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Author Topic: Fashion advice for the tall and skinny
Armoth
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I've had it up to HERE with this already!!! (here is about 6 feet and 3 inches off the ground, btw).

So I'm a a really tall and skinny guy. 6"3, a waist between size 32 and 34 (33, right?) - and it is really annoying getting clothing that fits.

Bc I'm skinny, I fit nicely into Medium shirts - but they are waaaay too short as I have a long torso. Even large shirts are often too short for me (we're talking t-shirts here). XL is long enough, but waaaay too poofy for someone as skinny as I am.

In the button down realm (most of the shirts I wear) - I wear larges. Almost all are poofy when tucked in, and the form of my body is indiscernible when tucked out.

Even shorts are too short on me. GAH!

Anyone have any advice for me on this issue? I normally don't care, but I'm dating pretty seriously and it's starting to be something that I think about.

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MightyCow
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Big and Tall stores were designed specifically for you.
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Vadon
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I know what you mean. I'm 6'1' and a 34 waist. So I don't have it quite as bad as you with the poofiness bit, but I had it bad enough that I went out and found a solution for myself.

Look for XL 'fitted' shirts. They keep the length you need but cut down on the poof. They're a bit more expensive but should solve the problem, I'd think. Then again, I'm definitely not a fashion guru, so if someone has better advice, heed their advice.

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advice for robots
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I have tall and skinny credentials as well, although I've slowly graduated past a 36 towards a 38 in the last several years. I find the fitted shirts to be a much better fit as well. JCPenney has had a sale on their Stafford brand for a while, and their fitted dress shirts work really well on me if I can find the right size neck and sleeve length.

I've found that a large fits me better than an extra large, now that I'm old enough not to want to hide my slim build. [Smile]

The other option is going to a tailor, which might not be as expensive as you think, and will give you some clothes that really fit you nicely. You can look quite good in well-fitting clothes, even if you're not broad and muscular.

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PSI Teleport
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Yeah, you're a 33 waist. And you have to learn how to mall shop for things you like, then run home and order the talls online. Most stores sell them that way. It's a pain, but you get used to it. And, in the future, you'll already know where to go. The other benefit to online clothes shopping is many stores offer free returns. It's time-consuming, but relatively risk-free.

I'm a chick, and I just found jeans with a 36-inch inseam at Victoria's Secret online. Bought four pair. Holla! But I do all the shopping for my 6'5", 34 inch waist hubby, and I do it the exact same way. I've never found B&T places that carry things for the Thin & Tall.

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Orincoro
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I have no sympathy whatsoever for people who complain that they're too thin for x. Considering clothing is made to look good on your kind much more than it's made for bigger people, despite changing demographics, I don't think skinny people have so much to complain about.

Now, I'm probably in the 99th percentile in terms of size and height, bulkier and wider shouldered than most people who are as tall as I am, so maybe I have an even harder time finding clothes that fit, but it's not right when I wear 38/34s that I should have to buy anywhere from large to triple extra large shirts and t-shirts, because no clothing store actually makes a cut that is designed to fit a man of my height and bulk. And lets not even get started about neck sizes- there's nobody who makes a shirt for my height with a neck wide enough. Probably that's worse these days because I live in central europe where everybody is slender or downright skinny, but I mean, why does one store carry a large that fits me perfectly, and (I'm not making this up) an XXXL that is too small for me to wear. I thought at first it was mislabeled.

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Trent Destian
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I concur on the advice to shop for what you like, then turn around and order the Tall version online. Only problem is though you have to not only pay for shipping, but you usually pay more for the tall version.

Department stores are usually not the place to go if you have a tall skinny build. I had your problems a lot when buying from say JCP or Sears (Dillards isn't so bad, just really expensive). Unless you get lucky with one of their "slim" cuts, in order to make them wearable you would need to get them altered. Go for one of the more trendy stores, they'll usually have sections with dress shirts that aren't splashed with annoying designs and ads that fit great for us as they were designed with the skinny in mind. Most times mediums are long enough for me at these kind of stores and I'm 6'2.5.

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Frisco
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It's okay, I don't have much sympathy for either of you, Orin. I reserve most of it for people with REAL problems.

Of course, this isn't a hug thread. It's an advice thread.

