The Plus Size Thread - All are welcome!

[two months off]

love those scans! thanks for posting them

 

[Erin]

An article I ran across in the NY Times...


Fashion First, Whatever the Size

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/18/fashion/18plus.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

 

[masquerade]

Thanks for the scans

I love the shoes. I could never wear what Ditto wears but I do like her style.

Thats how I feel. I love her style, and secretly wish I was so bold, but it's not really for me. I like simpler clothes. But I do like some of the pieces. It's a shame its only online for US customers because I would be interested in trying some of it on.

 

[classic1908]

For those who like Ms. Ditto's style, the Evans collabo is a good thing. I'm probably 20 years past the target market for her, but I also am a fan of more options across the size range.

 

[Miss Laura]

I work for evans.

No doubt I will be wearing the stuff when it comes in.

The staff now have to wear the clothes not matter what shape or size they are.

I think this will be good for evans though. And will bring in a younger crowd.

 

[Luxx]

I think that the good thing about Beth's line is that some of the stuff can be incorporated into a more conservative wardrobe as something one wears for a night out going to clubs or a drink. The clothes really remind me of party outfits more than anything else.

The lack of plus sized stuff that you can actually try on is such a peeve for me. I personally feel as though the most important thing with clothes is trying them on. I went through a phase when I was younger wherein I couldn't try anything on in the stores I was too caught up and when something didn't fit I would get really upset. Nowadays I've moved beyond that and I really feel like I NEED to try things on because how else can you know what works for you? There is this idea that online shopping is going to be the way to get the plus sized consumer but I can't think of a group for whom the opportunity to try on clothes is more important.

Ok let me get off my soapbox.

Speaking of online. I just placed an order with Dorothy Perkins and I can't wait for it to arrive. They have some really cool stuff that I think is a whole lot more modern than a lot of what is offered for plus in the US. I actually found out about the store via the site of a blogger I admire named Stephanie Zwicky. Her blog, Le Blog de Big Beauty is amazing, unfortunately its all in French and my understanding of language is limited but her style is really inspirational as far as I'm concerned. I wish there were more plus size street style pictures out there. I want to try and go take some but I never seem to find the time and whenever I spot someone fabulous I don't have my camera

Here are some images from Le Blog de Big Beauty. I covet her sequined blazer!

Image Credit | Le Blog de Big Beauty

 

[two months off]

aww I love Big Beauty^ she's so pretty. I haven't checked the blog in ages, though...

 

[frk-frost]

I love her style

 

[3RingCircus]

Yes, that blazer is def worthy.

The rumour about ASOS doing a plus line is given credence by 2 links from Zwicky's blog, one for a questionnaire for ASOS and the other to their forums to talk about a potential line and what you'd want from it. I suggest we all participate because ASOS ships internationally and offers reasonable quality for the price (middling between H&M and TopShop)

 

[from: sophia]

Im a 14+ up top but I am a 12- (I know its not really plus sized more curvy but culturally its becoming that way) on the bottom I cant find dresses that work on me unless they are flowey or trapeze shape which is not very flattering to me. Any recommendations for fuller busted girls that still fit waist down?

 

[frk-frost]

I have the same problem. It's one of my biggest problems with style - I think it's quite hard getting it right..

 

[fashionista-ta]

Im a 14+ up top but I am a 12- (I know its not really plus sized more curvy but culturally its becoming that way) on the bottom I cant find dresses that work on me unless they are flowey or trapeze shape which is not very flattering to me. Any recommendations for fuller busted girls that still fit waist down?

I just wear separates myself ...

 

[shelleybean]

Im a 14+ up top but I am a 12- (I know its not really plus sized more curvy but culturally its becoming that way) on the bottom I cant find dresses that work on me unless they are flowey or trapeze shape which is not very flattering to me. Any recommendations for fuller busted girls that still fit waist down?

