Just My Size: Not My Style?
A review of Hanes Just My Size is behind the jump. If clothing reviews are your thing, than click on through!
I received $200 from Hanes to shop for this review, and did I know what I was getting into? I kind of did not. But I would never write a review that wasn’t honest, so rest assured, these are my Real Opinions™.
AHanes Just My Size (which offers clothes in sizes up to 4X) gave me the opportunity to go pick out some clothes and write about them. And since the clothes ranged from $9 to $15—even the jeans were just $15—I was able to get a lot of clothes for the money.
The first picture is a before-and-after dressing room shot. As you can see, I was just wearing my basic jeans (my favorites, Lee) and a tank top from Target, which is where I usually shop for wardrobe basics. Then I tried the JMS jeans and floral top. The pants have a nice dark wash, skinny-leg look. And they are very comfortable. The biggest negative for me is that they have no pockets. Also they have an elastic waist, which gives me the heebies. I know I’m not alone here.
Anyway, I generally prefer boot-cut jean styles, but I feel like I could experiment with these pants, plus my own top, if I were feeling brave. (Do skinny jeans work on fat girls? I might need to consult some Fatshionistas on this.)The top I’m wearing in the picture feels a little matronly for me—although if you worked in a conservative office, and only had $12 to spend, it would be a great choice.
I also tried a tank with a scarf that I didn’t end up getting, because it quite frankly seems like an insane item of clothing. Two tank tops and a scarf? I don’t get it. The material also seemed really flimsy, and did not look upscale. At all.
The good: a lot of basics in a lot of colors for a very low price-point: I liked the floral tank tops (black and brown) and the navy blue scoop-neck shirt I got. But the more fashion-forward pieces fell flat for me, although I can imagine other people really loving them. Actually, I was tempted to get a bunch of stuff my mom, because these are clothes that she would love—reasonably priced, bright colors, floral patterns, lots of glitter. They even had orange!
Posted by mo pie
Filed under: BlogHerOff, Fashion, Review
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I am the absolute worst with panty hose, in that I get runs after only one or two uses and have to chuck them (even when I buy the super-high end expensive hosiery). So I absolutely love JMS for cheap plus-size hose.
But their fashion definitely falls flat for me.
And, just my $0.02, I don’t think even skinny girls look all that great in skinny jeans, and I hate the way they look on a plus-size sillouhette. I know many fatshionistas who rock them, but it’s definitely not my cup of tea. Boot leg all the way!
Here’s a “did you know” about JMS? Before they announced their “partnership” or whatever it is they have with Walmart, a 4x was a 30/32. Now it’s a 26/28.
I think my mom would love it too! (When you say “lots of glitter,” I sure hope you mean LOTS. Because my mom is serious with the sparkle.)
I love Just My Size clothes for basics. I absolutely adored their stretch jeans (the 5 pocket kind) but then they switched to the more “leggings” type in stretch and regular non-stretch jeans in 5 pockets. A plus for me? The metal rivet buttons have my initials (JMS) on them. I used to convince others that the jeans were designed exclusively for me.
@Krystal
Unfortunately I noticed that and it’s fricken annoying. I’m “lucky” enough to be on the high-end of the plus-size spectrum and it’s soo frustrating when companies do that.
Most of the JMS stuff is a little staid for my tastes, but you certainly can’t beat those prices for basic tanks and tees. And FWIW, I think you look good in the JMS jeans. :-)
Re: the plus size skinny jeans debate, generally I find the way skinny pants look on plus figures depends on how you’re built. I was very leery of them at first, then a couple of months ago I tried on a pair of slim-cut (not skintight) black pants with a tunic top and was surprised to find they were quite flattering on me (and I bought two pairs). But I’m tall with long legs, and most of my extra weight is on my upper body -I can see how the look wouldn’t work for everyone. I still like my bootcut pants, but it’s nice to update my look too.
JMS… ah, JMS…
The basics are ok, but ugh on anything else. Horrible patterns, mainly.
But what bothers me the most? That fat women are treated like a different… well, something. Why can’t I buy my size 11 fat gal panties at Hanes? Why do I have to get a “special label”?
Sometimes, just sometimes, Wal-Mart will carry the JMS tops in a 5X – but if you’re in Minnesota, you’d better get them as soon as they’re stocked or they’re gone! My problem with JMS tops is that they aren’t long enough, I’m long from shoulder to hip and don’t want my tops stopping just below my waist. Their pants don’t usually come in talls either, and I have long legs (need a 31″ inseam) and I want pockets and bootcut.
What I really want are tops in my size that are made out of the same fabrics/prints as the tops that they make for women who wear sizes from 0 – 20. The fabric is available, why can’t they use it for our clothing too? Just because we’re fat we have to have that ugly shit? I don’t think so. And I’m sorry, just because I’m a grandmother doesn’t mean I want to dress in a matronly manner. I don’t feel old, not in my head, so why do I have to dress like I’m old? Not happening!!! Thank Maude I can sew and I can order fabric I like online, or I’d be stuck with the crap that plus-size retailers think is fashion (it ain’t my fashion).
Here’s another nay vote for their clothing line. I have a JMS dress, a white cotton knit summer dress. That dress is more than 17 years old, still fits, still looks wonderful. The quality has declined over the years. Their pants don’t fit woment with heavy thighs.
