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about service and inaccurate sizing. "Many of their clothes have
beautiful detailing that you can't see in the catalog pictures."
They guarantee items of the same color will match. They make all
their clothing themselves. Sizes to 28/30.
Uniquity Plus
Out of business 4/97
Urban Basics
[single][Colorado][women][lingerie][casual][outdoors]
The Seasons Mall
Avon, CO
Phone: (970) 845-7820
Now carries sizes 14-26. Seems to specialize in denim items.
Valley Department Store
[single][California][men][women][supersize][accessories]
245 N. Euclid Ave.
Ontario, CA 91762
Phone: (909) 984-8646
Large selection, friendly staff, clothing and accessories.
Women's clothing in 16-18 to 30-32W. Men's clothing to 10X
shirts, pants up to about 64.
Vermont Country Store
[catalog][women][lingerie]
PO Box 3000
Manchester Center, VT 05255-3000
Phone: (802) 362-2400
Web site: http://vermontcountrystore.com/vcs/vcs.htm
Slips, chafe shields, mumus, robes, float dresses. Sizes vary;
some items to 28, most smaller. Good prices, good quality. They
also sell 100% cotton mid-thigh panties which do a good job of
preventing chafing and protecting stockings.
Village East at Gottschalks
[chain][women][casual][career][evening][lingerie]
Most malls with Gottschalks have a Village East next door; it's
their large women's department. Though the prices are a little
steep, they have nice evening wear. Accessories but no shoes.
Some undergarments (mostly slips) and granny nighties; no cute
lingerie. Lots of separates.
Vivian Young
[catalog][women][lingerie]
9291 Greenwich Dr
Huntington Beach, CA 92615-8333
Bras.
Votta's Wearable Art
[catalog][women][accessories]
PO Box 243
Wilmington, IL 60481
Catalog $2 (refunded with first order)
Large-size bangles and bracelets.
W & M's Fantasy Fashions
[catalog][single][Pennsylvania][women][lingerie][swimwear][casual]
5664 Sandylake-Polk Rd
Sandylake, PA 16145
Phone: (412) 376-7057
Fax: (412) 458-7631
Email: cocoon@nauticom.net
Catalog $3.
Lingerie and clothing up to size 4X.
WalkUSA
[catalog][unisex][sportswear][outdoors]
6310 Nancy Ridge Drive, #101
San Diego, CA 92121
Phone: (800) 445-2209
Men's and women's walking shorts and activewear up to 2XL.
Tell them you want larger sizes!
WalMart
[chain][women][men][casual][swimwear]
Some large size clothing up to 24 or 26, including lines by
Richard Simmons and Kathie Lee. Inexpensive men's pants (cotton
and polyester slacks, jeans) up to size 50. Swimwear to size
25.
WaterWear
[catalog][single][New Hampshire][swimwear]
Riverview Mill
Wilton, NH 03086
Phone: (800) 321-SUIT
Aquatic fitness wear, chlorine resistant fabric, sizes to 28.
We Be Bop
[single][California][women]
Two locations:
1903 Fillmore St.
San Francisco, CA 94115
Phone: (415) 771-7294
and
1380 10th St., Berkeley
Kicky hip loose clothes, beautiful prints, up to size 4X. JW
Ramage also sells some of their items.
Wedding Place
[single][Indiana][women][wedding]
Fort Wayne IN
Boutique. One bride-to-be called them up to make an appointment
and told them of her encounter with fatphobic salespeople at a
local wedding chain. When she arrived for her appointment, a BBW
saleswoman was waiting for her. She was very pleased with the
service.
WearGuard
[catalog][internet][unisex][supersize][outdoors][casual]
141 Longwater Drive
Norwell, MA 02061
Phone: (800) 388-3300
Fax: 800-436-3132
Web site: http://www.wearguard.com/
Work clothes, outdoors clothes, some casual clothing. Some of
their stuff is available up to 5X.
Westport Woman
[chain][women][career][casual]
Chain in California, possibly elsewhere.
One in Folsom and one in Vacaville.
Very nice clothes, from good blue jeans through handmade
sweaters and good suits. Reasonable prices.
