Amiga Plus 1995 #2

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Archive-name: fat-acceptance-faq/clothing/us-canada Posting-Frequency: monthly to *.answers, bi-weekly to soc.support.fat-acceptance and alt.support.big-folks Last-modified: March 7, 1995 Version: 1.4 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Clothing for Big Folks: U.S. and Canada This document contains information about clothing for fat people in the U.S. and in Canada. There are three other related FAQs: fat-acceptance-faq/size-acceptance information about size-acceptance fat-acceptance-faq/resources world-wide information about general resources for fat people, including books, magazines and organizations fat-acceptance-faq/clothing/uk-europe information about clothing for large people in Europe (and in the United Kingdom in particular) There is some overlap in the topics covered by the FAQs. If you don't find what you're looking for here, try the other FAQs. If you have information you think should be here (either in response to an existing question or in response to a new question), send it to the maintainers. If you think another question should be addressed here, and you do not have the information for it, post the question to s.s.f-a or a.s.b-f and drop a note to the maintainers suggesting that it be in the FAQ. Also, please let us know if any of this material is incorrect or out-of-date. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Changes: * Added info on U.S. catalogs Body by Rubens, It's a Revolution, National Wholesale Co., Big Clothes for Big Men, Cheyenne Outfitters. * Added info on U.S. store MaxMara. * Added info on Canadian boot manufacturer Lorini Shoes. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Contents SECTION A: FAQ about clothing for big folks in the U.S. A1) How do I convert between sizes? A2) Where can I find clothing for women? Part 1) Clothing brands for women Part 2) Clothing catalogs for women Part 3) Retail clothing for women Part 4) Maternity clothing Part 5) Wedding dresses A3) Where can I find clothing for men? Part 1) Clothing brands for men Part 2) Clothing catalogs for men Part 3) Retail clothing for men A4) Where can I find children's clothing? A5) Where can I find shoes? A6) Where can I find sewing/knitting patterns? SECTION B: FAQ about clothing for big folks in Canada B1) Where can I find clothing for women? Part 1) Clothing catalogs for women Part 2) Retail clothing for women Part 3) Wedding dresses B2) Where can I find clothing for men? B3) Where can I find shoes? SECTION C: Information about this FAQ C1) Posting information C2) Availability of the FAQ C3) Contributors --------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- SECTION A: FAQ about clothing for big folks in the U.S. A1) How do I convert between sizes? Here are some conversions between European, U.K., and U.S. sizes: women's dresses and suits U.K. size is 2 more than U.S. European size is 30 more than U.S. i.e., UK 28 = US 26 = Euro 56 women's shoes U.K. sizes are 1.5 less than U.S. i.e., UK 8 = US 9.5 men's suits and coats U.K. sizes are the same as U.S. European sizes are 10 more than U.S./U.K. i.e., UK 56 = US 56 = Euro 66 men's shirts U.K. sizes are the same as U.S. i.e., UK 20 = US 20 men's socks U.K. sizes are the same as U.S. i.e., UK 10.5 = US 10.5 men's shoes U.K sizes are 1 less than U.S. i.e., UK 10.5 = US 11.5 --------------------------------------------------------------------- A2) Where can I find clothing for women? A2) Part 1) Clothing brands for women Capistrano Complaint of cheap manufacture. Citiculture Fancy "garden party" dresses up to 4X (sizes run large). Elisabeth Liz Claiborne's plus sizes line. Expensive, but good quality. Entree' Jeans that fit wonderfully and consistently across many styles up to size 44. Fruit of the Loom 100% cotton panties up to size 12. Also bras with large band and cup sizes. Hanes Her Way Large size sweatpants and sweatshirts. Jockey for Her All-cotton underwear in three styles up to at least size 11. Lee Jeans Tend to work well on figures with smaller waistlines, large hips. Sizes up to 28 or 30. Marina Bridal Wedding dresses, priced reasonably ($350-$900 or so). Their headquarters is in NYC. You should be able to get a copy of their catalog (about 20 styles) by callin local bridal shops. Sharon Anthony Two Potato A2) Part 2) Clothing catalogs for women 16 Plus 3250 South 76th St. Philadelphia, PA 19153 Amazon Designs Old Airport Rd. Paris, AR 72855 Catalog $4. Clothing for big and tall women. Apples and Pears 1-800-475-5166 Casual women's clothing -- tunics, coats, sweatshirts. Much of the clothing has embroidered designs. Sizes 1X-8X. Pricey. And they may charge more for clothing in sizes 7X and 8X. Avon Some items in their regular catalog go up to size 3x (26-28) or 4x. Barely Nothings 897 Park Blvd., Suite 163 Pismo Beach, CA 93449-3293 1-800-422-7359 (orders) 1-805-489-5592 (customer service) Catalog $3. Lingerie and a few other items (T-shirts, Danskin Bodywear, etc.) Sizes up to 6X in some items, 4X in others. Beloff's Women's World 192 West Main St. Meriden, CT 06450 The Big, the Bad & the Beautiful 19225 Ventura Blvd, Tarzana, CA 91356 1-818-345-3593 1-800-347-3593 Catalog $2. (Credited to first order.) Sizes 14-32+. They also do custom work for a nominal fee. Among other things, they sell bike shorts. Big Stitches by Jan 2423 Douglas St. San Pablo, CA 94806 1-510-237-3978 Send self-adressed envelope. Custom made large-size bathing suits. Will make extremely large sizes as well. And they also make bicycle shorts. Body by Rubens 1-800-935-0355 Reputed to have large-size bicycle shorts for women. Body Image Task Force Contact: Dawn Atkins (datkins@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu) P.O. Box 934 Santa Cruz, CA 95061-0934 (408) 457-4838 They sell T-shirts and jewelry that promote body image diversity. They sell "All Women Are Beautiful" T-shirts that come in two designs, sizes small - 10X. Sue Brett Dept. A Indianapolis, IN 46207 Sportswear, dresses, lingerie, shoes, in misses' 10-24, women's 34-52. Half sizes also. Brownstone Woman 685 Third Ave. New York NY 10017-4024 1-800-221-2468 (orders) 1-800-322-2991 (customer service) Sizes 14-28W. Somewhat expensive. They use thin