You need to make friends with your neighbourhood tailor. I think that is the best thing you can do for yourself. Nothing feels better than a dress that hugs you in all the right places. I have the same problem as you. Most things I can buy off the rack like pants. I wear a 12 on the bottom but often need to buy a 16 on top in order to accommodate my bust. I have to take 80% of my blazers, jackets, dresses to the tailor. I have to get the shoulders reworked, otherwise it looks like I'm wearing my dad's clothes. As for dresses, buy the size that fits where you are biggest (up top for you?) then have it all taken in. Darts in the bust, and the back, have the sides of the skirt part taken in. I love that trapeze-style dress with cut-away shoulders, but impossible to wear with a bra (can't find a convertible one in my size) but they make anyone with boobs look pregnant. The front always hangs higher that the back, and I feel like I have to always stand with my hands on my waist so people can see there's nothing hiding under the dress.

 

[shelleybean]

Im a 14+ up top but I am a 12- (I know its not really plus sized more curvy but culturally its becoming that way) on the bottom I cant find dresses that work on me unless they are flowey or trapeze shape which is not very flattering to me. Any recommendations for fuller busted girls that still fit waist down?

Oh yeah, and about that comment (above)....
I was at Banana Republic looking at jeans and they had the "curvy fit" jeans in sizes 0,2,4, etc... and I'm like thinking "who the he!! wears a size 0 or 2 and is considered "curvy"! I mean seriously! Geesh!
(reminds me of an interview given by Anne Hathaway and she was saying that she had curves and I kept looking through the pictures in the photo spread and I couldn't find them! I just kept thinking, what the @#& are you talking about?)

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ Well ... I have family members who were very petite & shopped in the boys' department. Maybe the curvy fit means you're rounded and hourglassy, not straight up & down like a boy. When I was a size 2, I definitely wasn't shaped like a boy ...

 

[Luxx]

^ I agree so much. I think the word "curvy" is such a loaded term. It just means a certain shape - it doesn't denote a particular size. You can be larger and not have the traditional hourglass figure associated with the word curvy, just like how you can be slender and have very curvaceous proportions. Just depends on the person.

To be honest I hate the whole curvy moniker because it rarely addresses all the different ways you can be shaped. You can be hourglass or top-heavy or pear shaped or carry weight in your mid-section - so on so forth and each of those things carry a different set of issues with regards to dressing. I wish there were more time devoted to focusing on the different ways in which people are shaped as opposed to their actual size persay. Its likely that a woman who is pear shaped and a size 6 will have similar fit issues with a woman who is pear shaped and a size 16 yet the world acts like there is no way that those two women would ever walk into the same store let alone have the same issues.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ That's a really good point ...

 

[sarahslug]

Yes! That's so true. And the more curvy becomes used for larger women, the more people view it to mean something like fat or big. I personally find it quite patronising sometimes. Although it is a lot better than people being called fat and no one attempting to make clothes for bigger women etc. But sometimes a woman is big but not curvy in the slightest and it makes me cringe to see Gok Wan dancing around going on about her curves.

 

[3RingCircus]

Gok is cringeworthy in any event...but that's a whole other thread LOL

 

[classic1908]

^ I agree so much. I think the word "curvy" is such a loaded term. It just means a certain shape - it doesn't denote a particular size. You can be larger and not have the traditional hourglass figure associated with the word curvy, just like how you can be slender and have very curvaceous proportions. Just depends on the person.

To be honest I hate the whole curvy moniker because it rarely addresses all the different ways you can be shaped. You can be hourglass or top-heavy or pear shaped or carry weight in your mid-section - so on so forth and each of those things carry a different set of issues with regards to dressing. I wish there were more time devoted to focusing on the different ways in which people are shaped as opposed to their actual size persay. Its likely that a woman who is pear shaped and a size 6 will have similar fit issues with a woman who is pear shaped and a size 16 yet the world acts like there is no way that those two women would ever walk into the same store let alone have the same issues.

Very good point. As much as I like Queen Latifah and Jennifer Hudson, it seems like they are the go-to "full-figured" reps when magazines deign to cover the issue. I can't really use them as a size model because both have something I'm not gifted with -- full breasts and in QL's case, she carries quite a bit in her mid-section.
I get more out of suggestions for smaller pear-shaped women.
Although it didn't have a lot of pictures, Bradley Bayou's The Science of Sexy probably addressed the widest range of full-figured celebrity women I've ever seen. He addressed the body type of short folks like Angie Stone as well as very tall ones like Camryn Manheim.