Lola & Gigi are ready for fall with new additions from Anna Scholz, Igigi, and David Meister. But I am most excited about this coat and dresses by Anna Scholz:
You can order online at Lola and Gigi or if you live in the Toronto area you can visit their walk in show room in Etobicoke. The complete directions and hours are on their website.
Update: shop has since closed.
Autograph Fashion is an Australian plus size clothing store that is new to me. And guess what, they deliver to Canada. There is no flat rate listed and costs are dependent on location, weight of package, and method of shipping. At the moment of this posting they offer free shipping if you spend $100 (easy enough to do) even to international customers.
They carry sizes 14 to 26 but definitely read their sizing information before you order. Prices are shown in Australian money when you first visit but you can change the currency with the drop down menu in the top right to Canada or the US.
The prices do not fall into the budget range meaning a dress will probably cost $90, a top $60; unless it is on sale. I follow a few Australian bloggers and they absolutely love this store.
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* Get your plus size fashions from Autograph
Sometimes an all over body pattern can be overpowering which is why I love pattern block dresses like these two from Igigi. The way they are designed makes them look like two pieces (blouse and skirt) especially if you add a wide belt.
The Celeste Dress (left) is $125 and the Catalonia Dress (right) is $130 but both dresses are available in sizes 12 to 32. These dresses are very similar at first glance but the sleeves and neckline are completely different and as you can see from the different styling (one with boots and cuff the other with pumps and a chunky necklace) they are versatile.
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It is a perfect time to shop at Lola & Gigi if you have been hemming and hawing about the “price” of designer fashions by Monif C, Melissa Masse and Anna Scholz. There is a select group of fashions that are now up to 50% off. And you can get them all at one place!
The Anna Scholz Crepe de Chine Kaftan is a lovely change to the traditionally horizontal stripes with multiple bold colors and a bit of wave. I also like the side splits which make longer tunic tops feel less constricting and breaks up pattern. It is currently 40% off at $234.99.
The Melissa Masse Josephine Dress is sexy short without being overtly exposed on top. The slightly puffed shoulders and surplice breast are subtle details that give a lovely shape. If you have the legs it is a great show piece for highlighting them. Or if you prefer, some stunning leggings from We Love Colors. This little dark dress is 50% off at $124.99.
The Monif C Marilyn Convertible Dress is probably the best investments that any woman can make. It is a short dress — actually it is over ten short dresses, it also works as a great convertible top with leggings or jeans if hiked up under breasts instead of at waist, then wrapped. It is currently 30% off and because it is a one size fits 8 to 24 you do not have to be disappointed about your size being sold out like some of the other items.
These are just three of my favorite sale items at Lola & Gigi (there are many more). These plus size designer styles are going fast (as I was writing this post one item completely disappeared)!
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* Update: Lola & Gigi are closed but you can get similar items at Sonsi
*Get plus size tights and leggings from We Love Colors
I always seem to forget about this little shop of Batik inspired clothing. They do not offer a huge selection but if you are big on Batik then you are sure to find a top or dress at Big On Batik. And they are just so perfect for summer! Big On Batik has a small selection of pieces that go up to 6x (a few 7x). They will ship to Canada for $16 USPS airmail.
There are currently three dresses that fall into my fave category:
The Strapless Smock Top ($35) that can also triple for a short dress or swimsuit cover. The hibiscus pattern comes in three other colors.
The Smockerchief Top ($45) looks great with the capris shown here but is definitely long enough for a sexy sundress. If you do not like this pattern there is one other to choose from as well as solid black.
The Acapulco Sundress ($65) has adjustable straps and comes in five different hibiscus colors and two scene prints including this awesome green beach scene shown here.
On a side note, Satu, the owner of Big on Batik is also a photographer. She takes the images for Big On Batik and has been producing the Plush Cat Calender for several years. I had the opportunity to interview her for the Large and Lovely site at BellaOnline a few years ago.
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I am more inclined to say “retro” than “vintage” but Igigi has come out with an amazing new halter Polka Dot Dress. Very pretty. It comes with a thinly striped sash that is removable which is a totally bonus in my book — I hate dresses that come with a belt you cannot remove. This makes this dress perfect for accessorizing with other belts in your closet. Specifically I am thinking a bright red belt, red shoes or a white belt, white shoe, or even without the belt and a lacy short sleeve cardigan and flats.
I have a few Igigi dresses and they are very well made. They don’t stinge on the fabric, have excellent stitching and are usually well lined. The shipping to Canada is a bit pricey but worth the quality. A few Canadian boutiques carry Igigi but may not have this style yet.
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* Get your plus size Vintage Polka Dot Dress from Igigi
Voluptuous clothing has opened a fifth store. The Ajax location is located at the Durham Rio Can Center. If you live in the area Toronto area be sure to check them out. The other four stores are in Scarborough Town Centre, Vaughan Mills, Square One, and Dufferin Mall.
