Here's a thread for the ladies to discuss anything that relates to women and swimming. For example, feel free to discuss how disgustingly ugly fastskins are, how the "curse" can kill a meet, how suits don't fit, how swimming wrecks your hair, how hormones unhinge you, etc.
On another topic: European women must have really skinny arms.
The more and better I swim, the harder it is to find clothes that fit. In clothes designed for Americans, my main problem is that tops, jackets, or dresses that fit across the upper back and shoulders are often too big in the waist. Yesterday, though, I was in a store with a lot of clothing designed for the French and Italian markets, and all the jackets I tried on were super-tight in the upper arms. Shoulders and waist were OK, but the arms looked like sausages and wouldn't really bend at the elbow. It's not really a good business look.
Clothing patterns are drafted with different methods in Europe, and yes, the fit is closer to the body and the sleeves are tighter. On the other hand, the pants draft is terrific, much better than the North American version. :)
I find off-the-rack is usually too big in the waist as well. I think they are trying to fit as wide a range of people as possible and that range consists of the ever-increasing number of waist-less women. Buying as good a quality as you can afford in North American tops and jackets and getting them altered at the waist is probably your best bet.
On another topic: European women must have really skinny arms.
The more and better I swim, the harder it is to find clothes that fit. In clothes designed for Americans, my main problem is that tops, jackets, or dresses that fit across the upper back and shoulders are often too big in the waist. Yesterday, though, I was in a store with a lot of clothing designed for the French and Italian markets, and all the jackets I tried on were super-tight in the upper arms. Shoulders and waist were OK, but the arms looked like sausages and wouldn't really bend at the elbow. It's not really a good business look.
Clothing patterns are drafted with different methods in Europe, and yes, the fit is closer to the body and the sleeves are tighter. On the other hand, the pants draft is terrific, much better than the North American version. :)
I find off-the-rack is usually too big in the waist as well. I think they are trying to fit as wide a range of people as possible and that range consists of the ever-increasing number of waist-less women. Buying as good a quality as you can afford in North American tops and jackets and getting them altered at the waist is probably your best bet.
