. I appreciate the fact that all people come in different shapes and sized but dress accordingly. I myself just pack a little bit of extra padding and i wont even wear tight clothes/spandex. Big people can still be sexy without havin to show it off. And good job on helping your friend pick out decent clothing rather than the sales girl.. You care about what she looks like, not how much money your making.
2 people like this
@lauriefnp (5109)
• United States
31 Dec 06
P.S. When I saw the title of this discussion, I thought that you were going to encourage people who wear a size 24 to wear spandex if they wanted to, and I was afraid to start reading!!
2 people like this
@lauriefnp (5109)
• United States
31 Dec 06
I don't know what you do for a living, but maybe this would be a good business for you to get into! It is hard to dress well when you wear plus-sized clothing; I think that people equate being heavy with clothing that is not stylish. Wouldn't it be nice if you could act as a fashion consultant for women who need to choose wardrobe items for professional jobs or special occasions? Your own little boutique... It sounds like you have a knack for being able to pick out the right things. I sure could use you here!!
2 people like this
@mikeyr6000le (2123)
• United States
31 Dec 06
LMAO at the part about you asking if they are hiring. Good for you. I myself have never been to a place where they tell me if I look good or not. I buy alot of my clothes online. that way I can see for myself how I look in them. I am a bigger guy so I try not to buy things that are to tight or let my large figure show off. It does that just fine by itself.
My ex girl friend was a larger woman. She had a few items of clothes that she would wear that didn't do anything for her. At the time I loved her and just told her I didn't like that outfit,which was the truth. I have seen some people that should really look in a mirror before going out in somethings.
I do applaude the BBW and BHM (big handsome men) that do go out and dress nicely and don't care if they are large or not. I myself wish I had half their confiedence.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
31 Dec 06
If you do not find another job, or if you want to do something on the side, personal shopping assistant would be a great home business for you. I will only wear spandex if I can wear something flowing and loose over it. I do not want to see all of my lumpy flesh, and I cannot imagine anyone else would either.
1 person likes this
@melanie652 (2524)
• United States
31 Dec 06
I don't like skin tight fashions on most people, including me. I think it takes a very fit, thin person to get away with those kinds of fashions. That's NOT most people! Sounds like you have a good eye for fashion. That wasn't the store for you, but it may be well worth your time to apply at other places? By the way, my taste in fashion consists of jeans and t-shirts or sweatshirts! LOL
@stailgate (2363)
• United States
5 Jan 07
That is sad. i know what you mean. That is one of my pet peeves is seeing large people in way to tight of clothes.
1 person likes this
@kareng (62072)
• United States
31 Dec 06
I just encountered this myself. I noticed a woman in the store who had on WHITE spandex pants and was very large. Now as if the spandex wasn't bad enough...the color white showed every little ripple. It was not flattering at all. I don't understand why people dress like this. It is very unattractive.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
31 Dec 06
Ripples, dimples and bumps. They think it looks great. Maybe they wear rose colored glasses when they look at themselves in the mirror. Or maybe don't own a full-length mirror.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
31 Dec 06
Unfortunately too many people follow what is the latest fad, fashion regardless if it suits them or not. Other dress to please their mates. I guess it comes down to the old saying that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder,
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
31 Dec 06
I know of a few men that are attracted to the silouette of a full figured woman. They applaude when they view one in spandex and actually beg for more.
1 person likes this
