I recently had a reader write in and ask me about Torrid, saying “I do have a question, are you familiar with the plus-size clothing store Torrid? I know there are a couple in Florida. If so, I was just wondering your opinion on it.”
What do I think? Torrid’s a gamble. The quality is higher in some pieces, and while the fit is generous, some pieces simply aren’t up to my standards. For example, I hate their thigh-high boots, which I find saggy, baggy, and cheap-looking. That said, there are pieces are Torrid that I do love:
==Thank you, everyone, for entering! The winners will be announced on Wednesday, 11/24.==
Traveling around South America has been awesome, but you know what’s been even better? Getting back into the swing of things at my home base! To celebrate plus-size fashion, I decided to do a giveaway with Bali, and they have donated 10 gift bags with goodies.
Photo (c) Bali
If you win, you will get the following: Bali leggings, Lush Bath Bomb, brochure, Bali branded mirror, and gift card in a gift bag. The leggings are available in sizes L, XL, and XXL for the giveaway.
To enter, please LIKE and leave a comment on Bali Intimate’s Facebook page saying why you love Bali or describing your favorite Bali lingerie, and then leave a comment here telling me that you did! Please include your preferred legging size.
Look who was featured in last week’s Woman’s World! I’m thrilled, naturally, and looking to providing more tips to the magazine for women of every size.
It’s September! I’m so pleased, even though I am in Brazil, which means that it’s technically spring. If you grew up in the north (New Englander here), I swear that the fall excitement is hard-wired into your brain. Trees might be flowering, but I am all pumpkins! harvest time! fall coats! in the back of my brain. I wonder if that will ever change…
To move things in the right direction for fall, I’ve compiled my six favorite fashionable tips for any woman with curves.
Tip 1: Try longline bras, which are warmer.
If you’re not in the mood to switch all your blouses quite yet, why not try a longline bra? That layer of lace will cut the chill under a top, and you’ll also get the magical benefits of boning to smooth everything.
Tip 2: Shop for jeans with at least 2% Spandex.
Buying jeans in a heavier weight fabric means bunching and rolling if the fit’s not perfect. 2% Spandex is the right choice to get a smooth fit when you’re preparing for the cold to hit (and when you’re stuffing your jeans into boots).
Tip 3: Try a swing coat with 3/4 sleeves when the weather is fluctuating.
I know that you’re all getting ready for a Labor Day vacation and are thinking ew! coats?!, but 3/4 sleeve lengths mean that you can wear fashionable gloves when it gets really nippy.
Tip 4: Know that now’s the time to stock up on separates.
Get a couple new pieces, because we’ll be layering up a storm in just a few weeks. Curvy girls might want to check out Kiyonna’s casual long-sleeve options and cardigans, and professionals looking for more separates might want to swing by Igigi.
Tip 5: Decide on your fall wardrobe color schemes to make buying easier.
What’s your wardrobe base color this season? Get away from black, instead considering navy or plum.
Tip 6: Look for tights in your size now to avoid scrambling with the first frost.
As you’ve probably noticed, I am obsessed with We Love Colors. Their options are unparalleled, both color-wise and size-wise.
What’s the first wardrobe change you make come fall?
Sophisticated coats, as you know, are not easy to come by for the woman of size. I usually buy one or two vintage ones each winter (lightweight, since I’m in Florida) and wear the heck out of them, dry clean, and then start again with a new one the next season (with the older ones in a less frequent rotation). This is harder to do when you want specific silhouettes and quality tailoring, like my insane urge for cloaks and capes.
Cue the frolicking: I had totally forgotten about La’Dan’s Closet, which stocks great coats up to 5X. They’ve got inspired designs, multiple color options for each style, and full linings, so you can buy one and wear it season after season. Fancy that. If you usually spend a couple hundred on a coat you don’t wear as often as you’d like, then it wouldn’t hurt to scrape together a little more if possible to buy something incredible. My favorites include the Long Vintage Cape, shown, and the Eye Spy. Time to save up my pennies!
If you can get yourself to Brooklyn this September 16th through the 26th (12 – 9 p.m.), you’ll find the Pop Up Plus store at 439 Metropolitan Avenue. On September 17th, they’re going to have an opening celebration and give away Miracle Body “Samantha” Denim and Cookie Johnson jeans to five lucky winners.
Plus, for your browsing pleasure in September, they’ll have established and up-and-coming plus labels like Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and Jibri. Sound like something you’d be interested in attending?
As you probably know, I call Miami home when I’m not traveling. I’m currently in Brazil on assignment, and I’m feeling just a little homesick today. How about some Miami memorabilia before the weekend? These postcards are from when curves were in style, before the ultra-thin late 1960s caught up with us. Enjoy!
Have you heard of Toula? Saks will be hosting a debut of the plus-size line, hopefully exposing it to style-hungry plus ladies with pocket power. Debut collections are always so exciting!
“We’re excited to expand our reach through this partnership and reach a much larger, cosmopolitan audience,” Steven Wang, co-owner of the label, told the press. “Toula has been available for decades at smaller boutiques, but this distinctive line sold at Saks will reach an entirely new market.”
I’m particularly excited because this plus-size collection for Saks will offer pieces that are high-quality and that are also wrinkle resistant. For people who travel, you know how hard this is to find.
I can’t wait to see the rest of the collection… I think it will be geared towards an older demographic, very “ladies who lunch.” We shall see, though!
Catch me on Life Size Radio tonight at 6 p.m. EST! Tonight our special guest is John Larney, the CEO/Founder of Size Is Sexy, and we’ll be doing our pre-interview news/trends/lifestyle bites like usual.
Have you ever heard of Courtney and Laura Wells? The two model-sisters were featured in the August issue of Cosmopolitan Australia in an extensive spread, but they don’t get booked for the same jobs often. The only difference between the two bombshells is that one is a plus-size model, and the other is straight-sized.
“Both Courtney and Laura Wells are models, but Laura is plus-size and usually relegated to special spreads,” Huffington Post observes. After having a flip-thru of their pics, I must admit that Laura, size 14 AUS, is commanding the spread. If you are interested, her sister is a size 10 AUS.
I’m almost offended by the fact that the two girls have to explain that yes, they have lived in the same house and have eaten the same food their entire life, and that they are still different sizes. Is it possible that people still can’t comprehend genetically-determined body size, fat ratio, metabolism, and build? Honestly.