models. Bust Stop 8270 E. 71st St. Tulsa, OK 74122 1-800-858-3887 Catalog $2. Bras up to 60GG, including maternity/nursing bras. Cabela's 1-800-237-4444 Gortex parkas and pants up to at least 5XL. Many other items up to 3XL in both big and tall sizes. Reasonable prices. Cameo Coutures, Inc. Dallas, TX 75247 1-214-631-4860 They make custom-made large-size bras. They are expensive (about $50) but are very comfortable and well-made and long-lasting. Castles Direct P.O. Box 690002 Houston, TX 77269 1-800-424-1008 T-shirts up to 4X (some have fat-positive designs). The sizes seem to run small. Decent Exposures P.O. Box 27206 2202 NE 115th Seattle, WA 98125-1606 1-800-524-4949 (U.S. or Canada) 1-206-364-4540 (Seattle or overseas) Bras, underwear, nightshirts. Bras "look like outerwear, have no hardware and are quite comfortable.... Come in a variety of colors", cup sizes AA to K and band sizes 30-58 or so. They make maternity/nursing bras. They make leisure-style bras, so they may be less supportive, but the fabric of the bra makes a difference (lined lycra is most supportive, cotton is not recommended for large sizes). You can get them in cotton, velour, or lycra, and in a number of different colors. Follow the sizing instructions carefully, they may be somewhat different than regular sizing. (The sizes run large.) They also sell underwear up to size 12 in cotton, lycra, and velour. If you don't like how something fits, they will adjust it for free (deepening the armholes, re-cutting the legs, etc.). They also have leggings up to size 4X (36 or so). Deva Lifewear Box SM4 110 1st Ave., West Westhope, ND 58793-0266 1-800-222-8024 Limited selection of casual, cotton and silk clothing in large sizes. They sell cotton pantaloons. Dream Big International 4427 Wisconsin Ave. N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 Catalog $3. (Credited to first order.) Filmy night stuff. Eddie Bauer 1-800-426-8020 Clothing up to size 22W. Similar to that sold by L.L. Bean and Land's End. Elianna 1-213-653-5585 Super size, tall and petite. Entrance 1-800-800-2394 Dressy clothing. Fairy Godmother at Large 133 S. Murphy Ave. Sunnyvale, CA 94086 1-408-737-7684 Run by Marcia Shea (fairygod@aol.com) New and used clothing in sizes 14-super. Women's jeans up to size 60. Tee-shirts up to 72" around, big shirts up to 78" around. Panties up to size 16. Also nylon petit pants up to 6X. Feminine Fancies Catalog Sales P.O. Box 96 Walterville OR 97489-0096 1-503-484-4040 $5 catalog, credited to first order Plus-size leather catalog. Be sure to ask for the Plus Size catalog as they also have a Small Size catalog. Fit To Be Tried 4754 East Grant, Tuscon, AZ 85712 $2 catalog. Active wear up to 4X. They sell bicycle shorts. For You Spiegel 1040 W 35th St. Chicago, IL 60609-1494 1-800-345-4500 (orders) 24 hours, 7 days 1-800-422-6697 (FAX) 1-605-348-8100 (customer satisfaction) 1-605-348-8998 (order questions) 1-800-645-7467 (retail locations) A large size (14-24) offshoot of Speigel. Very classy clothes, but pretty pricey. They have 10 retail locations, (in IL, MI, VA, MD, MO, CT), call for info. They have winter coats up to 24 or 26W. Frederick's of Hollywood 6608 Hollywood Blvd. P.O. Box 229 Hollywood, CA 90078-0229 1-800-323-9525 (24-7) An increasing selection of their lingerie is available in sizes up to 3X (24-26W). Some folks think the tops are too small, some think the tops are too large. Good service. The clothing is not especially well-made, which doesn't matter so much for lingerie, but may be a problem if you want "trashy street clothes". Full Bloom 185 S Pearl Dept. RA-4 Denver, CO 80209 Catalog $2. (Credited to first order.) Sizes 2x-12x shirts, nightshirts, tank tops, "fanny wraps". GlamourPuss Jennifer Miller 662 W Huntington Dr., Suite 339 Monrovia, CA 91016 1-818-357-7277 Catalog $2. Will also send fabric swatches. Large size swimwear in several different styles and fabrics. Sizes run from 18W-36W and custom sizing is available. Great Impressions 720 Anderson Rd. St. Cloud, MN 56340 Greater Woman 10360 Ellison Cir. Omaha, NE 68134 1-800-68WOMAN They send out four seasonal video catalogs a year. (Each mailing includes a 1 hour fashion show, newsletter, clothing directory, and individual manufacturer's sizing charts. First one includes a 100" tape measure.) Customers pay $49 for a 1 year subscription and receive a $50 clothing credit. They sell career wear, casual and dressy clothing, lingerie, bridal wear, swim wear, coats and accessories in sizes 14 - supersize. Moderate prices. They use large-size models. Clothing has a 30 day money back guarantee, and the company covers return shipping. Hot Off the Tour 1-800-878-8189 Sportswear catalog. They specialize in golf wear, but some of their stuff may also be applicable to tennis and other sports. They are pricey (polo shirt $68, twill shorts $56). Intimate Appeal 1-602-747-5000 (orders) 1-602-748-8600 (customer service) Connected with Regalia (see below) but have more selection. It's a Revolution 1870 N. Vermont Ave. Dept 530 Los Angeles, CA 90027 213-661-1431 Clothing for men and women using African kente cloth. Standard stock is up to 5X, and he will go larger on special orders. J.C. Penney's 1-800-222-6161 Their regular catalog has some large-size clothing, and, in particular has large-size maternity clothing. They fill orders in a few days. They also have a separate large-size catalog, with plus and super sizes. (You can return catalog merchandise to their stores.) And they have a reasonable selection of women's petites. They also carry large size coats, but their sizes run small. J. Jill P.O. Box 3006 Winterbrook Way Meredith, NH 03253-3006 1-800-642-9989 Style described as "New England Country". About 2/3 of merchandise is available in women's sizes Generous fit. Overnight shipping on in-stock items. Jalon Enterprises P.O. Box 750355 Forest Hills Station Forest Hills, NY 11375 1-800-316-2877 Coats in silk, leather, suede and fur-trimmed. Sizes from 14/1X to 30/5X, also 34W and 36W. They use large-size models. Jasco Uniform Co. 1-800-222-4445 1-708-291-7928 (fax) Uniforms in misses sizes up to 20, women's sizes up to 32W/52, unisex sizes up to 3XL. Women's scrubs up to 5XL (54-56). (Also have men's scrubs.) Just Big Sportswear 4700 Rozzelles Ferry Rd. Charlotte, NC 28216 1-804-391-3000 T-shirts up to 10XL. Also sweats, dorm shirts, and hooded T-shirts. Just My Size 1-800-522-9567 (orders) 1-800-522-0889 (customer service) 1-910-635-3447 (orders) though they "don't ship to Canada" P.O. Box 748 Rural Hill, NC 27098-0748 They sell lingerie - Bali, Playtex, JMS and possibly other brands (up to 46DDD or so). 