If you are not in the T.O area you can shop their online shop. While their website has been online for over a year we have not always been able to shop there for whatever reasons (one was a site upgrade I believe). The website is currently open for business offering a small selection of tops, dresses and pants at affordable prices as well as a sales section with up to 40% off.
If you are not familiar with Voluptuous clothing chain (I think it is safe to say chain now since they have five stores) they offer very trendy / sexy clothing up to 3x (not all styles on the website come in all sizes). Here are a few of my favorite pieces:
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* Visit Voluptuous for plus size clothing
When I worked at Penningtons, eons ago, one of the things that seemed to turn over fast were the pretty dresses. If you found something, then blinked, it was gone. End of warning. Here are a few of my favorites. I especially like the convertible ones (sleeveless, halter, skirt):
As you can see there are many of not-so-bra-friendly dresses this season. The good news is that Pennington’s also has an convertible bra in plus size (40B to 46DDD). They are a bit pricy so I suggest stocking up on a black one and a nude when when they go on sale (currently on for $29.99 — regular $49.99).
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* Get your plus size dresses from Penningtons
Today I received Addition-Elle’s latest lookbook and it was filled with some cute dresses many of which are not on the website yet or else I would be talking in more detail about them. Instead today I am talking about “maxi dresses”.
Not surprisingly there were many long dresses — or what Addition-Elle (and many other clothing companies) are mislabeling as “maxi” dresses. Maxi dresses were a super hot trend last year and it is expected to continue throughout this year. Most women will have more than one in their closet for summer or will be patiently shopping for a few favorites. Here is a quick eye guide to what is and isn’t a maxi dress.
If you visit Addition-Elle’s online shop you will see that all three of these dresses are labeled as “maxi” dresses. The first dress is NOT a maxi dress. It is just an awkward length dress at least on this model. Perhaps on a petite woman it could be a maxi. The second is close but still is not a true maxi dress. The third one is a maxi dress! But an inch or two longer wouldn’t hurt.
What makes a maxi dress “maxi”? If you have not figured it out yet, it is all in the length. The longer the better. If you can see skin above your ankles then it is NOT a maxi dress. If you can see your ankles then it isn’t a maxi dress. If you can just see the tops of your feet then you can get away with calling it a maxi dress. But a true maxi dress hits the top of your feet or lower. I hope this clears things up.
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* Get your cute plus size dresses from Addition-Elle
I love this Print Jersey Pleat Maxi Dress from Anna Scholz and I love this Frill Mac also from Anna Scholz. They scream “SPRING!” at me when I see them. You can’t a hotter color than the “lumo” yellow along with the frills, bell sleeves and a-line take this trench from boring to exciting. I’m not a huge print legging fan but this jacket makes me want to wear them. It’s practically a trench dress, except nicer.
The maxi dress (£185) and mac (£229) are both from her black label and are available in sizes 16 to 28 for .
Happy (almost) Spring!
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Topic Links
* Get your own Print Jersey Pleat Maxi Dress from Anna Scholz
* Get your own Lumo Yellow Frill Mack from Anna Scholz
When I think t-shirt dress I think of the boxy v-neck dresses that have no shape and literally look like a t-shirt that wasn’t trimmed. They are unflattering in so many ways. ASOS has a Waisted T-Shirt Dress in sizes 20 to 26 for £25. This is what a t-shirt dress should look like:
It looks great with tights and skinny jeans. I hope this style gets carried through to summer, maybe with more colors!
ASOS currently has free delivery worldwide.
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* Get your own plus size t-shirt dress from ASOS Curve
Kiyonna is rocking the dresses this month with dresses like the Cynthia Twist Dress. I love the pattern and the style — just enough arm coverage and not too much cleavage. If you visit the Kiyonna website you’ll see bodies other than model Ashley Graham (below) wearing it — in other words, it looks good on many types. It is available in sizes 1x to 5x for $108 U.S.
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* Get your own Cynthia Twist Dress from Kiyonna
I wasn’t going to mention Golden Globe dresses because pretty much everyone is talking about them… but because everyone keeps talking it makes me want to say something. First, I don’t believe in worst dress lists anymore. I think they are just mean and we already have enough hate based media in the world. I think we should spend more time telling one another how good we look and when we don’t think so we should shut up. No one needs or appreciates having their appearance put under a microscope and really what purpose does it serve other than maliciousness. Hiding behind the “education” viewpoint is a cop out because the same could be said about all the “if you ate better and exercised you wouldn’t be fat” comments. And we all know the real sentiment behind those. Off soap box and on to favorite dress picks for the 2011 Golden Globe Awards. There were so many women in beautiful dresses and it was very hard to limit myself to ten favorites:
It was obvious from the red carpet what colors are going to reign supreme as we go deeper into 2011 — deep green and the palest of pinks.
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.
