Fitting Room Friday: Full Figured Foxes and the Stores that Serve Them

All you's merit personally feeling pretty.  That's present tense.  Not nine years ago when you were younger, not eleven pounds from now when you'll be skinnier.  Move your mental construct and park in pretty now.

Doreen had occasion for pretty.  And my fanciful sister by law Ashley allowed me to assist her in styling our full figured friend.  Miss DeeDee returned with a fresh wardrobe pieced from Layne Bryant, Old Navy, Talbots, Macy's, Francesca's, Fossil, and other Arizona appointed merchants.

Smiling at lenses and posing for public, Doreen's extravagant enthusiasm left me nearly bloated with joy.  And I wanted to be richer, hoarding more sumptuous smiles from reflections which usually smirk. For now, I digitally designed a best of well fed fashion merchants. 

Madison Plus-The Plus Size Mall located at 123 Interweb

Wallis-Glamorous classics from wiggle dresses to chiffon secretary blouses

The Plush Boutique-Unique dresses that the range between folkloric bohemians and rockabilly primas

Forever21-Feeds closets suffering from malnourished wallets

Asos-Ultimate European Sophisticate

Igigi-Office Idealism, offers a wide inventory of pencil skirts, shaped sweaters, all figure conscious yet professional

Boutique Larrieux-Best online boutique

Fresh Ayer-Like wearing an indi-acoustic record, preferred source for romantic-boho casual wear

Ashley Stewart-Includes extended sizes up to 32/5X

Feel free to append your recommendations in the comments.

Indulge my fancy, and purchase a personalized, Full Figured Fashion Package: combining a theoretical look book & a practical virtual shopping session

eShakti: Sewn to You

eShakti presents a plump panacea.  

If you suffer from an underfed wallet, enjoy decadent fashion at temperate prices.  

If your closet has been injured by dimensional discrimination (yes my full figured foxes, it is unjust) they offer every pretty piece up to a size 26.   

If you've contracted a fitting room phobia in response to repeated defeats with uncompromising tag digits (trousers that are always an inch thrifty at the ankles, dresses that fit one half while either squeezing or swallowing the other half, tops that consistently reveal two fingers too much of decolletage), protect and sooth your unsizable form with customized tailoring.

Sponsored by, 

Sit down and I will consult you through my own operation.  Examine the above cream embroidered confection.  Undeniably darling, but even in the heat of an Arizona September (Fall initiates post Halloween) I would have to wear it like so, below, with an extra sweater, maybe a belted waist warmer, and if it even approaches the vicinity of my knees, you can assure yourself that stockings will be involved. 

Turns out, eShakti was kind and crafty enough to cap sleeve  the frock, just for my shy little arms.  I could have asked for a full half or extended three-quarter depending on my fancy too.

 

eShakti sewing surgeons will operate on the necklines, hem, torso seams, or any other detail to fit the garment directly to your measurements and personal fashion fancies. And they won't even ask you to post them any appendages in return.

In celebration, I am offering you  

$20 off your order. 

Order up their Freshy Fall line using this less than clandestine code: 

 CARDIGAN0811

Now while you wait no more than seven days for your order to ship, tell me about your most difficult dimension to fit.

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Now for all of you wondering why I've awkwardly arranged my skirt in the second image?  Imagine a sunny Sabbath.  You've just arrived at the Chapel and your darling baby boyfriend looks so snuggly and far away in his carseat.  You unhook his impediments, and seat him on your cream colored lap only to realize your husband diapered him last and he very much enjoyed last night's carrots.  At least its machine washable.

Plus Size: Tips Set II

Tara Lynn, French Elle

As we continue the "how to dress plus sized fashion series", may I present two more foot falls towards full figured fabulousity.

1.  Go longer for leaner

Hinder any thought of breaking up your shapely silhouette. When presented with the opportunity to crop the length of your jacket, boot length, or trouser leg, politely decline.  When tempted by the allure of a complementary purple and yellow skirt and cardigan set, consider an analogous purple and blue combination instead.  

Keep the eye moving along the full length of your figure.  Achieve this visual path through monochromatics, a dark denim paired with heels, or a long overcoat.  In essence, fewer optical interruptions in your outline creates visual height.  And the taller you are, the leaner you are.  While you want to break apart horizontal breadths you want to extend vertical lengths.

2.  Don't ornament
(or at least only do it selectively)

What others have to borrow or counterfeit you copiously own.  Rejoice in your abundance.  Let your luxurious affluence speak for itself.  And where your body thrives, do not ornament.  Avoid ruffles, embellishments, or other volume-adding extras.  Clean sophistication will eliminate the any conflicts of interest.  

And when and where you do choose to adorn, pick garnishes in proportion to your figure. Rather than a sickly, spindled stillheto, opt for a robust yet reasonable platform.  Rather than a delicate pendant, elect a chunky bib. Your shoes, jewelry, handbag, and all other accessories should be as prosperous as your fortuitous figure.

More well fed fashion served again soon.

Don't fail to enter the Plus Size Giveaway. 