100% cotton panties up to size 12. And pantyhose. And pettipants (split slips). And Hanes Her Way sweatpants/shirts. And lycra shorts up to 3x. Also have inexpensive casual clothes up to about 4X. They use large models and also disabled models. L.L. Bean Freeport, ME 04033 1-800-221-4221 Women's sizes to 20. Great quality, ships FedEx in continental US for no extra charge. Service varies, sizes may run small, abide by their measurements. Lady Grace 1-800-922-0504 Land's End 1 Land's End Ln. Dodgeville, WI 53595 1-800-356-4444 Some of the clothing (including bathing suits) in their regular catalog goes up to 20W. Let them know you want larger sizes. They recently ran a picture on the front cover of their catalog of a slender woman standing in a pair of shorts about ten sizes too big for her, which she has to hold up the waistband to keep from falling off her. Two other women stand at either side holding the legs of the shorts out to show how huge they are on her. They are all smiling as if at a joke. Some folks do not patronize them because they feel this picture was inappropriate and offensive to fat people. Lane Bryant P.O. Box 8301 Indianapolis, IN 46283-8301 1-800-477-7070 (orders) 1-800-477-7030 (other questions) The catalog is not affiliated with the retail stores. Selection is somewhat frumpy, but they do have strapless bras. Good sales. Some people think clothing quality is good, some disagree. Misses' sizes 14-20, women's sizes 36-60. The Lerner Woman P.O. Box 7211 Indianopolis, IN 46207-0211 Misses' sizes 12-24, women's sizes 34-54. LEL - Long Elegant Legs P.O. Box 1290 Somerville, NJ 08876 1-800-344-2225 (orders) 1-800-344-2235 (customer service) 1-908-359-0691 (fax) Clothes for tall women, up to size 22. Lutes Designs 6784 Depot St Sebastopol, CA 95473 1-707-824-1634 Clothes in sizes 26-38. Expensive, but nice-looking clothes. They use large models. They will custom-make clothing if you ask (for instance, a skirt to match a blouse or jacket they offer). Making It Big 5018 Aaron St. Cotati, CA 94931-3062 1-707-795-1995 Excellent clothes, can be made to order. They have a small selection of women's petites. Some folks feel they aren't sufficiently responsive to super-size needs. Other folks think they do a good job. Also have two stores. They use large models. Clothes up to about 3-4X. Miss M. 4470-107 Sunset Blvd, Suite 131 Hollywood, CA 90027 "Slutwear" in sizes 1X-6X. Possibly no longer in business (3/7/95). Nancy's Choice Indianopolis, IN 46201 Misses' sizes 10-20, women's sizes 36-46. National Wholesale Co. 400 National Blvd. Lexington, NC 27294 (704) 249-0211 Pantyhose by the dozen at reasonable prices. Several queen-size styles. Also truly non-run pantyhose in large (up to 200 lbs) but not queen sizes. New Look 1-800-998-1985 Tall and BBW. Newport News Avon Lane Hampton, VA 23630-1244 1-800-688-2830 1-804-827-9000 customer service Formerly Spiegel (I think). Casual clothes. Some of their stuff goes up to size 16, 18, 20, 2XL. QVC QVC (one of the home shopping television channels) offers high-quality clothing at (usually) good prices. The Forgotten Woman (see retail for women) hosts shows on QVC, as does August Max Woman. Other names sold include Le Chute, DVFurstenberg, etc. About 90% of the clothing lines they sell include plus sizes (3X == 26-28). They deliver within 5 working days and have a "no questions asked" 30-day money-back return. They also have large-size models working right alongside thin models. On the jewelry end of things, they usually offer rings up to size 10, and they occasionally have the longer bracelets. Regalia 3740 East 34th St. Tuscon, AZ 85713-5305 catalog $1 1-800-362-8420 (orders) 1-602-748-8600 (customer service) Bras up to sizes F & G. Connected with Intimate Appeal. Richman Cotton Clothing Company 2631 Piner Rd Santa Rosa, CA95401 1-707-575-8924 1-800-992-8924 Fax: 1-707-575-8924 All-cotton, dyed-on-the-premises clothing in sizes from infant to 3X. Shirts, skirts, dresses, long johns, cotton/lycra bike shorts, and leggings. Reasonable prices. Right Touch 95-60 Queen's Blvd., Suite B205t Rego Park, NY 11374 Catalog $1. Accessories for larger women. Roaman's P.O. Box 1554 Saddle Brook, NJ 07662 P.O. Box 8360 Indianapolis, IN 46283 1-800-274-7130 (orders) 24-7 Sister company of Lane Bryant. Some unattractive pieces. Some random sexy pieces. Cute casuals. Nice coats. Sister company of Lane Bryant, but sizes run larger than LB. Women's sizes 38-60. Rocky Mountain Clothing 1-800-688-4449 Call to find a location in your area where they sell this company's jeans and blouses. Currently sizes up to 26, soon up to 30. Royal Woman 14 East 38th St. 14th floor New York NY 10016 Catalog $2. Women's sizes 14-46 in natural silks and cotton. Capes, dresses, blouses, sweaters, sleepwear. Sally's Place P.O. Box 1397 Sausalito, CA 44966 Catalg $3. Sexy lingerie, up to size 4X (24W-26W). It is fairly expensive, and some of it is a bit tacky. Says Who 3903 Piedmont Ave. Oakland, CA 94611 Catalog $1. Also have a retail store in Palo Alto, CA. Shop at Home Catalogs 2080 S. Holly St. P.O. Box 221050 Denver, CO 80222-9050 This is the address for a catalog of catalogs. They list the following catalogs: Appleseeds -- #644 $2 Big is Beautiful -- #733 $5 lingerie, sizes 40-50 It's a Secret! -- #726 $3 lingerie, sizes 1X-6X, also oils, lotions, etc. their sizes may run small (6X here = 4X elsewhere) Just Right -- #105 $2 Secret Passions -- #819 $2 regular and some plus sizes Silhouettes 1-800-852-2822 Sizes 14-26 including petites. Dressy/casual/evening/accessories/bras. Pricey, but has a good variety (including some women's petites). Unfortunately, their stock is small so they often will have to put items on back order. (And the back orders take from 3 weeks to 3 months to fill.) If you're in a hurry, this is probably not a great place to order from. Spiegel Some of the clothing