Fashionista; size 14.

How to find the perfect blush and lip color

2009-11-28T06:48:00.000-08:00

I realize that this is not a beauty blog, but since it is my only anonymous blog, I'm posting this tip here. Mostly, I'm afraid to tell this tip to my friends because it's embarrassing, but I still think it should be known.

Take a cell phone picture of your vagina after orgasm, with plenty of light. Use photoshop's eyedropper tool to extract colors from various parts of it, and paint those onto a blank drawing. Put the drawing full of your vagina's colors on your cell phone and bring it with you to the cosmetics store. Pick lip and blush colors that match those colors.

You will never find a more perfect match for your skin.

Evening Dress needed

2009-06-06T15:20:00.001-07:00

Bah!

I am currently bemoaning the lack of plus sized evening dress/cocktail dress options available to go with my new Louboutin Glitters.

Am I really the only person with this problem?

2008-10-30T13:47:00.000-07:00

Was just rewatching style.com's highlights from ss09 Lanvin and caught this great quote:

"I want uniqueness I want individuality I want to see faces I want to see wrinkles I want to see overweight people. I want to see everything and [... ?] fake will go and real will come."

- Alber Elbaz

He's such a cutie.

Fall Trends

2008-10-01T10:11:00.000-07:00

It's shaping up to be a warmer-than-usual Fall and guess what that means? Sweater jackets. Basically, big bulky extra warm cardigans. I've picked up two or three already and they are love. Wear one with one of your more neutral toned summer shift dresses and some thick stockings and you've gotten yourself a quick and cheap wardrobe conversion from summer to fall. If your dress is sleeveless, remember to either bring a thinner cardigan with you to the office or to wear one under the bulky cardigan. Remember when Karl Lagerfeld was promoting the wearing of two cardigans together for Chanel a few years back? Yeah, it's still cute.

Argyle, cables, penny-loafers, and boat shoes (for fall) seem to be big trends right now too. Mixing grey with brown is in.

The purple trend is getting to me. I've been a purple lover all my life, but now that people are trending towards it I am thinking of giving it up. Entirely. Be careful with this one: easy small accessories are good, but making yourself look like Barney is BAD BAD BAD. Still, my purple metallic Chanel reissue is LOVE and it does look great when I wear all black.

Also out is having a different bag for each day of the week. I am uber-guilty of this, but it just doesn't jive with the recession dressing we should all be thinking about.

Given what NYC looked like in the 70s, I would also advise investing in a safe. If you don't have insurance, the sooner you do this the better. I can fit my entire Louboutin and Chanel collection into a safe that cost around $700. Some safes come with insurance for your goods too, so shop around.

I wanted to do a bigger post but things are BUSY BUSY BUSY. The economy may be failing but there is still plenty of work.

Banana Republic contest.

2008-08-11T15:42:00.001-07:00

Ever stylish, cool, and casual; Banana Republic is having a daily contest to win a $250 shopping spree. I am a long time fan of their inexpensive, high quality items. Their jeans fit me just right and their styles are always on-season. They are one of the few mall chain stores I will shop at because in my experience their clothes hold up for years. Check it out here.

Tory Burch has really grown on me.

2008-08-04T18:04:00.001-07:00

In the beginning I thought her designs were obtrusive and unnecessary. The big glaring gold cross on simple black ballet flats? I'll never wear them. But some of her newer things I LOVE LOVE LOVE.

Take for example, the Happy Hobo and Clutch bags. The logo gently blends into the surrounding happily colorful dots:

And psychadelic prints? Normally they are just not a part of my repertoire, but Tory's twist on them feels classic chic. Something I can wear to the office, the beach, and a party all in one day. I know the words "classic" and "psychadelic" don't normally intermix, but somehow Tory does it! She's just THAT talented!

And yes of course they come in size 14.

At this point I literally want to sing her praise. Thank goodness for a designer that actually gets it! Tory you're amazing. I didn't understand your unique spin at first, but the bright unusual colors and larger than life logo are finally speaking to me. You have serious talent dear woman.

Available via Neiman Marcus.

Edited to mention:
I only have the brown zorra top, above. It fits great. I can't back the sizing on the other size 14 items, including the bottoms and the dress.

Hot shorts that aren't hot pants?

2008-07-08T11:27:00.001-07:00

I have a few pair of those Juicy sweatpants that I wear in the fall and winter to work out in. I love them. Super comfy, super cute. They make me feel good working out.

Well ever since summer hit, I'm still wearing these long terry pants to the gym. I survive because it's air conditioned, but I would be much more comfortable if I was wearing shorts.

I've considering going back to my old gym shorts -- those ugly brightly colored drawstring acetate-like-material things. I've considered wearing bermuda shorts. But instead I just wait until the sun is low before donning my pants and departing for the gym.

So the other day I went on a quest to buy new gym shorts. Fashionable ones.

Apparently in this backward world, that equates to hot pants. At least it does if you're shopping Juicy Couture. Now, nevermind that they aren't sold in my size: why in the world would an ordinary girl wear hot pants EVER? Do some people honestly think they look good in these types of shorts? The only thing I can think is that they must look good on you if you're Shorty McShort Short like a preteen, in which case they look longer on you than they're intended to.

Please tell me, oh fashionable world, is there an answer? Are there fashionable short options available that aren't hot pants made of terry?

This sums up my fat-philosophy pretty well.

2008-07-06T20:55:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine sent me a link to this video on YouTube.

I really love what this video has to say.