A personalized, Full Figured Fashion Package: combining a theoretical look book & a practical virtual shopping session

Plus Size: Tips Set I

Crystal Renn, Harper's Bazaar

In precurse, body types are unchanging whether your size falls above or below the number dozen.  And the tips following will sleek and slim any size, but they are particularly propitious for our plus size petticoats.

1.  Skim, don't swallow or squeeze

There is no monster in the plus size closet.  No one knows what size you wear except for you (and your stylist).  But everyone can see if you're squeezing or shrouding into a size that doesn't suit.  

It may be that half your figure crosses into a different department.  Your torso or trunk may prefer a wider cut.  Your lower level may opt for a fuller fit.  Or you may be consistently voluptuous from head to toe.  Whether you're plus size or petite there is no shame, and there is a department better dedicated to your needs.  So wipe the shame from between your eyebrows, and taste what has been prepared for your palette.  Self discrimination is never pretty.

But as you banquet, don't bury yourself on the other side of the spectrum.  A single copy of yourself should fit into your clothes.  Fluid, draping, bohemian threads may flatter pixies and pocket people, but you, my love, have presence.  It can not be cloaked.  Therefore, we must taper it, belt it, dart it, show it.

2.  Cut it into pieces

If you have a large compass to clothe, carve it into visually smaller pieces.  It is optically intimidating to digest large amounts of person at once.  A sumptuous steak should not be consumed in one bite, and neither should your fullest breadths. 

Clothing seams and stitches are your dividing boundaries.  For a full seat, always apply back pockets.  Then instead of one fleshy fanny, we have a left pocket, a middle, a right pocket, and the areas to the exterior of those pockets.  Deliciously tender and bite size.

Or if you have a bountiful bust, rather than presenting an uninterrupted turtleneck of bosom, try a v-neck sweater.  Which offers a succulent shoulder, a center of delicately exposed clavicles, and another succulent shoulder.  All more appropriately sized to our visual appetites.

For plus size fashion at its finest, may I recommend Igigi.  They offer office idealism, in a wide inventory of pencil skirts, shaped sweaters, all figure conscious yet professional. 

More well fed fashion served again soon.

Don't fail to enter the Plus Size Giveaway. 

A personalized, Full Figured Fashion Package: combining a theoretical look book & a practical virtual shopping session

Plus Size Giveaway (CLOSED): Fashion's Invisible Woman

Crystal Renn, Glamour Magazine

"The average U.S. woman, who's 162.9 pounds and wears a size 14, is treated like an anomaly by apparel brands and retailers -- who seem to assume that no one over size 10 follows fashion's capricious trends." Emili Vesilind, Los Angeles Times, March 01, 2009

My curvy, dear vixen your attempts to hide in elastic waistbands or baggy tunics must end.  This week we will dress you to your fabulous fullest.  

And we shall start with a complimentary top from Fashion to Figure. 

And to match your abundant curves, and abundant number of way to win.  Do one of more of the following and leave a confirming comment:

1) Share how you flaunt your full figure 
2) Choose an item of desire on Fashion to Figure
2) Follow Cardigan Empire

3) Refer a full figured friend to CE
4) Tweet or post about this giveaway

5) Embed a CE button on your blog or website

Robust tips for well fed fashion to come

A personalized, Full Figured Fashion Package: combining a theoretical look book & a practical virtual shopping session

 

Dear Empress: How Do I Find Boots for Wide Calves?

Dear Empress,

"My calves are 17" around. Regular boots don't fit and plus sized boots are way too big. Help!"

-Made for Boots
(aka Samurai Mom)

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Dear Made for Boots,

The standard boot has a 14 inch leg opening and plus size boots can extend up to 20 inches. Your stalwart stems deserve better than droopy enclosures or asphyxiation by vinyl. Below is a solution to your in-the-middle mire:

one. Measure your calves. While you've obtained this vital integer, many buxom gams are uncounted. The squishy definitions of wide calf or plus size are highly ambiguous, so you'll need to arm yourself with specifics.

Find the widest rim of your calf and discover how many inches surround it. Measure both legs and use the larger of the two. This will act as a generally helpful guide. However, if you're investigating an explicit boot, find the boot's shaft length and measure at this height on your own leg. This is particularly important if you're investigating an over the knee or a shortie boot, or if you're petite since the boot will most definitely enclose a completely different section of your lower limb.

two. Shop virtual. There are vastly more flexible soles online than in retail stores. Armed with the information gathered above you will be able to remotely assess fits prior to ordering. For best results search specifically for wide calf boots and explore the diversity available at both online shoe emporiums and the shoe area of plus-size merchandisers.

three. Opt for stretch. If your dream boot is just shy of your ideal, all is not lost. Following repeated wear, real leather will stretch. Other swelling options include gusset panels and lace ups which can be re-laced with longer laces.

four. Alter as needed. If they're only an inch or two shy of perfection, take your booties to your local cobbler. A moderate adjustment can be made on the boot stretcher, more extensive enlargements may require the addition of gore gussets or panels of new leather at the seams.


Suggestions

Endless.com offers an a filter specifically for wide calf boots:

Here were a few of my favorites for you:



Best to you in your boot hunt,
Empress