Fill in the blank:

I’d rather be fat than ____________.

Francesca cannot wait to see Plumcake’s answer to this Big Question.

Emanuelle’s cry for help is here, with responses from our many internet friends!

Part One of Francesca’s response here.

Part Two of our advice for women of the Apple shape, with large breasts, large tummy, and small hips:

Dear Emanuelle,

Here are some more tips for you and other Apple-shaped sisters:

• have a collection of long-ish necklaces in different lengths (some ending at or just above your breasts, some hanging between them) since this will help bring attention to places you want. Also longer necklaces will help elongate your body.
• avoid shiny clothing
  
• avoid tops which end at the waist or on the tummy: go for looks that end at the hips (but not far below the hips, since this will look frumpy)
• Regarding dresses and skirts, Francesca’s tips are to wear skirts that come just below the knee (to accentuate the lovely calves which Emanuelle is likely to have)
  
• do not wear large prints, such as huge flowers or wide stripes or big plaids. Keep prints small and very dainty, especially since you are but 5’5″ (only a little bit taller than Francesca!)
• wearing a dress that is all one color, or a blouse and skirt whose colors match perfectly, will help elongate your body. However do not be afraid to mix and match colors as long as the items go together tastefully.

Now, we come to the issue of your location. Francesca spends much time abroad, and is well aware of the two-pronged problem: The difficulty of finding plus-size clothing in Europe, and the non-cosmopolitan nature of many American retailers’ shipping policies. Before ordering, check into the customs regulations in your country, so as to avoid being charged exhorbitant taxes upon the arrival of your pretty clothes! It is usually best to find or make a friend in the United States who can accept the shipments for you and then mail you the clothing in an unmarked box. It may be helpful to undo any packaging and take off labels so that the clothing are no longer “new,” as some countries do not charge customs on “used” clothing. Above all, always pay for super-duper trace-able shipping, as packages have a way of getting lost on their journey over the Pond.

Happy shopping!

You are superfantastic!

xoxo, Francesca

DISCUSS

In response to the cry for help from our internet friend Emanuelle, we have received many helpful observations. Surely Emanuelle is now on her way to becoming the best-dressed Appley woman in Germany!

Francesca promised to post her own response to Emanuelle, and so here is the first part of her lengthy, lengthy answer:

I have been meaning to write about this on the blog: indeed wraps and empire waists are not necessarily terribly flattering for apples, despite the fact that they are currently in fashion and so the plus-size vendors have their (often pear-shaped) models peddling them.

The wraps accentuate our love handles and tummies, and the empire waists make us
look pregnant, which is a nice way to look if you are pregnant. So,Emanuelle, it is not just your imagination! And, good for you for trying new things! It is always good to try, even if the experiment fails and you realize that what you were wearing before IS better for your particular body shape and style. Francesca, who is also an Apple, loves the 3/4 length sleeves and the V-necks!

What Francesca wants you to try next is the Princess seams, which can do wonders to give Apples a little bit of an hourglass shape and a waist.

(this image shows the shape of the beautiful Princess seams)

Here is a pretty blouse with Princess seams, available from Talbots:

Francesca highly recommends the Woman and Woman Petite sections at Talbots.com for any Apple. The clothes are very classy and pretty and will FIT you! And narry an empire waist to be seen!

And, look! Kiyonna just last week introduced a wrap blouse which ALSO has the Apple-friendly seems in front (and French cuffs!):

Since there is nothing you can do about your breasts, and you cannot change Germany from being an itty-bitty-titty-committee overnight, you may as well celebrate the large boobs which God has given you in His wisdom (but without crossing the line into “Here are Emanuelle’s breasts, and here is Emanuelle.” It is a fine line!) Make sure that you have several VERY GOOD bras, and that the seams of your bra are not showing through the clothes. And go ahead and wear plunging necklines. I am sure there are many German men who find your large breasts to be, ah, a refreshing breath of air.

More of Francesca’s response tomorrow.

Meanwhile: DISCUSS!

For Part 2, Click Here.

Our internet friend Emanuelle writes:

I’m from Germany, far, FAR away from these fascinating ideas I’m reading in your blog and the sites you’re linking. The idea of a fat woman not trying to lose weight would sound completely absurd to my friends. Not that they don’t like me the way I am, it’s just that nobody has ever heard anything like it before, around here. Clothes that show curves, don’t hide them? Ridiculous. Magazines are full of tips how to hide your big bosom and draw attention away from it.

This is where my question comes in. I’m 25 years old, 5’5” and 180-190 pounds. I wear a European size 46 (American 14-18), I’m an “apple” type, with slimmer legs and a large belly, but with huge, honestly, enormous breasts. From what I gather, I should be wearing wrap tops and empire waists. Roughly 80% of plus size tops you can buy in Germany are wrap tops. They are supposed to emphasize my waist and flatter me. They don’t! They make my belly look huge, and my upper body short and deformed. Don’t even start me on high waists and belts.

What looks great on me are V necks, and ¾ sleeves, so I stick to that. But it gets boring after some years. I long to dress like a real woman, to wear skirts and dresses, but I honestly have no idea what might look good on me. Because I’ve been too busy all these years trying to change my body to find that out.

Emanuelle

Oh, our dear superfantastic internet friend, and my fellow Appley sister! Do not despair, for you have come to the right place for wisdom and incredibly gorgeous clothes.

Francesca has responded at length via email to Emanuelle’s cry for help, but before I post my answers, I would like to hear from you, our other internet friends, who know from long, long experience:

What fashion tips do you recommend for your Appley, large-breasted, large-tummied, small-hipped sisters?

We all have it, that one item of clothing we can never quite find. Whether it’s a replacement for your old jeans that made your badonka go donk or the perfect ruby red crocodile clutch, what –sartorially speaking– are you still looking for?

Francesca and Plumcake want to know:

What makes you a great catch? What do you have to offer in a relationship?

Francesca says: I’m a great catch because I am witty and wise. I do not mind doing laundry. I am good at photography and will never cut a man’s head out of a picture. I am willing to work hard and make compromises to make a relationship work. Francesca is sensitive and smart and a good conversationalist and empathetic and giving. She is almost always smiling. It takes little to please her. She is not as materialistic as one might think given her terrific taste in clothing! Francesca likes her own company and does not need to be entertained or constantly propped up emotionally. She is good with children and a superfantastic role model. She is mature enough to take responsibility for her own flaws while having patience for those of others. Francesca can edit or proofread a man’s writing so that he always looks good in his correspondence! I can make a romantic 3-course meal in under 2 hours. I am resourceful, men’s moms typically like me a lot, and Francesca (usually) spends within her means! She is one awesome lady!

Plumcake says:  I wouldn’t know. I’ve never thought that being dead on a dinner plate sounded like that good a deal.

What about you?

Today’s Big Question has two parts:

1) What are you waiting to do until after you lose weight?

2) Why not just do it, whether you are thin or not?!? (This part is rhetorical!)