Internet friend Chris wrote to us:

Oh style and fashion Guru Francesca-

Can you help a girl find a cute/fun/fashionable trench coat, about 3/4 length, for a birthday trip to the big city (NYC) at the end of April? The only style seen in the capital city (DC) is run of the mill “London Fog” type.

Francesca is happy to recommend several styles from the superfantastic plus-size offerings at the Nordstrom! Nothing “foggy” here in any way!

Leopard print by Jones New York

Iridescent ruffled coat by the Calvin Klein! Francesca likes!

Coat with faux-leather piping by Gallery Track.

Satin trench coat by DKNY. Francesca likes!

Our internet friend “m” has pointed us to a wonderful site which sells 50′s-style dresses.

You know, the 1950′s, when the ideal woman looked like a woman, not like a “waif.”

All of their dresses go up to X-large, and many many go up to 3x!

Happy shopping!

UPDATE:

Pah! And pah again!

A 37″ waist constitutes a 3X?

Francesca says: Bait and switch!

Pah!

We will not speak of this site again.

Francesca apologizes for her oversight and agrees, the sizing here is ridiculous!

Pah!

Although there is nothing particularly splashy or unique about it, this dress is Francesca’s favorite. She cannot explain why. It simply speaks to her heart.

xoxo

Do you see how the overlay skims lightly over the tummy in an inverted V, starting from somewhat below the bust?

This style works quite well for many Appley girls!  Particularly, if you have a poochie-front-tummy but not too much in the way of love handles (which would be accentuated, usually, by the gathers on the side), this dress could be excellent for you!

Francesca loves this dress for the modest or religious or socially conservative girl.

It is the dress perfectly blending the fashion with the modesty. It has long, generous sleeves; it has a neckline which does not reveal too much (and could even take a pretty shell to no ill effect); it is long and translucent and not too skin-skimming. And yet it has a twist, literally. It is not boring or shapeless. It is conscious of the trends without pandering to them.

It may be a wee bit over-grownup, but with one’s hair up off the neck and pretty jewelry, one would look stunning and regal in this!

Not everyone wishes to look sexy-sexy at her prom. One does not have to look sexual to be beautiful – especially at the tender age of 17. This dress is pricey, but for the girl who wishes to hide many lumpy-squishies, or who wishes the more modest dress for religious or cultural reasons, this is the best dress. Francesca likes!

Francesca likes it better in Navy Blue, which is more jewel-ly and less conservative (we are speaking of the 17-year-old, after all), but alas, the link to that image is not available. Go check out the blue!

It is silver lame for the prom! Wow, says Francesca! Wow, says Sydney’s Closet! Wow, says everyone at the prom!

The Fantasy Prom Dress!

Francesca says: Release your inner sparkle!