Wide and Comfortable
[single][Oregon][internet][unisex][supersize][custom][casual][outdoors]
Roseann and Joe Hall
8021 SE Stark Street
Portland, Oregon, 97215
Phone: (503) 261-9222
Email: widecomfy@aol.com
or widecomf@teleport.com
Web site: http://www.teleport.com/~widecomf/widecomf.html
T-Shirts to 12X, Henley's three button tab shirts to 8X and 10X.
Sweats to 8X right now, looking at a company that goes to 12X.
Shorts to 10x. Tank tops to 8X, in both mens and womens styles.
Jersey Pants & Baggy pants. Jeans & Stretch jeans to 66 inches.
Twill work pants to 74 inch waist. Custom sewing.
Willow Ridge
[casual] [career] [catalog] [midsize]
421 Landmark Dr
Wilmington, NC 28410
Phone: (800) 388-8555, (800) 388-2012 customer service
Winter Silks
[catalog][men][women][unisex][lingerie][casual]
2700 Laura Ln.
PO Box 620130
Middleton, WI 53562
Phone: (800) 648-7455
Email: webmaster@wintersilks.com
Web site: http://www.wintersilks.com/
Silk long johns, shorts, robes, and so on. Some styles up to
unisex (men's) 2X. A few styles up to women's 3X. Call and ask
for more large sizes.
Woman's World
[chain][women][petite][casual][career]
Mall store.
They carry women's petites and sizes up to 26.
WorkAbles for Women
[catalog][women][outdoors]
Oak Valley
Clinton, PA 15026-0214
Phone: (800) 826-9317
Cold weather wear up to size 20W or 22W. Call and ask for larger
sizes. They sell, among other things, long underwear, polar
pants, wind pants, and wool pants with access panels so that
using the bathroom in the wilderness does not require baring
all.
Vibrant Handknits USA
[catalog][custom][women][casual]
Historic Savage Mill
8600 Foundry St
Savage, MD 20763
Phone: (800) 765-KNIT
High-quality art sweaters in sizes 16-28. Will do custom work.
XL Collection Plus
[catalog][women]
Box 20511
Rochester, NY 14602
$12.95
Fashion resource guide.
XTC Leather of NY Limited
[catalog][women][lingerie]
120 Nancy St., Unit E
West Babylon, NY 11704
Phone: (516) 643-3030
Fax: (516) 643-3510
Leather lingerie in sizes up to 3X. They are a wholesale
operation and will not sell to individuals. You might be able to
call them to see if anyone near you carries their stuff.
"Quality is mediocre- to pretty decent, BUT their large-size
body template wears a B cup and so *all* of their plus stuff
comes in 1X, 2X, 3X B. This (obviously) doesn't work well for
those of us in 40Ds."
Yellow Creek Originals
Out of business 3/97.
Yoko Honda
[catalog][women][supersize][casual]
PO Box 35
New York, NY 10018
Phone: (212) 868-2050
Washable A-line dress/caftans in four colors.
Zala Design
[catalog][women][supersize][sportswear]
Box 80018
Minneapolis, MN 55408
Phone: (612) 871-4809
Catalog $2
Leotards up to size 7X.
============================================================
A2) What manufacturers make clothes/shoes/spectacles for large folks?
CLOTHING FOR WOMEN
You can find these clothing lines in various retail stores and catalogs.
Capistrano
Complaint of cheap manufacture.
Carole Little II
Carol Little's large-size collection. Beautiful fabric, flowing
cuts, nice colors. A little pricey. Well-made, and the dresses
are quite long.
Citiculture
Fancy "garden party" dresses up to 4X (sizes run large).
Danskin
Phone: (800) 87-DANSKIN
Exercise clothing in sizes 1X-4X. Their clothes are well made
and pretty and they use large-size models.
Elisabeth
Liz Claiborne's plus sizes line. Expensive, but good quality.
Sizes 14-22. Also has some petites.
Entree
Jeans that fit wonderfully and consistently across many styles
up to size 44.
Fruit of the Loom
100% cotton panties up to size 12. Also bras with large band
and cup sizes.
Gilda Marx
Phone: (800) 825-BODY
Exercise clothing in sizes 1X-3X.
