I love BTO contests and I’ve been a reader and huge fan of this blog since it went up - the authorial voices and the genuineness of the insights and interests are fabulous, the best I’ve seen on the web. I am not, however, a big girl, even on a liberal interpretation. But though I fought the temptation initially, I had to participate in the contest (it’s not over is it??), and technically, I’m not excluded, I believe.

I will say this: I have a newfound respect for the difficulty of finding plus-size fashion. I didn’t know whether perhaps I never saw any because I am only looking for yours truly and don’t notice things I can’t wear, but truly, it isn’t easy to find. But I did eventually. Here’s my outfit.

First, the sitch: obviously, a night out. Those shoes are calling attention to themselves at a very high decibel level and I just can’t picture them in a non-evening setting. As it happens, the girls all have invites to a cocktail party thrown by a major corporate client and have decided to beat the February blues by making it the excuse for a big night out - complete with fun dresses, dinner beforehand at a favorite restaurant, and an intention to DANCE (gently, given the height of the heels). Perhaps the attention of the charming coworker can be attracted on a more sociable level. And, of course, we have to represent our division smartly, right? And what better way to show our star power than with these fabulous heels:

http://manolobig.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/ysl-star.jpg

(No. Stockings. Oh, but a nice pedicure - it was worth leaving work at 4 and taking a personal hour for everyone to head down to the spa together to get the feet pampered. After all, when the months are long between fun holidays, sometimes you have to make your own.)

And this eye-catching silk georgette dress ($119 from Bloomingdale’s online, in sizes 14 to 22):

http://images.bloomingdales.com/is/image/BLM/products/8/optimized/707898_fpx.tif?wid=213&qlt=90,0&layer=comp&op_sharpen=0&resMode=bilin&op_usm=0.7,1.0,0.5,0&fmt=jpeg

And this classic gold beaded evening clutch, $44 at overstock.com:

http://cdn.overstock.com/images/products/3/P11063743.jpg

And this cashmere wrap (OK, it’s technically a cape, but no sword is required) with a fur-trimmed hood, $165 at overstock.com:

http://cdn.overstock.com/images/products/P10687619.jpg

And, with a low neckline, a necklace - a wee bit angular, like our stars. Also overstock.com:

http://cdn.overstock.com/images/products/P10554197.jpg

(Though I will admit I was tempted by this simpler one: http://cdn.overstock.com/images/products/P10883550.jpg)

There. All set.

And BTW all the outfits are so different and so gorg!

http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=775491

(But it is SUPER fun).

http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=783727

Anyway, glam on folks–sorry to have been dour.

I didn’t mean to cast aspersions on the fun, I’m just saying…I got a whole lot of nothing on this one and will be duly impressed if anybody can get me past the barrier of the shoes–although boots’ selection is very nice and I’d wear everything she picked. Except those shoes. They look wicked ouchy. (In fairness to the shoes, I may be stuck irrevocably on the hose in the first picture which caused instantaneous prejudice on my part.

I’d add a fun bag like this one http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2950503/0~2376779~6008000~2376804~2376249?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=2376249&P=2

And a wrap like this one http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2815691?refsid=90542&refcat=0%7e2376776%7e2374327%7e6005464%7e6005503%7e6005504&SourceID=&SlotID=1&origin=related