in their regular catalog is sold in plus sizes. Sweet Cheeks Designs Redlands, CA 1-909-792-0454 1-909-792-5060 (fax) Sweeter Measures P.O. Box 340 Gibbon, NE 68840 Catalog $2. Sizes up to 70 or so. Some people find the quality good, some not so. May be a little pricey. They carry nurses' uniforms. They will custom-make clothing if you ask (for instance, a skirt to match a blouse or jacket they offer). Sizes 38-60. Tropical Adventure P.O. Box 6262 Burbank, CA 91510-6262 1-800-362-2682 Lingerie (silk and polyester) up to size 4X. Also "faux leather" teddies, thongs, bustiers, garter belts up to 4X. Seems somewhat pricey. The Vermont Country Store P.O. Box 3000 Manchester Center, VT 05255-3000 1-802-362-2400 Slips, chafe shields, mumus, robes, float dresses. Good prices and good quality. They also sell 100% cotton mid-thigh panties which do a good job of preventing chafing and protecting stockings. Winter Silks 2700 Laura Ln. P.O. Box 620130 Middleton, WI 53562 1-800-648-7455 Silk long johns up to 18-20W. Call and ask for larger sizes. WorkAbles for Women Oak Valley Clinton, PA 15026-0214 1-800-826-9317 Cold weather wear up to size 20W or 22W. Call and ask for larger sizes. They sell, among other things, long underwear, polar pants, wind pants, and wool pants (with access panels so that using the bathroom in the wilderness does not require baring all). XTC Leather of NY Limited 120 Nancy St., Unit E West Babylong, NY 11704 1-516-643-3030 Fax: 1-516-643-3510 Leather Lingerie in sizes up to 3X. They are a wholesale operation, so they may not sell to retail customers, but give them a try anyway. A2) Part 3) Retail clothing for women 16 Plus Owned by the same folks as Size Unlimited. Clothes up to size 32. Added Dimensions Annette's Fine Fashions Southern California (707) 528-8281 Sizes 14 and up The Answer Washington D.C. and elsewhere They carry clothes for significantly less (say, half the price) than you'd find in a department store. Arlene's Salisbury MA, Route 110 just 1 1/2 mi east off of I-95. Lousy looking building, pie racks. Best selection of everything and they will order things for you. Hundreds of bathing suits, lots of wedding dresses you can try on, party dresses, Renata B clothing, bras, etc. Astarte Woman by Design 24582 Hawthorne Blvd. Torrance, CA 90505 1-310-373-0638 1-800-R-U-WOMAN (1-800-789-6626) Family owned, in house designed. Expensive, but good quality and good service! Sizes up to 32-34W. All kinds of stuff, from casual wear to lingerie and holiday party dresses. They have a mailing list and a great quarterly newsletter. They also have a video catalog available for purchase, with a discount coupon worth more than the purchase price of the video. Audrey Jones Typically found in malls in U.S. Expensive, career/evening focus, carries some Danskin leggings. Has a tendency towards glitter, fake jewelry on clothing. Generous sizes 14-26. Lately questionable quality. August Max Typically found in malls in U.S. Career and casual. Price ranges from moderate to expensive. Excellent quality and service. Sizes 14-26. Also has small but dependable selection of nightgowns/lingerie. The Avenue The Big, the Bad & the Beautiful Store in Northern California. Connected with catalog listed above. Burlington Coat Factory Women's coats up to at least 30W. And inexpensive too. Also men's coats up to 4X or so. Carol Doda Boutique Lingerie boutique in SF. Cato Plus Chain Catherine's Upscale sister store of PS (see below). Boutiquey, concentrated in the South and on the East Cost. Moderately priced, good service. Nice, good quality lingerie, among other things. Also leather bomber jackets. Sizes 14-26, and some up to 32, also up to 4X. The sizes run large. The Company Store San Francisco, CA. On Fillmore Creative Woman 1530 S Myrtle Monrovia, CA 1-818-358-6216 They carry, among other things, nursing bras in sizes up to 46H, with extenders for largers band sizes. They carry large-size bras and lingerie (including g-strings). They carry costumes around the various holidays. And they do custom fitting. Dress Barn Woman Seconds/discount store. The large size version of Dress Barn. Elisabeth Liz Claiborne's large size store. There's one in the outlet mall in San Marcos, TX. And there are probably others elsewhere. They're likely to be in the same malls as Liz Claiborne outlet stores. Fairy Godmother at Large 133 S. Murphy Ave. Sunnyvale, CA 94086 1-408-737-7684 Run by Marcia Shea (fairygod@aolc.com) New and used clothing in sizes 14-super. Women's jeans up to size 60. Tee-shirts up to 72" around, big shirts up to 78" around. Sometimes prefers to give clothing rather than cash for consignments. Carries Hovi jeans and peacock clothing. Panties up to size 16. Also nylon petit pants up to 6X. Fashion Bug Plus Found in malls across the U.S. Forgotten Woman Boylston St., Boston MA Expensive, very dressy clothes, but good sales. Also, beautiful clothes based on ethnic designs with beadwork, batik, etc. Great Changes Southern California chain. Harper Greer San Francisco store. Expensive. Casual career to dressy. Clothes made in the store, so they will be unique! In Full Swing San Francisco store. On Sutter near Union Square. Katherine's Chain in the U.S. Clothing up to size 34. Lane Bryant Owned by the people who own the Limited, and found in malls across the U.S. They have somewhat trendier clothing, pricey if you don't buy on sale. Some people have problems with the quality. Check different locations -- selection will vary. Some people don't like them because they refuse to use large-size models in their advertising. Lord & Taylor Good plus-size department. Making it Big Roselyn 347 14th St, Oakland, CA 94612 1-510-444-7472. Also has catalog (see above). Macy's "Woman" section. Pricey, evening/career focus. Recommended that you get a "Personal Shopper" who can help if you have problems. Marianne Plus Mall store. MaxMara San Francisco, CA Regular size clothing, but they do have a limited selection of larger clothes (sizes 12-22). If their style matches yours, you'll be in heaven. Modern Woman 1-717-396-9000 (corporate headquarters) Lingerie, mid pricey but great sales, excellent service. Call corporate headquarters for location near you. Sizes 14-26, mostly, but they carry some