Manolo for the Big Girl

A dear internet friend writes:

Dear Francesca and Plumcake,
I am not what one would call the big girl, I am fourteen and a size zero or two. I have a dreadful time trying to find clothes that are within the price range that my mother would deem acceptable for someone who is still growing and fit properly. My problem is I have a rather large bust. I am a DD and while this might not seem that large it is on someone of my size (I am five foot two). I know this isn’t exactly your area of expertise but having read the letter from Tracy I thought you might be able to help.
Sincerely,
Anna Beth

Dear Anna Beth,

Ayyyy! To be fourteen years old, and 5′2″, and have the DD bust, it is not easy! And to have a mother with a budget! Ayyyy!

Francesca says: You must work together with your mother on this, as a team.

On one hand, is your family’s financial needs. On the other is your understandable desire to look attractive. Francesca trusts that you are not trying to tell your mother to buy only the latest, designer, name-brand clothing, but rather that you want normal, pretty blouses (of any brand) which do not look like tents on you, and that the prices at large-chest specialty stores, such as Bravissimo, are out of your budget.

If this is the case, then sit down with your mamman and explain that you are happy to buy clothing that is on sale, or less quality than your taste (perhaps you have very advanced standards for your age, but at 14 you can get away with less quality; your mother is correct about this), but that the reality of having a large chest (which perhaps you inherited from her? Or from your beloved grandmother?) is that, one way or another, one pays more for the clothes. For example, if you are going to a regular clothing store and buying clothes off the rack on sale, then you must buy a bigger size, so that it will fit at the chest — and then you MUST bring it to a seamstress to have other areas, such as your size 2 waist, “taken in.” There is also the matter that the sleeves may need to be shortened.

It is a choice of either spending more on the clothes to begin with, or of spending more on the seamstress (which might be the cheaper option). At the very least, you will need a budget for pretty camis, as our readers have discussed in the comments to Tracy’s question.

If your mother balks at this, Francesca’s suggestion is to become crafty, literally. Francesca herself greatly wishes that she had taken a sewing class at your age, so that she could create or alter clothing to her own specifications, without need of the seamstress. Taking a sewing class now, when you are young, will allow you to develop your talents as you grow up, so that by the time you go to college you are creating one-of-a-kind clothing that makes your new college friends say “wow, where did you get that?”

Another option is for your mamman to give you an exact number of dollars per year that she is willing to spend on your clothes, and for the Anna Beth to step up the babysitting or dog-walking or newspaper route jobs in order to supplement the amount.

Using your own resources to get what you want, rather than relying on your parents, is what we call “building character.” Francesca, too, worked hard every summer during her teenage years and used the monies to purchase things that her parents could not afford, and look, now she is the woman of a fabulous career who wears superfantastic clothing and even is asked fashion advice from people around the world! So you see, there is much hope for the Anna Beth!

xoxo,
Francesca

Still haven’t decided whether you want to come? What are you waiting for?! Come as you are and have a cocktail with your Big Girl pals!  5:30 - 7:30 in the Off the Record Bar at the Hay Adams Hotel, 16th and H Street, across from the White House. I’ll be in sequins, come up and see me some time.

Plum

Francesca and Plumcake are sick of the newspaper articles and emails warning us how to avoid calories and weight-gain on the holidays!

We want to know:

In what special food item are you most looking forward to indulging this Christmas?

Woman in Blue Reading a Letter (circa 1663) by Johannes Vermeer .  A poster print of this painting is available here.

Here we have a Big Girl (or perhaps a Thin Girl wearing many layers of clothing? Or a Pregnant Girl?) studiously reading a letter!

Francesca asks: How does this painting make you feel?

And: In your opinion, what is she reading? Who has written it? How does she feel about it?

All I can say is that y’all D.C. girls better bring your A game (see? see how it sounds like I know about sports?) because if I’d been wearing socks, your southern sisters would have rocked them right off. It was a blast, of course, but more importantly it was an honor to get to meet such wonderful gals.

Now I’ve got to book it to the Hay Adams and get ready for the next one!

