I think that Charming Shoppes is really missing an opportunity to use all their stores and brands to build loyalty with certain groups. Catherines for those who want comfort and ease of wearability (comperable to Woman Within, Silhouettes), Fashion Bug for those who want affordable and trendy (comperable to Torrid, and smaller juniors stores), and Lane Bryant for those who want upscale style and career clothes. I think there is too much cross-over from one store to the other. The last time I was in FB, the jeans were just like the LB jeans, same labels and sizing, too. For a long time Lane Bryant was the leader; all the other stores looked to them to see what to do right. I really feel this image is slipping.

A note on career wardrobe: I don’t know if they still do, but LB used to tailor it’s selection based on the demographics where the store was. College towns had more jeans & tees, more trendy stuff, while big city downtown malls had more career seperates and more dresses. Also, there different classes / volumes of stores that might carry more or less selection. Don’t assume that all the stores will have the same items.

The long camisoles with the lace and adjustable straps are wonderful! I’ve been on a two year quest for the perfect camisole, and it finally exists! Definitely stocking up.

The knit v-neck shirts with the elbow length sleeves are nice, too.

And count me among those disappointed by LB’s work appropriate offerings. Hell, most of the casual offerings, too. I have to say, though, that Omar the Tentmaker didn’t occur to me. Dorothy Zbornak, on the other hand…

Classy doesn’t doesn’t deliver self-righteous lectures. Your advice about getting over yourself? Take it. The sizing does indeed fluctuate at Lane Bryant. I can’t think of any other explanation for a 14/16 woven button down shirt with no appreciable stretch factor I bought there 12 years ago fitting consistently through the years while 14/16s from five years ago hung off me and 14/16s today are hit or miss. And newsflash, when I- and others here- have bought work appropriate clothing at a store for years, we rather reasonably expect that we will continue to find work appropriate clothing there. Which- newsflash- doesn’t mean covered up from neck to ankle to most of us. What it does mean to most of us is attractive clothing that doesn’t display two or more inches of cleavage and won’t otherwise cause an interviewer to toss our resumes in the trash. And if the tag says it goes in the washer, I damn well expect it to.

You miss the point entirely. We are (rightfully) upset because LB is no longer giving us the quality it was once known for. If you had read carefully, you would have seen that this is the main issue, not price or style. Cheap quality clothes do not compromise. Whatever you do, it will fade, shrink and/or pile. I hate to say it, but if you think LB clothes are great you need to up your game.

Lane bryant is not a community project, they are a bussiness and they want to make money. if your clothes “don’t last”
I would say maybe you should take better care of them, not everything can go in the washer. I make no apologies for the woman I am.
I am not ashamed or embarassed, I am confident, classy, and a lady. If you think the sizes are “all wrong now” maybe you should check the size of your behind instead.
I have worked for both LB and Torrid, and almost every woman who said the phrase “your sizes run small” was just in denial about her size.
Get over yourselves YOU ARE FAT! I am fat we are all on this page for a reason. In the end you have to care about what you put on your back, if you want to get something on the cheap, go to Goodwill.