stuff up to size 32. Nancy Lawrence 1-612-925-9305 Pricey boutique, sizes 14-26 in Edina, Minnesota (Twin Cities suburb). Nordstrom Upscale, service oriented department store. Some have large size department, career/casual. Peacock Boutique and Design Studio 558 South Murphy Ave., Suite 2 Sunnyvale, CA 1-408-730-0941 Open 1-8 pm Monday thru Saturday. Carries XL-XXXL (28 can fit up to 500lbs or more). Reasonable prices, some people think quality is good, a few disagree. Complaints about amount of time it takes to fill order. Pretty Plus Plus Madison Ave, around 90th St. Manhattan, NY 1-212-427-4724 Consignment store with good large-size clothing. Pretty Woman Plus Peoria, IL Good quality, somewhat expensive. Renaissance Woman Washington D.C. Large-size underwear and sexy wear. Ross Chain discount department store (in Midwest and West Coast). Small large size section. Ross Unlimited 366 Flat Shoals Ave., SE Atlanta, GA 30316 (404) 522-4083 If they don't have your size, they will custom-make clothing for you (such as jeans), though you must purchase at least six of the item they custom make. Also have super-size underwear. Says Who 3903 Piedmont Ave. Oakland, CA 1-510-547-5181 Also has location in Palo Alto Very nice clothes somewhat expensive, mostly casual, includes some tall/large sizes. Associated with catalog (above). Seams to Fit 6527 Telegraph Ave. Oakland, CA 94609 (510) 428-9463 Consignment and new clothes. Big dressing rooms. Sizes Unlimited Owned by the same folks as 16 Plus. Casual to elegant clothing in sizes up to 32 and 4X. Fashionable, very little dowdy stuff. They sell large-size lingerie and proper denim jeans. They sell large-size underwear. They also sell large-size petites. Good sales. Sizes Woman Pittsburgh, PA, may be part of a chain Bright, beautiful clothes, nice clerks, reasonable prices. Smart Size Salem, OR Spencer's Gifts Not clothing per se, but they do carry Halloween costumes in plus sizes. Strom's Big & Tall Clothiers 5801 San Pablo Ave. Oakland, CA (510) 653-3198 Women's clothing (sizes 12 - 26) and men's clothing Stuarts Plus Owned by the people who own Stuarts, found in malls across the U.S. They are trendier and cheaper than Lane Bryant. Woman's World Found in malls across the U.S. They carry women's petites. Valley Department Store 245 N. Euclid Ave. Ontario, CA 91762 1-909-984-8646 Large selection, friendly staff, sells clothing and accessories. Sizes range from 16-18 to 30-32W. A2) Part 4) Maternity clothing Unfortunately, I only have a very limited number of sources for large-size maternity clothing. I'd suggest checking out misc.kids.pregnancy and seeing if they have any additional information over there. (If they do, please pass it on!) Bust Stop 8270 E. 71st St. Tulsa, OK 74122 1-800-858-3887 Catalog $2. Bras up to 60GG, including maternity/nursing bras. Cameo Coutures, Inc. Dallas, TX 75247 1-214-631-4860 They make custom-made large-size bras. They are expensive (about $50) but are very comfortable and well-made and long-lasting. Their bras have cups that unhook at the top and can be pulled down, so they can be used as nursing bras. They are extremely supportive. Decent Exposures P.O. Box 27206 2202 NE 115th Seattle, WA 98125-1606 1-800-524-4949 (U.S. or Canada) 1-206-364-4540 (Seattle or overseas) Bras, underwear, nightshirts. Bras "look like outerwear, have no hardware and are quite comfortable.... Come in a variety of colors", cup sizes AA to K and band sizes 30-58 or so. They make maternity/nursing bras. They make leisure-style bras, so they may be less supportive, but the fabric of the bra makes a difference (lined lycra is most supportive, cotton is not recommended for large sizes). You can get them in cotton, velour, or lycra, and in a number of different colors. Follow the sizing instructions carefully, they may be somewhat different than regular sizing. They also sell underwear up to size 12 in cotton, lycra, and velour. If you don't like how something fits, they will adjust it for free (deepening the armholes, re-cutting the legs, etc.). Extra Emphasis 1-916-581-0848 Excellent selection of large-size nursing bras. Fairy Godmother At Large 133 S. Murphy Ave. Sunnyvale, CA 94086 (408) 737-7684 Run by Marcia Shea (fairygod@aol.com) New and used clothing in sizes 14-super. Women's jeans up to size 60. Tee-shirts up to 72" around, big shirts up to 78" around. Panties up to size 16. Also nylon petit pants up to 6X. They also sell maternity clothes. JC Penney's Maternity Catalog 1-800-222-6161 Maternity outfits up to size 26. Bras up to 44DD. Also have maternity panties and pantyhose. Good quality, sized well. Unfortunately, a somewhat limited selection, and somewhat pricey. Sears Their Take Nine maternity line's XL fits about 18-22. Though they are often out of stock on the large sizes. Maternity Ltd. (Also Maternity Wearhouse) 1-810-347-0715 -- Michigan store Chain in the U.S. Call their Michigan store to find if there's one near you. Maternity clothes up to 24-26 (1X-3X). Bras up to 44G, maternity panties, and pantyhose. A2) Part 5) Wedding dresses You can probably buy a wedding dress in a regular bridal store -- many stores carry large sizes, and almost all stores can order them. They may have only a limited selection of sizes in stock for you to try on, so you may have to use your imagination to figure out how the dress would look on you in particular. Sometimes just putting your arms through the dress and holding it in front of you will give you an idea of what it would be like. It's also very common to have dresses tailored once they arrive. (This is common even for women who wear smaller sizes -- often they can't try on the dress in their particular size, so when it arrives it needs to be taken in or let out.) If the dress turns out to be too small, they can split the side seam of the bodice and sew in a few inches of extra fabric. This is hardly noticeable, even when you are looking for it. They may be able to get lace trim that matches the rest of the dress and use that to make it even less obvious. Also, nearly all bridesmaid's dresses go to at least size 24, and some go larger. Many of these dresses are fairly formal and can be ordered in white or off-white, so may work as a wedding dress. You may want to look through some of the bridal magazines -- many of the advertisers list what sizes they make. Also look through bridal books. _Bridal Bargains_ by Denise and Alan Fields lists which sizes various manufacturers make. Here are some places you can find large-size wedding dresses: Arlene's -- Salisbury MA, Route 110 just 1 1/2 mi east off of I-95 They have off-the-rack wedding dresses in large-sizes. Citiculture -- brand name They make large-size "garden-party" dresses that can be used as wedding dresses. J.C.Penney 1-800-222-6161 Larger stores usually have a bridal department. And if not, they do have a bridal catalog. Here are some manufacturers who make large-size wedding dresses: Alfred Angelo makes 18-20 and 38-44. Both cost extra but their gowns are relatively cheap. 