I am NOT unhealthy.
I work out every other day.
50% of American women are a size 14.
I refuse to let the haters bring me down!

That certain something.

2008-06-30T17:38:00.001-07:00

The coutorture girls posted this shot of the Dior Haute Couture show. I am simply in awe of Galliano's brilliance. Oh Dior!

And the grommets!

Ugh, please tell me this hat costs less than a car.

DVF

2008-05-29T08:22:00.000-07:00

Hey Size 14s,

Have you looked at Diane Von Furstenberg's dresses?

http://www.dvf.com

In the past when I've tried her dresses on at Neimans, they only went up to a 12 and just didn't fit me right, but apparently on the web site she sells in size 14 as well. I can't tell you how happy this makes me. I've been a fan of her classic styles for ages and I've always been jealous of the girls that can wear them. Silly me for not checking the website or I would have discovered she does carry my size!

Don't forget to enter her the contest to win a DVF shopping spree while you're at it! http://inside.dvf.com/sweeps/

Although it looks like most of the good stuff is out of stock.

xoxo,
Your size 14 fashionista.

Personal Style: Grommets and Eyelets

2008-05-13T08:27:00.000-07:00

When I was a little girl I got a pair of white strappy sandals. They were flat, and covered with flowers that had grommets in the center.

Being white they quickly dirtied, but I liked them just the same.

Now that I'm older I'm realizing that I have a thing for grommets and eyelets in my clothes. Whether decorative or used to string a tie through, there's just something so feminine about them.

Some people like spikes. Some people like buttons. Some people like snaps.

Apparently I have a thing for grommets.

Now, I could understand if eyelets and grommets were a trend. If rock stars were covered in them. But clearly this is one of those things left over from my youth. Apparently my sense of personal style and fashion originates from that time.

Shoe therapy needed.

2008-04-16T20:54:00.001-07:00

Today was lame! It was an everything-that-could-go-wrong-will-go-wrong day. I don't want to talk about it.

I am currently vegging out with popcorn watching Anderson Cooper, because he's a cutie and makes even terrible situations seem happier.

But what would really make me happy?

If I could find a pair of these:

in size 40.
I should have bought them when I had the chance.
Now they're sold out everywhere!!
Life is tough.

The things we do for fashion.

2008-04-14T10:10:00.000-07:00

I'm learning how to sew. So far I made a very simple pencil skirt. But it's cute and doesn't scream "home made"!

SS08 - A selection.

2008-03-31T21:58:00.000-07:00

These are a few of the looks I'm in love with for SS08:

You can't really go wrong with a smocked waist dress. I love the flirty, off-the-shoulders sleevelettes. And the sassy stripes. I've been wearing peasant skirts and maxi dresses for a few years now and I find that they're generally comfortable, even in 90 degree beach weather, because air flows freely through them. Though, I would warn against wearing this sort of thing in downtown Chicago or certain windy districts in NYC -- that is, unless you want to show everyone your underpants!

I actually ordered this Blugirl dress. It's terribly cute and puffs out in all the right places. The embellishments are a little over-the-top, but that's what I like about it! The shaping on this dress is extremely flatterring for large chested girls, but the sleeveless look can make a girl self conscious. Nevertheless, it will be a really great dress once summer hits. Wear a really good slip though, because the fabric is revealing!

I suppose this goes without mentioning. BUT If you do not own a pencil skirt, get thee to a mall! Get one that fits the waist and hips well: not too snug, make sure you can walk in it, but make sure it's not more than 3" loose around the hips. I like mine to fall just below the knees. This is just a really classic shape for a skirt and pencil skirts are practically married to high heels, which is another of the trends that are BIG BIG BIG right now. Great look for work and dinner.

I avoided Louboutins for a while. Mostly the narrowness of the shoes, the lack of availibility, and the inconsistent sizing prevented purchase of them. However, I now own these Declics and I can attest to their virtues. Sure the 4" heel is, well, difficult to maneuver if you're not accostumed to such lofty ambitions, but ultimately I think the reaction on my husband's face made it all worthwhile. The nude shades go with just about everything. Louboutin offers several shades of nude and I recommend getting one that matches your skin tone or the tone of your panty hoes. It doesn't matter what the rest of your outfit looks like when you have these on--trust me!

Gosh I want these! They're completely impractical, but I love them. Um yeah. They make the cut for my SS08 picks. No explanation needed.

Marc Jacobs is making bags with SILVER HARDWARE again!!! Hooray! I like this pink-orange/coral/peach color just tons and tons. It's the perfect last-all-summer bag. And really, spring/summer just begs for a little color splash. A colorful bag is a great way to spruce up all the beige, white, and off-white sitting in your closet from last season. Pair with some low key pink/terra-cotta/peach lipgloss, some peach bronzer-blush, and some brown lashes.

I love this clutch for almost all the same reasons I love the MJ bag, except that I think summer time is great for clutches. For some reason I always end up carrying less in the summer, and you can stick clutches in your beach tote.

And last but not least, I have to give Rafe some love. This is just so terribly feminine and flirty. The other colors don't do it for me like the white one does. It's like summertime lace and farmer-boy romances, paired with a nice cool iced tea and an old fashioned hand fan, with a rocking chair on quiet porch.

It's nice to see this sort of image in marketing

2008-01-19T23:16:00.001-08:00

Props to the Budget Fashionista for taking time to note this beautiful image. I would like to see more marketing campaigns with this sort of sexy plus-sized looks "baring it all" but still looking hott! Sex sells and the best way to give plus sized girls an image of beauty is to highlight their sex appeal. Way to go.