They drive me crazy with their panties, changing them every year. Not colors or patterns but the styling. Some years the elastic is wide, next it’s narrow. They also used to have some very pretty lingerie, my favorite chemise was bought through their website. And thigh high stockings that fit!
I went to their website and saw the twill pants with the seam or pressed-in crease and actually shuddered. They’re truly hideous (and I Say that about very few things). Their whole collection reminds me of the worst stuff in Roamans.
Really, nobody looks good in that.
I’m with @vesta44. I’m sick to death of beige, white, and black bras, for example.
As a 23 year old, size 24 female who doesn’t have a lot of money I’m constantly searching for clothes that fit, are stylish and work with my budget. JMS clothes are not quite there. I’ve found shirts that I like and their jeans are sometimes really comfy but I think that the majority of their clothes make me and others look frumpy.
I just dream of a day where the plus size section of a store is gone and the same style available to a size 8 also has a size 24 version.
vesta44 – I feel you on the tall jeans issue. I am 5’9 and I would rather go bathing suit shopping than look for jeans.
First I have to find a style that fits my pear/hourglass hybrid figure and is the right size so I can get into them. Then of course I have to as if they carry them in tall. Most plus size lines do not carry them in stores. And since I have an odd shape I have to try on jeans to know they will fit.
BTW Torrid is so mean with their “tall” pants. When I put them on my ankles show even in the boot cuts.
Cassie, I hear you–I was pleasantly surprised at Target recently when I found a top in the plus-size section in a super cute print, and then realized the “regular” (or whatever) section had the same print, in a dress. Two different items of clothing but the print was unusually cute–I guess that was why!
Hmmm. Didn’t know about JMS and W-M, but that explains a lot. I have MANY issues with W-M, but one is how they dictate to producers of products (not just clothing!) specs waaaaay beyond what is appropriate to a retailer-supplier relationship. Been there, and grrr.
I used to love Cacique cute cotton bras from Lane Bryant, but they are no good anymore. I bought about 6 bras from JMS this winter, and like them all-so far all are holding up well. But the clothing is truly sketchy. The styles would suit her, but my 80 yr old mother wouldn’t be caught dead in their poor quality stuff. She’d call it sleasy…and it is.
Liked the comment about worse than Roman’s. Still get their catalog years after purchasing things for relatives. I have noticed a sort of weird progression of models. As they go out of favor (aging or other issues?) they get assigned worse and worse items to wear. It seems the newbies get the ‘Cutest’ stuff. It’s sick, but priceless to watch the facial expressions of the models relegated to the icky adorned poly tents.
I know, Im weird. But really, you should try watching poly horror induced facial expressions. I tell you, those women EARN their modeling fees!
I have found a couple of regular non elastic jeans from them which I love. And trust me jeans are impossible for me to find, I have super long legs but im big. And for some reason the jean companies dont believe that if your big you don’t have long legs. But JMS i notice tends to please towards an olderr crowd. Walmart recently had a summer dress in there from JMS, and I was mortified just by the look of it, it had about 10 strands of wooden beads on the top of the dress. But for the occasional jean and maybe a tshirt they will do.
I buy their stuff for workout gear. It’s not coolmax but going to the gym on the elliptical. It works just fine. The basic tees are a nice shape and so I some of those for casual wear but yes the jeans are gross.
I hope she mentioned, that just because we’re fat women, that doesn’t mean we would accept clothing that looks like something someone’s grandma would wear. That floral shirt? What is this, all fat people are 80?
I think you look great in skinny jeans, at least from that picture.
I reject the idea that fat girls shouldn’t wear skinny jeans or leggings. They’re all I wear, and I think they look better on me than any other style. I have a longer torso and short legs and I carry a lot of weight in my inner thighs (OK, I carry a lot of weight everywhere). I think that boot cuts and flares make my legs look even shorter and that skinnies just let the natural shape come through.
I know, I know, Stacy and Clinton would tell me to hide my thighs with wide legs and NOT let my natural leg shape show through. Well, they can suck it, because I feel good in skinnies and that means I LOOK good in them, too.
Pants with only elastic on top. BABY PANTS. Just because I am fat doesn’t mean I can’t wear a regular pair of pants! I don’t even like skinny jeans on skinny girls. You have to have the EXACT shape and top to go with them or they look horrible on everyone from size 2-32. JMS clothes are not fashion forward. I look over the section in walmart and have bought 1-2 items since they have taken over the section. I used to buy clothing at walmart more often so I shopped there a lot more, but now I go to Target instead, because many of their clothes are cute and at least they are trying. If they made most of their smaller clothes in plus size, they would sell like crazy. They have the cutest outfits in their minus size section. (hey, if we are plus, they must be minus!) Keep trying Target! Wal-Mart, you are SO wrong! Might I also say that I went into Kohl’s a while back, their plus size section reads like an 80 year old going on a cruise. They seriously had a white and red stripe shirt with a gold anchor embroidered on it! NO WAY!
Wow…you’re extremely negative.
#1, it’s called honesty, and I could have been a lot more negative, given that the clothes are basically cheap and tacky.
#2, maybe next time you shouldn’t comment using your work IP address, because I can see very clearly that you are from Hanes. First you pulled the sponsorship from the post, then tried to get me to pull the post, now you’re trolling the blog? Wow. You’re extremely shady.
LOL! Busted!
I love you, mo pie.
OMG MARKETING FAIL!
This is so awesome, I can’t even stand it. Mo, you are my hero in oh so many ways. You put the bust in BUSTED. :)