The Plus Size Thread - All are welcome!

[Style-Addict]

What a great thread! Just now stumbled upon it.

 

[masquerade]

frk-frost, pencil skirts are great, I love the look. I avoid tucking a top into them though, that always makes a bit of a bulge. I think most kinds of skirts really work, circle skirts and a-line and such. Easy to wear.

As for dresses, have you tried shirt dresses or wrap dresses? Personally, I like empire waist, but I know a lot of plus-sized women dont.

^^^^ Yup. My hips and thighs are much much larger than my waist. Shopping for pants can be so frustrating. This is why I mainly wear skirts and dresses

me too. For the most part, this summer has been a pants boycott for me and I love it. Too bad when I go to Oregon in the fall and it gets cold I will have to go back to pants at least a little (I will try to wear tights with skirts as much as possible).

I saw this awhile ago on fashionista
http://fashionista.com/2008/06/j_brand_more_jeans_for_more_gi.php
This sounds like it would help girls in our situation, though it only goes up to 32. I haven't actually checked these out IRL, but now I am curious. The picture on the bloomies website is horrible
http://www1.bloomingdales.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=121173&PseudoCat=se-xx-xx-xx.esn_results
If the product is for people with shapely thighs, couldn't they use a shapelier model so it doesn't look so baggy? I am also not fond of the stitching at the bottom.
the ones on jbrand's website look slightly better
http://www.jbrandjeans.com/pl/c/113.html

 

[Belowen]

Just to clarify, Liv did say she was a size 10 a while back, but she's also mentioned after she lost her baby weight (& a bit more) she was surprised to realise she could fit into a size 4 @ Marc Jacobs. So I think she fluctuates a bit.

 

[classic1908]

^^
She does fluctuate.

Here is Nicole Blonsky, taken probably prior to her dustup in the Turks & Caicos. The tunic's pretty nice.

SOURCE: NYSD.com

 

[Apples305]

To me its funny how plus size can be considered different depending on what country or person you are speaking to.

Some would say size 12 and up is plus size and some would say size 10 and up is plus size, because you leave the single numbers. So whats your take when does plus size because because you can get a size 10-14 in juniors.

 

[CollarScholar]

Personally I view anything past 16 as plus, and anything from 8-14 as healthy (depending on height of course). but many would consider my view very liberal

 

[fashionista-ta]

To me its funny how plus size can be considered different depending on what country or person you are speaking to.

Some would say size 12 and up is plus size and some would say size 10 and up is plus size, because you leave the single numbers. So whats your take when does plus size because because you can get a size 10-14 in juniors.

Well, there are industry standards for sizing (albeit a bit fluid) ... plus size is a technical term, not a personal opinion.

"Misses" or "missy" sizes are regular sizes and can go up to 20 or so I believe. "Women's" or "plus" size clothes are made differently--I think somewhere earlier in this thread there's a description of exactly what the differences are. Talbots used to be the only store in the country that carries a 12W. I don't know how high the sizes go, but I see 26 fairly regularly. 18W is quite a common plus size.

Let me resurrect the curvy thread ... or would you prefer we merged them?

 

[American Aries]

Personally I view anything past 16 as plus, and anything from 8-14 as healthy (depending on height of course). but many would consider my view very liberal

A person's clothing size says nothing about their health.

 

[3RingCircus]

I don't understand why it is so necessary to have a definitive point of when plus 'starts' or ends. Basically all that would do is set up circumstances for more exclusion when that's neither necessary nor desirable.

Women need to stop buying into the whole "I am only fashionable by virtue of which labels make clothing in my size" paradigm and remember they are comprised of FAR more interesting stuff than the contents of their wardrobes and the size on the labels.

 

[3RingCircus]

RE: Thread merging
I don't think that all TFSers view curvy and plus size as the same thing; I vote not to merge.

 

[Paws]

What a great thread! Just now stumbled upon it.

I just found it also

 

[chaneladdict]

A person's clothing size says nothing about their health.

so true. I have a best friend who is rail thin and she never exercises, eats fatty foods and smokes. I am not thin at all, but I am much healthier than her!

 

[masquerade]

I don't understand why it is so necessary to have a definitive point of when plus 'starts' or ends. Basically all that would do is set up circumstances for more exclusion when that's neither necessary nor desirable.

Women need to stop buying into the whole "I am only fashionable by virtue of which labels make clothing in my size" paradigm and remember they are comprised of FAR more interesting stuff than the contents of their wardrobes and the size on the labels.

I totally agree. People often get so caught up on numbers that they will buy something that isn't in their size just because the number is smaller.

Unfortunately, it is harder to shop when you are plus because there are just less brands making clothes. Sometimes, I find most plus-sized clothing reflects a different demographic. When it isn't for older women, its for an urban woman or whatever woman Torrid is selling to I don't even know. We all deserve to get clothes that reflect how we feel inside and sometimes the options are limited. I kinda straddle the line between plus and traditional sizes, so I guess I am fortunate in that I can find traditional clothes that reflect me, but I know how hard it is to shop plus-sized fashion.

