The Plus Size Thread - All are welcome!

[Antigone]

I'm 5'7 and a US 14. I'm glad there's a thread like this.

 

[classic1908]

I've never figured this out...

As you can see, Kate Mulleavy, designer of Rodarte, is a full-fashioned gal (left, with sister Laura). I just got a Rodarte trapeze top from the Gap Design Editions. But she seems to have some problem with dressing herself. You would think that if you are a designer and have access to such things, you'd dress yourself flatteringly and properly:

And here's another "don't," courtesy of fashion doyenne Fern Mallis. She should know better. The prints together are just...

http://www.style.com/slideshows/parties/042607NICM/16m.jpg

 

[LaurieAnn]

classic1908, I feel the same way about clothing designers, I expect them to be well put together, far more so than they usually are. I keep hoping that someone like Alice Roi or the Mulleavy sisters will put out a line with "extended sizing."

I'm having a low inspiration Spring/Summer. I'm finding basics ok but have not found any interesting statement pieces to work into my wardrobe. Have any of you?

 

[classic1908]

classic1908, I feel the same way about clothing designers, I expect them to be well put together, far more so than they usually are. I keep hoping that someone like Alice Roi or the Mulleavy sisters will put out a line with "extended sizing."

I'm having a low inspiration Spring/Summer. I'm finding basics ok but have not found any interesting statement pieces to work into my wardrobe. Have any of you?

Not yet. I'm generally doing my classics with different mixes. For instance, I put together a Old Navy women's plus strapless dress in chocolate with a Lilly Pulitzer cardigan that's sort of a Tiffany/robin's egg blue yesterday. I stuck with brown shoes and bag; I'm a bit old-school in that aspect.
Yellow is a big thing, but with my coloring, I try and avoid it. I haven't found some pretty pale lemon tones, which I think would be OK.

 

[classic1908]

Marjorie

With David Niven's granddaughter Fernanda. I don't know which designer she's wearing. The outfit is OK -- a bit too busy for my taste, but she's pretty, well-groomed and of course, a Birkin never hurts.

 

[LaurieAnn]

Thank you for posting the picture above. I like the duster jacket/dress combination but Marjorie could use a little better tailoring on the dress. And yes, a good Birkin hides a multitude of sins. Well no it doesn't but I do feel better about myself when I carry mine.

 

[xmodel citizen]

Marjorie has serious dressing problems! I think I dress much better than her (lol, that sounds conceited) and on a MUCH smaller budget. She does her body no favors.

Same with Kate from Rodate. Too-tight pants + clingy fabric = not flattering!

 

[classic1908]

^^
Kate is also in need, IMO, of better corsetry. There are ways to minimize rolls. I'm sure she can find proper underpinnings.

 

[stilettogirl84]

Marjorie has serious dressing problems! I think I dress much better than her (lol, that sounds conceited) and on a MUCH smaller budget. She does her body no favors.

I so agree- I mean I'm all for bigger people dressing well- but she simply dresses expensively without managing to dress well.

there are a number of things shoe could wear which might create an illusion of a waist (her main figure flaw) but she never tries to do that, always with the duster jackets and shifts

I imagine being rich in new york there is a lot of pressure on her to be thin, and maybe she feels bad about herself and doesn't want to think about ways to dress that would flatter her shape more, but really she'd look so much better if she did.

 

[stilettogirl84]

^^
Kate is also in need, IMO, of better corsetry. There are ways to minimize rolls. I'm sure she can find proper underpinnings.

I agree- and she just looks so sad. all black is not the answer here. skintight is a no no and her posture isn't helping anything. maybe some makeup too.

though Marjorie has some dressing issues, her hair and mekup is always impeccable, and that really helps

 

[LaurieAnn]

If I had Marjorie's money and lived in an urban area where the professionals were available, I'd definetly hire a dressmaker to custom design/make my outfits. Using better fabric then is available for most plus size clothing, plus excellent tailoring would go along way to looking better.

stilettogirl 84, I have similar figure problems to Marjories and would like some of your suggestions to help me create a waist. I look for belted jackets with a strong (not padded) shoulder line, peplum jackets, empire waist dresses and skirts with fullness on the bottom. Do you have other suggestions that could help me out?

I also agree with comments on Kate Mulleavy. From the way she dresses I get the feeling that she'd like to disappear. All the black, poor grooming, bad posture just send me that signal. Even though Marjorie GR does make many poor clothing choices, her bright colors, good grooming and posture tell me that she's not hiding.

