Igigi just released the Mademoiselle Jacket ($132) which looks incredible with their Tailored Pencil Skirt. This takes plus size career wear to a whole new level of sophistication. The jacket would look equally smashing with wide legged dress pants (closed or open with a cami top). Don’t forget the Triple Buckle Belt in Black Matte ($45) to give it a whole new look!
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* Get your own plus size career wear from Igigi
In less than a week it will be August. The fall lines are rolling out with verve and like every season there are a few colors that you are going to see that are more dominant than others. You’ll also recognize a few colors from the preceding season. Watch for more olives, rich purples, camel (love full body camel), light blues, more metallics and brighter reds.
Personally, I’m a little tired of the power purples but am looking forward to more olive and camel. These kind of bright reds don’t mesh with my skin tone but I like the addition of light blues. It will be an interesting addition. What colors are you most looking forward to seeing?
Enjoy the last month of summer!
Making It Big has added a new line to their offerings. Their “contemporary” line is streamline more than their regular line to highlight the curves. I’m actually quite happy with the new additions and I’m sure it will bring a whole new following of plus size women to their door. MIB offers sizes 1x to 8x (an awesome size range!!) and are in the mid-price range.
Here are five of my favorite new pieces:
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* Get your own contemporary plus size clothing from Making It Big
Wide belts, narrow belts, metal belts, fabric belts but most importantly I love leather belts. My favorite belt is a black leather one with punched out flowers along the leather. To me the best belts are the ones you can stick in a pair of jeans and they just get better with age.
La Chik is a handmade belt company out of Calgary Alberta. They offer 1.5″ leather unisex belts in eighteen of colors (naturals, brights, and prints) with interchangeable click in 3″ x 2″ buckles. Not just any kind of buckle.. pretty buckles! Here are just four of my favorites:
Belts range in size from 30″ to 44″ for $22 and the buckles are $28.
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* Get your own interchangeable belt from La Chik
I immediately fell in love with the Pleat Shift Dress from Anna Scholz. I love the orange and white creamsicle color, the cute cap sleeves, and the pleated accent at the waist. This fun every day dress is part of Anna’s white label and oozes that retro appeal that is so hot right now. It comes in sizes 16 to 28 for £224. Yes, they ship internationally.
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* Get your own Pleat Shift Dress from Anna Scholz
Some fashionistas are down right against them. Some are downright for them. And some are just caught in the middle. I love capri pants and tend to wear them a lot in the summer. Off the top of my head I can picture at least five pair in my mind — all faves.
Ten Reasons Why I Like Capri Pants
1. The number one reason is calves are sexy. Capri pants are a perfect way to show off calves without feeling overly exposed or having to worry about the dress being blown up or out.
2. I’m a hot blooded woman and capri pants keep my calves cool.
3. Unlike skirts, capri pants help prevent chub rub in the summer.
4. Capri pants can be comfortably worn at work.
5. They can be worn at the park.
6. They can be worn at the beach.
7. Capris can be dressed up or down.
8. They look brilliant with flats or heels or strappy sandals.
9. Capris can be worn by young girls or seniors.
10. Ok, I couldn’t think of another one. But I think you get the picture.
Like many styles, capri pants are not for everyone. At right is what a perfectly fitting length should look like. If they are hitting you just above the ankle then you are too short to be wearing regular length capris and should be shopping in the petite plus section or not wearing them at all because if they don’t hit the right spot they just look like floods (like you don’t know how to wash your clothes). If you can’t find petite plus where you are, get out the sewing machine and start hemming.
The capri pants shown here are from Kiyonna. They are stylish and perfect for work or out and about town doing errands on a warm day. Kiyonna offers a wide range of sizes for 10 to 32. These capri’s come in American blue jean and black; obviously, the black is the most versatile.
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* Get your own plus size capri pants from Kiyonna
I love this Andrea 2 in 1 Dress from SwakDesigns. The title is a bit misleading because there is only one dress. What they are referring to is that it looks like two pieces instead of one — sort of. Doesn’t matter. What I love is the pleats.
This is a great career dress perfect as is or accented with accessories. One day it could be a wide belt and bracelet with pumps, on another it could be a blazer or asymmetrical cardigan with flats, on another it could be a scarf and tights with boots. It’s a simple but versatile dress and those pleats make it look so classy.
This plus size career dress comes in sizes 1x to 6x for $44. I love both colors which are equally versatile.
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* Get your own plus size pleated Andrea dress from SwakDesigns
I normally say that every woman should have at least one complete suit set. And I admit I usually say black. Mostly because it goes with everything; it is easily interchangeable with other black pieces in our wardrobe; and when you look at a person, black is like a canvas — it doesn’t stand out so it becomes virtually unrecognizable from one day to the next. Which can be a good thing if you can only afford one suit.
