Me, a size 2? Who Knew?

O.K. what’s this vanity sizing thing all about—I am sure some marketing director out there is claiming it does something for a girl’s ego, “Women feel thinner when they wear a size smaller.”  All it does for me is make me feel manipulated.  I recently bought a pair of size six cropped pants at Banana Republic.  First of all I am not a size six nor have I ever been, who do they think they’re kidding?   Anyway, I bought the size six because they were the ones that fit. Later, following an ice cream cone and a coffee, (because that’s what people who are a size 6 can do), I went home and put my new pants on.  Two hours later my size 6 pants had transformed into a BR size 12.  The waist and derriere stretched so much I looked like a rapper with the waistband at my crotch. 

The next day I tossed the incredible growing crop pants into our high tech, save the earth, washing machine, put the setting on extra hot and prayed for a shrinking miracle.  Sure enough when I got them out of the dryer they were back to their natural state–a BR size 6 (aka, real world size 8 or 10).  Relieved, I put them on.  Two hours later, however, I was dropping trow—again.   

Though I was frustrated that I had spent over $70 on pants that only fit well for about an hour, I continued to wear them a few more times.  I told myself that no one would notice that my pants were falling down. Finally, the last time I wore the pants my husband, who hardly notices anything about my wardrobe unless I am wearing a low cut something or other, said, “Those pants are awful, they’re practically falling down.”  At that point I vowed never to wear them again. 

A week later, annoyed about my new cropped pants that were supposed to take me through the summer in style, I decided that the most responsible thing to do was to return them, kindly report the product defect and get my money back.  When I went into the store to discuss the matter the cute little sales guy behind the counter informed me that “Banana doesn’t take returns once a product had been washed,” and… “Our pants stretch.  In the future you should buy your pants a few sizes smaller.”  Does that mean I am really a 5’5, 140 pound size 2?  I asked?   “Maybe, you never know,” he said shrugging his shoulders.

Baggy Pants are Back!!! Yipee

The Baggy Boyfriend Jean is Back

Trendcentral is one of those must have web sites for the curious mind, http://www.trendcentral.com. TC is a trend tracking site that sends daily broadcasts updating the curious reader on what’s happening in the world of everything. After hooking the reader with a compelling, whacky or just plan interesting trend (like pillows that fight wrinkles), they point you to websites that can further explain or sell you that particular trend. In the case of the amazing wrinkle removing pillow TC points to: http://http://www.copalife.com.

Yesterday I got a news flash from TC highlighting fashion trends for Spring 2009.  And guess what? baggy pants are back. Whew! I am a thick thighed girl and when cigarette leg jeans resurfaced last year I was mildly distressed. Beside the fact that I had invested heavily in the bell bottom look  of 2007-2008, I was not about to change course for a style that doesn’t look good on anyone over fourteen years-old and limits one’s ability to breathe. As the saying goes: to every ying there is a yang.  So whether you wear em’ baggy and belted, soft and slouchy, pleated or cuffed, baggy pants are back and giving the skinny jean a run for her money.