Goddess Bras
Phone: (213) 629-2905 or (617) 569-3000
Well-made, large-size bras. They have cotton bras without
underwires up to about size 52DD. Good push-up bras, comfortable
merrywidows. They've been actively soliciting NAAFA to find out
what large women want in bras. They also make nursing bras
(particularly recommended is Model 510).
Hanes Her Way
Large size sweatpants and sweatshirts.
Jerzees
Good quality, heavy T-shirts up to size 6X.
Jockey for Her
All-cotton underwear in three styles up to at least size 11.
Jones New York Woman
Career wear.
Just My Size
Underwear, socks, and pantyhose. Affiliated with L'Eggs. They
also have their own catalog (see catalog section above).
Kathy Lee Plus
Carried at WalMart.
Lee Jeans
Tend to work well on figures with smaller waistlines, large
hips. Sizes up to 28 or 30.
Marina Bridal
Wedding dresses, priced reasonably ($350-$900 or so). Their
headquarters is in NYC. You should be able to get a copy of
their catalog (about 20 styles) by calling local bridal shops.
No Nonsense
Women like their plus-size pantyhose, which goes up to 4X, feels
soft against the skin, and doesn't bag because of lycra in the
fabric blend. They are getting harder to find.
Richard Simmons
Carried at WalMart.
Sharon Anthony
Two Potato
CLOTHING FOR MEN
You can find these clothing lines in various retail stores and catalogs.
Dolphin Swimwear
Levi's Jeans and Action Slacks
Large-size button-fly 501s. The Action Slacks apparently wear
like iron, wash well, and never need to be ironed.
SPECTACLES
Luxottica makes large-size frames for men. They make metal frames in XXL
sizes, and have 170mm custom temples. Also look for Zyloware frames.
Most companies do carry large-size frames; have the optical tech look in
the Frames book for listings of large frames.
COMFORTABLE AND/OR WIDE WOMEN'S SHOES
Bally
Clark's
Easy Spirit (reported very long lasting even for supersize people)
Ecco (made in Denmark)
Hush Puppies "Bounce"
Nordstrom's store brand
Rangoni
Selby
Soft Spots
COMFORTABLE AND/OR WIDE UNISEX SHOES
Avia
Birkenstock
Cuddler's (available at K-Mart)
New Balance
Puma
Red Wings
Rieker
Rockports
Romika
SAS (hiking boots)
Simple
Sorel's (winter boots -- proper mountaineering boots)
Wolverine (hiking boots)
Worishofer
============================================================
A3) Where can I find a wedding dress?
You can probably buy a wedding dress in a regular bridal store -- many
stores carry large sizes, and almost all stores can order them. They may
have only a limited selection of sizes in stock for you to try on, so
you may have to use your imagination to figure out how the dress would
look on you in particular. Sometimes just putting your arms through the
dress and holding it in front of you will give you an idea of what it
would be like.
Note that wedding dress designers do not size their dresses
consistently. Some call a dress with measurements of 46-36-36 a size 42;
yet another may say a size 42 has measurements of 50-40-50. Many
national bridal designer's "measurements to size" descriptions are at
this web site:
http://www.lm.com/~modernbr/sizechartsa.html
It's also very common to have dresses tailored once they arrive. (This
is common even for women who wear smaller sizes -- often they can't try
on the dress in their particular size, so when it arrives it needs to be
taken in or let out.) If the dress turns out to be too small, they can
split the side seam of the bodice and sew in a few inches of extra
fabric. This is hardly noticeable, even when you are looking for it.
They may be able to get lace trim that matches the rest of the dress and
use that to make it even less obvious.
Also, nearly all bridesmaid's dresses go to at least size 24, and some
go larger. Many of these dresses are fairly formal and can be ordered in
white or off-white, so may work as a wedding dress.
You may want to look through some of the bridal magazines -- many of the
advertisers list what sizes they make. Also look through bridal books.
*Bridal Bargains* by Denise and Alan Fields lists which sizes various
manufacturers make. They have a Web page where they make available
updates to their books:
http://www.usa.net/~adfields
In December '96, they'll be putting another book out called *The Bridal
Gown Guide*, in which they'll print the size charts of major designers
along with style numbers and suggested retail prices.