 

[stilettogirl84]

stilettogirl 84, I have similar figure problems to Marjories and would like some of your suggestions to help me create a waist. I look for belted jackets with a strong (not padded) shoulder line, peplum jackets, empire waist dresses and skirts with fullness on the bottom. Do you have other suggestions that could help me out?

the key is layering. Wear a darker colored jacket or cardigan, mostly open but buttoned right where you'd like to be your waist's smallest point.

peplum jackets are great, though i'd avoid empire dresses because those actually create an ilusion of a larger waist (or of pregnancy depending)

I have to get off the computer now, but I'll get back to this & try to post some pictures of what I mean.

also you should for sure read "what not to wear" based on the british TV show. I'll find a link for you when I come back

 

[stilettogirl84]

LaurieAnn- I wanted to try to show how to create an illusion of a waist, so I did a little drawing thing.

I drew this little stick figure with no waist, and drew on things that flatter real women with the same type of figure

the key to creating the illusion of a waistline is layering. Dark colors fade into the distance and light colors come forward, so what you want to do is to have a darker outer layer and a lighter one underneath which creates the shape you want

like so

that's why Marjorie's Duster coats dont help her at all- they dont
1. go in at the waist
2. go out at the bottom
3. and they ought to be a darker color than the dress under them to be sucessful

there are lots of things which can be layered to create this effect. A cardigan buttoned low on the waist, a one button jacket, a deep v wrap top, all can create this illusion



things that go out at the hip, like peplum jackets and full skirts help to makee the waist seem smaller. Wide leg trousers help serve the same effect. Also lighter colors on bottom and darker on top help to create this illusion.

If you do wear a dress and there isn't something layered over it, you need to have a deep v neckline and a wide flared skirt to create that illusion. Shift dresses are really not at all good for this body type. Volume on the bottom is great

all these were drawn over that first, no waist stick figure

things to avoid are strapless dresses, which create a straight across, horizontal line, shift dresses, babydoll dresses(they actually go OUT at the waist, and remove everyone's waistline) tight skirts or pants (IE no skinny Jeans) Boatnecks

 

[tourist10]

stilettogirl84 - you should seriously consider writing a book. The advice and illustrations are so excellent!!

 

[xmodel citizen]

I LOVE your drawings! I seriously cannot even handle stick figures in real life, let alone in paint! I don't have Marjorie's problem, I have a waist (it's actually my favorite part of my body lol) it's just my hips and my EVIL arms that drive me psycho!

I think empire tops get a bad rap. I have one top in particular that has a high empire waist (directly below the bust) and a very voluminous bottom and I get more compliments in that than any other top I wear. I think empire waists can be flattering to plus sizes, but if you need a waist, then I suppose it's a no-no?

 

[xmodel citizen]

And oh yeah, what do you think of high waisted and skinny jeans (not high-waisted skinny jeans ).

I always used to bash them both until I actually tried them. I love my skinnies, they're soooo comfy but not unflattering like I used to believe. The secret is to get more of a tapered style than a pin-thin, ultra-tight leg line.

Same with the high-waisted. I bought a pair of high-waisted wide-leg jeans in a super-dark wash from Lane Bryant and I'm in LOVE. Seriously, they're gorgeous and amazingly comfortable!

 

[classic1908]

Stiletto, very good drawings. You do need to find yourself a publisher because a practical fashion book is always welcome.

Meanwhile, here is Jennifer Hudson in custom Michael Kors at the Costume Institute:

 

[stilettogirl84]

I think that looks good

 

[fashionista-ta]

Sad thing is, I suspect all or most of what Marjorie wears *is* custom-made ... if I were her, I'd go to John Galliano, who would really care about putting her in something flattering, and would really think about the challenges rather than putting a few seams in some extremely expensive fabric & taking her money. The important thing is, though, that you can see she really accepts herself & is having a great time. Hopefully she can be a role model for Kate

 

[LaurieAnn]

Major Karma to you Stilettogirl84! I can't believe the effort you put into your post with the drawings and outfits. This is such helpful information for me. I can see that I was dressing in some ways that are helpful and some ways that are not. I now really understand the layered deep v-neck thing and I can create a better look with many pieces that I already have.

Yes, you really should write a book. You certainly have the knowledge and the talent. I'm very impressed. And I really want to thank you for the time you put in on that post.

I'm definetely going to save your post to my stylebook and print it out for when I shop!