As of today I’ve changed my thinking. I think everyone should have at least one black suit and Igigi’s new three navy suit. Yes, it’s a pretty hefty price to get all three pieces but with the versatility, mixing with your current wardrobe is boundless. I love that the suit jacket is pretty and unique looking but the pleats in the back of the skirt are fabulous. If I could only buy two of the three pieces it would definitely be the jacket and the skirt. But the jacket looks so sharp with the pants too. All three pieces come in sizes 12 to 3o. The jacket is $138, the pant is $76, and the skirt is $62.
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* Get your own plus size navy suit from Igigi
If I lived in the UK not only would I dress from head to toe in fashions from Evans, I’d probably move in next door. Yes, I love this store. I have to admit that much of that love goes with the presentation.
Here are my favorites from their latest spring catalog in no particular order:
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* Browse Evan’s spring catalog for great plus size fashions
Kiyonna’s spring collection is a sophisticated sexy. Here’s a behind the scenes look at the photo shoot as well as an inpromtu interview with plus size model Ashley Graham.
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* Get your favorite pieces from the Grecian collection from Kiyonna
You know how some people dislike the word “fat” as a descriptive and others are proud of it? Well, I dislike the word “kaftan”. Anna Scholz on the other hand has been using it for a few years and yes I’ve been incredibly resistant to it. But today I was thinking it may be a culture thing. Or perhaps she is trying to reclaim the word and make it something positive. Regardless these are NOT the kaftans your great auntie used to wear.
I love the wistful patterns on these silk tunics (see, I still have a hard time with the word) from Anna Scholz new looks for spring. LOVE THEM! The top on the left is the Silk Habotai Gathered Neck Kaftan from Anna’s White Label and is available in sizes 18 to 24 for £265. The top on the right is the Silk Georgette Square Tie Kaftan and is also from Anna’s White Label. It is available in sizes 16 to 26 for £190.
As you can see from the images the tops can be easily dressed up or dressed down depending on what you pair them with.
You can order direct from Anna Scholz in the UK because they ship worldwide. Canadian plus size boutique Lola & Gigi carries some of Anna Scholz’s latest designs.
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* Get your own Anna Scholz print tops from Lola & Gigi
* Get your own Anna Scholz print tops from Anna Scholz
* See my favorites from the White and Black Labels
I’m totally in love with this Exceptional Ruffle Dress from Igigi. Yes, they are so fond of it they called it Exceptional. It is available in sizes 12 to 32 for $118. 
Why do I love this dress? Let me count the ways… The petite ruffles are right on trend. They are not overpowering and add a bit of depth without going crazy on volume. The billowy cuffed sleeves are a nice departure from the flared breezy sleeves. It’s fully lined (and Igigi does an excellent job on their dress linings) so there are no worries about it riding or the unmentionables being visible.
It’s a perfect career dress!
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Topic Links
* Get your own plus size Exceptional Ruffle Dress from Igigi
There isn’t a written rule that sweaters have to be chunky. Well, if you are out cross country skiing you might want a chunky one. But for work or for lunch out with friends chunky is a bit overdone. Here are a few of my favorite romantic sweaters on sale at plus size clothing retailer Silhouettes.
This rose Novelty Stitch Tunic (510177) is perfect combination of practical and romantic. It works with dress pants or your favorite jeans. It is available in sizes xl to 3x for $34.99.
This vanilla Cascade Cardigan (510224) is on trend with cascading ruffle and shawl collar. If you are concerned about the color it is also available in black. It is on sale for $24.99 and comes in sizes xl to 3x.
This dusk blue Cable Tunic (510210) captures two trends with the wide sleeves and hugging hips. It is on sale for $24.99. Currently there is only xl left.
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* Save on Must-Have Sweaters from Silhouettes!
Through the next four months, Vancouver plus size clothing designer Babs will be featured at a number of Signatures "fine craft shows". If you happen to be in the area you can check out her latest fashions and make a few additions to your … [Read More...]
Over the last eight+ years Lane Bryant has consistently delivered to plus size women some pretty hot lingerie and panties when everyone else was trying to sell us basic whites and only basic whites. Now even though there are more choices … [Read More...]
Every week for the last five years I have been sharing my favorite things over at PlusShe.com. Once day a loyal reader let me know how disappointed she was she could not make a purchase at one of the places I mentioned because they did not deliver to Canada. I then realized how important a sister site was so PlusShe.ca was born.
Here are some Canadian shops and shops outside Canada to get you started. Be sure to sign up for my daily updates.
