Out of the Lane Bryant Loop

nobody@vox.com(Mahoganie) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:47:28 -0400

No matter how hard I try, I somehow end up at the mall in Pentagon City. Over the years I've grown to loathe that place since it became "a must see stop!" among the tourists that flock to the DC; mainly those large bus groups of middle and high school students. I only go to that mall if I absolutely MUST. Today was such.

My mother had a wedding gift for a fellow church member engraved at the store Things Remembered. My mission was to pick it up for her since she would be dealing with my grandmother for the day. Naturally I didn't mind. Also, I figured since I was there I would visit the Lane Bryant (only a few stores downs) and pick up a fresh pair of jeans. I've worn my current ones down to the ground. So it was time.

I walked into Lane Bryant thinking it would be a simple task. I would go to my usual selection of average or petite size 16 with the natural waist, stretch, boot cut. Today I would want the dark stone wash demin if they had it. Yet, I was proven wrong when I reached the jean section. It became obvious that I had missed the memo about the changes the store made with their jeans. Curse me for not paying close attention to my emails or those niffty coupon/promo announcements they mail to my house. Instead of facing my usual selection I was now dealing with a color code and single number digits from 1 - 7 (or so). It's Lane Bryant's (not so) new marketing gimmick "The Right Fit" as I later learned.

I took a deep breath.

Yellow = Straight body type

Red = Moderately Curvy

Blue = Curvy all the way.

I went for red after mentally answering the questions or statements posed for "red jean" wearers.

"If your current jeans ride down in the back of your waist and have pockets that gape when you sit" then you are red.

Then my logic kicked in. I'm still pretty much a size 16 so I'm guessing a size 1 or 2 should accomodate.

Another deep breath.

I search around for perhaps a size chart of some sort. None in sight. Thankfully there was a Latino lady next to me who looked just as confused as I did. Finally her daughter spoke up for her and asked an associate to measure her mom and help her find the "The Right Fit." I waited a few moments and asked the assocate to mesure me. At first she was quick to say I was a yellow, but after further inspection she told me red and that I seem to have the right size picked out already, a 2, but she handed me a 3 just in case.

I asked her when did the store make the changes. She informed me that "The Right Fit" has really been in effect for about two years, but at first it was just a very small "thing." I vaguely remember the promo about it, but I stopped paying attention to Lane Bryant long ago when I became disenchanted in their selection. Granted the better store for me in this area is the Tyson's Corner store, I would still only come out with a nice top here, a pair of jeans there and once in a while a nice suit. Then again, clothes have been very disappointing to me lately as nothing has been inspiring to me.

Shoes on the other hand............

Nevertheless after conversing with the sales associate I got the idea behind "The Right Fit." A size 14 may not necessarily fit a "size 14" but will feel just right or perfect in a size 12. A normally size 16 figure may fit best in a size 18. So whomever these top researchers are that have partnered or are under hire from the company that owns Lane Bryant, they have developed a system that sort of leaves your normal size undefined and goes with a denim sizing system fits best for your body shape.

I should have known something was up when I went into the store once before and noticed all of the regular sized jeans on clearance. Yet, after browsing around for a few more minutes I entered into a dressing room. I tried on the 2 and was instantly impressed! My curves - hips and bottom - looked "bootylicious!" I'm scared to know what it all would look like had I had on a pair of heels. I tried on the 3 and it was a bit baggy and didn't have the same effect.

My love affair that I once had with Lane Bryant still hasn't returned, but if their jeans keep accenting my right spots we may can work something out.

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