Job Discussion Forums

[izzyismydog]

I am heading out to Turkey in the summer and was wondering about clothes and a few other things. I take a size Large north american (about a 14) and have size 10.5 feet. I suspect from what little info I've found, Turkey is like here in Taiwan- clothes for me here are virtually non-existant and I have to order online. It gets expensive and I may be taking a quick trip home soon so am reconsidering my wardrobe. I really don't want to have to lug much around with me for my travels before I hit Turkey so what is the situation there like? Can I buy cheap, large-ish clothes for tall-ish women? are they "normal" looking or do the Turkish chicks have a thing for sparkles and barbie clothes like the Taiwanese do?

Am also curious about availability on tampons and cosmetics and hairdyes (can I find light blonde dye?) etc. How about footwear... do women's shoes go upto 10 or 10.5? Any input would be appreciated.

And while I'm asking questions, what is the usual dress for TEFL teachers there?

[Bogazicibaby]

You can find clothes for US size 14 here in Istanbul, but you might sometimes need to go to a shop that caters to larger sized women. You have to look around a bit. There are tons of textile companies here. You can always have things made for you at the tailors too. They can create anything you show them a picture of.

I think that the larger sized shoes for women are harder to find. I wear a size 8/ 8.5 and I never have problems finding shoes. Anyone else????

Cosmetics and hair dye are easy to find, although I've heard that the dyes here are a bit harsher than some of the ones you can find in the US. I don't use them so maybe someone else can answer this one better for you.

The only tampon's that I've seen are ob. I've never seen any with applicators. I buy mine at home in the summer and ask friends and family to bring them when they come.

How you dress depends on where you are teaching. I teach in university and I tend to dress more casually. The teachers in kolej tend to dress up more and so do some of the dersane teachers.

Good luck

[maymun]

Just to add on to Bogazicibaby's comments, I think cut can be as much of a problem as size. I'm also a North American size 14. Getting shirts and blouses has not presented a major problem, although it did take some legwork to find something I liked. Pants are a whole other story. What I've found is that they tend to be cut very straight. If you've got an hourglass shape (like me), finding pants that come close to fitting is practically impossible. Personally, I've given up and will be stocking up on those during my vacation.

Finding suitable styles -- both for work and casual wear -- hasn't been an issue for me. Yes, I've seen plenty of sparkley Barbie-doll wear, but I've seen an equal amount of stylish clothes for grown-ups. "Cheap" is hard to answer. I'm in Istanbul and I've found decent prices on stuff I like at Dorothy Perkins in Metro City. Things can get rather expensive (Marks & Spencer is always good for a laugh) but I've been able to get things at reasonable prices by asking other teachers and hitting sales.

As for shoes, you might want to buy them at home. I work with someone who takes a 10/10.5 -- she simply can't find what she needs in her size. And believe me, she's looked hard.

Like Bogazicibaby, I work in a university. My dress is what you'd call business casual, I guess. Some teachers go a little dressier but the relaxed look seems to be the norm. Where will you be teaching?

[izzyismydog]

I definitely need something to fit curves. The cut of clothes in Taiwan is pretty bad too -when I actually find something big enough- but the biggest problem is the length of pants (never mind that they are hopelessly unflattering). Is it cheap(ish) to have things tailor-made? I have been ordering online and will spend about $40USD for a pair of pants including shipping, maybe $15 or so for a tshirt.

Many people here can get blouses and shirts, but I can't- between the broadness of my shoulders and the length of my arms, nothing looks decent. Will that be a problem there? I've always had to get bigger tops than I need even back home. Maybe a 16 or XL if the cut is snug.

I don't know yet where I'll be working. I'm hoping teacher-casual (ie like a Gap ad) will work since that's about what works here and back home in Canada (though I've gotten lazy and it's a lot more about jeans and t-shirts here now). Chinos, jeans, dress shirts or t-shirt and cardigan?

Are there many sizes of tampons available? here I can only get OB as well, but the real problem is that they are in 'mini' and 'regular' only. I have bigger ones shipped out sometimes.

[yaramaz]

After two and a half years of excruciating efforts to fit my small-waisted/round-hipped self into ridiculously tubular Turkish fashions I have finally found a few things that fit at Mango. They seem to acknowledge that some women just arent built like boys. I am not a size 14 (I am 10-12, but even those are hard to find here) but I did see some higher sizes there. And maybe Zara. And also at bazaars, though trying things on can be a problem. There are some good clothing markets in the alleys off Istiklal that have changing rooms and more varied sizing. I recently found some lovely cords for about 15 million each.

[molly farquharson]

There are lots of shops for "real women" in Sisli/Osmanbey. There is also a shoe shop in Beyoglu (Coskun Kundera) that can make shoes to order. There are lots of transvestites in Taksim, so I suspect that they have to get larger sizes of women's shoes

I found a tailor in the Hazzopolu Pasaji that has made some clothes for me very cheaply. For one dress I had the fabric and he made and then altered a dress for 25 million TL (currently less than $20).

However, that said, I mostly shop in the US or Canada when I am there.

[queenfrog]

Just like everyone is saying I've only seen ob tampoons where I live.

