Korean Job Discussion Forums

[politica]

The real title of this post should be "Shoot me now". Anyhow . . .

So, I need a new pair of jeans, and perhaps a few pairs of shorts. But . . . I've been really hesitant to go shopping because I'm a wee bit bigger than your average Korean woman.

. . . which is not to say that I'm big at all. I finally broke down today and talked to my Korean co-teacher about sizes. She said that she is a size 66, and suggested that I might wear a size 77 (?). She also mentioned that size 88 is the biggest size. Well, I just googled a Korean size chart and it seems that a size 77 is about equal to a U.S. size 12, and a size 66 is like a U.S. size 8-10. I usually wear a size 10 back home, give or take. So I figure a size 77, or possibly a 66, sounds reasonable.

I keep having this reoccurring nightmare of walking into a clothes shop and having some ajumma telling me that they "no have big size." I mean, I should be able to fit into regular Korean sizes, right?

Problem number two. I'm a cheap-o.

So here's my question . . . Ladies- what have your shopping experiences been like here (I've managed to successfully purchase shirts and stretchy skirts)? Are there any places you could recommend in the Seoul/Suwon area to find jeans and other pants size 66/77, affordable (like 30,000 won or less), and normal-looking (nothing acid-wash or lacey or overly-"fashionable")?

Is this asking too much? Please help!

Thanks!
politica

[arby]

uniqlo (or uniglo?) has a good variety of jeans and crops that are about 30,000 and go up to USA size 28. i don't know what that means as far as size 66-77 goes though.

[princess]

Don't worry. Take a good look around. Korean women are not that small...at least not any more. Maybe a few years ago they were and they are still making a lot of small sizes here for the Korean shops, that is. Your coworker is size 66? That is considered fat by Korean standards...so don't worry. Size 44 here is ideal size...and I love being able to tell Koreans I wear 44. My Korean friend used to own a clothing shop in Hongdae. She told me she didn't sell anything under waist size 26. She said Koreans are not THAT small. That's right.

[ciccone_youth]

i agree with Uniqlo, very cheap, and the sizes are big (ie. a 28 there is maybe a 29). don't worry too much.

[politica]

U.S. size 28? In women's? That's HUGE. Normal U.S. size run 0-14. Usually 16+ is plus-size . . .

[Flash Ipanema]

[Lynns]

Yeah, Uniqlo is good for cheap jeans in plenty of styles and sizes. Also, convenient fitting rooms and best of all no hovering salesclerks. There's a shop in the Coex Mall.

[politica]

Well, wait a second. If 28 is the size of the waist (in inches), then that's not big at all.

Again, I'm something like U.S. size 10, Korean size 77, waist size 29-20 inches.

28 inches might not work . . .

And I'm still confused

[ciccone_youth]

I think it goes as follow:

size 24= US size 2
size 26= US size 4
size 28= US size 6
size 30= US size 8
size 32= US size 10

so yes, 28 may be on the smaller side, but at uniqlo they're made a lot bigger.

[politica]

Okay, thanks for the clarification. If its a size 28-on-the-bigger-side, I might be able to swing it.

Thanks for the help, I think I'll check it out this weekend . . .

[ciccone_youth]

good luck!

i almost had a heart attack when i found out i could fit in size 24 at uniqlo, and i am NOT a size 2!

[sistersarah]

I second UNIQLO. Also, many people don't think to look there, but Emart, Homeplus, and Lotte Mart have a decent selection of jeans. Some of them don't have tacky designs and sequins, and they go up to about a 32 waist.

Also, vendors in Dongdaemun usually carry a wide range of sizes, often up to a 88. Go in behind the stadium to the wholesalers.

[Temporary]

I suggest excercise..

Are you from Canada?

Don't be effin cheap

Its ok not to be Jewish sometimes and spend money on your self..

Size 28 is considered big here.

Granted for a weagukin its the norm.

[sistersarah]

[ciccone_youth]

posts like his make me stay away from this forum.