Edit: As for advice, one thing that hasn't been suggested but could solve everyone's clothing problems: become a nudist.

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Orincoro
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quote:
Originally posted by Frisco:
It's okay, I don't have much sympathy for either of you, Orin. I reserve most of it for people with REAL problems.

I am not offended- I don't really have any sympathy at all for people who are not able to find products to buy. It's rather a rich man's problem to begin with. And anyway, I only shop for about an hour a year, so it's not like this problem plagues me week in and week out.
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Orincoro
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quote:
Originally posted by Trent Destian:
Most times mediums are long enough for me at these kind of stores and I'm 6'2.5.

Really? Length is my biggest hastle, and I'm only 6"1, but a 46 at least at the shoulders on a bulky frame. You must be fairly slim to fit a medium at that height, so maybe the fit works for you- I pretty much always end up looking sloppy, either with the shirt too short or with it long enough but baggy in the middle, and tight at the shoulders.
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DarkKnight
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A little tailoring goes a long way.
I'm 5'10" and I still get many of my shirts and pants tailored to fit better. Once you find a good tailor you can lots of things done fairly cheap. Yes, this will increase the overall cost but you will look many times better over an unaltered fit.
Edit: Drycleaners usually do alterations and can be inexpensive as well

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mr_porteiro_head
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quote:
Originally posted by Frisco:
As for advice, one thing that hasn't been suggested but could solve everyone's clothing problems: become a nudist.

I've got another one: more cheeseburgers.
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katharina
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I've got a third: togas.
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Christine
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I've recently learned something about fashion that some people won't want to hear, but it's working for me. I've got a very different body type from you but essentially the same problem: clothing is designed to fit a very narrow range of body type and most people don't have that type. You're very tall and thin. I'm very curvy. Like you, I can fit into a medium size shirt, but it falls strangely across my breasts. If I buy a bigger size, they're going for extra fat, not extra bust. [Smile]

The thing I discovered about a year ago is that paying more for clothes is not just a matter of paying for a designer logo. More expensive clothing fits better. I know nobody wants to hear that and I sure get a lot of flack for it -- people insisting that I try spending hours hunting for labels at a thrift store -- but I'm not looking for labels. I'm looking for clothing that fits.

I now exclusively shop and Nordstrom's. I spend, on average, and often shopping sales racks, $30 a shirt. But they look sharp. I started getting people asking if I'd lost weight after I did this but no (though I'm trying), I just bought some clothes that look good and work on my body. Not all of them. I take an armload of clothing to the fitting room and discard 3/4 of it. I won't shop online. I've got to get in the store and look at it on my body.

I recently took my husband to the men's department there and got him some nicer clothing. We were having a lot of problems with his clothing simply wearing out after a few months of use. A $15 shirt isn't a bargain if you have to replace it every year.

I don't know where, exactly, you need to be shopping. I've seen big and tall stores for men and that might be a good place to start, but generally my advice is be willing to spend a little more money. Discount clothing isn't made to fit, it's made to sell.

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Traceria
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quote:
Originally posted by PSI Teleport:
I'm a chick, and I just found jeans with a 36-inch inseam at Victoria's Secret online. Bought four pair. Holla!

*high five* My favorite pair of jeans is from their website. I may only be 5'6" but 'regular' length always comes up short. Awesome jeans and pants. Nice find! Land's End also sells pants/jeans with longer in-seams for the next time you're looking. [Smile]

But back on topic, though. Armoth, I think you've got some good suggestions here, knowing the little I've picked up from when my 6'3" skinny grandfather was alive and I could be found tagging along on shopping ventures with my mom or grandmom. [Smile]

On a note of more encouraging nature, seriously dating one person or just focusing on getting into dating more regularly? I only ask because, having done a bit of serious dating with one very nice guy who still willingly admits he could use garanimals and who is just over 6-foot, it wasn't so much that he was a fashion guru (which he is not), but his winning personality and his willingness to make himself presenatable with what resources and means he had at his disposal. [Smile] I realize not all women think this way, but it's my opinion that a winner of a female won't make too much of this. E for effort on your part, though!

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Traceria
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quote:
Originally posted by Christine:
I'm very curvy. Like you, I can fit into a medium size shirt, but it falls strangely across my breasts. If I buy a bigger size, they're going for extra fat, not extra bust. [Smile]

I hear ya, sister.