Search for "[wedding]" in section A1, the big list of clothing stores,
to find stores and catalogs that carry wedding dresses.
Here are some manufacturers who make large-size wedding dresses:
Alfred Angelo
Phone: (800) 528-3589 or (215) 659-8700
Makes 18-20 and 38-44. Both cost extra but their gowns are
relatively cheap.
Ange D' Amour
Phone: (800) 288-3888.
Through size 20.
Bianchi
Phone: (800) 669-2346.
Through size 20.
Bonny
Phone: (714) 961-8884
Email: bbwfromca@aol.com
Makes a line called "Essence by Esther," gowns to size 44 (costs
extra).
Bridal Originals
Phone: (800) 876-GOWN or (312) 467-6140
To size 30 (encourages stores to carry large size samples!)
Carmi Couture
Phone: (212) 921-7658
Through size 20 (extra charge).
Citiculture
Large-size "garden-party" dresses that can double as wedding
dresses.
Diamond Collection
Phone: (212) 302-0210
Through size 20 ($100 extra).
Designer at Heart, Inc.
Megan Moser Rosenhart
Phone: (800) 462-4889
Custom-designs bridal gowns -- "traditional and non-traditional
styles, from lace to leather, all sizes."
Eden
Phone: (818) 441-8715
Petites through 20-32 (extra charge). Bridal Bargains gave these
guys 4 stars!
Eve of Milady
Phone: (212) 302-0050
Through size 20. $100 extra for 18-20.
Fink
Phone: (212) 921-5683
Through size 20. Extra 10% for 18-20.
Galina
Phone: (212) 564-1020
Through 20, extra charge for 18-20.
Ginza Collection/Private Label by G
Phone: (800) 654-7375
Through 42 (extra charge of $100).
Ilissa
Phone: (212) 967-5222
Through 20, 18-20 are $60 extra.
Impression
Phone: (800) BRIDAL-1
Through size 30. 16-20 cost $30 extra. 22-30 are $70 extra.
Jasmine
Phone: (708) 519-7778
To size 44 (extra charge).
Jessica McClintock
Phone: (800) 333-5301 or (415) 495-3030
A few gowns through size 24.
Jim Hjelm
Phone: (212) 764-6960
Through size 20. 18-20 are $150 extra.
Lili
Phone: (800) 258-7944 or (818) 282-4326
Through 26. $70 extra for 22-26.
Marisa
Through 20. $160 extra for 18-20.
Mary's
Phone: (713) 933-9678
Through size 30.
Mon Cherie
Phone: (609) 530-1900
Has sizes 18-20 and 38-44, $20 or $40 extra.
Moonlight
Phone: (708) 884-7199
Sizes through 44 (extra charge).
Mori Lee
Phone: (212) 947-3490
Some designs available through size 42 for extra charge.
San Martin
Phone: (213) 257-5333
Some styles available through 44.
St. Pucchi
Phone: (214) 631-4039
Through 20, 18-20 extra 20%.
Sweetheart
Phone: (212) 868-7536
Through 44 (and keeps all sizes in stock).
Wallentin Collection
Phone: (800) 925-5954
Email: SmithsonC@aol.com
Silk wedding gowns. Can custom make any gown to fit any size
woman. Ask for Catherine.
============================================================
A4) Where can I find sewing/knitting patterns?
Ana's Accoutremonts
Custom fitted patterns of period costumes. See entry above.
Beautiful Babes
6705 N. Seneca
Portland, OR 97203
Phone: (503) 286-1119
Catalog $2.
Easy-to-sew collection of patterns for dresses, blouses,
blazers, pants, ponchos, jackets, swimwear, lingerie, and more.
Sizes 38-72. A poster writes: "Laura, the owner, is real nice
and we discussed fitting problems etc etc and the dress I made
from her pattern is wonderful. They also have programs now where
you can make your own patterns from an ibm compatible computer.
They run $100-150." and "Laura's patterns are mostly casual."
Bellamy Manufacturing
222 N. 11th St
Clarksville, TN 37040
Phone: (615) 645-8249
Catalog $4.
Patterns for nice careerwear with skirts or pants. Maternity
patterns also available. Sizes 22-62 average and tall. Can
special-order sizes 64-70.
