Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Women's

How to find a self-belted trench coat on eBay?

Betsy Vane — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:02:47 -0800

Is there an official term for a belt on a coat that's sewn right into the coat - besides an inset belt? I have been looking on eBay and elsewhere for a trench coat but not only am I cheap, I'm very picky - I think belted ones look bunchy and non-belted ones look shapeless, so I want the kind where the belt is set right in. It creates a nice fitted look. I've seen this called an "inset belt" - seems to make sense, right? But as a search term that NEVER turns up results. Is it called something else? I can't look through 20,000 search results! Thanks for your help with this critical and weighty question.

What were the NYU women's dorms like in the late 1960s?

shelayna — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 01:53:34 -0800

There are some things I'd like to know about the NYU women's dorms in the late 1960s. Does anyone know how it was in the women's dorms at New York University from 1965-1970? Specifically:

Were men allowed in the rooms? If the answer is "yes," was it only between certain hours, or could they go up any time?

If they weren't allowed in the rooms:

Was there a guard to make sure they didn't go upstairs?

Was there a lounge or something where the guys were allowed to hang out?

How did a girl know that her date had arrived- was there a house phone in the lobby?

Did each dorm room have a private phone, or was there just a pay phone or something on each floor?

Any other interesting tidbits that I didn't ask about would also be welcome.

Should non-hemophilic women with a factor VII deficiency have children?

brokekid — Mon, 18 May 2009 09:01:03 -0800

Should non-hemophilic women with a mild factor VII deficiency have children? Are the risks too serious to chance child birth?

Women's Heart Rate Monitor Recommendation

angiewriter — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:32:13 -0800

I have searched through previous posts, but have not found specific info on women's heart rate monitors, specifically those worn on the wrist and that include a chest strap. I perform cardio on both a bike and an elliptical at the gym 6 days a week (4 days on the bike and 2 days on the elliptical). Because my wrist is 6.75" around, I need a heart rate monitor as small as possible. I don't care what color it is, but I do care that it measures heart rate *and* calories burned. I also want the chest strap for this monitor to be the kind that has batteries that can be replaced by the user. I don't need lots of bells and whistles; I just want some simple measurements and something that fits my small wrist. This last part may be nearly impossible, but I'd love it if this monitor costs less than $100. And yes, I realize that you get what you pay for, but the limited research I have done so far suggests that at least one model (the Polar F4) is well within my price range.

I currently use the "heart rate monitors" on the equipment I use at the gym, but I do realize that they're not as precise or consistent as a personal monitor, and because heart rate matters a great deal to me during my workouts, I'm willing to cough up the money for something that will give me the precision I need.

Thanks hivemind!!

Stopping Birth Control, Mid-Pack

roomthreeseventeen — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:11:13 -0800

Can I stop taking my birth control pill mid-pack? I'm having a ton of horrible side effects related to my birth control pill, and cannot fathom taking another pill, even though I've only taken a week's worth of active pills. (my second cycle on the pill). I've searched the net and found lots of contradicting information.

Is there any chance of me getting pregnant if I stop the pill, as long as we use condoms from here on out? Would any unprotected sex this past weekend be dangerous?

What are good sources for ethically sourced, plus-sized women's career clothing?

lapillus — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:28:36 -0800

What are good sources for ethically sourced, plus-sized women's career clothing? I'm having trouble finding plus-sized clothing suitable for offices that are made without sweat shop labor and of sustainable materials (e.g. organic cotton, bamboo, recycled fibers, hemp, organic wool, etc.). Most of what I'm seeing for sale is either too small and/or too hip/too hippie for many offices. Anybody have any favorite stores to share? Preferably ones online, with stores in Minnesota or with catalogs available, but feel free to list others.

Desperately seeking nice, thin t-shirts/undershirts for women

iguanapolitico — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:10:41 -0800

Where can a woman buy nice t-shirts to wear under sweaters and other tops? I have some sweaters and knit tops that would benefit from my wearing a t-shirt underneath them. But all my t-shirts are cotton and not fitted enough or too bulky to wear underneath anything else. I take a nice, fitted v-neck sweater that would look more appealing and be more comfortable if I wore a shirt underneath, and it no longer fits if I wear it on top of anything I own. (Except tank tops -- I have an infinite supply of tank tops.) And I'm not talking about the big boxy men's t-shirts; I wear the babydoll style, pretty fitted t-shirts. But they're still not tight enough and the fabric is usually too thick.

So, where can I find nice, thin, fitted t-shirts/undershirts for women? Ideally this would be something I could also wear by itself in warm weather, but it's OK if I can't. (These might need to be skin-tight.) Ideally they would be available in multiple colors, but white is most important, followed by black, followed by a photo finish between gray and brown. I'm looking for short sleeves most of all; long sleeves would also be nice, as would sleeveless (like cap-sleeved without the cap).

