Crap on a stick

[shermarama]

I just wasted quite a lot of a very nice day by going Brent Cross and attempting to buy a shirt. Having tried to do that, I now have access to the state-specific memory that otherwise seems to elude me, viz, that never bloody works because nowhere sells shirts that fit me. I mean, why should they? I'm not the same shape as anyone else, certainly not the same shape as any sort of customer base it's worth stocking anything for. My shoulders fit into a large man's shirt (I know, I just tried some on, but they don't fit anywhere below a line across the top of the chest) and my chest needs a size 18 women's shirt and my waist and hips need a size 14 women's shirt and then the whole thing has to be from the tall department, of those few shops that have tall departments, for it to be long enough and then the sleeves probably won't fit in one way or another. I would need Bravissimo, Long Tall Sally and a transvestite shop to set up some sort of joint effort in order for there to be a shop where I can buy a shirt that fits. I own two compromise shirts, both made out of stretchy material, both of which are too small on the shoulders and a bit short, but one's from Bravissimo and therefore fits around the chest and waist, and one's from H&M and has an unusual lots-of-hook-fastenings front such that it isn't so obvious that it's too small across the chest. But I was hoping to get a cool summer shirt, in white or something light, in cotton or linen, to go with a pair of trousers I'm planning on making this week to wear to a wedding next weekend. Looks like I'm going to have to make the bloody shirt too.

I realise there are many bigger problems in the world, but I do sometimes wonder what it would be like to be able to buy clothes or shoes that fitted. I wonder if I'd be a girlier girl if I had the choice. But I don't, so I'm going to go and check my bike's in good nick for cycling 65 miles tomorrow instead.

Comments

[blue-mai.livejournal.com]

a few weeks ago shreena, who you probably don't know, ordered some made to measure shirts from this lot: http://www.tailorstore.co.uk/tailor-made-shirts, i realised it's too late for next week's wedding, but might come in useful in future. they don't look that pricey for such things... i haven't heard back about the results though.

[yiskah.livejournal.com]

There's also styleshake.com on a similar note - they do shirts, though I think dresses are their main order of business.

[shermarama]

Hmm, I had a look and they do standard sizes. They do alterations, but only to bust, waist, hips and hem length...

[shermarama]

I am aware of shreena via a couple of places and I briefly met her a few weekends ago, so there you go.

That looks like it would certainly be useful in some contexts, and the price is remarkable, but a fairly straight-forward shirt like those is something I have a pattern for and can make. I was trying to get something, I dunno, a bit fancier - there was one with pintucks down the front, and another with these interesting pleats forming the shape, which I don't have the l33t sewing skillz for.

[noondaydemon.livejournal.com]

Arrr.... I hope you find some good clothezez soon! You told me once that the Topshop Talls section is good for you?

[shermarama]

The Topshop tall section is brilliant for jeans, for me, but not anything at all in the top half. I think they've scaled for length but not for size, and most of the designs are things I just wouldn't be able to wear - lots of grey, which really doesn't suit me, and halter-necks and things with chest pockets.

[noondaydemon.livejournal.com]

Ah. Must admit, a lot of the things I see in high-street shops are just plain silly, for example garish large prints and awkward impractical shapes :/ I get a lot of my clothes from second-hand shops and then modify them a bit.

[shevek.livejournal.com]

I have a very similar problem - I also have a 42" chest and a 31" waist, at 6'1 high. I suspect you and I might both benefit from swapping pointers to designers sometime?

... [edit] If you're looking for formal shirts, have you tried TM Lewin's fitted shirts? They're my current standard business shirt.

[shermarama]

The minor problem there is that my 42 inches is distributed rather differently to yours...

[damerell.livejournal.com]

Surely many transvestites are tall and some like large false talents? Weird as it is, that sounds like the angle. Mind you, one of us has been doing this for years and one of us is speculating wildly...