*Big Knits*, *Great Big Knits*
Big Knits ISBN: 0-7126-5097-0. Vermont: Trafalgar Square Publishing
Two books by Dawn French and Sylvie Soudan containing knitting
patterns for large-size women. Patterns go from very simple,
classic designs, to very complex intarsias. Proper large-size
models.
Bras
The rec.crafts.textiles.sewing newsgroup has a fantastic FAQ
about underwire and regular bras. If you're interested in
making your own bras and lingerie, check it out:
http://www.funhouse.com/babs/FAQ.html
The Busy Woman's Fitting Book
Nancy Zieman and Robbie Fanning
Nancy's Notions/Open Chain Publishing ISBN: 0-932086-10-1, $9.95
Provides instructions on how to alter patterns to fit you.
Burda
GLP International
PO Box 9868
Englewood, NJ 07631-1123
Phone: (212) 736-7455 or (201) 871-1010
Large size patterns. Their magazine, *Burda Fashions for the
Fuller Figure* (or Burda Plus?), has patterns up to size 34W.
One person reports: "Burda is very true to their sizing, and
they make patterns for up to size Euro60. The have all sorts of
interesting patterns, with unusual (nifty cool) detailing. I
find that I have to do mucho fewer adjustments to make these
patterns fit my narrow chest, big boobs, sloping shoulders,
bottom-heavy apple-pear shape." Another writes: "I had stayed
away from them because of the added seam and hem allowances, but
now they are adding them in for you. They have some really nice,
classic styles."
Butterick
Some patterns in sizes up to 32. Now carrying new Delta Burke
line -- some pretty styles in larger than 22's.
Computer packages for sizing patterns
A number of companies make programs that print out customized
patterns. You pick the basic pattern and enter the measurements
of the person the garment is intended for, and it spits out a
pattern. Some of these are:
LivingSoft (also known as Dress Shop)
PO Box 970
Janesville, CA 96114
Phone: (800) 626-1262
Available for IBM, in the works for Macintosh.
Fittingly Sew
Available for IBM
D'ates D'signs
3430 Robin Lane, Suite B
Cameron Park, CA 95682
Great wearable art patterns for coats, dusters, and shirts.
Dressmaker's dummies
Dressmaker's dummies are available in plus sizes. Your local
fabric shop may carry them or should be able to order them.
Fairchild Books and Videos
7 West 34th St
New York, NY 10001
Fashion designs for the plus size.
Fitting Finesse
Nancy Zieman
Book that explains how to alter patterns so that you can make
clothes that fit you right from patterns made for small people.
Great Fit Patterns
2229 NE Burnside, Suite 305
Gresham, OR 97030
Phone: (503) 665-3125
Catalog $1
Sewing patterns, career, casual, separates, sweats, exercise,
uniforms and lingerie. Patterns in women's sizes 38-60. Nice
patterns.
Hattie Chanon
Design Center of Charlotte
1235-E East Blvd, #222
Charlotte, NC 28203
Large-size patterns
Email: mary.wilson@exchange.exchange.com
List of commercially available sewing patterns for big men
(chest size 48" to 52", 56" or 68").
McCalls
Some of their patterns go up to size 50.
PAW Prints Pattern Company
Purrfection Artistic Wearables
19618 Canyon Drive
Granite Falls Washington 98252
Phone: 800 691 4293
Web site: http://www.purrfection.com
11 patterns that go up to a 3XL (bust 54 hip 56) and there are 2
new patterns that go up to a 5XL (bust 62 hip 64). Reports:
"I've made a kimono type jacket from one of their patterns in a
4X (I generally wear a size 30-32) and the only alteration I did
was to lengthen it." "These patterns are more 'fun' than
conventional but there are some fairly unique things that I've
never found elsewhere."
Pijin-Hole Patterns
804 Forest Park Blvd.
Fort Worth, TX 76102-5805
Phone: (817) 338-0025
Simplicity
Web page: http://www.simplicitypatt.com/index.html
Their patterns go up to size 32W in two lines -- BBW and HOAX.
HOAX is meant to be for different body types. Their sizing guide
may run too large. They also have a multi-sized (1X-6X) pattern
for men for a shirt and a pair of pants. Clothes made from their
patterns are attractive and come out beautifully. New Look is
also part of Simplicity.