In an unrelated note: I'm going to fashion week in two weeks! I'll be in the tents at Bryant Park. The shows I'm attending don't really apply to this blog and I'll be working in an official capacity for another magazine, but I'm super excited and sort of freaking out on what to wear.

Because I just got some new Chanel shoes, out comes this classic:

2007-12-07T11:57:00.001-08:00

I don't care anymore. Is this what they call 'finding your personal style'?

2007-11-21T18:37:00.000-08:00

Have you ever reached a point where you personally feel that you just don't care anymore what other people are wearing because you're ok with yourself?

I'm just saying that I'm pretty satisfied. I *think* this means that I have developed a personal style.

It's not that I won't change in the future, it's just that at the moment I feel pretty happy with my style. It's not confidence, so much as lack of caring. Sure there are people that own things I don't, but what I do own fits me well. It just works, you know?

Is this the end for me with style? Have I run out of fashion? HAVE I REACHED THE END OF THE INTERNET? Just joking.

I guess that at some point I need to face my weight issue and take on my aging skin.

I've heard La Mer is good -- I might be giving it a test run soon. Most of the reports I've read say sun screen is the most important thing.

So that's it. We'll see. Maybe I'll change my mind in a month and be fixing for a total change of style.

Shopbop FTW

2007-10-31T09:55:00.000-07:00

I normally don't shop at shopbop. Something about their size 00 models and their size 12 cut-off on clothing sort of bothers me. But a while back, I *had* to get some Frye boots and shopbop was having a sale. Don't ask me why. Just some sort of obsession with big clunky boots. No, I am not stuck in the 90s. Moving along...

I bought some Frye Engineer boots from Shopbop and have subsequently been getting their emails. Shortly after purchase, I received an email coupon from them for 20% off my next purchase.

And since I am still looking for a good fall jacket and the air around here has gotten somewhat crisper, I took advantage of their sale.

Meet my new Charlotte Ronson jacket (with detachable sleeves no less!):

I bought the size L, but the body is HUGE. The sleeves barely fit though, so I will not be sizing down. If you have thin arms and a big body, this is the jacket for you. Also, there's no way to fit a big bulky sweater underneath the arms of this jacket, so I'm going to be wearing a lot of button up shirts and lightweight cardigans underneath. Clearly this is a fall-only jacket.

Things I like about my new jacket:
-It's cute.
-Detachable sleeves!
-Great color of charcoal
-Many different ways to wear it
-It's been seen on Miranda in the new SATC movie

Things I'm not totally sure about yet:
-The sleeves are the delimiting factor on size, not the body.
-The body is super-super-oversized
-Potentially this jacket could look funny if worn wrong
-Will not take me into winter, this is strictly a fall jacket.

Miranda:

I have been trying different things out with this jacket, but the belt thing Miranda sports just isn't working for me. Buttoning the collar and flipping it over like a turtleneck seems to work well, as does buttoning just the top button under the collar. I think mostly I will just wear it open though, with my Chanel classic flap hanging down longways at my side.

I think maybe I need some Louboutins to wear with this jacket?

p.s. I hate that the only things I can buy from shopbop are accessories, shoes, purses, and jackets. I'm sure it's not their fault -- the designers just don't make larger sizes, but it still pisses me off.

In which I go coat shopping.

2007-09-18T19:42:00.000-07:00

I tried on the DKNY coat I had previously been considering tonight and it looks like crap on me. I am hereby retracting it from my fall favorites list.

I also tried on this fantastic coat from Marc New York:

The felt is really thick and warm, not at all flimsy. And the funnel neck can also be worn as a normal neck if you just fasten the bottom button and fold at the neck. So it makes for a versatile jacket. I think the felt on it should hold up really well over time too. I tried it on at Macy's and it was listed as being $450 in the store. But I came home and did a little searching and found that Bloomies is carrying what I believe to be the same coat for $200 less. It can't be the same coat, can it?

I also tried on and was really impressed with the quality of these heeled oxfords:

They're made by Circa Joan & David and they have really sturdy heels, leather bottoms, comfortable and well constructed sides. And they're just cute.

A few of my favorite things (for fall)

2007-08-29T16:12:00.001-07:00

This fall my wardrobe is losing its colors. I'm focusing on black, grey, darker grey, and darker black, not to mention light grey, and heathered grey too. Call me inspired: I watched the YSL show and was just frozen shot-still at the sight of it. For me this fall it's going to be chunky silver hardware, texture, shine, and a lack of color. That doesn't mean walking around like a goth. The key for me seems to be contrast: I will probably get a nice heather grey jacket, some black oxfords, carry my black chanel timeless clutch, and wear everything else in varying shades of grey.

My shopping list? Amazingly, it is devoid of actual YSL items! I'm sure I will pick up something from the runway, but for now I'm just fixating on a lack of color.

- A signature jacket in a nice heather grey or black(not your average pea coat but something with unique tailoring, assuming the tailoring isn't too eye-catching I believe this will work well)

(DKNY, Rebecca Taylor, Marc by Marc Jacobs)

- Black patent flats (no peep toes! that's far too cold for fall)

(Chloe, Marc Jacobs, Dior)

- Heeled Oxfords/Spectator pumps (Again with the ixnay on the peeptoe ayyy! Oxfords are a great work style and peep toes are just too sexy for that, unless you're a magical sexy librarian that doesn't need to climb ladders or stools to put away books!)