And very good point about paying for a better fit and better quality (materials, make) in general!

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mr_porteiro_head
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quote:
Originally posted by katharina:
I've got a third: togas.

Bad advice -- a too-short toga is nobody's friend.
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katharina
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If it's short, it's not a toga. A toga is the kind of garment the phrase "the whole nine yards" was spiritually (not historically) meant for.
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Javert
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quote:
So I'm a a really tall and skinny guy. 6"3, a waist between size 32 and 34 (33, right?) - and it is really annoying getting clothing that fits.
I hate you on behalf of all fat men.
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mr_porteiro_head
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I hate you because I'm a hateful person.

Hate!

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rivka
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quote:
Originally posted by mr_porteiro_head:
I hate you because I'm a hateful person.

*nods sadly*

True story.

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Orincoro
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quote:
Originally posted by Christine:
I've recently learned something about fashion that some people won't want to hear, but it's working for me. I've got a very different body type from you but essentially the same problem: clothing is designed to fit a very narrow range of body type and most people don't have that type. You're very tall and thin. I'm very curvy. Like you, I can fit into a medium size shirt, but it falls strangely across my breasts. If I buy a bigger size, they're going for extra fat, not extra bust. [Smile]

So... have you got like, a boyfriend, er, what's up, you know? How's it goin?
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The Rabbit
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Orin, What is up with you lately? It seriously isn't necessary to post a nasty response in every thread. Did your girl friend just runoff with your best guy friend or have you just decided that bitter snarkiness is the new cool? If its the former (actually or metaphorically), I'm really sorry but you still shouldn't be taking it out on other people. It its the later, grow up.

Getting clothes that fit properly isn't some sort of rich mans problem. Everybody needs to wear clothes. If you are wealthy, you can have them tailor made and get a perfect fit no matter what size you are.

I spent most of my life seriously under weight and it isn't anything near the picnic fat people think it is. Not being able to find clothes that fit is bad enough without having to deal with all the snide comments from so called friends.

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The Rabbit
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Armoth, I second the advice about online shopping. There are companies that specialize in clothing for thin people and its much easier to find them online than in brick and mortar stores. If you google tall and thin, you will find lots of links to both stores and help sites for people with your problem.
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FlyingCow
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I fall into a roughly similar mold, and I've found that stores that carry "Large Tall" sizes are also a bonus. Eddie Bauer has LT t-shirts, and Kohls often has LT sizes in things.

My difficulty is that if the sleeves are long enough, the neck hangs down below my collarbone, but if the neck fits, the sleeves are barely a third of the way from my shoulder to my elbow.

Fitted/Slim Fit shirts that you can order by neck/sleeve length are also a must for me.

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Armoth
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Thanks for all the great ideas. It's true - I've had my worst-fit-clothing at places like Target, Marshals, and Old navy.

Some of my favorite shirts, like Christine suggested, come from Banana Republic. However, it took a sale and a gift certificate to get me to survive the heart attack of crazy expense of those shirts.

I'd still like a suggestion for great t-shirts. I was working out in the gym the other day wearing my threadless shirt and some cargo shorts - and it's one of the only places with full length mirrors. I realized, that despite how awesome I think the shirts are, they end too short on my body, and my shorts aren't long enough. It's frustrating, because I LOVE my threadless shirts!

Traceria - Thanks for the E! I meant that I'm dating more regularly. The girls I date happen to be really pretty - It makes me feel selfish if I don't bring my A game, know what I mean? ;-)

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Traceria
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Wish I could suggest a male equivalent of Anne Taylor for you, for I so love the fit of their clothes.

I'm sure they'd all be pleased to know you think so. [Smile] (Girls usually are, particularly when they try to deny it.)

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Orincoro
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quote:
Originally posted by The Rabbit:
Orin, What is up with you lately? It seriously isn't necessary to post a nasty response in every thread. Did your girl friend just runoff with your best guy friend or have you just decided that bitter snarkiness is the new cool? If its the former (actually or metaphorically), I'm really sorry but you still shouldn't be taking it out on other people. It its the later, grow up.