Here are the deets:

Where: Off the Record Bar in the Hay-Adams Hotel
16th & H Street, across from the White House
When: December 19th, 5:45 p.m.
Look for: The big girl in the black sequined dress.

See y’all soon!

Plum

An internet friend writes:

Greetings to the lovely Francesca!

Banana Republic has long been my guilty fashion secret–guilty because I always feel bad buying tops, even off the sale rack, for my tiny-topped pear shape from a store that wouldn’t stoop to carrying pants in my size or shape if their profit margin depended on it. But I am quite tall with all my height in my torso, and not a whole lot of other stores on any end of the quality spectrum carry tops long enough to be comfortable (and not require a constant tugging-down to make them reach past the waist on my pants) and look proportional on my frame. I finally figured out why Banana has such a hold on me. While shopping online, I noticed that, though it is unmarked in the store, they carry “tall” designs/sizes, and not just in pants–blouses, suits, coats, and dresses, all cut to actually put the waist in the right place on me. The idea that anything but pants comes in a “tall” version was revolutionary for me. Do you and Plumcake happen to know of any other stores where I and other tall big girls might be able to catch a break–preferably ones that actually sell pants above a size 16???

Thanks so much and keep up the great work!! Your humor and advice are often inspiring on days when I feel like a caramel apple in a world of ice pops.

Best,

Leah

Leah, you are in luck, because yes, it is possible to find pants with long inseams above a size 16! And shirts! And coats! And robes! And anything else your heart desires!

First, check out the collection of pants for Petite and Tall girls at Avenue. In sizes starting at 14! Look, cuffed trousers, very nice for fall/winter, with a 35″ inseam, up to size 26!

Next, try luxuriouslytall.com, which provides tops, bottoms, shoes, lingerie, and outerwear for the tall, plus-size woman. Many of their pants go up to size 20 (though they run small, so if you normally wear a 16, try ordering an 18).

If it is just tops you seek, Francesca can point you to Design Elevations, which carries Tall sizes and a small collection of Tall Plus (but no tall-plus pants). There is something about this double-breasted jacket which Francesca finds fun, and it is available up to size 22:

And check out Tall Couture, which has many beautiful items for the Tall Girl, though, alas, not the pants size which Leah seeks. Their sizing system is different from most, so be sure to use their size guide. Here is a wonderful chiffon top, available through size 16:

Finally, J. Crew has an attractive Tall collection, which you can see here. (They also, by the way, have a collection of clothing in Size 16, but that is separate from the Tall sizes.)

A long list of clothing websites which cater to tall women can be found here.

Happy shopping!

xoxo,

Francesca

WELL! I just had the loveliest police escort back to the hotel and now I’m pumped for the face to face. Come as you are (but dressing up is so much fun!) and come tip the wrist with Plumcake!

Where: T.J.’s Bar, under the Rotunda (no pun intended) of the Jefferson Hotel

When: 5:30ish, so a fashionable 6:00 p.m.

Ask the maitre d’ for Plumcake, or just look out for the black sequined dress!

Viva!

Plum

Our internet friend Mel asks a very detailed question:

I am writing to ask for help with shoe advice. I have super wide smallish feet and have a very hard time finding shoes that fit. Due to a recent medical diagnosis I have to take very good care of my feet and need to become more active. I want to start walking to work and walking around town for exercise but the best walking shoes I have are bright white and do not go with anything. I work in a very casual office so I don’t have to wear dress shoes (thank god) but still want to be more stylish than those shoes allow. I could really use some suggestions from you and the readers.

I’d prefer shoes that are cut really wide, have rounded toes and flat with no heel, black and dark grey or bright colors are preferred. I can do mary janes, maybe clogs and if they are in good color actual sneakers. I hope you can help. Any advice on specific styles or brands to check out would be appreciated.

The following are shoes I have and kind of like:

The Tsubo Saiph

Dansko Marcelle

These are my dressy work shoes, unfortunately I think the slight heel
is causing problems. I would really welcome suggestions for something
similar in leather for “dressier” work events.

Thanks for the super fashion advice.

Francesca says: Those Marcelle shoes are darling, and Mel must work in a very fun office environment indeed. And good for Mel for doing what she needs to do to be healthy and fashionable at the same time!