(Dolce & Gabbana, Linea Paolo, Marc Jacobs)

- Textured clutches (such as quilting on leather, some interesting fabric, or a textured coloration)

(Bottega Veneta, Lauren Merkin, Marc Jacobs)

Well ok, so maybe I will throw in the occasional shock of crimson, plum, navy, or bronze. We'll see.

Here's some things I need to ponder further:
- I'm also craving crazy brightly colored striped socks. But not with flats or heels: probably with a simple black jean and some tsubos.
- Bags on long shoulder straps
- Wide leg pants
- Long necklaces with even weight distribution that saddle the middle of your neck such that one end hangs from both the front and the back
- Small sparkle here and there, to break up the black (buttons with gemstones, diamond studs, shiny silver buckles, etc)
- Whether it is more important to wear lots of bracelets or long gloves

It's going to be a crazy season. The options are incredible, difficult to sort through, and the possibility of mismatching items is far too tangible for some of my good-natured-but-deadly-get-up-get-dressed-quick mornings.

On Brand Loyalty and Laptops

2007-08-10T15:37:00.000-07:00

I have a fashion problem, well two actually.

For one thing, my closet is filled with unrelated items by many different fashion brands. That's what happens when you buy whatever the latest 'IT' item is.

I manage to piece together nice outfits well enough, but I still want to reorganize. Pair down my items and convert my wardrobe into usable items that intermix well. I've been thinking maybe Prada or Burberry might be a nice brand to camp with.

The real issue here isn't my need to reorganize my wardrobe though. My real issue is that I have to lug around a 5 pound, 15 inch wide laptop for work.

I lug it across airports, to client sites, to hotels; when I'm in town, I have to bring it to work every day and then bring it home every day in case I get deployed somewhere on emergency.

I have toyed with the concept of a stylish bag. One of those oversized purses that fits everything you own. I even bought a Chloe Edith with my laptop as the excuse. The problem? It gets messy mixing your bag in with your stuff. Most of these oversized purses don't have a little section for the laptop.

LV makes one of course, but it's a bit boxy and I'm not ready to convert my life over to little logos.

I have also begged my manager to purchase a smaller laptop for me. No luck. He apparently feels that the large screen equates to better productivity.

I have about 6 of those ugly nylon/plastic/cloth rollable totes made for laptops. I hate every one of them and I want to throw them out.

What I really need is a cute classic bag that fits my laptop and has a separate section for all my stuff, with a comfortable shoulder pad and rollers that retract/hide when I'm not using them. It's a lot to ask, I know. It's even harder when you take into consideration my first requirement: that the bag be one of the classic fashion brands, so that I can reorganize my wardrobe around it.

Seriously, this laptop thing is killing me.
Or maybe just my back and my outfits.

p.s.

2007-07-24T08:01:00.001-07:00

Manolo for the Big Girl!!!

How exciting!

On being called fat.

2007-07-24T07:37:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's just me, but I think anyone can be called fat. You are fat if you have fat on your body, which we all do.

What bothers people about being called fat is not that they have fat, since everyone does, but rather it is the implication that they have been designated as being "too fat." It is an implied subjective analysis of their physical state that bothers people.

Let's face it, people don't go willy nilly telling others they are fat unless either
A) the person is fat enough that some "social standard" has been violated
or
B) they're insecure about themselves and just taking it out on the other party

It's not right of course and I'm not saying it is.

The only occasion when I feel comfortable playing the fat card is when a person is already putting down 'fat people.' Almost everybody is self-conscious about their weight, so really it's just a pot-kettle argument.

And it's such a sensitive subject that I even feel uncomfortable talking about it on here. I prefer to sticking to news about fashion that us size 14 girls can wear, but due to recent events in my life I had to say it:
People who live in glass houses should not be throwing stones! STFU n00b!

In which I bemoan British sizing and lust after Topshop dresses.

2007-07-16T12:19:00.000-07:00

Topshop has released a selection of vintage British high fashions, redone for today's "boho" crowd. Rumor-mill has it that future items will include classics by Dior, Chloe, and Lanvin!

But looking at this collection, my only real thought is:
"Hey, isn't that the dress Harry's mother wore in that picture given to a Harry by Sirius in the Order of the Phoenix movie???"
I wonder if I could pull it off.
Oh wait, it only comes in UK size 8 (ugh!). Yeah, I don't think I was EVER a 32" bust, even at the age of 12.

PLEASE Topshop, please oh please release these dresses in larger sizes!

p.s. If anyone tries to comment with book 7 spoilers, I will crucio your ass through the veil.

p.s.s. I wore this to the Order of the Phoenix movie release and got tons of compliments!

What is it about the British?

2007-06-29T11:40:00.000-07:00

It seems they get everything that's anything good these days. Their music, their fashion, their princes... if there is anywhere I want to live besides Brooklyn, London would be it.

This post over at Fashionista.com has me ridiculously happy:

Ditto For Me

[...] This October, she's been chosen by young British designer Christopher Kane to represent him and perform in his clothes at the Swarovski Fashion Rocks for the Prince's Trust gala.

What make this so cool is that not only is Beth sexy and talented;

she's a size 20.

It's great that Christopher would rather see a woman like Beth rocking his designs than someone like Victoria Beckham, who recently tried to borrow one of his dresses--

and was turned down by the designer. She ended up buying the Chris Kane dress herself. [...] (Read the rest of the fashionista.com post.)

Hey, who can tell me where to buy Chris Kane in nyc?

