The Plus Size Thread - All are welcome!

[LaurieAnn]

I'm all about seperates as well. I find it's easier for me to put together a figure-flattering look if I focus on my top and bottom looks seperately with an eye to making each half balance. For example: a jacket with peplum and/or princess seams paired with an a-line or fluted skirt, or boot-cut or trouser style pants.

I tried to buy into the "ease of wearing a dress" thing that the fashion press has been pushing for the past few years by purchasing three dresses. Only one of them gets consistent wear from me; my faux wrap dress. The other two just took up space in my closet and are now residing at a fine consignment store.

I finally gave up (for a while at least) on searching for a flattering LBD. I've created my own for this holiday season by putting together a new purchase Simply Vera Wang skirt with a silky black top that I already have. The look isn't too bare for me and I'm held in in the right places.

[classic1908]

I actually prefer dresses, but cannot find what I'm looking for, particularly in the plus market. I like natural fibers and structured shapes. So, I still have a decent set of separates.

[fashionista-ta]

Originally Posted by LaurieAnn

I'm all about seperates as well. I find it's easier for me to put together a figure-flattering look if I focus on my top and bottom looks seperately with an eye to making each half balance. For example: a jacket with peplum and/or princess seams paired with an a-line or fluted skirt, or boot-cut or trouser style pants.

I tried to buy into the "ease of wearing a dress" thing that the fashion press has been pushing for the past few years by purchasing three dresses. Only one of them gets consistent wear from me; my faux wrap dress. The other two just took up space in my closet and are now residing at a fine consignment store.

I finally gave up (for a while at least) on searching for a flattering LBD. I've created my own for this holiday season by putting together a new purchase Simply Vera Wang skirt with a silky black top that I already have. The look isn't too bare for me and I'm held in in the right places.

That's exactly the beauty of separates--one new piece & voila, a whole new outfit And usually more than one. You can also get the fit of each piece exactly right.

Btw, I got a Pendleton catalog last night & noticed they have plus sizes. Their selection is pretty impressive I think. For example, this skirt is available 14-24W ($154) and 4-18 misses ($148):



Or this "seasonless" wool for $124 plus size:

[LaurieAnn]

I think I would have better luck with dresses if I could find more natural fibers and structed shapes as well. Something that holds me in.

About 23 years ago I purchased two fully-lined wool dresses in neutral colors and structured shapes at the old I.Magnin department store in San Francisco. The cost then was $125.00 each and I wore those two dresses once a week each from Fall through Spring for 11 years until they just gave up. And damn did I ever look good in them! They would both still be instyle and look good on me (though in a different size) today. Those are the kinds of dresses I have trouble finding now.

[classic1908]

Speaking of dresses, I like this one, particularly the raspberry color. She's pictured with Jackie O-favoring socialite Jennifer Creel (left):

[fashionista-ta]

^ Very nice fit ... no quad effect ...

[xmodel citizen]

Originally Posted by classic1908

I actually prefer dresses, but cannot find what I'm looking for, particularly in the plus market. I like natural fibers and structured shapes. So, I still have a decent set of separates.

I like dresses too, I just found one that's very flattering! I think because there's a disparity between my upper and lower halves, I can find dresses that fit my upper-body well and then just float over the bottom. I've never had much luck with skirts.

[masquerade]

^see I have the opposite problem. I love dresses but because of the disparity between my upper and lower body I find it harder to find them. With separates I can get traditional sized tops and larger bottoms, but with dresses its more of an issue to fit both. For instance, if it is supposed to float over the bottom, sometimes it will cling to the bottom but if i get a bigger size it will be too large for my top.

but the dresses I do have that work are amazing. I found one a couple weeks ago at value village of all places (it was still new with the tags I don't know why it was there) after months and months of looking for a cute, casual dress.

so I guess what I am trying to say is that it is really hard to find dresses, but when I do, i like them more than separates. too bad its getting to be freezing over here.

[classic1908]

^^
Some of the suit-based bridge labels used to have more dresses. For instance, I have a lavender linen shift from Ellen Tracy, a sea green linen tank dress from Dana Buchman and a white cotton jacquard shift, also DB. I bought these around the end of 2004, beginning of 2005 and still wear them.

I've also became a fan of jersey dresses in recent years.

Another surprising dress source for me is Isaac Mizrahi for Target. I picked up four dresses in recent months, including a wrap cotton style, one in white and one in brown, along with a corally orange fit-and-flare and a black silk douppioni fit-and-flare I actually wore to work underneath a cardigan.

[LaurieAnn]

classic1908, your Isaac Mizrahi for Target dresses sound very nice. I'm embarrassed to say so but I hadn't been able to fit into Target's regular clothing lines until just recently (I've lost ten pounds in the last three months). I'm actually kind of excited about the prospect of buying some spring/summer items there in '08.

[cait]

classic1908, I love the way you always describe your clothes. It sounds like a box of Crayolas.

I'm going to have to take a closer look @ Target. Isaac has always been one of my favorites - I still have old eps of Style With Elsa Klensch on tape and adore his early 90s collections - but the Target I frequent sees to keep just a few pieces in stock each season. I know there's more available at the website but I'd like to find one locally that carries more of the line.

Any experiences/opinion as far as his cashmere pieces go?

[masquerade]

I actually like a lot of target clothes. The Isaac stuff is often a little too business-y and mature for my tastes, but they make a lot of trendy stuff in larger sizes than forever 21 and h&m. One of my dresses that I love is from Target. Its cream with these little brown dots on it (not polka dots, they are irregular like paintbrush dots) with a sash in the middle and poofy sleeves. its one of the girliest things i own but i love it

[classic1908]

Originally Posted by cait

classic1908, I love the way you always describe your clothes. It sounds like a box of Crayolas.

I'm going to have to take a closer look @ Target. Isaac has always been one of my favorites - I still have old eps of Style With Elsa Klensch on tape and adore his early 90s collections - but the Target I frequent sees to keep just a few pieces in stock each season. I know there's more available at the website but I'd like to find one locally that carries more of the line.

Any experiences/opinion as far as his cashmere pieces go?

Thanks, Cait.

I haven't bought any of IM/Target's cashmere yet, so I can't give you an opinion. I also like old Isaac from the 1990s.
I'm lucky with the Target because I live in Southern California and he's decently stocked. But there's also cute Web things.

Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, wearing Carmen Marc Valvo @ the Out 100 Awards. CMV, of course, is one of Queen Latifah's designers of choice:

[classic1908]

At a Met benefit:



She looks OK here. It's a bit different, less structured.

[Guessgirl96]

I'm not sure the loose fit flatters her