The Plus Size Thread - All are welcome!

[3RingCircus]

ugh, so if you look in the thread for the new POP magazine, there is an ed with Beth Ditto in it. You have to love seeing a plus-sized woman in a high fashion editorial even if you don't like Beth (personally I love her). But what pisses me off is that in one of the pictures she is wearing a "specially made for POP" Hussein Chalayan dress. Of course, the only time a plus sized designer dress is made is for a magazine editorial

Yes, very annoying to see designers do for celebs what they won't do for paying punters. I would much prefer to see Beth looking club-kid cool rather than eccentric (2), which seems to be how they are presenting her in the Pop editorial. And any time I see an out gay woman posed submissively with a man (no matter how femme he looks) standing over her (1), I get the irrits. It's not a clever idea, it's not new, nor is it relevant.

Vogue Paris of course shows her looking pretty in a Kelly Osborne way (3), although the Nick Knight shot of her for UK Vogue (4) is far more confrontational and real - the Beth we all know!

(pix clockwise from left 1, 2 and 3 from TFFF, last pic from tFS member "Manuva" via this thread)

 

[classic1908]

Fullish figures at Emmy

^^
I like the peeping photo.

Queen Latifah:

Chandra Wilson:

Sara Ramirez:

 

[Luxx]

Sara Ramirez is very cute but her makeup always looks a little heavy. I wish she'd go for a more natural look. Her Emmy's look is little too prom/pageant for me but I do like her a great deal.

I think a lot of the formal plus size wear, even at the level of what's worn to the Emmy's / Oscars / what have you is almost too classic for my tastes. It can be pretty but sort of boring. It lacks the sense of excitement.

I'm with masquerade, I want like plus sized Hussein Chalayan or Marni - something with some flair or just something different. I'm probably not articulating my frustrations in the best possible way but I feel as though there are many more plus sized options at the high end (or just in general) if you're a conservative dresser than if your tastes lean more towards avant garde clothing. Don't get me wrong classic is great too and immensely useful but I always feel as though the vast majority of clothing offered does not allow me to express my personality to the fullest possible extent. There are things I want to wear / are absolutely and undeniably ME and yet I cannot wear them because they simply don't exist in my size.

Sorry to rant, I just went on a futile search for a pair of high waisted pants.

I know. I know. High waisted pants are a tool of the devil but oh how I love that look.

 

[xmodel citizen]

^ I have high-waisted jeans (they're wide and straight leg too) from Lane Bryant. But I agree! I see girls wearing the cutest tops and I feel sad because I WANT them. But unfortunately, they don't come in my size

 

[classic1908]

Sara Ramirez is very cute but her makeup always looks a little heavy. I wish she'd go for a more natural look. Her Emmy's look is little too prom/pageant for me but I do like her a great deal.

I think a lot of the formal plus size wear, even at the level of what's worn to the Emmy's / Oscars / what have you is almost too classic for my tastes. It can be pretty but sort of boring. It lacks the sense of excitement.

I'm with masquerade, I want like plus sized Hussein Chalayan or Marni - something with some flair or just something different. I'm probably not articulating my frustrations in the best possible way but I feel as though there are many more plus sized options at the high end (or just in general) if you're a conservative dresser than if your tastes lean more towards avant garde clothing. Don't get me wrong classic is great too and immensely useful but I always feel as though the vast majority of clothing offered does not allow me to express my personality to the fullest possible extent. There are things I want to wear / are absolutely and undeniably ME and yet I cannot wear them because they simply don't exist in my size.

Sorry to rant, I just went on a futile search for a pair of high waisted pants.

I know. I know. High waisted pants are a tool of the devil but oh how I love that look.

Because I am a conservative dresser, I'm not terribly dissatisfied with what's out there, but I see your point -- the market should be wider. Those of us who love the Blass/De La Renta style are decently served.

 

[BellaCouture]

I'm searching for a coat for my mother, who is plus-size (xxl) but can't find anything in the stores. (I want to surprise her with a nice one, since she can't find one)
Does anyone know a store who sells xxl and ships internationally? I live in Holland/The Netherlands...
also, could anyone translate size xxl for me into american or/and UK sizing? It would really help! thanks!

 

[LaurieAnn]

In the US XXL isn't a common size. (It if were I'd probably be able to find a lot more items to fit me.) Most cloting lines usually stop at L or XL. XL is usually considered to be size 14-16 or just size 16 US; XXL would then be size 18 US. More often you will find that size 18 US is labeled size 2X.

