To all of you that are moms to finicky teenagers, try this one on: my 16 yo dd is 5'9" and on the heavier side. All of her friends are more petite. She has totally given up on dressing nice. Her every day wear is grimy sweats and too tight shirts and mocasins. She always does her hair and make-up, and has the wittiest personality Ive come across, but the clothes! Augh! Homecoming is soon, and we have the hardest time finding dresses. She insists on going to the stores with itty-bitty dresses that only end up making her feel even worse about her size. To top it all off, she refuses to wear anything from plus size stores like Torrid. I showed her they have the same exact things as Mandy or Forever 21, but just in her size. She absolutely refuses! The topic of shopping for a dress came up Sunday, and I ended up hurting her feelings because i told her I refused to buy her a dress that was too short or didnt fit her right. I felt terrible as she stood there in tears, especially since I am also not a size 2. If anyone knows of a store that sells "tall" clothes for teenagers, maybe then i can show her how to dress her body starting with the height. Thanks!
Thanks for all the advice, ladies! The Forever 21 plus sizes are wonderful!!! Old Navy also has them online! I also dragged her against her will to the mall to find a Homecoming Dress. We found one of those boutiques that carries dresses for every occasion in EVERY SIZE! Ended up with 2 dresses that she looked beautiful in! We are still having trouble with jeans--one wash and they are too short--but that's what boots are for! Tucked in the jeans and problem is solved! Now...if I could just get her out of those mocasins!!!
Have you tried avenue? I know that's not a younger person's store, but I always thought the clothes looked great and they also have great accessories. I agree with the Nordstrom idea if you're willing to spend a little extra to help her feel good - many of the workers there have great style and are very helpful!
I also second the bridal shop for a cute homecoming/cocktail dress. Try David's bridal, the dresses don't seem to be much more in cost then what you would spend in a department store, they can also measure her so the dress will be a perfect fit. Also, have you tried Kohls, and Target both stores seem to have some basics. What if you picked up a few things for her to try on at home from Torrid, Avenue, Faith 21 (Forever 21's plus size line - online only). Maybe once she trys some clothes on in the privacy of her own home and sees how cute she looks, she might actually warm to going into the stores. Also, what about checkinng out GAP, JcPenney's online they sell Tall sizes. Good Luck!
Hi there, sounds like junior cut clothes don't work for her. She's going to have to accept that fact. I would show her some Dos & Donts from Glamour.com or for what larger women look like in too small clothes " the people of Walmart.com. Hard part over.. THEN try Forever21 online. They have an "extended" size line that is like the itty bitty clothes just made a little bigger. I am a size 16 and I by very cute things all the time. There is a mall store named Deb that carries ext sizes. Gap online has longer lengths . Old Navy too. I know it was hard to tell her about the itty bitty clothes but it is tragic to see ANYONE in clothes that do not fit! There are many other options online. I think Aeropostale may offer some extended sizes because I have seen some bigger girls in their shirts and they didn't look like wrapped sausages. I agree that she needs to know that you make the clothes, the clothes don't make you! Different companies size clothes in crazy ways. Don't be a size slave. Try it on always and get the size that looks right not because of the number. PS you can also check online for theforever 21 location that carry the Faith line on site. Both downtown Chicago sites have it. Hope that helps!
I don't have a teenager but I WAS this teenager! and the plus size stores there were were just "old lady stores" to me. I would have KILLED for Torrid! I love it now (I'm 40) My suggestion is to maybe get a friend of hers to shop with you cause as we know, teens want to be different as a long as it's the same as their friends! Also, purchase some teen mags that include formal wear or a bridal mag and take your teen and friend (to be named) out for coffee or something and pick out the favs. It may distract from the idea of shopping for the little dresses and focus on finding "that one dress". You might even try the thrift stores since they really don't focus on size and find that dress that she can make/revamp special to her. It is the land where bridesmaid dresses go to die :-) Just make her feel beautiful, she will grow out of it. And my mama was right, a 35 yr old size 20 is a lot different that a 16 yr size 20........I hit on several times at my 20th reunion from boys that wouldn't give me the time of day in high school and I had my fiance' on my arm so pllllbbbbt! We are now married and have a 16 mon old. My point is that if she has a strong sense of self, it will prevail eventually. Much luck to you mom.
I think you should try a bridal store. Bridal stores now sell not only bride and bridesmaids dresses but a ton of special occasion dresses. The dresses at bridal shops are always super long (I think they do that on purpose so that they can charge you a bunch for alterations). Also, being in a bridal shop their will be no stigma attached to where she purchased her dress (I'm guess that's really what the big deal is with her).
Do you know anyone (or yourself) that knows how to sew? I am short and not skinny, not fat, but I see people wear clothes that fit all the time who have bigger body parts and they look adorable. My husband says that a lot of people that were from his town sewed things all the time. (I do not like sewing but definitely like knowing that option).
New York and Company sells clothes for tall Teenagers. The Jeans are the best there.
What about going to a department store like Carsons, JC Penney or Nordstroms? Talk to the personal shoppers at Nordstroms, your daughter could get a 3rd party opinion about what is appropriate and what will fit her.
I would also sit down with her for a heart-to-heart talk about how it doesn't matter what store your clothes come from as long as you like them, like they way they look, and feel comfortable in them.
Good luck!
My other suggestion is to go to these other stores without her, pick out a dress or two in her real size and have her try them on at home. That way, she's not "seen" in the store, she can try them on in the privacy of her bedroom and you can return the ones she doesn't like.
