One of the challenges inherent in writing a fashion blog for Big Girls is that not all Big Girls are Big in exactly the same places. As our internet friend g-dog wrote in the comments a few posts back, some of us are “succulent pears” and others are “delicious apples.” There are women with big shoulders and women with sloping shoulders; women with long necks and some with none; bustier women and tinier, perkier women; women whose bigness sits on their hips and those like me whose tummies pooch out in front. (Dare I call us Poochie Mamas?*)
And so no one article of clothing which Plumcake or I recommend can possibly make every single woman look superfantastic. Every woman is superfantastic in her own way, and trying on the clothes is often the only way to find out whether a particular blouse or skirt will make you, yourself, look and feel your best for the particular environment in which you plan to wear it.
If you want new ideas about what might look great on your own frame, my first advice is to click, right now, on the amazing myShape feature at igigi.com. Igigi is absolutely my favorite online source for plus-size clothing. Their wares are beautiful, feminine, and tasteful, without breaking the bank. And, at this myShape page, you can determine which “shape” comes closest to your own body type, and then shop by shape! I’m in love!
My second bit of advice is to experiment. Often we get stuck buying clothes in the same shapes and styles for years and years, not realizing that the passage of time and changes in our bodies, tastes, and shopping opportunities have opened new vistas. Perhaps it is time to try something new, like a belt – when was the last time you put on a belt? – or different necklines or shirts without darts. Are you sure you don’t look good in orange? Are you positive you “can’t” wear an empire waist? Perhaps that emerald-green blouse will look great even though it’s shiny, and you always thought that big girls “can’t” wear shiny fabrics?
Perhaps the “rules” you have created for yourself over the years are still correct for you. But perhaps not. So put on your adventure face and your adventure shoes, and happy shopping!
xoxo, Francesca
*PS We are Pucci Mamas!
Thank you, for your idea to blog for us! I am collecting you hints, tipps and tricks and having fun every day since you started;-)
Greetings from Germany
Aud
Comment by Aud — July 30, 2007 @ 10:46 am
Well what do you know. I visited the site and found that I am a diamond. Talk about type casting :-) How could it not be so. Thanks for the tip. Great site!
Comment by gemdiva — July 30, 2007 @ 1:54 pm
That MyShape page is wonderful! It’s always irritated me when I’ve only seen the four basic shapes (rectangle, pear, inverted triangle and hourglass) because noe of them fit me. I’m an oval! Great arms, great legs, killer broad shoulders, but that midsection is well troublesome. And for once, everything I saw on the shop your shape page looked perfect for me! Thanks for the great link.
Comment by Cynthia — July 30, 2007 @ 3:15 pm
Yes! My thanks, also, for the MyShape link. As Cynthia said, I’ve never been able to fit in the four basics – how wonderful to find suggestions for my figure eight body.
Comment by Carol — July 30, 2007 @ 5:02 pm
Wow, I’ve been quoted by such a fantabulous writer …. blush…..
Comment by g-dog — August 5, 2007 @ 8:36 pm
So true about trying things and seeing what happens. Last summer I suddenly needed an entire new wardrobe having lost two dress sizes and not gotten new clothes. Unfortunately I hadn’t won the Lotto, so I needed to be very budget conscious and shopped the sales racks.
Guess what I discovered? I look great in lime green! There was a ton of it on the racks and I desperately needed inexpensive clothes. Some superfantastic blouses were going for less than a song because so few women really do look their best in lime green, and most of the rest fear to try it on.
I look forward to seeing the next time lime green comes into fashion, because as soon as the leftovers hit the sale racks, I’m going to get some fabulous stuff for next to nothing!
Comment by Twistie — August 31, 2007 @ 8:47 pm
Thank you for sharing!
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Comment by Jesse Vazquez — November 13, 2008 @ 7:12 am