If you're referring to the last post, I was just trying to be funny. Perhaps I should have employed an emoticon?
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Armoth
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Nah. Orincoro hasn't directed his snarkiness at anyone - thus, it comes off as grouchy humor. I mildly enjoyed it.
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Orincoro
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OH! IN YOUR FACE! VINDICATION!

It has all been worth it.

:eject:

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sarcasticmuppet
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quote:
Originally posted by The Rabbit:


I spent most of my life seriously under weight and it isn't anything near the picnic fat people think it is.

That's a bit uncalled for.
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PSI Teleport
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quote:
*high five* My favorite pair of jeans is from their website. I may only be 5'6" but 'regular' length always comes up short. Awesome jeans and pants. Nice find! Land's End also sells pants/jeans with longer in-seams for the next time you're looking.
And I also paid less than thirty dollars a pair. So, you know, I'm awesome.

Oh, and I second the sentiment that Orincoro has been more amusing than offensive in this thread.

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The Rabbit
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quote:
Originally posted by sarcasticmuppet:
quote:
Originally posted by The Rabbit:


I spent most of my life seriously under weight and it isn't anything near the picnic fat people think it is.

That's a bit uncalled for.
Really? Can you explain how? I think its a fairly factual expression of my personal experience. Please explain why you find it offensive.
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sarcasticmuppet
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If you'd only said this:

"I spent most of my life seriously under weight and it isn't anything near the picnic people think it is"

I wouldn't have had an issue. Or even, "...my acquaintances think it is", which would probably have been more factual in terms of your actual experiences.

But no, you brought in the highly general "fat people", as in, what, all fat people? Fat people who get plenty of shame and humiliation from everyone else already, thank you. What you said is akin to the classic white American trick of saying to minorities "No guys, really, I'm totally oppressed too!" and does not win you any points at all.

I don't doubt you have been hurt in the past by people being flippant about your shape. It's an unfortunate consequence of being a human being (particularly a female human being) in this day and age. But in a world where thin=healthy, your life probably WAS a picnic, because you weren't constantly being judged as an unhealthy, cake-eating blob on a daily basis.

You can't really know for sure the relative picnic-ness being thin compared to not being thin, unless you maybe spend an equal amount of your life overweight, and compare the experiences. Which is silly, and also tends to be pretty difficult.

Hence, my comment.

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The Rabbit
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sarcasticmuppet, I've personally experienced a lot more direct insults, tasteless jokes etc. from fat people in my life than any fat person I know.

Among women in the US, it is absolute taboo to say anything that might suggest you think a friend or even acquaintance is overweight, where as everyone and her dog, from total strangers to close friends, thinks its fair game to insult you for being too skinny. At least that's my experience.

quote:
I don't doubt you have been hurt in the past by people being flippant about your shape. It's an unfortunate consequence of being a human being (particularly a female human being) in this day and age. But in a world where thin=healthy, your life probably WAS a picnic, because you weren't constantly being judged as an unhealthy, cake-eating blob on a daily basis.
Every single day of my teenage years someone made a tasteless joke about how skinny I was. Every single day. And I'm not talking about comments I thought people were making behind my back, these were insensitive jokes made straight to my face. Every single day. As an adult, I got frequent comments about being too thin from everyone from close friends to complete strangers. The fact you think that was a picnic, just proves my original statement true. If I ever dared to express my frustration about something like never being able to find clothes that fit or having difficulty gaining weight to a friend, I was mocked. The phrase 'I have no sympathy whatsoever for people who complain that they're too thin for x.', hit a nerve with me because with the exception of the few people who've stuggled with being too thin, nobody ever does.

Yes, I understand that being overweight is no picnic either. Fat people get my sympathy even though I've never been overweight. But fat people seem totally oblivious and are usually utterly unsympathic to the down sides of being too thin and are completely willing to say so to your face. And the fact that you can post here saying that what I experienced was in fact a Picnic, just proves my point.

[ July 30, 2009, 08:42 AM: Message edited by: The Rabbit ]

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Xavier
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Edit: written before Rabbit's post.

I don't think dismissing her feelings as invalid ("your life probably WAS a picnic") is going to help things any, unless you were trying to prove her point for her.