1-800-528-3589 or (215) 659-8700. Ange D' Amour makes through size 20. 1-800-288-3888. Bianchi makes through size 20. 1-800-669-2346. Bonny makes a line called "Essence by Esther" which makes gowns to size 44 (costs extra). (714) 961-8884. Bridal Originals makes to size 30 (encourages stores to carry large size samples!) 1-800-876-GOWN or (312) 467-6140. Carmi Couture makes gown through size 20 (extra charge). (212) 921-7658. Citiculture makes large-size "garden-party" dresses that may double as wedding dresses. Diamond Collection makes gowns through size 20 ($100 extra). (212) 302-0210. Eden makes gowns petites through 20-32 (extra charge). (818) 441-8715. Bridal Bargains gave these guys 4 stars! Eve of Milady makes gowns through size 20. $100 extra for 18-20. (212) 302-0050. Fink makes gowns through size 20. Extra 10% for 18-20. (212) 921-5683. Galina makes gown trhough 20, extra charge for 18-20. (212) 564-1020. Ginza Collectopn/Private Label by G both make gowns through 42 (extra charge of $100). 1-800-654-7375. Ilissa makes through 20, 18-20 are $60 extra. (212) 967-5222. Impression makes gowns through size 30. 16-20 cost $30 extra, 22-30 are $70 extra. 1-800-BRIDAL-1. Jasmine makes gowns to size 44 (extra charge). (708) 519-7778. Jessica McClintock has a few gowns through size 24. 1-800-333-5301 or (415) 495-3030. Jim Hjelm makes gowns through size 20, 18-20 are $150 extra. (212) 764-6960. Lili makes through 26, $70 extra for 22-26. 1-800-258-7944 or (818) 282-4326. Marisa makes through 20, $160 extra for 18-20. Mary's makes through size 30. (713) 933-9678. Mon Cherie has sizes 18-20 and 38-44, $20 or $40 extra. (609) 530-1900. Moonlight has sizes through 44 (extra charge). (708) 884-7199. Mori Lee has some designs available through size 42 for extra charge. (212) 947-3490. San Martin has some styles available through 44. (213) 257-5333. St. Pucchi sells through 20, 18-20 extra 20%. (214) 631-4039. Sweetheart has gowns through 44 (and keeps all sizes in stock). (212) 868-7536. --------------------------------------------------------------------- A3) Where can I find clothing for men? A3) Part 1) Clothing brands for men Dolphin Swimwear Levi's Jeans and Action Slacks Large-size button-fly 501s. The Action Slacks apparently wear like iron, wash well, and never need to be ironed. A3) Part 2) Clothing catalogs for men Big Clothes For Big Men Freda Rosenberg, Freda's Secrets P O Box 2765 Philadelphia PA 19118 Directory of big men's catalogs Cabela's 1-800-237-4444 Gortex parkas and pants up to at least 5XL. Many other items up to 3XL in both big and tall sizes. Reasonable prices. Cheyenne Outfitters Cheyenne, WY 1-800-234-0432 All sizes of Levis 501s from tiny to huge. Many other "Western styles" in big sizes. Drysdales, Inc 1555 N 107th East Ave. Tulsa, OK 74116 1-800-444-6481 (orders) 1-800-608-9800 (customer service) 1-617-982-8681 (local/outside US) 1-617-982-8766 (FAX) Carry large-size button fly jeans. It's a Revolution 1870 N. Vermont Ave. Dept 530 Los Angeles, CA 90027 213-661-1431 Clothing for men and women using African kente cloth. Standard stock is up to 5X, and he will go larger on special orders. J.C. Penney's 1-800-222-6161 Their regular catalog has some large-size clothing. Jasco Uniform Co. 1-800-222-4445 1-708-291-7928 (fax) Uniforms. Men's scrubs up to 5XL (chest 62-64, waist 56-58). Just Big Sportswear 4700 Rozzelles Ferry Rd. Charlotte, NC 28216 1-804-391-3000 T-shirts up to 10XL. Also sweats, dorm shirts, and hooded T-shirts. Will ship overseas. King Size P.O. Box 9115 Hingham, MA 02043 1-800-846-1600 (orders) 1-617-982-8681 (orders) 1-617-871-4100 (main switchboard) Fax:1-617-982-8766 Tall and big men. T-shirts up to 9XL for $14.95. Cotton draw-string pants, turtlenecks, overalls, etc. Inexpensive. Also large-size rain gear that is more-or-less unisex, extra-large umbrellas, ties, and fanny packs. Will ship overseas. L.L. Bean Freeport, ME 04033 1-800-221-4221 Pants go to 46 in some styles (inseam sometimes to 36), shirts to TXXL in some styles. Great quality, ships FedEx in continental US for no extra charge. Service varies. Land's End 1 Land's End Ln. Dodgeville, WI 53595 1-800-356-4444 Some of the clothing in their regular catalog goes up to XXL. Let them know you want larger sizes. Phoenix Big and Tall 1-800-251-8067 805 Branch Drive, Alpharetto, GA 30201 They sell a general range of clothes. They have boxers and briefs in sizes 44-72. They have Levi's action slacks up to size 54. They seem pricey, but their quality is meant to be good. Will ship overseas. Richman Cotton Clothing Company 2631 Piner Rd Santa Rosa, CA95401 1-707-575-8924 1-800-992-8924 Fax: 1-707-575-8924 All-cotton, dyed-on-the-premises clothing in sizes from infant to 3X. Women's and men's clothing. Reasonable prices. Winter Silks 2700 Laura Ln. P.O. Box 620130 Middleton, WI 53562 1-800-648-7455 Silk long johns up to 50-52'' chest. Call and ask for larger sizes. A3) Part 3) Retail clothing for men Big & Tall Outlet Store 1240 W. 7th St. Upland, CA (909) 946-7234 Warehouse-type place with racks of clothes at incredible prices. Dress shirts up to size 21, sports shirts to 6X, pants to size 60 and higher. Burlington Coat Factory Men's coats up to 4X or so. Inexpensive. Casual Male Big & Tall Good customer service, nice stuff, reasonable prices. Sizes up to 6X. Rochester's Big & Tall Clothing Chain. There's a store in San Francisco, (415) 982-6455. They sell, among other things, suits. Spencer's Gifts Not