In other news, my second Anya bag is on its way to me, thanks to my fabulous UK hookup. When the Whole Foods release occurs and I get the blue one, I'll post pics of my Anya bag family. <3

oh Karl, you stupid fartface

2007-06-29T09:10:00.000-07:00

"There is something distasteful about their inability to control themselves. To be thin takes control and rigour." - Karl Lagerfeld

Karl, oh Karl, let me introduce you to a quote by a much more famous designer than even yourself:

"Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury."
Coco Chanel

And that, my dear friends, is why I'm not out getting plastic surgery, puking up my desert, and pretending that I don't like food.

Kate in a fucking jar? Indeed.

2007-06-17T19:26:00.000-07:00

Well, I did it. I went and spent $$$ on a skin product because my acne just will not quit. Ever since I moved to an area with hard water, my skin hates me.

I've been using the Kate Somerville Glow Kit for three weeks now, and I am happy to report that my face is CLEAR! Bam!

I wash with Noxema every morning, and the Kate daily gentle wash every night. After each wash I apply the deep tissue repair with peptide k8 all over my face and the line release under eye treatment under my eyes. On Saturdays during the day and Tuesdays at night, I apply the Kate in a Jar.

It seems like a bit much for a skin regimen, but I desperately needed it.

Kate has yet another believer.

Maggy London's Super Flattering Dress

2007-05-22T10:12:00.000-07:00

I'm really loving this super-flattering dress by Maggy London. I have to go to a wedding soon and it's usually a very stressful thing for me to find a cute dress. But with a dress like this, I could imagine myself being in a wedding party.

And they make smaller sizes of this dress, so your bridesmaids could all wear the same wedding dress.

Via Nordstroms for $158.

Neimans sale deals in size 14...

2007-05-20T19:21:00.000-07:00

I already picked the sale items over a bit, but there are some good deals here on size 14 designer goods. I noticed some St. John's trousers and a Burberry turtleneck.

Also, here's a neat trick I picked up from Purse Forum today: do a google search for

site:neimanmarcus.com NOW {designer} -"not available"

replace {designer} with the name of a designer, such as chloe or dior:

site:neimanmarcus.com NOW chloe -"not available"
site:neimanmarcus.com NOW dior -"not available"

It returns all the hidden sale items for that designer via google. Thanks google!

I noticed some Manolos hidden in there!

Also, until the end of may you can use the checkout code of MAYSHIP to get free shipping, if your order is over $150.

Manolo's Shoe Contests

2007-05-18T12:41:00.000-07:00

Manolo is holding a "build the outfit" contest. He provides a picture of some super-fantastic shoes, and we the avid readers build an outfit to go with those shoes.

I'm in love! The first round just ended and the entries were amazing.

Well anyways, it looks like he's thinking of doing a contest in which the outfit being designed must fit and look good in sizes 14 and up. I think this is a great idea! If you think so too, go say so.

Negligence of my Negligee

2007-05-12T11:21:00.000-07:00

I have to admit to a dirty secret: I spend $$$ on clothes and accessories, but I can't even be bothered to go buy negligee once a decade.

Yes, that's right: a decade.

That's how long it's been since the last time I bought a bra that fit.

The last time I bothered to have myself measured.

So I guess I shouldn't be surprised that I went up an entire cup size. I mean, women usually go up a cup size after college, right?

Everytime a girl walks into a bra shop, they should be stopped and measured. Just for good measure.

I've been buying bras the wrong size for the last 9 or so years!!! Oh the horror.

Also, the girls they hire at Cacique are the best. Seriously.

2007-04-13T04:33:00.000-07:00

I've been saying it was genetic for years.

Shape round-up

2007-04-05T06:13:00.000-07:00

A few articles on shape, for those interested:

Glamour Grrl's Fashion For All Shapes and Sizes

About.com's Dress for Your Body Type

Faking Good Breeding's Shapeshifting

Erica B's What's your shape?

And for good measure, Too Fat for Fashion posted a review of Vogue's Shape Issue, which is sitting on my table right now.

If you know of any good ones, post more shape articles and websites in the comments!

What is shape?

2007-04-04T09:40:00.000-07:00

Let's talk about online clothes shopping for a moment here. I have an incredibly hard time buying clothes online! I buy them, they come, they don't fit right!

A lot of people out there think they can put a stop to this fiasco of "fitting blindly" with a concept called shape.

Supposedly if you understand your shape, you can figure out what kinds of clothes will complement your figure more easily.

We've already had discussions about how the standard sizing systems don't work because they are often not standard and are in fact arbitrary. I've always thought the truth was much more elusive.

There are tests out there that focus on waist to hip ratio as the defining factor of shape, like this BMI calculator site does: http://www.bmi-calculator.net/waist-to-hip-ratio-calculator/ - I have seen this 'apple' / 'pear' definition used over and over again in magazines and blogs, but it's never worked for me. Some people call it "apple, pear, banana" and some call it "triangle, square, circle".

Other sites try to break it down into their own definitions of shape:
http://www.myshape.com/content/shape_matters - interesting, but complicated! I do like that the different shapes A-E seem to match to the limiting factor of your size (shoulders, bust, waist, hips) and pick out clothes that fit that section correctly.

Some designers pick silhouettes and give them names. Ann Taylor Loft and Banana Republic pants are both good examples of that. If you know the name of the silhouette you look good in for that brand and you know your size, you can usually pick out clothes that fit perfect without trying them on.

And then of course, who can forget the Gap's viral marketing campaign where you could design a replica of you on the website http://www.watchmechange.com/ and put different GAP clothes on it like a paper doll.

