Hey readers, I thought you may be able to assist with this reader question: "Allie, I know this is a huge request, but what brands/stores would you reccomend for a plus size (missy 16) women that aren't too expensive? I have a definite waist but a large stomach. I'm just a SAHM, with dogs, so I don't need anything too fancy but I don't want to look schlumpy either." This is not a huge request, for this is what I love to do (for those who don't know I have another blog - Wardrobe Oxygen where all I do is talk about style for women)! Since having Emerson I hover between a 14 and a 16. I have a petite frame, so many plus size brands are too large for me in the shoulders, rise, length. This makes it terribly hard to find decent clothing. Many brands stop at 10, many brands have their size 14 and 16 just be larger versions of 8 (which means lots of gaping, bunching, sagging and overall poor fitting clothes), and petites are often TOO petite for me. Stores I Frequent Because They Have Good Size 14 and 16 Clothing: - Ann Taylor. Yes, Ann Taylor is NOT cheap, but they have ridiculous sales. When I enter their store, I go straight to the sale section. I have found $150 trousers for $29.99, cashmere sweaters for $40, and some of the best made tee shirts for only $9. You can't head to an Ann Taylor sale rack expecting to have success, but every time I do visit a mall, I stop in their Ann Taylor. You never know what you may find! Another great thing about Ann Taylor is that their sizing is pretty consistent. If you try on a size 16 dress in blue at the store but wish for it in green, you can pretty much guarantee that if you order it online it will fit. They have a couple specific cuts of trousers in their stores, so if you know you fit great in their Signature cut, you can order it season after season online in new fabrics and slightly different leg openings. The Ann Taylor Web site has a more extensive size selection than the stores (online they go up to size 18 and XXL in petite, regular and tall). I have found that Ann Taylor stores in metropolitan areas or large malls will have more of these sizes in stock (people will return unwanted online purchases). Also Ann Taylor is a retailer that still (usually!) has good customer service - befriend a sales associate, show that you are a serious customer, and they will be known to put things on hold in your size and call you when they are available. By the way, Ann Taylor isn't all suits and cocktail dresses - I have found great jeans, tees, sweaters and casual knits at this store. Nine times out of ten, what I buy at Ann Taylor is still in great shape a couple years later so I find the quality and style timeless and worth it! - Ann Taylor LOFT. Ditto everything previously stated about Ann Taylor... EXCEPT that they aren't as consistent with sizing (a 16 in one pant may not fit as well in another), and I haven't found as personalized of customer service in their stores. I used to buy a lot from LOFT but these days I find the color schemes to not quite be my personal tastes, and their styles to not be as classic/clean as I like. However if you have a more sporty or feminine style you may have a ton of luck at LOFT. - Gap. Gap is really wacky with their sizing, most things seem to run large. I have size 14 Long & Leans and they end up too big by the end of the day. Their petites are too short for me, their regulars too long, but I often find some true gems there, and they have a very extensive size range. I like Gap because I can find basic pieces there and the quality is usually pretty decent. Recdently I have found some nice cashmere-blend cardigans in rich colors that did well in the washing machine on the gentle cycle and then hung overnight to dry. They always have cute knits that are more interesting than the boring tee shirt (right now they have two henley styles in stock that are cute, come in some fun colors and stripes, and look great with jeans or casual pants and a cami or tank underneath), and they are usually well made. And like Ann Taylor, Gap often has a goldmine of a sale department. Sometimes all you find are shell-pink colored XS tee shirts, but sometimes you will find an online return of a woman just your size and shape and end up grabbing five pieces for under $100. Gap's Web site has even more sizes and styles, and they are always having some promotion for X percentage off or free shipping. Sign up for their emails and you will always be in the know when they are having a reat promotion - that is always when I stock up. - Old Navy. I have a love/hate relationship with Old Navy. I have some things from there that I adore (yoga pants, a couple dresses, a pair of shorts) and some things I despise (pretty much anything I have ordered from their Web site over the past six months). That being said, Old Navy has a great range of sizes (especially online), they often take popular trends and make them budget-friendly, and they use simple fabrics which means they are kid-friendly, dog-friendly, and washing machine-friendly. Old Navy has no consistency with sizing though. You could order 6 pairs of jeans in the same wash and size and they would all fit differently. You could order two of the same tee shirt in the same color, size and fabric and not only would they fit differently, one may be see-through and one may feel almost spongey because the knit is so thick. No rhyme or reason. It is truly hit or miss. That being said, they too often have great promotions and free shipping online so it's a great place to find cheap summer dresses, tank tops and loungewear that is fun looking and fits your size. And once in a while, you may find quite a gem. - Caslon for Nordstrom. Nordstrom? That is NOT budget-friendly! However the Caslon brand at Nordstrom is quite reasonably priced and usually from very good quality materials. Caslon clothing comes in petites and plus sizes, and their sizing is pretty generous (I usually purchase a Large instead of an XL). Caslon makes simple pieces in rich colors that always have some little detail that keeps them from being boring. They also do a great