clothing per se, but they do carry Halloween costumes in plus sizes. Stan's King Size Men's Shop 7428 University Ave. La Mesa, CA 91941 (619) 469-0336 Some very large sizes. Stout Men's Shop 59 Temple Pl. Boston, MA 617-542-5397 Slacks on the rack up to 92". Great selection, and they do world-wide mail order. Strom's Big & Tall Clothiers 5801 San Pablo Ave. Oakland, CA (510) 653-3198 Target Has a reasonable selection of big and tall men's clothing (up to about XXXL and XXXLT), and they're fairly inexpensive. Valley Department Store 245 N. Euclid Ave. Ontario, CA 91762 1-909-984-8646 Large selection, friendly staff, sells clothing and accessories. Sizes go up to 10X shirts, pants up to about a 64. Walmart Inexpensive pants (cotton and polyester slacks, jeans) up to size 50. --------------------------------------------------------------------- A4) Where can I find children's clothing? J.C. Penney's "Big Kids" catalog 1-800-222-6121 Two catalogs a year (spring and fall), with girl's Plus and Extra Plus sizes and boy's husky and shorter husky sizes. They carry Levi's Dockers, Union Bay, Bugle Boy, snow pants, wind suits, denim and flannel shirts, the works. --------------------------------------------------------------------- A5) Where can I find shoes? Hear are some brand names of women's shoes that folks have found fairly comfortable. As always, ymmv. Bally Easy Spirit Ecco (made in Denmark) Nordstrom's store brand Rangoni Rockports Selby Sorel's (winter boots -- proper mountaineering boots) Here are some catalogs that carry larger shoes. B.A. Mason 1251 First Ave. Chippewa Falls, WI 54729-9981 1-800-457-9325 M-F 7-5 Central Time Men's shoes up to 13EEE, women's shoes up to 12EE. Sizes 4-16 and widths AA-EEEE. Coward Shoes 1-800-362-8410 Hitchcock Shoes 225 Beal St Hingham, MA 02043 1-617-749-3571 Men's shoes to 6E width. Also have winter boots. Massey's 1-800-4MASSEY Women's shoes up to size 14 in a variety of widths. McB's Shoes 1715 Market St. Dept. R San Francisco, CA 94103 Nordstrom Upscale, service oriented department store. This is a *great* place to find large shoes, especially for women. They will move heaven and earth to find a fit! Silhouettes 1-800-852-2822 Clothing catalog with large-size women's shoes. Sorel's They make winter boots (used for mountaineering), and the boots run wide. Generally sold in outdoors stores. --------------------------------------------------------------------- A5) Where can I find sewing/knitting patterns? Big Knits, Great Big Knits Two books by Dawn French and Sylvie Soudan containing knitting patterns for large-size women. Patterns go from very simple, classic designs, to very complex intarsias. Proper large-size models. Big Knits ISBN 0 7126 5097 0. Published by Trafalgar Square Publishing, North Pomfret, VT 05053. The Busy Woman's Fitting Book Nancy Zieman and robbie Fanning Nancy's Notions/Open Chain Publishing 0-932086-10-1, $9.95 Provides instructions on how to alter patterns to fit you. Burda Large size patterns. They have a magazine "Burda Fashions for the Fuller Figure", which has patterns up to size 34W. For subscription information, contact: GLP International P.O. Box 9868 Englewood, NJ 07631-1123 1-212-736-7455 1-201-871-1010 computer packages to size patterns A number of companies make programs that print out customized patterns. You pick the basic pattern and enter the measurements of the person who the garment is intended for, and it spits out a pattern. Some of these are: LivingSoft P.O. Box 970 Janesville, CA 96114 1-800-626-1262 Available for IBM, in the works for MAC. Fittingly Sew Available for IBM dressmaker's dummies Dressmaker's dummies are available in plus-sizes. Your local fabric shop may carry them, and, if they don't, they should certainly be able to order them. Great Fit Patterns in sizes 38-60. large-size patterns mary.wilson@exchange.exchange.com has a list of commercially available sewing patterns for big men (chest size 48" to 52", 56" or 68") McCalls Some patterns that go up to size 50. Simplicity Patterns go up to size 32W. --------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- SECTION B: FAQ about clothing for big folks in Canada B1) Where can I find clothing for women? B1) Part 1) Clothing catalogs for women Above Average Lingerie Ltd. 121 Lonsdale Avenue North Vancouver, BC Canada V7M 2E7 Phone: 604 988-0445 Contact: Debbie Dickie or Dawn Neubauer Bras, lingerie, etc. Carries the "Intimate Attidutes" line of XXL lingerie. Big, Bold, and Beautiful Mail Order Catalogue 1263 Bay St. Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5R 2C1 1-800-668-4673 Connected with BBB Bridal Boutique listed below. Far & Wide Source Line P.O. Box 1284 Wiarton, Ontario Canada NOH 2T0 1-416-533-0555 Contact: Leslie Robinson Large size clothing and accessories for women. Simply Grand Clothing Co. 4695 Central Boulevard Burnaby, BC Canada V5H 4J5 Phone: 604 439-1313 Fax: 604 439-0713 Contact: Carmen Cook Imported lines of dressy fashions in large and supersizes. Suzanne Bell 5794 Victoria Drive Vancouver, BC Canada V5P 3W7 Phone: 604 324-7394 Fax: 604 325-7772 Contact: Suzanne Bell Active wear and casual clothing in large and super sizes. B1) Part 2) Retail clothing for women AE&Co Sport 2 stores near Ottawa, Ontario, owned by Addition-Elle. They sell lots of casual, young clothing, like jeans, T-shirts, sweats, etc. in wonderful colors. Addition-Elle Found in malls across Canada. Dressy and casual clothes, some lingerie. Reasonably priced. Antels Found in malls across Canada. (A subsidiary of Dalmy's.) Expensive, dressy clothes. Evening dresses, suits, skirts, blouses and dress pants, as well as some casual clothes. Big, Bold & Beautiful Bridal Boutique 1263 Bay St. Toronto, Ontario Canada MDR 2C1 1-416-923-9486 Clothing for all bridal party, including evening gowns, sizes 14-30+. Call ahead for appointment. Offshoot of catalogue above. Cotton Ginny Plus Found in malls across Canada. 