A mini-LB report

I don't know how I missed this but it appears that lanebryant.com has drastically expanded their bra size selection. At my store, the bra sizes run 38C, 40B-48DDD but the website has way more selection. Some of the mid-range sizes go up to an H cup! There's a "shop by size" menu on the main bra section of the site.

Some of the panties are now available in size 12. Usually, with LB panties, you should go down one pant size. So, if you wear a 14/16, you should wear the size 12 panties. I thought this was weird at first until I realized that panties in my pant size are a little too loose and are more likely to ride up and move around. However, for hipsters, I stay with my pants size because I think they run a little small.

I've heard rumblings that the denim collection will be changing pretty drastically towards the end of summer when the fall stuff comes out. I do know that my store hasn't gotten shipments of the Easy Fit or Classic cut jeans in a long, long time. I think those will probably be discontinued entirely because uh, they're really unflattering!

Update: Well, fancy that. There are NEW flare-cut jeans on the website. I mentioned yesterday that the old flare-cut jeans were down to $9.99, which would mean that they're either being discontinued or redesigned. As it turns out, they've updated the denim. I can't wait to get my butt in a pair.

I think they're going to expand the Supreme and Seven7 jeans collections, stock more bootcuts, and MAYBE add a straight-leg option (that last part is just my speculation). I know there are older customers who will be annoyed with all the trendy bootcuts, so including a straight-leg jean would probably be a good idea.

Clearly, I can never quit my job at Lane Bryant. Who else is going to take the time to share this valuable information with you? I have a full-time job now so I'm only working one shift a week, mostly for the very generous employee discount. I spend most of my time there checking out the new clothes and thinking about what I might want to buy. I do actual WORK, too, of course! But mostly I just gab with customers and make mental shopping lists.

Comments

[m]

This was an awesome entry; thanks! I did a round of LB shopping this morning and got some badly-needed bras & underwear, as well as a pair of the flair jeans.

[Beth]

I picked up some great stuff (bras and sleepwear) this past weekend. Got my Real Women dollars and I'm heading back in June - if I can remember!

One thing I would love for LB to bring back is the overalls (I love them). I also wish they would stock some basic khaki pants year-round. I love wearing khakis to work, and I've worn all of mine out. Unfortunately, there's none in my store right now, and probably won't be until this fall.

[Gina]

I have tried on the Seven jeans several times (though it's hard for me to find a size 24 in stock) and they are SO long. And I'm 5'8". I realize the idea is to wear them with heels, but I've tried them on with heels, and they are still too long. I don't want to pay that much for a pair of jeans and ruin them because they drag the floor. I don't mind a little damage on the back - this can look cool, but these would really get beaten up. What's up with that?

[m]

Designer jeans are always long. I'm 5'4" and a size 20. The biggest heels on the planet Earth won't get me the height to pull off the Seven jeans (even though they're GORGEOUS and I LOVE them). Ditto Kiyonna's signature jeans.

[Meghan]

Those new flares look pretty cool. Too bad they don't come in tall sizes! ::shakes fist at LB:: Tall women have needs, too, you know.

[Stacey]

I don't consider myself one of the "older" customer, just right around the average age for of the range customers who shop at LB and I'm one of those who doesn't like pants with flare or bootcut legs. I just don't like how they look on me. I do like straight leg pants or "classic fit" jeans though.

Of course, the other problem is that I generally can't buy the crops or the capris at LB, because at 5'6", with a 28" inseam, most of the crops and capris they sell look like high water pants on me! So even though 10 years ago I didn't need to buy petite pants, I now need to buy petite pants (I don't wear heels very often, and quite frankly, I'm of the firm belief that pants should hit at the same spot no matter *what* shoes I wear, so I can wear different shoes if I want to).

[Beth]

Hey Colleen,

I wanted to let you know that I dropped into Kohl's the other day and they had a plus size line by Daisy Fuentes. The close were super cute and actually weren't too pricey. Have you seen this line before or tried it out? If so, how do the clothes stand-up, and is Kohl's the only place you've seen them available?

I also am pretty proud that I bought two pairs of Flare jeans at LB for $5 (with my Real Women Dollars) the other day. Go me!

[Lori]

Lane Bryant has done a great job of getting in clothes that are stylish and fun. They're a little pricy sometimes, I think, but they've got great sales quite often. The only thing that bothers me about LB, and maybe it's more the whole plus-sized model industry, is that the women might be a 14 or even a 16 but they somehow always manage to have FLAT stomachs. The clothes look completely different on me and my belly. But, on the other hand, I suppose you can't fault them for wanting to make their clothes as good as possible in the ads.

[Tricia]

Pretty Pear,

Do you still work for LB? I am an SSM in AZ.

[Alora]

I have a quick question....
I was recently layed off from my job and I am thinking about going back to retail. Do you have an idea what the low and high end of the wages for floor associates? I am in florida so your state probably will be higher.

[Aesha]

Thanks for this neat blog. :) I found it by way of LiveJournal, and I look forward to exploring it more.

I'm moving to Chicago from the suburbs soon, and for some reason it hadn't even crossed my mind to work at LB on weekends or something... but that's a great idea, and one I may have to explore - particularly as it gets closer to the holidays!