Indeed it is difficult to find shoes which meet all of the Mel’s criteria. To reiterate, they must be available in small, very wide sizes; be more stylish than her bright white walking shoes; have no or very low heel; and preferably be black or grey or in a bright color. They must be comfortable enough for doing much walking. She is open to Mary Janes or walking shoes in a color that will not embarrass her from a fashion perspective.

Francesca would warn Mel to stay away from the clogs, since support for the foot is extremely important if you walk around town. It is important, especially since your feet need especial care, that the heels of your shoes be firmly attached to your feets. Shoes that can slip off will cause Mel many un-superfantastic problems in the long term.

Second, Francesca says: If you are walking for your health, the support and comfort of your shoe is more important than how it looks. Yes, even Francesca says so! It is one thing if Mel has a 15-minute stroll to work. But if the walk is 45 minutes and basically constitutes a low-impact workout, please, for yourself and for Francesca, wear good sneakers, in whatever color you find them!

That having been said, if we are talking about short walks that do not necessarily require sneakers, but the flat comfortable shoe for strolls to the grocery store and such, Francesca would recommend the Gabi-R by Magdesians, a low-heel flat with a cushioned insole, which runs very wide and comes in shades of tan, white, and black:

And since the Dansko shoes are working for you, mostly, Francesca can recommend you try their Diana model, which is ever slightly dressier than Marcelle and has a leather upper:

Good luck to Mel, and happy shopping!

xoxo,

Francesca

When Francesca first visited Women Suits, she found it amusing because the outfits reminded her so greatly of the Sunday Church. So many big smiles and hats which are spectacular-spectacular! (Francesca was not amused in a condescending way, rather amused in the way one becomes amused when seeing something familiar from one’s childhood, such as the Spectacular Hats of Worship, thrust to the fore.)

Behind all the hats and godly blessings, however, are some seriously great coats and jackets.

Look, a black jacket of real leather, available up to size 5XL, at deep discount for under one hundred of the American dollars . . . and ground shipping is free . . .

Anyway, Francesca brings them up now because she has a new coupon code for you: Enter “CHRISTMAS” at checkout or mention it when ordering by phone, and receive $20 off your order. This will work from now until 2 pm PST on Friday.

So, now you can have this suede-and-faux fur jacket, available up to 2XL, for under $100, less than 1/3 of the original price. Ooh la la!

Happy shopping!

xoxo,

Francesca

 No need to slaughter the fatted calf –my calves are fatted enough, thank you– but I have returned! I want to thank the always fragrant Francesca for posting double time on her instruction line in my absence. Friends, I will tell you that this trip has been fraught, FRAUGHT with peril, heartache and woe, not the least of which included getting trailed through the entire state of Arksansas and a good portion of Tennessee by a bemulleted (naturally) trucker with interesting thoughts on how one might go about wooing a woman at 85 miles an hour.

I don’t want to ruin it for you because really you need the full experience to truly appreciate it, but the basics involved quite a lot of honking, weird tongue gestures that would be better suited on an epileptic garter snake and, from what I could see, rubbing of his manly bosoms.

I’m not sure if he was rubbing his manly bosoms in hopes of getting some mirrored response, or bosom rubbing for bosom-rubbing’s sake but the whole effect lacked a certain, shall we say, erotic subtlety and I was glad to be rid of him as I pulled into Nashville.

For all the Nashvillians out there, or people who will be passing through the OTHER music city (Austin, of course, being the One True music city) let me recommend Sperry’s Restaurant in Belle Meade. I’ve never been to such an unusual combination of down-home and upscale, and although it can be a bit crowded with boisterous revelers –at one point there was an old inebriated man charmingly introducing himself to all the pretty young women in the room– I recommend it highly. Try the rack of New Zealand lamb…and well, let me just say had I not been wearing my favorite DVF wrap dress, that lamb would definitely had been the best rack in the room.

Just a reminder that the Richmond Face to Face is tomorrow, December 18th, at the hotel bar of the historic and kick-you-in-the-teeth fabulous Jefferson Hotel. I will try to have a sign set up, but if not, ask for Plumcake or just come find the big girl in the black sequined dress. So! Excited!