I've also recently seen something amazing! It's a department store that projects an image of the item you're considering onto a mirror that you're looking at. I doubt it's very effective at figuring out whether the item will fit you, but it's supposed to show you how the shape of the item would fit on your silhouette.

In the crazy future, maybe they will have machines that use lasers to measure you all over at once and pick out clothes based on your three dimensional size (as compared to the size of the clothes) and this elusive concept of what clothes look good on what shape!

So, here's my question for today: do you shop online? If so, does this 'shape' concept help you and work for determining what to buy?

p.s. Have you all seen the shape issue of Vogue that's out right now? I loved reading the section on Sally Singer and Ashley Graham. It seems they have the same problems with finding clothes that I do!

Who is your favorite for the everyday stuff?

2007-04-02T07:10:00.000-07:00

I want to know what other girls are wearing.

Tell me your favorite designer for basics/classics and why you love them in the comments.

(It doesn't have to be a designer, it could be a chain like Ann Taylor or Anthropologie!)

Lilac Love.

2007-03-30T10:34:00.000-07:00

I've been doing a bit of bargain shopping over the last few days.

I picked up the Chanel Timeless Clutch in black caviar. It retails for just under $1k, which is insanely cheap for Chanel purses.

I found the little lilac metallic wristlet at the Coach outlet for like $15 and immediately fell in love with the color. So I hit up Sephora and found a matching nail polish.

Sephora, oh Sephora! Take the time to talk to their consultants! I've been dealing with a breakout lately that's left me in need of a better concealer and they introduced me to "the eraser" by tarte. Best damn concealer I own. It's a liquid that applies like a pen.

Oh, and net-a-porter has pretty packaging doesn't it? I love the little black box. All I ordered was a ring but it came in such a pretty box. <3

---

I've been thinking about how this blog is supposed to be about fashion for size 14s, but it's really hard to not cover accessories. When I think about my wardrobe and what makes it glamorous, it's not the clothes it's the accessories. I try to stick to basics and classics with my clothes and then dress up my outfits with accessories.

Our sizing systems are outdated.

2007-03-26T20:52:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I was browsing the ready to wear at Marc Jacobs. Every item was listed as 0, 4, or 8, but they all fit exactly the same by most reports. Somehow I can fit into some of the "0" sized items, in certain styles. Because, well, either they're actually meant to fit like a house on real size 0 girls or MJ just doesn't understand the concept of size. I had thought this was a rarity in the world of fashion.

Until I was trying on a dress today and I had to try on three different sizes to get the right fit. I went with the 14p, then the 12p, then finally I fit in the 10. I am by no means a 10, so I have absolutely no idea what the designers were thinking.

And then it hit me that I run into this problem all the time, except it's usually the other way around. Usually items are listed as being larger sizes than they actually are, not smaller.

Being a knitter, I've seen many different guidelines used for laying out the standard sizes according to set measurements. The guidelines appear to change over time in the historical knitting books I have. Generally, they're accurate within a few inches over the years.

Obviously in the case of the freak Marc Jacobs shirt, it wasn't a simple problem of using an outdated sizing chart. But in the case of Ann Taylor Loft, well, I expect more. They have standards they maintain and adhere to and I usually fit their 14p perfectly in just about everything they sell.

Which brings me the the real point here. Why the heck are we still using arbitrary numbers to describe size? I understand that men's clothing has very little in the way of shaping, so the waist size is really all you need to determine pant size. Whereas we women have to worry about bust, waist, etc. The problem though is that I can never trust purchasing clothing online because nothing in the arbitrary numbers designers use to describe a size tells me exactly what size to pick.

Men use inches to describe their waist; why can't women?

Rafe Sample Sale in NYC

2007-03-26T13:34:00.000-07:00

Rafe is having a sample sale this week!

Just in time for my birthday. Aww how considerate! (Heh as if Rafe knew my birthday, I wish!)

Average is not equal.

2007-03-23T06:17:00.000-07:00

A few exerpts from a really great blog post that hits the nail on the head:

-"Big" implies a size above average, but the average female in the US has a height of 63.8 inches, a weight of 163 pounds, and her waist is 36.5 inches (circumference), which would be a size 14 or an XL; how can you even call her "Big" -- she's average.

-So here's yet another clear example of why retailing gets it all wrong. They don't stock the correct sizes in proportion to their customers. (Hey, just imagine how much money they'd make if they only stocked appropriately?)

-If retailers really thought their shoppers were beautiful and not 'big' freaks, they would create shopping environments which reflect this. They wouldn't keep trying to 'slim' the garments the average woman sees.

Amen!

Earworm fashion websites.

2007-03-21T11:08:00.000-07:00

Whatever you do, don't click on these links!

Stori Sac

Anne Fontaine

Because you'll never get the music out of your head.

Spring!

2007-03-21T10:30:00.000-07:00

Well, spring is officially here. And it is officially too snowy outside to wear sandals yet, which is of course the reason I'm drooling over these amazing Giuseppe Zanotti sandals:

(Left to right: Flower Toe Ring Thong, Silver Toe Ring Thong, Silver Chain Flats)

What does everyone think? Too flashy? Too flat? Too cute?
(Which pair should I buy?)

Winter's grand finale has ended, I sense spring on its way!

Kiss me I'm Irish ;)

2007-03-13T19:08:00.000-07:00

I'm craving Magnolia cupcakes, watching SATC, and missing NYC. I'm stuck in Boston this week and I'm booked every weekend for the next month.

