The Plus Size Thread - All are welcome!

[texastess]

Are there any "plus size" celebitites that you think consistently dress well? I am especially looking for some short, plus size girls. Height allows taller women to carry off so many things that I can't at 5' 2".

The good news is, I think I am coming to terms with my size. I have tried to cover it up and fade into the background. I still hope to lose weight, but I am going to try to look my best no matter what size I am.

Thanks ladies!

[classic1908]

Originally Posted by texastess

Are there any "plus size" celebitites that you think consistently dress well? I am especially looking for some short, plus size girls. Height allows taller women to carry off so many things that I can't at 5' 2".

The good news is, I think I am coming to terms with my size. I have tried to cover it up and fade into the background. I still hope to lose weight, but I am going to try to look my best no matter what size I am.

Thanks ladies!

Texastess,
Although I think she is not that petite, take a look at Marjorie Gubelmann Raein. She looks to be around 5'4" or so, but I could be wrong. MGR is a National Cash Registser heiress; you can see party pics of her around and about the 'Net. Her style seems classic-driven, lots of Akris, Oscar de la Renta and such. I read about her in Vogue; she is not specific about what size she wears but she's said she's never been smaller than a 12.

It does seem, however, that of the few full-fashion celebrities who get attention, most are tall, such as Queen Latifah. To the question of dressing well, I think QL gets it right most of the time. She works with Susan Moses, a pretty well-known stylist. I also like Keely Shaye Brosnan, who appears to be a tweener/smaller side of plus. Camryn Manheim looks decent, as does Kathy Bates. When Lady O. (Oprah) is bigger, she is excellent.

Mo'Nique is very hit and miss, as is Aretha Franklin. Rosie O'Donnell and Roseanne can look rough.

[stilettogirl84]

a lot of plus size celebries don't do well, in my opinion, as far as dressing-

but I agree about Oprah. I love her taste, and she manages to look pulled together whatever her weight

[classic1908]

Originally Posted by stilettogirl84

a lot of plus size celebries don't do well, in my opinion, as far as dressing-

but I agree about Oprah. I love her taste, and she manages to look pulled together whatever her weight

For the high-end/celeb, if you want department stores, Saks Salon Z (such as New York and Beverly Hills) is really the only game in town. Neiman Marcus sells plus online. For a short time in the late 1990s, Neiman used to have a Woman's Studio department. I suspect they dumped it because too many items ended up in the Last Call clearance centers.

On the other hand, I would think that the stylists for Queen Latifah, etc., get their clothes directly from the design studio/manufacturer.

Bloomingdale's and Nordstrom are good upper-middle resources, for bridge purveyors like Ellen Tracy and Dana Buchman. I've talked to associates at Nordstrom Encore, though, and they've told me that they've had to battle buyers to get more upscale brands and suiting in. Professional women don't want to wear T-shirts and khaki pants to work! And lawd, don't get me started on some of these ghastly dresses they have.

As an aside, some of the better plus/full-fashion dressers that I've seen are the average middle-to-upper-middle class women about and around, including many of my sorority sisters.

[stilettogirl84]

I don't like the saks salons, because what they have in the larger sizes are things like eileen tracey and st john-

these may be good quality or whatever but they just seem frumpy or "old lady" to me. Perhaps I'm biased?

I like to dress classic- but these lines are just not my style.

Thats why I do most of my shopping at chain stores like Banana and JCrew and save saks for shoes

[Luxx]

Ok ladies, I got tired of looking everywhere for a website that gave info on how to dress fashionably when you aren't thin so I up and made my own. Its a blog called Too Fat for Fashion.

http://toofatforfashion.blogspot.com/

The name comes from the fact that I've heard the sentiment echoed over and over again about people who can't fit into sample sizes and quite frankly I think its rubbish. There isn't that much up there yet, its a new project and I'm just starting out but I hope you ladies can take a look and tell me what, if anything you'd like to see be part of the content. I'm completely open to comments and ideas if anyone has any they could PM me or just reply here.