Also since you are a larger size if you like some of your clothing you can buy fabric cheap in Adana and have a talor copy your shirt or pants. My mother came this summer and didn't pack enough shirts and she is large (size 22) so we took a couple of her shirts and went to the tailors and chose fabric from there. Later we went back with fabric and described a house dress she wanted and it was made in 2 days. She loved all the clothes she had made. Also it was cheaper than buying from the US or a store here. (A sleeveless shirt was 14 million to make and that included the fabric)

I will mention one thing you didn't ask about-bras. Most of the bras tend to be what I call 'pre-filled'. They are geared toward the smaller busted woman. If you have a large chest (such as cup size) bring plenty of bras. I can't find a DD bra since I came so my mom sends them to me when I need them.

[corall]

if you are going to shop for pants in turkey make sure it's on a day where you are feeling REALLY good about your body...it is one of the most heart wrenching things i've ever had to do here...

[bron]

OK, someone touched on bras, and I'm getting a bit desperate on this subject. Is there *anywhere* good to shop for bras in this country? I mean, some of the women do actually have big *beep*. I've seen them. There are Turkish girls who are not skinny and a B size or under. So big bras must exist. And by "big," I mean handing me a C or D cup not a 90 instead of an 80! And not looking at me like I'm a freak when I say, "Seksan olsun, B olamaz, ben C veya D." (And looking at me like a feak not because of my pidgin Turkish but because of the mere concept that a bigger band size won't solve my problem.)

Anyway... just fresh from the hell of pre-New Year's shopping so this is on my mind. Any leads would be greatly appreciated.

[justme]

Have you tried the smaller shops for bras? They don't use the lettered cup sizes-- just let the woman have a good look at your bust and keep telling her 'bigger bigger' til you get there. Even have her take a look and see where you're falling out and she should be able to find something. The downside is that you'll have to try on like 10 or 20 bras.

Better yet, take a Turkish friend with you-- she can be more specific to the saleswoman-- or find a big-busted student and ask her where she buys bras-- she'll probably have a good relationship with some shop in the area.

It took some some doing, but with the help of my mother-in-law, we were able to find a C or D sized strapless to go with my wedding dress. The main problem with bras is finding ones that aren't like medieval torture straps. Apparently breast movement of any kind is considered obscene so they'll want to gather you up into something rather constricting and even painful. They'll stop at nothing to be beautiful... Good luck!

[dmb]

So Lads, do you have problems buying boxer shorts?

[Baba Alex]

[vre]

Sorry to ignore you dmb.

Well, bra buying is also a serious problem, isnt it?. And the way the women in the shop look at you and tut and nod upwards. BUT Marks and Spencer has all the sizes and shapes in the world - if you are willing to pay 80 million per piece, which I am. They last longer, and you dont feel embarrassed taking 5 in the changing room to see what looks good without the woman peeking in at you before you've managed to get it on. I mean, honestly, I have also seen some big mamas here but i'm sure their boyfriends are not weak at the knees when their hands go in! I mean, talk about cross your heart, some of these heavy duty scaffold tents are enough to turn yourself off, never mind anyone else!

And tampons, honestly! Tuck as many in every nook and cranny of your suitcase as you can!

Hair dye is ok but there is no such thing as a semi-permanent dye here. Its all level 3 full on stuff, but thats wot you would need if you want blonde. And since so many Turkish girls are 'blonde' it wont be a problem to get it done really nicely (if you go to a decent hairdresser) or do it yourself, no problem ANY shade of blonde. Some shops have more blonde dyes than any other clolour.

Yes, trousers are also sometimes a very wierd shape here! Not made to fit our shape I guess, but you wont have problems buying clothes at all but I would stock up on the shoes. It WILL be hard to find things easily.

Sparkle and women's grooming is very very big here but dont fall into the trap. Do what you want to do but less sparkle and skin means a much easier life all round - even in Istanbul, especially in Istanbul!

Anything else?

[izzyismydog]

I should be okay bringing not much, other than some shoes? And maybe a nice pair of pants for a tailor to copy?

Can somebody tell me if tampons (even just the OB) are available in Super or Extra anything? In Taiwan they only sell "mini" and "regular" which can be useless sometimes.

Also, how about tights? Or nice thick nylons for the odd time I may have to wear a skirt? I need them to stretch in every direction so I don't have a crotch around my knees.

What about panties? Here I can only find things that look like my granny should be wearing them- waist high reinforced everything, not a cotton bikini or thong to be found.

Have you found spackle- strength undereye/zit concealer/cover stick? I can only find it at Boots and The Body Shop in Taiwan and in my travels around Asia, since it's imported. I think the lucky darker skinned chicks don't have the same problem with blue bags under their eyes and bright red zits glaring through their foundation as us pasty northern/westerners.

?

[vre]

I don't think I have seen any tampons other than regular obs. I once saw some playtex applicator ones at 20 bucks a box of 20. Needless to say, I dodn't bother to buy them. A good few boxes of 30 to carry wont overload you and should last until you go out of Turkey or someone visits you. Even take them out of the packaging and pack them around your other stuff. (heaven forbid you get searched , which never happens)

We have body shops here and concealers, make up, all that is widely available in any area. There are loads of cosmetic shops - cheap or expensive - light to dark.

Also plenty of tights or 'nylons' are widely available in all sizes, denier and colours. I sometimes find them a bit short on the waist, but I think because they are usually made for shorter, Turkish women - not that I'm very tall.

I also manage to get nice, pretty or sexy pants. They can be too small though so you do have to look around. But all of the above can even be found in a small supermarket - tights, make up, panties, obs. And then there are all the shops, department stores to go and browse in on your days off and you will find exactly what you are looking for, eventually.

Anything else?