And that means it’s time to talk coats. As it happens, Lane Bryant has some very nice ones on sale right now. My personal fave? This classic, wool blend reefer coat.

Not only is this lovely coat on sale at fifty dollars off the original price, it comes in six different colors. Best of all, it comes in tall and petite sizes as well. While it isn’t, perhaps, a coat for all seasons (well it would get a bit warm in summer, wouldn’t it?), it’s as close as you’re going to come to a coat for all sizes and colorings of big girls.

‘Tis the season once again to think of special gifts for those around us. Here at Big Girl, we think these gifts should be superfantastic as can be. Since I have a particular affinity for the kitchen and the wonders that can be produced there, I’m concentrating on special gifts for that venue. Whether it’s for Christmas, Hanukkah, a special birthday or anniversary, or simply a case of deciding Tuesday needs celebrating, the cook on your list will appreciate any of these:

1: This Emile Henry 9″ pie pan available at cooking.com at $37.95. I happen to have this very pie pan in this lovely, cheerful citron color in my own kitchen, and it’s my go-to pie pan. It goes from oven to freezer to microwave to dishwasher, heats evenly, and looks terrific on a festive table. If you don’t like this color, it’s also available in: azur, blanc, cerise, figue, pink, and vert.

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Last week, I wrote about Thanksgiving and how I love it. Just in case you’re wondering, I’m the sort of cockeyed optimist and holiday hussey who was very nearly assaulted by her co-workers one fine December 24th for still being in a good mood while working full time in retail over the holidays. And so it saddens me when I see situations like Scarlett’s:

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With the holiday party season rapidly approaching, many of us big girls are wondering where to find something superfantastic to wear and bemoaning the endless parade of eighties MOB dresses masquerading as festive formalwear facing us in store after store. It can get so depressing that one becomes tempted to simply cinch a black garbage bag into a sleeveless dress and go sit in a corner guzzling egg nog while trying not to be noticed. It might actually be more attractive than some of the alternatives that present themselves.

But you didn’t think we here at Big Girl would let you sink to that, did you? Have no fear. We’re here to help. And so is Astarte.
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It’s November. There’s an invigorating snap in the air, the nights are closing in early, and my mind turns inexorably to Thanksgiving.

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Again, you people amaze and amuse me.

Last week I faced you with this picture:

and you gave me eight different captions to choose between.

In the end, there can be only one winner, though, and this time it’s Babs for this gloriously fitting caption:

Elspeth didn’t know what was worse: being forced to take a picture in a dress that was clearly more suited to a pear than her own apple shape or the fact her husband had chosen that day to dress as the bastard child of Albert Einstein and Bill Cosby.

Well done, Babs! And congratulation.

You know the rules. Look at the picture below, come up with your best caption for it, and post it in comments. Next saturday, I’ll announce the winner of…shiny bragging rights.

So hit me with your best shots! Make me proud.