Butterick 5053 Pants (With a Side of Snark)

I reviewed the pants portion of this pattern on Pattern Review here, where you can read the details. The bottom line (no pun intended) is that it isn't a miracle pattern or anything close. It fits no better or worse than other pants patterns I've tried. But other than that, it's a really boring, frumpy style. Inseam pockets on plus-sized hips? Puh-lease! Tapered legs? Hello … 1985 called and they want their pants back.

Sorry, I'm being snarky but after a week of reading on that email list about how wonderful Connie Crawford's patterns are for plus-sizes and how all the other patterns are wrong, I was expecting (hoping for?) a little more. I mean I *am* the demographic body type she designs for. Or so she says. And says. And says. This lady certainly knows how to toot her own horn. ;-) Oops. Snarky again.

I like the drawings on her patterns and they are tempting. But the drawings are nothing like what you really get. And I just don't think CC knows what looks good on plus-sized women. I think she can make patterns large enough to fit well enough out of the envelope. But they do not flatter. Elbow-length short sleeves add width just where we don't need it. She says she makes her short sleeves longer to cover up the "unattractive" arms of larger women. Excuse me??

Baggy, undarted tops? Otherwise known as "How To Add 15 Lbs. in An Afternoon" and without the benefit of chocolate. A waist tuck on a boxy top is not the same thing as a bust dart, and the armhole will tell the truth. Now I'm just going by the photos on her website and on reviews on PR since I haven't actually tried the top from this pattern yet, but I'm really not holding out much hope. (If, however, I'm wrong about this top—and I will try it in muslin—I'll be the first to admit it.)

But really, look at this one. This lady is actually not very large under all that fabric but she's gained 40 lbs. just wearing this top. And this top is from Frumpville too. The chevroning is going in the wrong direction for someone with boobs and hips. The armhole is dropped and droopy, adding folds and width at the bust. And that straight hem makes it look like a maternity top. I'll snark on one more … this is the fashion drawing. This is the actual top. Notice any differences? Where is her waist? Her stance tells me she does have one. Well, at least she's covered up those unattractive arms. ;-) (These are all CC's garment photos on her website.)

CC is just not doing plus-sized women any favors. Her styles and her comments are reinforcing the tent effect many plus-sized women seem to gravitate towards in an effort to hide themselves. Instead, she should be designing and promoting more fitted styles which flatter so much better and encouraging her customers to stop hiding in those tents. And she shouldn't be telling us to cover up our arms. Unless we're cold. Hmprf.