Because of my recent weight gain, I’ve been forced (forced, I tell you) to order some new clothing that actually fits me. Trying to force myself into too-tight clothes that I’d been able to wear comfortably just a few months ago was getting to be a real drag, and would often ruin an outing for me before it even started. Because there are a few plus-sized ladies reading this blog, I figure I’ll give a review of what I learned.

Zaftique is a store I’d never ordered from before. Previousl I remember their clothing being frumpy and poorly organized on the site, so I’d never bothered with them. They seem to have revamped their information architecture as well as their target demographic, so I figured I’d give them a try. I ordered a total of six items from them, all tops–I went a little crazy because their stuff is relatively cheap. I was unfortunately disappointed with every single item that arrived, however. When synthetic material was used, the material felt cheap, sort of like a slightly-heavier version of a wal-mart half-slip. One top consisted of a synthetic plus synthetic lace, but the lace somehow seemed to pull at the rest of the material, ruining the line of the garment. The more natural fabrics all had some synthetic in them; they felt nice to the touch, but I always fear pilling with fabrics that contain a mix of synthetics and natural fibers. Otherwise, my biggest beef with all the items was the proportioning. The armholes on the garments extend below my bra-band! This is not so much of a problem for non-armless shirts, except it ruins the entire line of the shirt when you raise your arms. Plus it’s always nice to have well-fitting armholes to prevent as much skin-to-skin contact as possible, especially on parts of the body that tend to sweat a lot. In addition, shoulder-lines were designed for male linebackers. The tank-top straps were entirely too widely sdpaced, as were the shoulders of a top with a wide v-neck. My conclusion is that in general Zaftique has some nice design ideas for cheap, but they’re poorly executed.

I’ve ordered from JJill before several times, and while I’ve not always been pleased with the fit and proportion of their garments, I’ve always been very happy with the style, fabrics, and quality. This is the first time I’ve ordered pants from them, and since pants are my hardest-to-fit item, I was nervous about ordering from overseas. Thankfully, though, it seems that their proportion and fit have improved. The sleeves on the structured jacket I ordered from them were long enough, and the two pairs of structured pants I ordered from them fit like a dream. The sweater I ordered, like many of the sweaters I’ve gotten from them, was a little boxy, however. Overall I was very satisfied, and am looking forward to ordering more pants from them in the future.

I’d love to hear from other about experiences they’ve had with these retailers or others.