One of the dangerous things about the cruise was the all-you-can-eat mentality that existed in not only the buffets, but the restaurants as well. I cannot resist overeating in these situations, and before departing, I feared (not entirely unrealized) a return to my status as an overweight short woman. In my previous life as an overweight short woman, I used to go crazy trying to find clothes that fit. I assumed that the only difference between a size 14 and a size 14P pants is that the legs would be shorter. I mean, a size 14 is a size 14, regardless of height, right?
As usual, I was wrong. It seems that a short person who is a size 14 has hips and a waist that somehow are automatically ½ to 1 inch smaller than an average person who is a size 14. My dilemma became whether to buy a pair of pants I could zip and breathe in but that came with a crotch that was at my mid-thigh or lower and legs that covered my entire foot, or buy a pair of pants in which the crotch was actually at my crotch and the legs were more or less the right length but I could not close the pants over my gut and ass.
Why would people assume that those of us who are slightly vertically challenged have less meat on our bones than our normal sisters? Do they think we have smaller bodies and thus eat less because we require fewer calories to get our stunted bodies through the day, or do they assume that we burn more calories since our short legs need to work harder to keep up with taller people as we walk anywhere? Perhaps people believe we absorb fewer calories because we have a faster digestive process since our stomach is closer in a truncated body to our intestines, which in turn are closer to our asses, so we just excrete stuff faster.
I don’t know, but it is all wrong. I like to eat junk food as much as the next person, but I have less body to distribute the fat over, so it bunches up more. Clothes for shorties should actually be made wider, not narrower.
At the height of my weight problem, I really could not find anything to wear. Many manufacturers will make clothes up to size 16 for regular women, but obviously a short person would never need a 16, so they don’t bother making them. Some don’t even make clothes above a size 12 for short chicks. It’s like there is some sort of natural law that short women must also be thin or they offend society and thus should have nothing to wear. I decided that some day I would open a store for petite women who were overweight, and I would call it Short & Fat. It would be a mecca for women in my situation. (Husband’s opinion on the matter was that no matter how true it is, very few women want to shop in stores that call them fat.) Ah, to dream!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
OHMIGOD! You have encapsulated my entire problem. At a mere 5 feet, yes you read it right, and being of hispanic origin, I am anything but hipless. I always thought 14 =14P no not true, its a 12. So if you are petite and chubby they actually make you buy a couple sizes bigger then you are! I also am well endowed in the chest area and they also assume if short you must not have boobs. The worst is suits of which I need many as a new lawyer and it sucks because the jackets that button over the girls hang over my hands like I am playing dress up. The skirts that fit my hips come to my ankles. Luckily I know an awesome seamstress lady so I just buy "regular" size clothes and have them tailored. Also have you noticed that petitie and short length is getting longer, like suddenly short people are not as short. SIGH. Glad you had fun on the cruise!
ReplyDeleteDude, they also discriminate against tall fat people. Since I have recently become a tall fat person, I noticed that Old Navy apparently believes that tall, fat people top out at a size 18. I almost went on a rant about their discrimination against tall fat people but thought better of it because I would then be known as tall, fat AND crazy. Anyway, why in the hell would you suddenly stop selling long length jeans at 18. Well, I bought the damn 18 and you'll be relieved to know that they fit now.
ReplyDeleteI'd say that there's a lot of discrimination against fat women in general, but that it is a bit worse for those of us who dare violate the natural order of being short and body-less. At least they make "women's sizes" (what a dumb fucking name) for women who are of average height or tall.
ReplyDeleteI thought that Old Navy goes up to size 22, although I am happy to hear that you can fit into an 18.
Monkeygirl - I dealt with the boobs situation by having a breast reduction. Not only because I couldn't find shirts that fit, but also because my tits were killing my back. I think it was one of the best things I ever did.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry I didn't get to meet you when I was in CA, by the way.
i'm 5'3" and tried on a petite size dress at anntaylor loft last week... well, i can't figure out why when the dress sat at my waist, the armpits were almost up to my ears. what petite girl has a torso that long anyway??!
ReplyDeleteI am decidely long torsoed, my legs are all of 24 inches long or somethign ridiculous. I am sad we did not meet either :( monkeygirl sad. I have thought about the boob reduction, but I have to admit I am selfish and love my rack and that its natural. Perhaps in like ten years when I have found a mate!
ReplyDelete