I'm thinking silk? Or a good merino wool? Nothing lacy; it needs to fit feminine (and be nice enough to wear with nice clothing) but I don't wear hearts and flowers. Nothing sporty; this is for wearing with regular clothes, not for the gym. Recommendations for a store (preferably online)?

Seeking women's clothing online

kmel — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 09:21:38 -0800

Seeking women's clothing online. Please help me get out of my Target / Old Navy rut. My stats - new mom (meaning I don't have time to thrift, go on leisurely mall trips, or read fashion magazines), in my 30s, size 12.

I wish H&M sold online in the U.S. I guess that's the kind of style I'm looking for. More colorful/interesting than your Gap diaspora, but not too much more expensive. Excellent return policy a plus.

I know of: Tulle (but their sizes run way small and I had a terrible customer service experience with them), Max Studio, the Skirt Spot.

Lady Looks Like a Dude

Liosliath — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 18:01:01 -0800

Help me find a particular type of women's suit... I'm looking for this type of women's suit - men's styling, but tailored for a woman. Having a vest is important, and the blazer should be fairly traditional, too.

I've Googled like crazy, but I end up with stuff that looks like a bad JCPenney item from 1986, or it's nice, but doesn't have the vest/jacket combo.

It doesn't matter if it's with a skirt or pants - but I'm tall, so I'd have to be able to let the pants out.

Women's retreats for a middle-age woman nearing divorce

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:11:40 -0800

Help me recommend a women's retreat for my likely-nearing-divorce mother. My mother and stepfather have been in what is best described as a loveless and contentious marriage for 25 years. My mother has left him in the past for periods never lasting longer than a week or so. He's not a bad person but he and my mother are wholly incompatible.

Recently, after the official 25-year mark, my mother began expressing a desire to leave him for good this time. This is complicated by all the things that complicate a 25-year relationship: shared home(s), shared business interests, etc.

During a recent conversation, my mother hinted that she would like to try a monthlong women-only retreat that might a) give her an extended break from her day-to-day responsibilities b)give her some time away from my dad and c)help her work up the courage to leave him once and for all, despite the fact that the divorce will likely be very, very messy.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a retreat that might accomplish these goals? Cost is not much of an issue but it would need to be a nurturing environment but nothing outdoorsy like Outward Bound. My mother does not do the outdoors ... and nothing religious. She grew up with a zealot of a mother and frowns on organized religion (though she does believe in a higher power).

Also, if there are other suggestions as to how I might support/encourage her during this time, I'd appreciate all of them. Thanks.

tubal ligation/ c-section

mistsandrain — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 08:28:15 -0800

Tubal ligation during c-section? Has anyone undergone tubal ligation during a c-section and experienced complications/ extra pain during recovery?

I'm also interested in tubal ligation stories in general...

I can say firmly that I am certain about not wanting anymore children after 3- so I won't have regrets about the permanence. I am interested in related health consequences, though.

Help me find fashionable women's winter boots

friendlyfire — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 16:53:18 -0800

Help me find women's winter boots! Rumor has it that it will be a very snowy winter. I want to avoid what happened to me last year... struggling through the snow it my very impractical heeled boots. There were days when I didn't go to class because I was too afraid of slipping! I had never lived in a cold climate before las year, so I'm not really sure what I'm looking for. I just want them to be nice looking women's boots that will be warm and prevent me from slipping. Hopefully not too expensive, too (below $200 if possible). If it matters, I like round toed shoes. I'm a 20 year old college student living in Manhattan. It would be great if you could post links to boots that I can actually buy. Telling me what to look for in a winter boot would be appreciated as well. Thanks!

Don't let shoe angst get in the way of tango!

lorrer — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 18:03:44 -0800

Help me find large women's shoes for Argentine Tango in DC or NYC I'm a woman who's falling for a guy who loves Argentine Tango. I want good shoes for dancing with him. Here are my criteria:

- They should be in DC or NYC. I live in DC and am going to a Tango marathon this weekend in NYC, where my boyfriend lives. I go there often enough that NYC might actually be the preferred location to look.
- Size 11, possibly narrow.
- Preferably a 2-inch heel or less, since I'm rather tall and don't want to be taller than my guy while dancing. Most women's tango shoes look to be 3-inchers.
- Comfortable. I have recurrent foot pain, so if I can eventually put orthotics in these babies, that'd be ideal.

Bonus: any mefites going to the marathon? If so, my email is in my profile and I'd enjoy saying "hi."