Stretch and Sew
Web page: http://www.stretch-and-sew.com
One person reports "Stretch and Sew is good for those who are
not one size all over." They are featuring a new line of plus
size patterns, one of which is called Rita's Wardrobe (see Rita
Farrow's *Life Is Not a Dress Size* in the Publications FAQ).
The patterns include sizes 1X-3X (46-56 bust, 48-58 hip) in each
design. Besides the wardrobe, there are eight separate designs
in the collection, including pants, dresses, and a jacket.
Style
Some large-size patterns
Unique Patterns
Phone: (800) 543-4739
Over 130 personalized patterns, no size limits.
Vogue Woman
Dowdy, boring, waistless patterns.
============================================================
A5) How do I convert between sizes?
Here are some conversions between European, U.K., and U.S. sizes:
Women's dresses and suits
For U.S. size, subtract 2 from U.K. size.
For U.S. size, subtract 30 from European size.
(UK 28 = US 26 = Euro 56)
Women's shoes
For U.S. size, add 1.5 to U.K. size.
(UK 8 = US 9.5)
Men's suits and coats
U.K. and U.S. sizes are the same.
For U.S. size, subtract 10 from European size.
(UK 56 = US 56 = Euro 66)
Men's shirts
U.K. and U.S sizes are the same.
Men's socks
U.K. and U.S. sizes are the same.
Men's shoes
For U.S. size, add 1 to U.K. size.
(UK 10.5 = US 11.5)
============================================================
============================================================
SECTION B: Information about this FAQ
B1) Are there other related FAQs?
There is some overlap in the topics covered by the FAQs. If you don't
find what you're looking for here, try the other FAQs.
The following FAQs can be found at:
http://www.bayarea.net/~stef/Fatfaqs/
soc.support.fat-acceptance newsgroup FAQ
alt.support.big-folks newsgroup FAQ
Size-acceptance
Clothing for Big Folks in Canada
Clothing for Big Folks in the U.S.
Organizations for Big Folks
Publications for Big Folks
Resources for dealing with the Physical Aspects of Being Fat
Other Resources for Big Folks
The following FAQs can be found at:
http://www.comlab.ox.ac.uk/oucl/users/sharon.curtis/BF/SSFA/faqs.html
Big Folks and Health
Big Folks and Fitness
Big Folks and Sports
Research on Big Folks
Clothing for Big Folks in the U.K. and Europe
The maternity FAQ can be found at:
http://www.vireday.com/~rvireday/plus/Plus_Size_Maternity_and_Nursing_FAQ.html
You can also find (sometimes slightly older versions of) the above FAQs
(except the maternity FAQ) at the following locations:
ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/fat-acceptance-faq/
http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/fat-acceptance-faq/
http://www.cs.ruu.nl/wais/html/na-dir/fat-acceptance-faq/
(Note: The big-folks FAQ is listed separately at these locations.)
You can also get FAQs from rtfm.mit.edu via anonymous FTP or via the mail
archive server. For information about the mail server, send email to
mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu
with the word "help" (without the quotes) in the body of the message.
============================================================
B2) Posting information
This document is posted bi-weekly to alt.support.big-folks.
Stef Jones (stef@bayarea.net) maintains this FAQ.
============================================================
B3) Contributors
These are the people who contributed significant chunks to the FAQ:
Sasha Wood (Sasha.Wood@cs.cmu.edu)
Eleanor Brown (ebrown@mac.cc.macalstr.edu)
Also, lots and lots of other people (too many to credit) contributed
information that appears herein, some via email and some on s.s.f-a
and a.s.b-f. Thanks to them all.
Suggestions for additions/improvements are always welcome.
Send suggestions to Stef Jones (stef@bayarea.net)
============================================================
Copyright 1995, 1996 by Stef Jones (stef@bayarea.net)
Permission is granted to copy and redistribute this article in its
entirety for non-commercial, educational use only, provided that this
copyright notice is not removed or altered. No portion of this work may
be sold, either by itself or as part of a larger work, without the
express written permission of the author. This restriction covers all
publication media, including electronic media.
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