Designer Plus Size Clothing
Designer Plus Size clothing is not always the easiest thing to find. Sure there are stores like Faith21 or Old Navy that have plus size options (if you are lucky enough to live near those stores), or the old standbys OneStopPlus or Roamans. But they often don't have trendy plus size clothes (although they are great stores for basics and sometimes do have a gem to offer!). Torrid and SWAK are great, but everybody is shopping there. Kiyonna and Igigi have high class products, but they are more for dressing up and for the office.
And none of these stores offer customized sizes.
Recently I have fallen absolutely in love with eShakti. Here is what they have to say about themselves:
"Complete range of sizes from size 0 to size 26W on every style. And custom sizes too. And custom styling as well: you like a style, but want the sleeve, neckline or length to be different? Easy as 1-2-3. Only at eShakti!"
You choose an item of clothing, tell them your size, your bra size and your height and then it is custom made for you! If you have figure "problems" (who doesn't!), it is possible to customize every piece of clothing they sell. You just have to register once with them, give them your measurements and then this option is available to you every time.
So now you are thinking *faint* "How am I going to afford this??" But guess what? Not only do they have incredible designs (and in plus sizes!), but their prices are more than reasonable. I won't say cheap (even if their prices are) because that sounds like the quality might not be the best. But it is. And their prices are.
Maybe you've never heard of them and would like to see what Designer Plus Size and Trendy Plus Size offerings they have? I am only to happy to oblige! Take a gander, a click on the picture will take you right to the product page.
Plus size black wrap dress $49.95
Plus size georgette bubble dress $44.95
Plus size top with pintucks and tie-back $39.95
Plus Size Ruffled Jersey top with Gold Belt $39.95
Plus Size Pants in black cotton $29.95
Plus Size Denim Jacket with asymmetrical closure $59.95
Embellished Asymmetric Plus Size Wool Coat $114.95
Beaded Medallion Necklace $29.95
Plus Size Belt with Beaded Chevrons $39.95
Frugal February Day 05
I heart dresses. And do you know why? You always look like you put way more thought into your outfit than you did.
Today I decided to give "casual Friday" a different meaning. I threw on a more or less VERY casual black jersey dress (more comfortable than most of my pyjamas!), a pair of warm, wooley thin knit tights and a dressy cardigan on top of it all. It felt like Sunday morning in my housecoat!
A bit of jewelry, a hairband on my head and my most comfortable pumps and I had a really cosy day. But I think I look like I spent some thought on my outfit (I didn't) or at least some time getting dressed (in and out in 20 Minutes today).
Note to self: don't take pictures in front of curtains that are the same color as your cardigan! :)
The cardigan is great because it is made of silk and is very lightweight. It also has huge real mother-of-pearl buttons which give it it's elegant look. I got it in Canada at an overstock store called Winners.
I love black because it always looks put together and elegant and pairing it with gold gives it a polished, elegant look. If you consider my whole outfit cost me about $80 including shoes and jewelry, that is pretty frugal!
- Black jersey dress (similar at SWAK Designs)
- Beige/Gold long cardigan (similar at Chadwick's)
- Black Belt with Gold Buckle (nice one at Target, it's called "Mossimo Supply Co. Belt With Two Inset Buckles")
- Low heeled black leather pumps (invest in these, keep them simple and timeless and the highest quality you can afford. These are a wardrobe staple and should last you at least 10 years--think about CPW!!) (here's THE perfect pair at Zappos)
Kiyonna on Facebook, 20% for you!
Love Kiyonna? Love Sales? Always on Facebook?
Kiyonna is looking to get more fans on their facebook page and are getting people to join by offering a coupon for 20% if you become a fan and post to their wall. Here's what they have to say: "Become a Kiyonna Facebook Fan and receive a unique coupon code for 20% OFF our entire site! All you have to do is post this on our wall: “I Flaunt What I’ve Got With Kiyonna!”
*Unique coupon code will be messaged to new fan via Facebook and expires 2/28/10, limit one use per customer and not valid on Spanx."
Frugal February Day 04
Just a quick post today, as it's been a long day. Today I show you how NOT to dress for rectangle body types! As you can see, this outfit was less than fantastic for my figure type, which goes to show that everyone takes a wrong turn at some point!
I have no waist definition, so wearing the little brown sweater that hits me almost at my widest spot just draws attention to my thick middle. I should have stuck with the long cardigan that I had orginally planned on!
It was comfortable, though, and going into a long day that was important to me this morning!
Frugal February Day 3
Day 3 of Frugal February. I had a meeting today, so I donned a blazer. I'm a Project Manager in an event agency, so we can dress a little more casually than maybe in other jobs.
