(no subject)

[the_rck]

I need to order some t-shirts that are loose enough to be comfortable but that actually cover up my bra straps. The shirts I’ve been wearing are plenty loose, but the necklines are wide enough that I can’t arrange them so that they will cover things and stay that way. The website where I tend to buy clothes has regular cotton t-shirts and stretch t-shirts that are cotton with lycra. The stretch t-shirts have a bunch of comments from older women (self-identified) saying that the shirts have to be ironed before they can be worn outside of the house. I can’t imagine a t-shirt being wrinkled enough that I’d think ironing it was necessary.

The problem I run into in selecting t-shirts is that my hips are wider than manufacturers allow for at the size that fits my upper body. I really dislike both having the shirt bunched up at my waist or ending high enough up that it doesn’t hit my hips. I’m not keen, either, on buying larger shirts than my upper body needs. Unfortunately, those seem to the three possible solutions. Anybody know of a t-shirt manufacturer that makes shirts that widen at the bottom?

I’ve discovered that our local library catalogs all of its Archie comics as adult titles. I’m a little puzzled by this since there’s nothing in them that isn’t age appropriate for younger readers. Maybe they figure that only adults will be interested and only for nostalgia?

Scott is upset. He was going to use the grill last night and discovered that, in spite of everything being off, the gas cylinder he bought in April was completely empty. Also, the ignition on the grill seems not to be working (he considers this a separate problem from there being no gas). This is a fairly expensive grill that he bought last year and expected to use for many, many years. To have it be broken this soon (and at a point when we really can’t replace it) makes him fairly angry.

He blamed the grill being broken for the roast he was trying to prepare needing three hours in the oven. On the one hand, yes, if the grill had been working, we wouldn’t have overheated the house with the oven. On the other hand, the grill would not have gotten the meat cooked all that much (if at all) faster, and he’d have had to stay out there to babysit it and so not been able to watch the TV shows he wanted to see.

Cordelia has a cold. Scott and I are hoping not to catch it but are not altogether optimistic. It would really, really suck to be sick next week for my birthday.

If I owe you an email, I apologize. I didn’t end up answering much of anything yesterday, and I find myself wanting to sleep more today, so I’m not sure when my brain will come back.

Comments

[loligo]

"Swing top", "trapeze" and "A-line" are all used to describe shirts and dresses that intentionally get much wider at the bottom, so maybe those search terms would help you find a style that works for you?

[the_rck]

The website I normally buy from has only one shirt with any of those labels, and it's remaindered and not in my size. I tried Google but still didn't turn up anything that suited. Scoop necks are in, and I really don't want anything that isn't 100% guaranteed to cover my bra straps given that the problem with what I already own is exactly that. I'll look more this weekend.

[adrian_turtle]

Another key work that might be useful is "tunic," though that might be even longer than you want. Unfortunately, it might require you to look at more expensive shirts than you've been buying, because they're designing something halfway to a very short dress.

Another design feature to look for, that can be visible in catalogs, is shirts that are slit along the side seam. Scrub tops do this. (So does the nightshirt I am wearing this minute.) In a pinch, some careful work with a seam ripper might transform one of those "bunch over your hips" shirts into "slit up the side and fits comfortably across front and back." It depends if it has side seams or if it was knit in a tube. And if you're comfortable hemming the side seams, finishing them like you've just knit them, or leaving them unfinished.

[alchemise]

Ugh, as someone with a short torso and wide hips I hear you. This trend of long straight t-shirts sucks. I've had some luck with Banana Republic though.

[the_rck]

Sadly, I need a 2X petite (well, the petite part is negotiable). What I found at the Banana Republic website was all too small. Most styles only go to L. A handful go as far as XL.

[evalerie.livejournal.com]

I think it might be worth an e-mail to the grill's manufacturer to politely express concern about how quickly it failed. Maybe they will do something about it. Also, is there a warranty on it? Or, another option is that if it came from a local store that stands behind their profits (eg. Big George's or REI), it might be possible to talk to the store and see if they will do anything about it.

(I know you know all that and have probably put more thought into this question than I have. But it still seemed worth saying.)