Ok back to the topics at hand

I think that of all the plus sized celebs Queen Latifah gets it right more often than not, I'm not her biggest fan but I've never seen her dress in an inappropriate manner. Oprah also has some incredible clothes, she really knows her body and dresses to flatter it. I wish there were more plus sized celebs to talk about! All the ones mentioned in magazines as examples of "curvy" figures (Drew Barrymore, Beyonce, J.Lo) are really quite slender. For inspiration I like to look at pictures of well dressed people, regardless of size and try to adapt those looks to my body. There are some things I'll never be able to wear, short shorts for instance but most everything else I like I tend to give a try. Whatever looks best and feels natural to me is what I stick with.

And I LOVE seeing everyones fall fashion lists! It really is downright inspirational.

[stilettogirl84]

I took a look at your website-

and I love Elena Miro's runway- So sexy!

Where can this stuff be purchased?

[Luxx]

Unfortunately Elena Miro is only sold in Europe and not availible in the US at all. Its quite messed up, though I'm keeping my fingers crossed that things will change and that their beautiful clothes will cross the pond. I just had to post those pictures because how often do you see beautiful plus sized models looking chic on the runway!

[LaurieAnn]

Luxx I love your new website! I plan on spending some more time tomorrow on your new site posting some comments. Some thoughts on plus size fashion in general:

1.I

[Pulp Fiction]

your blog is awesome Luxx !! congrat.

[fashionista-ta]

Originally Posted by stilettogirl84

I don't like the saks salons, because what they have in the larger sizes are things like eileen tracey and st john-

these may be good quality or whatever but they just seem frumpy or "old lady" to me. Perhaps I'm biased?

I like to dress classic- but these lines are just not my style.

Thats why I do most of my shopping at chain stores like Banana and JCrew and save saks for shoes

Stiletto, surprised to hear you say that ... you might try visiting the dept in another city when you're traveling ...

[Luxx]

I agree about Salon Z, I feel as though there are some nice things but the vast majority of it is too old for me. I'm 23 and its hard to find anything that's hip there. Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong places though, I'd only looked in the Saks near my hometown. Perhaps I should check out the one in Manhattan as well.

Thanks for all the blog congrats guys

[stilettogirl84]

Originally Posted by fashionista-ta

Stiletto, surprised to hear you say that ... you might try visiting the dept in another city when you're traveling ...

Surprised I don't like St John, or surprised that's all they've got?

I live in St. Louis Mo and both Saks and Neiman Marcus here- even in their regular sizes are more toward classic peices.

But next time I go to chicago, I will look around there!

[texastess]

Sigh, I wish I could find a short chubby to emulate!

[LaurieAnn]

AcK! I tried to post yesterday, accidently hit the wrong key and ended up posting before I was finished. One of the things I wanted to comment on is larger size celebrities and how they find their clothing. I've seen pictures of Oprah before her most recent weight loss in gorgeous outfits; some by Narciso Rodriquez, Vera Wang, etc; but I've never seen those clothes available for purchase. Are they custom made? I'd love to have access to items of that style and quality but have no idea if they really are avaiable to the public.

I'm with you Texastess, being short and full-figured is an extra challenge. Not only are most plus sized and larger sized clothing made for taller women, our weight is usually less balanced on our bodies. I have found one dressing guide that actually addresses extra-curvy petite women with pictures of a woman who is 5'0" and a size 18. It's Clinton Kelly and Stacy London's Dress Your Best: The Complete Guide to Finding the Style That's Right for Your Body. This book has some very good photots of real women in real clothing.

I think for all of us non-sample size women not compromising on fit is key. That's hard to do, but I feel much better in an outfit where the fabric gently drapes my body and doesn't cling. But yeah, I feel as though I'm on my own as far as a style role model goes.