UK sizing is tricky for me to translate but I believe you can just add 2 to the US size. For example: US 8 equals UK 10. It may not work exactly like this but it's close.

I'm afraid that I haven't noticed companies that ship to continental Europe. Have you tried Luisaviaroma? Matches in the UK?

Sorry I can't be more helpful but I wanted to try.

 

[3RingCircus]

I'm afraid that I haven't noticed companies that ship to continental Europe. Have you tried Luisaviaroma? Matches in the UK?

LaurieAnn, it's highly optimistic of you to think that LVA and Matches would carry an XXL

I would try Simply Be - they carry sizes UK14-32 (surely that's more than an XXL?), and may ship within Europe...surprisingly the website doesn't state specifically that they don't ship outside of the UK, so perhaps they do if you ask by phone. All you can do is try - worth it for a slice of Anna Scholz!

They have a mini fashion show on the home page - worth watching if you like some of the items so you can see how they move on the body.

 

[LaurieAnn]

You are very correct 3RingCircus, suggesting LVA and Matches was wishful thinking in the extreme. I just don't know enough about plus size fashions in Europe to give an intelligent answer. I was concentrating on the quality of the items that I've seen available on web sites in Europe.

 

[3RingCircus]

^ Yes, it's a bit hard when all of the focus is on Nth America in this forum.

BellaCouture - there are a few catalog houses in the Netherlands that may have something for your mother's taste and your budget:
"Maatjegroter.nl" up to 60 (5X) (Netherlands)
"Ulla Popken" up to 68 (7X) (Netherlands)

And if you don't see anything you like, why not try German catalog companies? They may ship to the Netherlands - if you can work past the language barrier. The word for jacket is 'jacke' or 'jacken' (plural), overcoat is 'mantel'. "Größen bis..." means 'sizes up to...' Best of luck!

Neckermann.de Chic In Form brand,größen bis 60 (up to 5X)

"Bon Prix" größen bis 56 (up to 4X)
"Fesch & Pfundig" größen bis 54 (up to 4X)
"Happy Size Company" größen bis 60 (up to 5X)
"Mode Large & Beautiful" größen bis 60 (up to 5X)
"Nikes" größen bis 60 (up to 5X)
"Schik Dick" größen bis 62 (up to 5X)
"Ulla Popken" größen bis 68 (up to 6X)
"XL-Mode" größen bis 52 (up to 3X)

 

[BellaCouture]

Thank you so much guys That's so much more helpful than I expected the replys to be! I've saved all the links and will visit them all I really hope I can find something. The Netherlands don't have anything for the bigger plus sizes, at least not in the stores.

Thanks so much I really appreciate!
tried to give both of you karma, but I have to spread reputation or something

 

[marietk28]

I'm so happy I found this thread. It makes me happy I'm not alone in the plus-sized world here.

 

[classic1908]

Mgr...

There's something quite off about this dress, although I'm a Marjorie stan. Maybe she needed a more defining body shaper.

http://parkavenuepeerage.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/fablancemarj.jpg

 

[cait]

There's something quite off about this dress, although I'm a Marjorie stan. Maybe she needed a more defining body shaper.

I think it's the horizontal stripe effect, combined with the fact that it's actually a wave and not one flat stripe. And then nothing on the hem, it looks unfinished. Wow, is that unflattering.

 

[masquerade]

hmm, there is something off, but in general, i like it more than most of what i've seen her wear

 

[xmodel citizen]

Yuck! Why does she wear that style of dress? It's very unflattering. The woman next to Lance looks nice though

 

[3RingCircus]

^^^Blech. For me the problem is the diamond 'nipple' effect. I always hate it when a pattern does that. Plus she's got the quadrateets going again.

 

[LaurieAnn]

BellaCouture, I hope you find something you like for your Mom. Please let us know where you end up finding her coat. 3RingCircus, thank you for taking the time to post the Dutch and German catalog information; I like learning about what's available throughout the world.

For those of you who may be interested I purchased two cashmere v-neck sweaters from the Land's End website/catalog; one in dark olive and the other in dark brown. The quality is very good for the price and they have plus sizes in their cashmere sweaters. I believe they have a UK outlet as well.

 

[classic1908]

^^
Land's End always seems to have interesting cashmere. I need to look into them.

Unrelated, here is Courtney Arnot, wife of Dr. Bob, w/a couple of other women at a Nan Kempner-related event at Christie's. Court is on the left.

 

[Guessgirl96]

The woman in the middle looks good but that isnt flattering on courtney.