I agree that her comment was worded in an inflammatory way, but your post kind of goes off the rails, IMO.

quote:
You can't really know for sure the relative picnic-ness being thin compared to not being thin, unless you maybe spend an equal amount of your life overweight, and compare the experiences.
Wouldn't that work in both directions?
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The Pixiest
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Having been too skinny and too heavy, I'd much rather be too skinny.

Back when I was single I dated some skinny skinny girls and some skinny skinny boys. They were both very... (how can I say this without getting in trouble?)... uh... pleasant.

(Of course, normal weight and heavy are both fine and dandy too. My hubby is a big guy and I'm loosing some weight. Just for me, I'd rather be skinny than heavy. Just as I'd rather be brunette than blonde, short than tall, and cute than beautiful.)

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The Rabbit
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It's not a question of whether its better to be too skinny or too fat. Its about whether you are able to understand that there are downsides to both and willing to empathize with people who have the opposite problem.

I'd rather be a skinny than fat, but one must also consider that there is also an issue of degree. I am currently about 5 pounds heavier than I'd prefer to be, but I vastly prefer my current weight to the way I was during my nearly 4 decades of being seriously underweight.

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Orincoro
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quote:
Originally posted by The Rabbit:
It's not a question of whether its better to be too skinny or too fat. Its about whether you are able to understand that there are downsides to both and willing to empathize with people who have the opposite problem.

I'd rather be a skinny than fat, but one must also consider that there is also an issue of degree. I am currently about 5 pounds heavier than I'd prefer to be, but I vastly prefer my current weight to the way I was during my nearly 4 decades of being seriously underweight.

Nobody here is talking about being 5 pounds overweight. They're talking about being 20, 30 and more pounds overweight. There seems to be a larger social stigma attached to that in modern times. Aside from the health effects, which are serious, overweight people are stigmatized to a much greater degree. I'd say between a person who is even at a healthy weight, but looks big, and a person who is at an unhealthy low weight, the unhealthy but low weight person will be taken as healthy. The lightest I've ever been at my height is 190, and on my frame that is a very lean and strong profile. I still got called fat because I'm so big. In fact, there would be almost no way for me, at my physical stature, to not be considered fat- I would have to be unhealthily lean. Christian Bale, as an example, is a couple inches shorter than me and weighs significantly less, but even when he was 200 pounds for Batman Begins, if you put him in a loose fitting t-shirt in the wrong light, you'd swear he was a fat guy.
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The Pixiest
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Rabbit: well, I was cold a lot when I was really really skinny. And I was weaker. I got some extra muscle with my extra weight.

But that was easily outweighed by the fact that I liked (at least in regards to weight. I've never been particularly attractive) what I saw when I looked in the mirror.

As for clothes... well, I was an imperfect body shape before (my legs are actually shorter than my torso among other ghastly mutations) and I'm an imperfect body shape now. I've never been able to buy off the rack.

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The Rabbit
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quote:
Nobody here is talking about being 5 pounds overweight. They're talking about being 20, 30 and more pounds overweight.
Nor was I, read more carefully. It isn't question of whether or not its better to be 5 pounds over your ideal weight or 5 pounds under. It isn't even a question of whether its better to be 100 pounds over your ideal weight or 30 pounds under your ideal weight. Its a question of whether you can have sympathy for people who have problems you don't.

I was 20% to 30% under weight for most of my adult life. I have yet have anyone who struggles with being even a little over weight demonstrate that they can empathize with the problems of being under weight. In fact, rather than showing sympathy most people argue about whether my problem was even real. This thread has yet do anything to change that.

[ July 30, 2009, 09:30 AM: Message edited by: The Rabbit ]

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The Rabbit
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quote:
Rabbit: well, I was cold a lot when I was really really skinny. And I was weaker. I got some extra muscle with my extra weight.
What do you consider really really skin? I had a BMI of 15-16 for most of my life. I had to gain 22 pounds (10 kilos) to reach the lowest end of what is considered 'normal weight' and what most people consider to be really thin.
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The Pixiest
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They didn't have BMI back then but using a BMI calculator I just found my BMI was 17.
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Christine
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Well, I wouldn't have gone the direction that sarcasticmuppet went with his explanation of your comment, Rabbit, because I would never try to tell you how picnic-y your life has been compared to anyone else's. Nevertheless, I was hurt by your comment. I teetered on the edge of saying anything because I was sure your comment was made out of personal feelings of hurt and was not intended to hurt anyone else, least of all me. But it did hurt me to read it. I'm fat. I've always been fat, even when I wasn't.