A dark brown blazer, white blouse, trouser-style jeans and caramel brown shoes and belt were the result of my closet-dive this morning. I threw a pashmina on and followed Michelle's instructions on tying a braided scarf knot at Chic Critique (go have a look at her video, it's much easier to learn how to tie it that way!) Since I watched her video that is the only way I've been wearing my scarves.
So, without further ado, here the pics. I promise to figure the camera out this weekend, the quality of the pics are so bad!
Get 10% Off At Torrid
Torrid is helping us be Frugal in February! Until the end of February you can get 10% off all their trendy plus size clothing using the following link:
Receive 10% Off Any Order at Torrid.com! Use Code 10OFFTD21 from Feb. 1 - Feb. 28
Frugal February Day 2
Today is day two of Frugal February, and I'm already feeling the blues! I just got an email from Duo Boots, letting me know that they have reduced some of their fabulous boots by up to 70% and so of course I had to head over there and see what they had.
I am in love with Duo Boots because although my calves aren't really huge, they are a bit wider and paired with SHORT legs, so that I can not find (nice!) boots that fit me. And Duo makes their boots "calf-fitted", meaning that you measure the widest part of your calf and order to that and your shoe size. Can you believe they hand make each boot in 21 different calf sizes? So you know they fit!
Anyways, they have some really gorgeous footwear, and at 70% off it might just be worth it to have them shipped (they are in the UK). Boots that were going for over $200 can be had for about $50, AND they fit your calves (and did I say they are stylish and I would die to buy a pair right now?)
You can find them here: DUO BOOTS
Ok, today was cold and wet, as it's been all year (lol), so sweater, long pants, boots and jackets were on the program for today. Sometimes I get sick of white long sleeve Tees, so I went the red-black look today. And as I was feeling a bit daring, I decided to do an impromptu kind of up-do. The pics are awful (I really need to learn to use the camera properly), but I had a lot of comments and compliments on my hair today.
And, by the way, I am just loving my mauve nail polish at the moment!
It was a bit of a mix-and-match kind of day, felt a little rock-and-rollish!
Black straight-leg jeans (find similar at Target , look for jeans called "Pure Energy")
Black long short sleeved sweater (similar at AdditionElle )
Red long arm T-Shirt (found at OneStopPlus )
Black wool military style plus size jacket (found a nice one here at Torrid )
Black Suede Ankle Boots (Here's a really cute pair at DUO! And they're down to $47 instead of $150!))
Frugal February
Ok, so I really love to read Lillipilli's blog Frocks and Frou Frou. She has a great sense of style and is a lot of fun to read.
Today while I was checking out her blog I saw her post that she has picked February to be the month where she refrains from buying anything. How cool is that? She's going to photograph herself in her outfits that she puts together from stuff she has in her closet.
And I so love the idea, and SO need to save a few bucks this month, that I thought I would join her in her quest. A whole month seems like a long time not to buy anything new to wear, as I'm a terrible shopaholic. (And I really need a pair of grey boots! *sob*) . I live in Germany, so most of my stuff is from Europe, but depending on the amount of time I find, I'll look to see if I find similar items in the states.
So anyways, here's today's outfit (--and since it's the end of the day it's a bit wrinkly! I'll try to start taking pics before work):
- Grey Sweater from C&A (plussizefix.com has similar tops)
- Grey Jeans from Yessica (similar jeans at OneStopPlus )
- White 3/4 Arm T-Shirt from Walmart (similar at Chadwick's )
- Black leather Purse from Picard (similar seen at Zappos )
Plus Size Designers
Plus Size Designers Before...
For many decades, curvier women were prominently left out by clothes designers. They just had to make do with whatever clothing was available on the market or make their own custom clothes with the help of boutiques and individual tailors. Just a few years back, it was very difficult for larger women to find plus size designer outfits.
Plus Size Designers Now...
Today, designers have woken up and have sensed the slumbering potential of the plus size clothing market. Many top brands today are capitalizing on this opportunity and making profits by selling a variety of designer plus size clothes.
Today there are a few select shops where you can find plus size designer clothes from designers like Marina Rinaldi, Elena Miro and Gayla Bentley.
Designers take pains to accentuate the positive attributes of plus size women and adjust the fit of designer plus size outfits in such a manner that they are comfortable while still being elegant and highly fashionable.
Designer Plus Size Clothing is Expensive?
There are a very few online stores catering exclusively to designer plus size clothes, one of which is La Grande Dame. While their clothes are fairly "cost intensive", you are paying for exquisite design, workmanship and material that will last for a long time. You aren't likely to see every plus size woman in the office or at an event wearing the same clothes as you, as often happens when you shop at Target or OneStopPlus.
High quality designer plus size clothes are generally also made to last many seasons, making a seemingly expensive item actually quite price-worthy in terms of Cost Per Wear (CPW). A dress that may cost you $40 and that you only wear three times is a lot more expensive than a designer piece for $200 that makes you feel great and gets worn 30 times within 2 or 3 years. The cheaper dress would have a CPW of about $13, while the designer dress would have a CPW of about $6.50.