But I have tickets to that Shecky's fashion thing tommorrow. Maybe it will give me a pick me up?

Well, at least I'm in Boston around St. Paddy's day.

Mixing Makeup Brands

2007-03-11T18:29:00.000-07:00

While getting my colors done, I had the SA tell me "the one thing you do not want to do is mix brands."

I don't really understand this statement. I have a Mary Kay foundation that looks amazing with a Chanel powder. The two look like they were made for one another. And frankly, the foundations from both Chanel and Mary Kay look to be the exact same color to me. So why can't I mix them? Is my nose going to fall off and my face turn green or something?

In other news, I bought yet more shoes.

What can I say, I guess I'm on a Dior kick lately.

A CK plus sized line?!?!?!

2007-03-07T03:49:00.000-08:00

Budget Fashionista reports that CK and Kors are both releasing plus sized lines at Macy's, Bloomies, and Lord and Taylor.

Is it just me, or does the thought of Calvin Klein making plus sized clothes seem a little hypocritical?

I've never really been a CK fan, but I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the Kors.

(Thanks Budget Fashionista for the heads up!)

Shoe Post!

2007-03-05T12:55:00.000-08:00

Yes, it is actually snowing outside and yes, I am actually building storage for my new spring shoes and playing dress up and thinking of spring.

Anyways, I took some pictures. It's difficult to take pictures of your own feet!

MyDior ballet flats:

Yes, I know ballet flats are last year's trend. Try and stop me from wearing them! Nya!

Via Spiga:

This picture shows off my need for a new pedicure.

Ann Taylor Loft:

These shoes were only $60. I *glide* in these babies, so I really hope that they hold up well.

At any rate, I have an appointment at the Chanel counter of Nordstroms. I'm getting a new spring look. Something simple and easy, I hope.

In which I am proven wrong.

2007-02-28T16:31:00.000-08:00

I've been under the false impression that Chanel does not carry any items in my size. I tried on an item or two at the 5th Ave boutique once and the largest sizes they had seemed to be around US size 10.

At any rate, today I hit up the Saks in St. Louis and found a suit that fits me perfect. Of course, it's Chanel's *largest* size! I guess I can't really complain though. It wasn't a style I particularly cared for, but it's nice to know I can get a Chanel suit in my size. Now I just need to find a Chanel boutique that sells the cute styles in my size.

At any rate, I went shopping today!

Picked up:
- Cream crochet cardi. (size L)
- Black peep-toe stack heels
- A bunch of Ann Taylor Loft pants. Their size 14P pant fits me *perfect.*

Oh, I also forgot to mention it but I just got the white MyDior ballet flats this past weekend. I'll post pictures this weekend when I get back from St. Louis.

At any rate, I snapped the heel on my Via Spigas and they're they only heels I have on this trip. So I was sort of forced to go shopping for new heels. Usually I don't buy "cheap shoes" because I don't want to have them fall apart on me, but I was surprised at how sturdy those Ann Taylor shoes were: I can basically run in them without worries. They feel more sturdy than Louboutins (but only time will tell the tale).

Sweater gals take good care.

2007-02-20T21:34:00.000-08:00

If you're like me, you have enough sweaters that you can wear one every day for two weeks without repeating. It's a problem, but I just can't help it: they're so compfy.

Many of my sweaters are labeled with the dread "Dry clean only" tag. If you're like me, getting out to the dry cleaners on a regular basis is one of those chores that never gets done (like regrouting tile).

So here is what I discovered from years of ruining sweaters in the wash:
1) Get a steam cleaner if you can. Several companies make small single-outfit steam cleaners. These are as good for sweaters as for suits, they work miracles on a wardrobe made of delicate items.
2) If it's cotton or acrylic then you can dry it in the dryer, unless it's flimsy or contains any of the wools listed in items 3-8.
(In fact, I reccommend drying acrylics in the dryer so that they don't stretch out.)
3) If it says it contains "wool" then you need to be extremely careful because you don't know what type of wool you're working with. General rule here is to wash in the washing machine on delicates in cold water and then lay flat to dry.
4) The following are just different types of wools: merino, mohair, cashmere, alpaca, shetland, etc. Shetland is the only one of these that you should not do the typical "wash on delicates in cold water and then lay flat to dry." I actually soak my shetland sweaters and rub a little detergent into the armpits while I'm at it.
5) If the wool is brittle/dry, agitation will likely cause it to shrink in the wash easier, so actually just wash it by hand.
6) If you're working with angora(bunny hair) or mohair, you might find that the item frizzes out after washing. If this is a problem, don't expose the item to the agitation of the washer. Just hand wash gently.
7) Silk is difficult to judge because it can be spun in different ways. Sometimes it is ok to wash silk in the wash, such as when it's spun strong. Sometimes it's a bad idea.
8) Any natural animal fiber will felt if you expose it to agitation at the same time as heat. This is why it's essential to wash these items on delicate cold. If you're unsure whether a particular fiber is animal, feel free to ask. Some natural animal fibers can be treated with chemicals: this is called "superwash" and it means it's ok to throw into the dryer. This is typical of socks, not so much of sweaters.

I know I'm leaving a few out.

In general just steam things if you can, failing that you can wash on delicate in cold water and lay flat to dry (if you hang wet sweaters, they may stretch).

Links!

2007-02-15T23:30:00.000-08:00

I've put up a blogroll on the righthand side of my blog. If you know of or run a blog that you think would be appropriate for me to link to, comment here and I'll consider it (especially if it deals with the same subjectmatter as I discuss here).