 

[chaneladdict]

I am on the plus sized end too and I absolutely love vintage, but have a hard time finding stuff. I sift through the racks and see size 00 in these gorgeous dresses that I wish I could wear! I guess that's why I have so many vintage bags and pieces of jewelry!

 

[fashionista-ta]

RE: Thread merging
I don't think that all TFSers view curvy and plus size as the same thing; I vote not to merge.

Just to clarify, I hope none of us do It just seems that we end up discussing both in this thread, so I was thinking of merging/changing the title to reflect that, so people don't come here, see us discussing regular sizes, and freak out But I'm fine either way.

 

[classic1908]

Well, there are industry standards for sizing (albeit a bit fluid) ... plus size is a technical term, not a personal opinion.

"Misses" or "missy" sizes are regular sizes and can go up to 20 or so I believe. "Women's" or "plus" size clothes are made differently--I think somewhere earlier in this thread there's a description of exactly what the differences are. Talbots used to be the only store in the country that carries a 12W. I don't know how high the sizes go, but I see 26 fairly regularly. 18W is quite a common plus size.

Let me resurrect the curvy thread ... or would you prefer we merged them?

I say resurrect, not merge. You can be small and curvy.
I've only seen 12Ws at Talbots, Marina Rinaldi, Ashley Stewart and I think at Nordstrom (0X equivalent) in their house labels.

 

[Starbelly]

Someone in the thread earlier mentioned "hot mess." I'm a hot mess, sad to say. I love fashion, but as a bigger girl, I definitely don't feel fashionable. I see some plus-sized women pull it off and look stunning, but I am inept at doing the same thing for myself, aside for a few times in my life.

I think I've adopted the "why bother?" attitude, because I feel like no matter what I do, I'll look stupid. I'm an apple shape and as someone mentioned earlier, it is definitely hard to find things flattering for such a shape.

Another problem I have is I don't know where to start. Sure, I love the a bunch of things that look great on skinny people, but where does one start when overweight? Sorry, but everything in Lane Bryant and Avenue and all those other fat girl shops do not appeal to me. Some are OK and some I have purchased, but some look cheap, some look sl*tty, and some simply aren't stylish.

Any advice is appreciated as I'm sick of being stuck in this rut.

 

[Belowen]

I guess trying to define your own personal style would be a good place to start. Maybe collect some pictures of clothing / styles / things that inspire you to try and work out the "mood" of your style. And then go from there in deciding which pieces will fit into that style, and will also flatter you. I guarentee if you feel comfortable in what you're wearing, and it's an outfit you find beautiful - you won't feel stupid

 

[CollarScholar]

take some of the looks you have pulled off successfully and break them down to a science, what works about them - the fit and the cut, the color arangement, dark tones here, light tones there, etc. Then mimic those things in other outfits. (For example, you have a black shirt that fits great, try a similar cut/fit in a dark purple). One thing Ive seen work very well for plusses is the shirt with dark tones in the shirt around the stomach, and then light tones on top, and then a dark jacket. This makes the lighter tone around the top look like it's 'shining' through the dark layers, and thus making the darker layers even darker.

Also, as many people do, once you find something that fits well, buy it in every color.

 

[Apples305]

Someone in the thread earlier mentioned "hot mess." I'm a hot mess, sad to say. I love fashion, but as a bigger girl, I definitely don't feel fashionable. I see some plus-sized women pull it off and look stunning, but I am inept at doing the same thing for myself, aside for a few times in my life.

I think I've adopted the "why bother?" attitude, because I feel like no matter what I do, I'll look stupid. I'm an apple shape and as someone mentioned earlier, it is definitely hard to find things flattering for such a shape.

Another problem I have is I don't know where to start. Sure, I love the a bunch of things that look great on skinny people, but where does one start when overweight? Sorry, but everything in Lane Bryant and Avenue and all those other fat girl shops do not appeal to me. Some are OK and some I have purchased, but some look cheap, some look sl*tty, and some simply aren't stylish.

Any advice is appreciated as I'm sick of being stuck in this rut.

Do not feel this way. You can be a fashionista at any size. You have to own your look. I know a lot of friends of mine who are size 16 plus and can dress fierce. Accentuate your assets is what makes a person look great and own the look. You start by getting the basics than get the essential accessories to dress up or down your look. . I hate Lane Bryant and Avenues, there look is like drapes nothing truly fitting. If you do not like what you see the easiest way to start is create your own personal look book and search for those items, but make sure it caters to you and go on the hunt for a great tailor or dress maker because just because you get it in a story doesn't mean it is ready to wear. Good luck and do not get discouraged.