the Gap - catching up with the times?

[juldea]

Today on my way home from work, I passed the Gap. Normally I ignore the store, because it has historically proven to be overly expensive and also to not carry clothing that is built for my body type. Their jeans have always lived up to the name "the gap" - if they fit my hips, they are too large in the waist, because the store assumes that women are all of one body shape, and that shape does not change between waist and hips or something.

Anyway. I went in this time, because (1) I wanted to engage in some retail therapy, and (2) they were featuring some blouses in "summer colors" that enticed me. I can't help it; I'm a fan of lime green.

When I entered, I was immediately struck with a sign - "Introducing Our New Jean Fits!" Turns out that - despite all of my doubts - the Gap has become aware of the different shapes of women! They now feature, to accompany their "Original" fit, the new "Curvy" and "Straight" fits. Curvy is described as, "Try this fit if your waist is smaller than your hips," Original is, "If you're between Curvy and Straight," and Straight is, "Try this fit if your waist and hips form a straight line."

Wow!! I immediately grabbed some size [garble] Curvy corderoys and tried them on, and wow - they really do fit. They were slightly tight, as I am really not even a [garble] anymore, but they were slightly tight in the SAME AMOUNTS EVERYWHERE. *gasp* I was amazed. I think that if they had had those pants in [garble] or [garble+1] and in short length - and not "low rise" because I want pants I can wear to work - I would've bought some. I guess I'm too picky though, as I couldn't find that exactly. Still, there's hope! ;)

I ended up still buying something though. I found a great short-sleeved cabled sweater on sale. I really wanted and lusted after the lime green, but I was overtaken by a fit of sensibility and realized that the green wouldn't go with many of my work outfits but beige would. It's a very nice sweater for a nice price; cheaper than it'd cost me to make it on my own, I think, and that's what's making my decisions on such things these days.

Anyway, I wanted to share with other women who have similar problems to mine that the Gap is now catching up with the radical notion that women come in different shapes. Now to get them to realize that we come in different sizes, too.

Comments

[sjo.livejournal.com]

Lime green goes with darned near everything, though!

[juldea.livejournal.com]

Don't tempt me to go back and get the lime green, too... ;)

[sjo.livejournal.com]

I live to tempt people to the Dark Side of the Store.

[ezrarashkae.livejournal.com]

Devil Doll!!!!!!! *SQUEAL!!* (Sorry about the randomlness of that. It's early)

[sjo.livejournal.com]

That's okay. I totally love Devil Doll. Bettie Page, too, but I guess you gathered that.

[tpau]

speakingof cabled sweaters... so i hav ethis thing i rushed to finish... how do i get it to you? and do yo ustill ahve the harry potter or ahve you traded it ?

[juldea.livejournal.com]

I still have HP, although siderea and I are feasibly going to meet sometime so I can pass it on to her...

The thing you rushed to finish, you can get to me anytime by coming over after work. :)

[crimson5.livejournal.com]

Must remember that if I ever buy Juldea clothes, that her size is Garble.

[juldea.livejournal.com]

Yes. ;)

[waya3k.livejournal.com]

I thought it was garble+1. *grin*

[juldea.livejournal.com]

Depends on what point you want to make, I suppose...

[sjo.livejournal.com]

Depends where you buy it, too. At Nordstrom, I'm Garble-1; at other stores, I'm Garble; at discount stores, I'm Garble+1.

[etherfinker.livejournal.com]

You're Garble? No kidding - so, that mean you're related to Clark Garble?

[starfruit.livejournal.com]

looks like i'll be heading to the gap very soon.

[oddharmonic.livejournal.com]

Woo! I'll have to check them out now. I'm so used to ladies jeans fitting in the hips in one size and in the waist in size+1 that it sounds like it'd be worth checking out. One of my friends already recommended The Gap for their underwear, but that's rarely enough to get me out to see.

[juldea.livejournal.com]

Gap underwear, eh? Interesting. Is it really durable or something?

[flyingindie.livejournal.com]

You know, if you poke around a bit, you'll find that several stores are getting better and better about having clothes for many shapes and sizes. Old Navy, delias.com, and Maurices have all impressed me lately.

[juldea.livejournal.com]

omg Delia's! I stopped shopping there a long time ago. Time to look again... although, sadly, I don't really have reason to shop for casual clothes anymore. Although I bet I can find things to wear to work, there.