One of our favorite ways to save money is to invest in your basics and buy cheaper "trendy" items that will only be worn one season. Buy the best quality basics you can afford because these will take you from one season to the next and be true friends for years to come.
Here are a few designers that make high fashion plus size clothing that we feel are high quality and long wearable clothes that we consider great basic pieces.
This gorgeous Argon Cardi is made of lightweight silk, wool and cashmere and is from Marina Rinaldi's Voyage Line. It looks beautifully pulled together with slacks and a blouse for work and is right on trend and fun with jeans and a fun top. This cardigan has side drawstrings for a fun, ruched look, plus it is infinitely adjustable.
This is the perfect work dress! This ponte knit dress by Melissa Masse is very comfortable, but also takes the place of a pant suit when paired with the matching jacket. The flattering boat neck and 3/4 sleeve ensure a business like, yet fun, suit.
This Acchille Black Overcoat is by Marina Rinaldi and is a fantastic investment piece. Trench coats never go out of style but are a definite must have piece this spring. This overcoat has a classic trench shape with removable belt, making it wearable season after season.
These great wide leg pants from Gayla Bentley are flattering and fun, and go with everything in your wardrobe. Plus, they wash and hang dry like a dream, making them ideal for travel.
Finding Perfect Fitting Plus Size Jeans
Finding the perfect jeans is always a long, hard search. But if you know your body type, you can narrow down the sheer amount of jeans you have to try on before finding the perfect pair.
Click on the images to learn more about the different jeans.
Apple Body Types have no waist definition, and sometimes their waist is even bigger than their hips. A typical problem is finding jeans that fit thru the hips and waist without giving you a muffin top. There are many lines that make a "comfort waistband" jeans where the waist is cut a size larger than the rest of the jean. These are a great option for you.
To give you figure the balance it needs stay away from flared leg or even wide boot cut jeans. Look to wider cut straight leg or narrow boot cut jeans. If you find your bum flat, look for flap pockets on the backs. Try to keep to a high rise jean and definately stay away from low rise jeans that will for sure give you a muffin top. You are a candidate for dark colors on top and light colors on the bottom, meaning you can wear the fashionable light colored 
jeans. A white jean with a black or dark top on top will help balance out your proportions.
Pear Body Types have a LOT of waist definition, and often have problems with gaping waistbands. Jeans that fit in waist are often too small in the hips, and vice versa. If you are really curvy with a small waist, remember that jeans can be tailored, too. Get a jean that fits the best in the hips and take them to your tailor to have the waist nipped in.
Styles that flatter your body are wide legged jeans or wide boot cuts. Skinny jeans can overemphasize your curves, so choose carefully. 
You do best with a mid rise or low rise jean. Stay away from detailing in the hip and bum area, and leave back flaps for the girls with skinny bums. The curvier you are, the darker your jeans should be. Call attention away from your hips and bottom and up to your face, shoulders and neck with light colors and detailing around the top.
Hourglass Body Types can often have the same problem as pears in that jean waistbands can tend to gap. If you are having trouble getting great fitting jeans, don't be afraid to take the best pair you find that fit perfectly through your widest area (hips) and have them taken in around the waist.
It's important for hourglasses not to destroy their proportions. Straight cut legs, whether wide or narrow, will keep you balanced, as will (very) narrow boot cuts. Skinny jeans can look great on you, but the fit is very important. A mid-cut waist band will suit you best. Stay away from flares. 
You can wear just about any color as long as you keep the cut in mind.
Inverted Triangle Body Types have very little waist definition and can be a good candidate for muffin tops like apples and rectangles. Looking for jeans that run with a comfort waistband will really help make a nice shape. If you are thinking about getting them tailored, make sure you get a pair of jeans that fit perfectly in the waist, and have the hips taken in.
You are really the only body type that actually looks good in flared or wide boot cut jeans. This gives your body a lot of curve appeal. Skinny jeans will just emphasize your wider upper half, so it is better to stay away from them. Wide legged jeans can help give you 
overall balance. Mid rise to high waisted jeans suit you best. You are also able to wear light colored jeans.
Rectangle Body Types also have little to no waist definition like inverted triangles and apples, BUT are already inheritantly balanced like the hourglass. It is important not to throw your body out of proportion with the wrong jeans. Tailors can take in the hips of otherwise great fitting jeans.
Like the hourglass, you need to stay away from anything that tips the balance from your top to bottom. Look for straight legged styles or slight boot cut, but nothing flared. Wide, straight cut jeans can look great on you, too. Stay away from detailing around the upper hips and waist that could call attention to your middle. Look for higher cut jeans to 
help keep your middle under control and give you an all over slimming look, especially when they have an integrated tummy control panel.