job at taking current trends and making them wearable and budget-friendly. The Caslon line is usually found on the second floor of your local Nordstrom store, and mixed in with other brands. I have had the best luck online because there is a more organized and extensive selection and more sizes available. Nordstrom is now offering reviews of their products so you can often find out from other customers how an item fits or feels. I personally keep my shopping choices as simple as my wardrobe - searching high and low in various stores in the mall only makes me exhausted and feeling fat and awkward. I do a lot of online shopping so I can try items on with the wardrobe I already own, the proper shoes, the proper undergarments, flattering lighting. I am less likely to buy something out of desperation or frustration, and less likely to get home with buyer's remorse. I do a lot of Virtual Window Shopping where I will look at an item, place it in the Web site's shopping cart and then leave it there for a couple hours or even a day or two. I will look at my current wardrobe and stop and think - will this work with what I have? Is this something I need? What are the washing instructions - will it sit in my trunk for three weeks until I get to the dry cleaners? Once I have determined that I like it and think it will be a good purchase, I often look for the same item on other sites so I can see how it fits on differnt models. That which looks adorable and work-appropriate on one model may look tight and club-like on another. I also google the item because you can often find reviews on style blogs of a popular item from a store like Gap or J. Crew. So readers, if you are a size 16, what are your favorite places to shop? Where do you have luck? |
February 5, 2010
Wear to Shop for Size 16?
Friday
Today will probbaly be a short one, as that there is to be a major snowstorm in the DC area that will start around lunchtime. The Federal government (AKA most of my clients) is shutting down four hours early, so my afternoon assignments may be postponed. My boss said that once the snow starts to fall I can head home and work off my laptop if necessary. Anyway, I am rocking the red for National Wear Red Day! For those who have been reading for a long time, you will recognize my red crepe jersey dress from Maggy London. This baby fit me in my first trimester (and a bit of the second) of pregnancy, the postpartum period, before Emerson was even a twinkle in my eye, and now. I love the fun pockets and how utterly comfortable it is. I am wearing it with my black tights (Spanx Tight End) and black patent Mary Janes from Mee Too. I am wearing a black elastic headband and decided to keep the red going with DuWop lipstick in Private Red (I paired with black liquid liner for a clean look). So ladies, let me see your red! Let me see how you are showing your support and standing up against heart disease. Send me a comment or an email with a link to your blog post, a URL to your picture online, or whatever you have where you are supporting National Wear Red Day! I will update this blog post all day with the new links that I receive. Happy Friday everyone! Fellow Fabulous Bloggers in Red: - Becky at Gilding the Frilly - Chelsea at Bright Side Dweller - Evandine at Stumble into Style - Fashionaddict at Fashion for the Economically Challenged - Andie at What Andie Wears - Laniza in Getting Fine in '09 |
February 4, 2010
Thursday
Gosh, I was running late this morning. I just wasn't feeling myself and had a hard time cracking down and staying on schedule. This is the "I didn't do my hair today" look - I let it air dry with a bit of Frederik Fekkai Luscious Curls and it ended a bit crunchy/product-y so I turned my head upside-down, blasted it with the dryer once dry, and scrunched a bit to break apart the crunchy curls. Two barettes/clips hold back the bangs. Not the best look for me, but better than crunchy bedhead! Here I am at work just now. I am wearing my black ruffle-trim wrap cardigan from Caslon, an olive ribbed tank from J. Crew, two green beaded necklaces from New York & Company, my silver cuff, black trousers from Semantiks and my black city boots from David Tate. Again I am thankful for a small wardrobe so I can get dressed in such a jiffy. This outfit was literally chosen and put on in less than five minutes. |
February 3, 2010
Wednesday
Last night it snowed. The world freaked out and most school systems were shut down. However it was maybe an inch or two, didn't get icy and was easy to brush off cars and drive over. I decided to wear my boots to work to protect against the slush. I am wearing my newish black cowl-neck sweater from Ann Taylor, my black cami from Second Base, dark straight-leg jeans from Not Your Daughter's Jeans, my tan "Bern" boots from DUO. Brushed gold necklace from Ann Taylor and bracelet from Twisted Silver. And that is Cindy, one of our inherited/adopted dogs. Monday I wore my blue cowl neck merino sweater from Ann Taylor with my black pants from Semantiks. Yesterday I wore my black tank from Banana Republic, berry colored cardigan from Gap, gray flannel trousers from Ann Taylor, my gray funky shoes from Miz Mooz, and my black statement necklace from Ann Taylor. |
February 1, 2010
Friday - Go Red for Women
| This Friday, February 5 is National Wear Red Day. Stand up and speak against heart disease by wearing red this Friday. I know I will be rocking the red this Friday - will you? Post a link in the comments to your blog or JPG of you rocking your stylish red and I will put it in my post this Friday. Lets band together as women and show our support. Let's not stop with the Internet - Consider organizing a Wear Red Day at your workplace, with your faith-based organization, at your community center or even in your own home. Speak up. Inspire your friends, neighbors, coworkers and family members to show their support for the fight against heart disease! For more information: Go Red for Women - Official Facebook Page National Wear Red Website Go Red for Women Online Store Donate to Go Red For Women |
Oh Yes I Have Caught the Fever...