40 Samor Rd. Toronto, Ontario, M6A 9Z9 All cotton clothes, casual. They sell everything from shorts and T-shirts to dresses, jeans and jackets. Reasonably priced. Use the above address to get on their mailing list for fliers and such. Liz Porter Found in malls across Canada. Mark's Work Warehouse Chain. Mixed reviews on this one. Apparently different stores have different selections of large-size clothing. Women's clothing seems to go up to about size 20. Some of their men's pants seem to be cut weird for men, and weirder for women. They sell Entree jeans up to size 44. The clothing seems to run small. Peaches Plus 152 St. Andrew St. W Fergus, Ontario N1M 1N5 (519) 787-0101 Sizes 16 to 52. Business clothes, dressy stuff, and smart casual clothes. Reasonable prices. Pennington's Believed to have gone bankrupt and closed down. Found in malls across Canada. Dressy and business clothes. Somewhat frumpy. Somewhat expensive. Plus Intimates New chain associated with Cotton Ginny Plus. They sell a nice selection of matching bras and panties, some of them in colors. Also have silk pajamas and robes, lace nighties, etc. Reasonable prices. Bra sizes up to 46DDD or so. Clothing up to size 26. PSS: Plus sizes, Plus Savings Found in malls in BC (and possibly across Canada). Subsidiary of Field's department stores. Inexpensive casual clothes. Zellers Plus-size lingerie section. Somewhat tacky. B1) Part 3) Wedding dresses You can probably buy a wedding dress in a regular bridal store -- many stores carry large sizes, and almost all stores can order them. They may have only a limited selection of sizes in stock for you to try on, so you may have to use your imagination to figure out how the dress would look on you in particular. Sometimes just putting your arms through the dress and holding it in front of you will give you an idea of what it would be like. It's also very common to have dresses tailored once they arrive. (This is common even for women who wear smaller sizes -- often they can't try on the dress in their particular size, so when it arrives it needs to be taken in or let out.) If the dress turns out to be too small, they can split the side seam of the bodice and sew in a few inches of extra fabric. This is hardly noticeable, even when you are looking for it. They may be able to get lace trim that matches the rest of the dress and use that to make it even less obvious. Also, nearly all bridesmaid's dresses go to at least size 24, and some go larger. Many of these dresses are fairly formal and can be ordered in white or off-white, so may work as a wedding dress. You may want to look through some of the bridal magazines -- many of the advertisers list what sizes they make. Also look through bridal books. _Bridal Bargains_ by Denise and Alan Fields list which sizes various manufacturers make. Big, Bold, and Beautiful sells large-size wedding dresses in their retail store. (I don't know about their catalog.) In the U.S. section (above), there's a list of some manufacturers who make large-size wedding dresses. I'm not sure how much applies to Canada, but you may want to check it out. --------------------------------------------------------------------- B2) Where can I find clothing for men? George Richards Chain. Mark's Work Warehouse Chain. Mixed reviews on this one. Apparently different stores have different selections of large-size clothing. So some stores have pants up to size 60. And others stop at 48. Some (not all) of their clothing may also be cut strangely or run small. They also have belts, T-shirts, cotton casual shirts. They may be able to order things in larger sizes for you. Mr. Big & Tall Chain. --------------------------------------------------------------------- B3) Where can I find shoes? Lorini Shoes in Montreal makes boots for 22" calves. --------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- SECTION C: Information about this FAQ C1) Posting information This document is posted monthly to news.answers and alt.answers and posted bi-weekly to soc.support.fat-acceptance and alt.support.big-folks. Sasha Wood (Sasha.Wood@cs.cmu.edu) maintains this FAQ. --------------------------------------------------------------------- C2) Availability of the FAQ All FAQs posted to news.answers are archived at rtfm.mit.edu and its mirror sites. You can get any of these FAQs from rtfm.mit.edu via anonymous FTP or via the mail archive server. (To get information about the mail server, send email to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu with the body of the message containing the word "help", without the quotes.) FAQs posted to news.answers are also available on the Web from: http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/top.html http://www.cs.ruu.nl/cgi-bin/faqwais This particular FAQ is archived at rtfm.mit.edu and its mirror sites under the filenames: /pub/usenet/news.answers/fat-acceptance-faq/clothing/us-canada /pub/usenet/soc.answers/fat-acceptance-faq/clothing/us-canada /pub/usenet/alt.answers/fat-acceptance-faq/clothing/us-canada /pub/usenet/soc.support.fat-acceptance/Clothing_for_Big_Folks:_U.S._and_Canada_(FAQ) /pub/usenet/alt.support.big-folks/Clothing_for_Big_Folks:_U.S._and_Canada_(FAQ) It is available on the Web at: http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/fat-acceptance-faq/clothing/us-canada/faq.html http://www.cs.ruu.nl/wais/html/na-dir/fat-acceptance-faq/clothing/us-canada.html The file Clothing_for_Big_Folks:_U.S._and_Canada_(FAQ) contains the last post to soc.support.fat-acceptance or alt.support.big-folks which has the same subject line as this FAQ. In general, this is the most recent copy of the FAQ. Occasionally, however, it is a random post that has the same subject line as this FAQ. If this is the case, please look in one of the other files. The files named us-canada and the file available via the WWW, contain the last version of the FAQ posted to news.answers. Since this FAQ is posted to soc.support.fat-acceptance and alt.support.big-folks more often than it is posted to news.answers, sometimes the version available via these links is not the most recent one. --------------------------------------------------------------------- C3) Contributors These are the people who have contributed significant chunks to this FAQ. Sasha Wood <Sasha.Wood@cs.cmu.edu> Eleanor Brown <ebrown@mac.cc.macalstr.edu> Also, lots and lots of other people (too many to credit) contributed information that appears herein, some via email and some on s.s.f-a and a.s.b-f. Thanks to them all. Suggestions for additions/improvements are always welcome.