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fat clothes bullshit

As it is a fact universally known that once you hit double-digit sizes, clothing that isn’t fugly, uncomfortable, or both becomes hard to find on almost a logarithmic scale, I’ve always got an eye out for somewhere that doesn’t appear to hate its customers in order to spend my fat fashion dollar.

Most recently, I succumbed to the Universal Standard hype. The tl;dr: it is well-fitted decent quality basics for people of all sizes (from US size 00- 40). Every piece is available in every size -there aren’t different ‘plus’ styles - and most pieces come in a wide variety of colors.. It’s slightly more expensive than Torrid (about equivalent with Lane Bryant), and unlike either of those options it doesn’t look like 2003 threw up on it and died.

That said, when I say “basics” I do mean basic. There’s some pieces with construction interest to them like the Meridian asymmetric zip jackets, and there’s some tunics and dresses with interesting shapes, but for the most part it is very much wardrobe-staple type items in simple styles and almost zero prints/plaids/pattern of any kind, even just stripes.

In my opinion, that’s perfect because a) I have a deeply ambivalent relationship with girly shit, and b) I’m a scarf/shawl/cowl knitter and a jewelry maker; solid colors are a great canvas for statement accessories. But if your jam is more high femme and print/detail interest than clean-lined bordering on gender neutral (a good amount of their clothing, although sized and tailored for AFAB, could certainly read nonbinary or agender depending on the pieces), you might find it uninspiring. However, you may still want to consider their pants and tees as potential infrastructure to rotate more trendy/dainty pieces around if Torrid or LB is doing that for you now and you don’t love the (lack of) durability.

If any of that sounds like you would like to know more, more specific product reviews behind the readmore.

1) the T-rex/V-rex t-shirts are cotton/modal, soft but heavy enough that I didn’t get bra lines, the colors looked pretty faithful to how they were on screen (enough that I was able to match a pair of pants from another vendor and was still happy when able to physically put the two together) they’re neither baggy nor mad clingy/revealing, and they don’t feel like the hems will be unraveling and holes growing around the stitching after a season. The V of the v-neck does what it needs to do without showing bra; the crew neck that I was ambivalent about getting (wanted the color but generally don’t like crew necks) is cut wide enough that it’s got a little style and doesn’t feel like it’s strangling a person. They’re both decently long enough to not ride up and expose your back when you bend over/long enough to tuck in if that’s how you roll (I am 5′7″ for reference). They feel a lot more quality than Torrid’s basic V-necks and come in a LOT more colors, as long as they wash decently these are worth getting. Keep your eye out for sales.

2) the liquid jersey Genevette top - the fabric is amazing, it’s a slinky rayon that for something as soft as it is just falls straight down without sticking weirdly to any lumps, bumps or bulges. It’s an asymmetrical piece that on me at least falls long enough to be a good length to wear with leggings (same place as on the skinnier model displaying it, kudos to the people who graded the pattern and actually knew what they were doing). I’m just praying I don’t dump coffee on it or something. Will definitely acquire more pieces in this fabric if it washes well.

3) The Meridian Zip jacket’s two-way zipper is actually metal and heavy. It’s almost pure cotton and more structured than I was expecting; if you are looking for “cozy” this isn’t it. It is however warm, easy to wear and fashion enough to get away with in a business casual environment iif like me, sweaters make you itchy and blazers are annoyingly constricting and sweaty. (the autistic person’s go-to office layering piece!) Unfortunately, they’re out of a lot of colors right now after their Mystery Box event. II hope they restock or add more, I would definitely buy another one in the steel or navy if they had it in my size.

4) The sweats I got as a “mystery bonus” item I think they are the Hathaway Jersey Jogger - annoyingly, any “mystery” items you get still don’t have what product they are on the tags when you get them. This is dumb, because how are you supposed to order them again if you liked them? Anyway, they are heavy and soft - not fuzzy, but very drapey/silky unlike the Meridian jacket. They DO have pockets and DON’T have a drawstring, which are exactly what I’m looking for in lounge pants, hooray! I don’t know that I would have paid upfront what these cost for something that’s around-the-house or errand pants, but I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for sales.

5) Universal Standard’s claim to fame are their jeans. To get a taste without a huge price commitment, I got a mystery box with some. I think the ones I ended up with are the Seine skinny midrise in dark wash (again, irritatingly, they are not labeled wth a product name because mystery box.) They are true to size (US gives both size measurements and individual product dimension measurements which is super nice), the waistband is not pinchy and nor does it gap in the back, pockets your whole hand fits in and they don’t creep if you’re getting up and down a lot (LOOKING AT YOU TORRID). The real test of jeans of course is how they come out of their first wash, but they’re a win on try-on and if they wash well, I’d be willing to buy at full price. It gives me some more confidence to try their work pants too, now that I have more faith that their sizing is actually as described.

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