... and I am not ashamed to share it with my daughter. And I KNOW many of you know what book this is. Hopefully some of you also know what CD cover she is holding as well. I held off on reading this book for a very long time. My sister finally passed her well-worn and well-passed around copy to me. I started reading it and found it poorly written, juvenile, boring. Then around page 120 I caught myself cheesing like a fool on the Metro. I was giddy, I was excited, and I secretly wished for a train delay so I could read for a little bit longer. This weekend was full of soft knits and cozy sweaters - we hunkered down, stayed inside all weekend except for a few minutes where we took bundled Emerson outside to experience big fat fluffy snowflakes falling on her face. |
Ebates - Save 20% at Old Navy
| If you have been reading my blogs for a while, you know how much I love Ebates. Ebates is a site where you sign up for free, and if you shop through their site to popular retailers, you will get cash back, like a rebate. You can receive anything from 1% to 20% back on your purchases, which comes to you in an actual check four times a year. I have made over a thousand dollars with Ebates over the past two years - all my online shopping, be it with Gap, Drugstore.com, Diapers.com, Target, Ann Taylor, FTD, Nordstrom, even eBay I do first through Ebates. Ebates also tracks many coupon deals on their site, so when you visit a shop's page on Ebates, you will also be notified of many promotions for discounts and free shipping that are taking place (I also visit retailmenot.com before checking out of any online shop to ensure I have the best coupons). Well February 1-4, Ebates is offering 20% cash back on any purchases at Old Navy! This is after any coupons and deals you have for the store. You can't beat this deal! Visit Ebates, sign up (if you haven't already) and save 20% on your purchases at Old Navy! |
January 29, 2010
Thursday
Thursday was Bring Your Emerson to Work Day... My husband and Emerson showed up right after the Webinar finished so I could give them a tour of my office (and show off my baby). I locked my computer and let her go crazy on the keyboard and she LOVED it. My husband brought me a gorgeous floral arrangement of roses and snapdragons (my favorite). We left work and went to our local sushi spot for Happy Hour: We came home, my sister came by a little later with carrot cake (another favorite) and we hung out for a bit until I was glamorous enough to fall asleep on the couch prior to 10pm. It was a good birthday! |
January 28, 2010
Happy Birthday to Me!
Today I am 35 years old, and I feel okay about it. This morning when I was struggling to find something fun and "birthday-like" in my wardrobe I did feel a bit matronly. I didn't like any of my clothes, my hair isn't acting nice, I feel as though I look... well like a 35 year old mom. But then I got dressed and my sister took me to Starbucks and we had a fun commute to work and now I am on a Webinar and being inundated with happy birthday messages on Facebook and in email and I feel so much better. |
January 27, 2010
This Week...
Monday: |
January 26, 2010
New Additions...
While waiting for my sister to drive home on Friday (we commute to work together and we ended up leaving work at the same time Friday night) I stopped into Ann Taylor. |
Saturday
Saturday I attended a baby clothing and goods swap in town so I wore my Long & Lean jeans from the Gap and a new black cowl-neck sweater I got off the sale rack at Ann Taylor on Friday night. Paired with black city boots and hoops. Here's a closeup of my shoes... And here's how I felt at the last of the night... designated driver and a babysitter made Allie a very happy gal! |
January 22, 2010
Thank You
I cannot believe the wonderful comments you all have written with my recent post. Each time one would show up in my Inbox I would be near tears. |
My Current Wardrobe
My current work schedule is unpredictable – I am at work when a client needs me which means I sometimes leave the house at 5am. Having a baby who still nurses and a husband I would like to see when not comatose by my side in bed, it doesn’t give me much time to think about creative outfits. My wardrobe has become more and more simple, and has become smaller to make a quick morning getaway all the more simple and with less room for style error. |
January 14, 2010
Why I Don’t Write Here…
I still love fashion. I still find it terribly important to care about what you look like. I still feel that every woman can be stylish regardless of size, shape, age, budget or lifestyle. I still feel that more women who are my shape and are my income level should have style blogs. |




















