In Search of Big Girl Panties

I guess I'm starting an "In Search Of" series. I found my Big Girl Bed....now on to underwear!

I know my mama told me to watch what I say on the internet, and perhaps talking about my underwear is over the TMI line, but I’m very upset about this and I know I am not the only one having this issue.


It seems like in the past couple years the quality of panties sold at Plus Size retailers like Lane Bryant and Avenue has greatly decreased. They might as well be selling disposable panties since some pairs have lasted only a couple wears.

I have several pairs of panties from Lane Bryant that I purchased in 2007. They are still in decent shape, just normal wear and stretch of the elastics. However, I noticed when they switched from “Buy 3 get 2 Free” to “5 for $25” they also changed manufacturers and the quality was very poor. At first I passed it off as just the new change, and at that time I did e-mail Lane Bryant and expressed my disappointment. I figured by this time, nearly 18 months since the change, things would be different.

But the quality still sucks.

I need new panties because I’ve gained weight. I bought a bigger size at Lane Bryant in January and as you can see in the picture, the leg band completely detached from the material!

When I went home in January I noticed a pair of LB panties I had bought my mom had the entire backside of the waistband detached from the fabric. I asked if those were an old pair or a pair I had just bought her in November. She replied they were a new pair and that the detachment occurred the second time she wore them. I brought them home with me and they are in my “bitch” pile. The pile now has 4 pair, this is after I tossed several pair. While I find it a bit embarrassing to take panties back to the store, I guess if I’m open enough to write about it on the internet I should be able to go talk to the store manager.

But it’s not just Lane Bryant.

I was talking to a friend and she mentioned she had gone shopping at Avenue and then she expressed her disappointment in the panties she recently purchased. She said the material is very thin and after few wears and washing they fall apart. I shared with her my experience with Lane Bryant.

It’s very disappointing that these stores cater to the Plus Size customer yet can’t seem to provide a product that can hold up to the plus size booty. And you all know we pay a lot more for our clothing, so this is wrong on so many levels. In additon, Charming Shoppes which owns Lane Bryant also owns the other Plus Size stores Fashion Bug and Catherines, and I'm sure the poor quality can be found in those stores.

So where is a big girl to get some decent panties?

Again, I've gained weight and need new panties. So as much as I didn’t want to do it, I bought a 5 pack of Just My Size panties at Wal-mart. I must admit JMS never let my 500lbs ass down. I strayed to Lane Bryant because I loved the cute colors and being able to match my bras with my panties. And at 500lbs I couldn’t fit into the largest size at Lane Bryant. But I can’t be tossing what is now “5 for $29” down the drain on panties that fall apart. A JMS 5-pack was $9.99 and they now do have a variety of colors and styles.

So who else has noticed the poor quality from Lane Bryant and Avenue? What are you wearing?

Click here to send a complaint to Lane Braynt.

Click here to send a complaint to Avenue.

Bringing Sexy-- Baby Got-- Back

I was hit on today. For real.

The story begins for my desire for a cute green dress from Old Navy. This week it’s on sale, and despite their plus size clothing being sold exclusively online (nice how they make that sound special, when it’s really not) the in store misses sizes go up to XXL and I can often fit into certain styles. I decided I wanted to save the $7 shipping fee and go to the store instead of ordering online…2 dresses, 2 shirts, 1 skirt, and 1 necklace later, I think the $7 shipping fee would have been the better deal.

However, it was nice to try things on. When I put on the green dress, it hugged my baby got back just right and I thought “oh that’s going to turn some heads”.

While I’m at the counter the young woman ringing my items commented on my “pretty blue eyes”, I explained I have blue eyes and blue contacts, thank you, yes that blue necklace will look nice on me.

So as I’m leaving this guy holds the door open for me. As we walk into the parking lot he comments on my “pretty blue eyes”. I laugh since I JUST had this conversation…and I wasn’t even wearing blue or a color that typically draws more attention to my eye color.
As a matter of fact, I was in black yoga pants, a gray t-shirt, flip-flops and a pony tail. I had been to the doctor, Starbucks, and was just running errands. No reason to get beautified.

So after my blue eyes with blue contacts because I used to lose my contacts in high school, blah blah blah explanation he asked me if perhaps his eyes would look as blue. I told him it depends, but he should ask his eye doctor for a free sample pair. Then he commented on the weather, somehow I made mention of being from Ohio. He said he was in from New Jersey. Then he said “Can I tell you something, I hope you won’t be offended”. I smile, “go ahead I have very thick skin”. –literally

“There is just something so attractive about a plus size woman who exudes confidence,” he said.
All I could do was smile and say, “I know. If I could bottle it I would.”

He went on to say the internet has brought more awareness to the BBW culture. He asked me if I was on any BBW sites or chats. I politely said I was aware of a few. For my non-fatty friends BBW stands for Big Beautiful Women.

He went on about how great it was that more women are confident with themselves. And he actually pointed out guys who drove or walked by and checked me out. Although I'm not so vain that I think everyone who looks at me is checking me out, some people just look and stare because of my arms.

“See there’s another one, I told you. Go to right up here to the mall and walk by some guy with a skinny hungry girlfriend, he’ll still take a glance at you.”

Yes, I realize this seems a bit creepy…and when the guy mentioned that there are even BBW who frequent the local clothing optional beach I was wondering where the heck he was going with all this. But in the end he was just nice and bestowing a very nice compliment. We probably stood and spoke in the parking lot for five minutes, as I headed to my car he said “well, see you around, you never know maybe next time I’m in town we can have drinks.”

We didn’t exchange names or phone numbers, so that is not likely going to happen.