I'm also going to throw up some buttons on the left for my favorite sites and designers, but I'm building the list first.

Hope you all had a happy Valentine's Day <3!

Style Notes: It's in the bag.

2007-02-11T13:57:00.000-08:00

I am of the belief that classics are always fashionable, especially when mixed with more modern fashions. And regardless of size, well-fit classics look good on everyone. Handbags are my perennial example of classic style.

So, let's talk about handbags!

A good purse is the glue that holds together an outfit, a finishing touch of sorts. I pick purses that have details and shapes to match my outfits. A handbag (not a shoulderbag or a clutch), is a purse with smaller straps that should be held at the wrist. Think about your arm being bent to a 90 degree angle at the elbow, hand out in front of you, wrist facing up. Carry the bag with the handles above the wrist, where the wrist meets the arm. Jessica Simpson demonstrates this well.

When it comes to purses, I'm a big supporter of good old Coach. Coach as a company has been around some 65 years and I like that they guarantee all their bags with a lifetime warranty (that they actually stand by). Recently their bags have become really trendy; I've spotted celebs like Mandy Moore and Ashley Simpson carrying Coach (though there are plenty more than those two I'm sure). But the thing that keeps fashionistas coming back is that Coach produces classic styles: not "designer" styles, but classic styles.

Since there is snow on the ground, I decided it was time to stop carrying my fall handbag (a chocolate brown Marc Jacobs Totally Turnlock Tina Tote) and switch to something a little more winter oriented. I picked up the Coach Hamptons Pebbled Leather Book Tote this past weekend and have since carried it everywhere with me. The pebbled leather has a nice feeling under my fingers, the winter white is perfect for this time of year, the woven leather belt matches my cabled sweaters, and the tassels are just sooo cute. There is also a matching wristlet that clips onto a little D-ring inside of it.

Mostly I just love that it fits my knitting, but it isn't so large that things get lost inside of it. Did anyone else find the "large bag trend" this past fall to be super annoying?

A Bittersweet Fashion Week; nothing has changed.

2007-02-07T21:55:00.000-08:00

It's fashion week in NYC. I enjoy looking through the coverage and seeing the designs that will be popular here in around a year, but ultimately Fashion Week is bittersweet. I see many items flashed in front of me that I want-want-want but could never fit into. I can afford them, sure, but I can't buy them because they don't come in my size. Every year I look, every year I want, every year I am disheartened, and then I come back for the next season anyways.

It's easy to modify items and make them fit when they're too big. Not so easy when they're too small. I am ashamed to say that I often take a design I like and look for the components elsewhere, hoping to cobble together a look from what is available to fit me.

In the olden days, items came only partially sewn together. The tailor would complete the garments to fit the woman in question. I actually have a pen pal in China who I pay to custom make items to fit me. It's not as expensive as you might expect, and short of making the things I want myself it is the only option sometimes. I refuse to completely rip off an designer's item though, so for the most part I just give her an idea of the trend I want to capture and let her do the creating. Actually, it feels good to know that I pay her well for her work, even though she lives in China.

Many women my size actually know how to make their own clothing. I knit quite a bit, though most sweaters come in my size anyways. This year I intend to pick up sewing, perhaps take a course.

Oh but fashion week! I already have some favorite items I'm eyeing. I will of course produce a list of my favorites when the week is over, but so far my favorite designs are coming from a man whose initials are MJ. I think you know who I mean. :)

Fashion Alert: Proenza Schouler for Target.

2007-02-05T17:51:00.000-08:00

Proenza Schouler's line for Target is all the buzz these days. I've been excited since the announcement, because I knew anything released through Target would come in my size. The look is now, the look fits, and the look will carry through Summer to boot!

I am unbelievably excited about the fact that there hasn't been a peep from the Proenza Schouler crowd bemoaning the larger sizes, unlike certain less civilized comments from he who shall not be named.

All together the two tops I purchased came to $65. The sizing on the bust is a little difficult, so you'll want to try them on. I went with XL on the wrap top and L on the cardigan. The dresses at my local Target only went up to size 13, an unfortunate fact that meant my 38C breasts were really squeezed in tight. But the general fit of these garments around the waist is great for apple and pear shapes alike. If you have the time to stop into your local Target, I would say do it soon before all the larges are sold out. (I got the last XL in the top pictured.)

You can view the entire line on Target's website.

This has been coming for a while.

2007-02-04T18:47:00.000-08:00

Last year we saw a barrage of cities banning too thin models on runways around the world. Living next door to NYC, where the going trend as far back as I can remember has been to appear tall, sticklike, and wear black: I thought to myself "too bad that will never happen here." Well, It looks like it is happening here!

I will be following this closely: I'm really interested in seeing how this unfolds on the runways over the coming years.

For a while now, I've felt like other people view being fat as a kind of disease. Fat people are "special" in that sense. I've always felt strange to me that underweight people aren't also considered "special" in that same way. Physical ailments, which are so apparent to others, are a particularly difficult subject for many people who experience them. All my life I have been made by others to feel as though I have one, but the truth of the American weight norm is far more devious.

Half of all U.S. women today wear size 14 or larger. Being a size 14 Petite myself, I am deeply hurt by the insinuation that I am somehow disabled or unordinary by being overweight. I feel as though the media's mindspace fixates on the need to "lose the weight" too much. While in fact, most women are my size!

And we're simply begging for good fashion. Fashion that fits, well. Fashion that looks good on us. Fashion that we can wear.