The accusation that fat people are mean to skinny people is not new. I had written out more, but then I decided that doing so would ensure we got into a who's been wronged more contest, in which there are no winners -- only losers. Suffice to say that the issue sarcasticmuppet and others may have had with your post was a generalization that read like a stereotype...one that I've lived with my entire life.

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andi330
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quote:
Originally posted by The Rabbit:
quote:
Nobody here is talking about being 5 pounds overweight. They're talking about being 20, 30 and more pounds overweight.
Nor was I, read more carefully. It isn't question of whether or not its better to be 5 pounds over your ideal weight or 5 pounds under. It isn't even a question of whether its better to be 100 pounds over your ideal weight or 30 pounds under your ideal weight. Its a question of whether you can have sympathy for people who have problems you don't.

I was 20% to 30% under weight for most of my adult life. I have yet have anyone who struggles with being even a little over weight demonstrate that they can empathize with the problems of being under weight. In fact, rather than showing sympathy most people argue about whether my problem was even real. This thread has yet do anything to change that.

I think the most offensive thing about your original post is that you referred to yourself as "underweight" but overweight people as "fat." Frankly, it was rude, which is why I believe that it was pointed out that rudeness was unnecessary.
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katharina
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I thought it was rude as well, but someone nursing a grievance who is sure they win they win the Oppression Olympics isn't going to listen if it's pointed out.
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mr_porteiro_head
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quote:
Originally posted by The Rabbit:

I spent most of my life seriously under weight and it isn't anything near the picnic fat people think it is.

quote:
Originally posted by The Rabbit:
sarcasticmuppet, I've personally experienced a lot more direct insults, tasteless jokes etc. from fat people in my life than any fat person I know.

If you regularly go around calling them "fat people", I'm not surprised.
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The Rabbit
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quote:
Originally posted by mr_porteiro_head:
quote:
Originally posted by The Rabbit:

I spent most of my life seriously under weight and it isn't anything near the picnic fat people think it is.

quote:
Originally posted by The Rabbit:
sarcasticmuppet, I've personally experienced a lot more direct insults, tasteless jokes etc. from fat people in my life than any fat person I know.

If you regularly go around calling them "fat people", I'm not surprised.

Why would you conclude I ever go around calling them fat people? As I noted before, I learned at a very early age that calling people fat or even acknowledging that an individual is fat is socially unacceptable. Even if a woman says she wants to loose weight, you are supposed to say she doesn't really need to.

Is it now socially unacceptable to acknowledge that fat people even exist? Or are you suggesting that its rude of me to notice that a friend or aquaintance is 80 pounds over weight, even if I never say anything about it? Apparently, even on an internet forum when someone self identifies themselves as a fat person, it's rude of me to acknowledge that?

And you can't see why I think people don't show enough empathy to skinny peoples problems.

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MrSquicky
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Armoth,
Have you looked at European chains? My experience with them is that they tend to cut their clothes very skinny, even their XLs.

Honestly, and this may be a factor of you talking primarily about t-shirts and the different places we get clothes, but I surprised a bit by your problem. I've got kind of the opposite. My torso is a large (I'm 6' with a...well, I'm not sure exactly what my waist is but I wear 34" pants confortably), but my shoulders run from 44-46 inches depending on how much weight training I'm doing and I have a very hard time finding shirts that fit my torso that aren't extremely tight across the shoulders. And this seems to me because designers are specifically making clothes for skinny guys whereas someone like me with an bulkier athletic build is not really a target.

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The Rabbit
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quote:
I think the most offensive thing about your original post is that you referred to yourself as "underweight" but overweight people as "fat." Frankly, it was rude, which is why I believe that it was pointed out that rudeness was unnecessary.
I used the term seriously underweight to make it clear that I was talking about an unhealthy conditions. Skinny is too often used to refer to people who would be considered 'normal weight' by medical doctors.

When I see some one here indicate they are even trying to empathize with skinny people, I'll worry about whether or not my choice of words was unnecessarily insulting.

So far, most everyone who has responded has pretty well proved my point. People who think of themselves as 'fat' rarely show any sympathy for people struggling with the opposite problem.

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