Old Navy Skinnies on Sale!

Have you ever thought skinny jeans…  nah, not for me?  Think again!

Honestly, I thought exactly the same thing, “There is no way, they are not for me.” But I was shopping the other day and a sales rep brought me a pair and so I thought why not.  I am so glad I did.  They are a lot more flattering than I thought they would be, not to mention super comfortable.

My other skinny misconception, I thought I was limited to wearing a tunic – wrong again!  You have just as many options with skinny jeans as with regular jeans; sweaters, blazers, blouses, tunics, tees, scarves, belted, boots, heels, flats.  Your looks are endless!

I have put together a couple of casual looks here using the Old Navy Skinnies that are on sale until October 2nd, starting at $19.  (I should mention I paid 3x that amount at another store that shall remain unnamed).   I encourage you to check out the Old Navy options, they have a ton of different looks with patterns and colours to choose from.  You will find options in sizes 16-30

Old Navy Skinnies by plussizefashion

Trust me!  Try them you might be surprised. #ampedONstyle

Pantone Fall 2012 Colour Trend Ultramarine Green

Aaaannnnnddddd the summer is over (boo boo hiss hiss) and all things are back to normal - well as normal can be.  Today we take a look at a collection of clothes that are the Pantone's Fall 2012 Colour Trend Guide Ultramarine Green.

What do you think of this colour?  Meh?!?  That is what I was thinking when looking just at the colour swatch but when I look at the clothing options available in this colour, I think "yeah, okay I can do that colour".  I especially like it paired with navy - like a navy suit?  I think that would be interesting.

2012 Pantone Fall Fashion Colour by plussizefashion

Kristin Miles Mod Twofer $67

Plus Size Fix Plus Size Captivating Necklace Tank Green Dress $38.99

Forever 21+ Dotted Jacquard Tie Neck Top $22.80

Forever 21+ Colored Skinny Jeans $30

M&Co. Spotty scarf $10

Old Navy Women's Cap-Toe Ballet Flats $23.50 (on sale)

IGIGI Rita Necklace $48

The British are coming, the British are coming!

I am quite sure you are familiar with ASOS.  They are one of the most popular British sites that offer plus size clothing but have you visited M&Co. or Style369?

There are quite a few new British shops showing up on the plus size fashion scene and so I thought I would do a quick round-up of information (taken from their website) to introduce you to them and to hopefully expand your shopping options to be more international.

A couple things to note when shopping these UK sites:

• UK sizing is different than ours.  Most sites provide a size conversion chart so be sure to make sure you are ordering the correct size.
• Pricing appears in £ GDP – British Pounds, so I always have my trusty currency exchange site up ready to calculate the cost of my new find.
• Duty and import charges may apply.

So let’s get shopping, in no specific order….

Style 369

"Dedicated entirely to fashion, Style369.com is an online-only fashion store, devoted to delivering the perfect fit for style-conscious size 14-26 woman."
Shipping: 8 days
Cost: £7.50 ($11.80)

British Invasion - Style 369 by plussizefashion featuring knee boots

Evans
“Evans has special expertise in designing, fitting and styling the latest fashions to flatter the curvy woman.”
Shipping: 8 days
Cost: £7.50 ($11.80)

British Invasion - Evans by plussizefashion featuring black wedge sandals

New Look

New Look describes their customer as “They love to bag a bargain and get a real thrill from finding that killer fashion item. They want clothes that are bang-on trend but that also fit their style and life.” Hey, that’s me!
Shipping: 5-7days
Cost: £7.50 ($11.80)

British Invasion - New Look by plussizefashion featuring blouses

M&Co.

“M&Co is one of the largest, privately-owned fashion retailers in the UK and has been selling quality clothing for more than 50 years.”

Shipping: 10-14
Cost: £15($23.60)

British Invasion - M&Co by plussizefashion on polyvore.com

Yours Clothing
"Incorporating the most influential catwalk to high street trends, Yours Clothing offers the best attire for daywear to evening." Yours Clothing actually shows the prices in $'s so there is no need to do the exchange.

Shipping: 5-7days
Cost: $16 for up to 12 items, $2 for any extra items

British Invasion - Yours Clothing by plussizefashion featuring a black pencil skirt

ASOS
“Aimed at fashion forward twenty somethings globally” but don’t let that scare you off.  They do have something for everyone.  To find the plus size section look for “Curve” under the Women section.
Shipping: 10-14
Cost: £6+($9.44)

British Invasion - ASOS by plussizefashion featuring a skinny bow belt

As you have also probably noticed, the clothing is great but I actually believe the accessories totally rock – from jewellery to shoes.  I think I spent more time exploring the accessories than anything else.  Make sure you don’t miss them.

*Currency exchange rate was calculated as of Feb 16, 2011

Cheerio and happy shopping!
Sherri

A late addition... you may have noticed that Simply Be was missing.  This was because they don't ship to Canada bbbuuuuuttttt I have thought of a way we can have access to their clothes, yeah!

If you shop the Simple Be USA website and have it shipped to your myusa.com account.  (MyUSA it is a service that will provide you with a US shipping address, phone number and will even process your order with a US credit card if needed. They consolidate your order and then ship it to you.)

Yes, you would be paying for shipping from your MYUSA account BUT shipping is FREE from Simply Be to the USA so in the end it actually works out about the same.

Simply Be 
"Simply Be has the ambition to succeed in the US market bringing all of our trendy and fabulous clothes, gorgeous accessories, curve-embracing intimates and stunning footwear to you."Shipping: 7-10days to the US, so add on more time to be forwarded to Canada.
Cost: FREE to the US but additional cost based on MyUSA.com charges.

samples coming soon.

SALES! Don't Miss Out.

Really quick, there are some awesome deals to be had if you are looking for a few late Christmas gifts for yourself.  Here are a few:

AdditionElle
Get up to 60% OFF at the End-of-Season Clearance Sale at AdditionElle.com!

petite intarsia cardishawl now $19.99

ASOS

Upto 70% OFF selected items!

ASOS curve exclusive dress w/ pleat button front now £27

eShakti

Upto 50% off on selected pieces until Jan 15^th.

draped neck satin silk print dress now $59.95

Lola&Gigi

Designer markdowns with upto 40% OFF on selected merchandise.

donna morgan smoke print 70's dress now $129.99

Penningtons

Get an Extra 20% Off + Free Shipping at Penningtons.com! Use Promo Code: PJAN20

(Valid Jan 10-12)

printed halter scarf top now $19.99

Reitmans

Take an extra 30% OFF sale merchandise.
short sleeve sweater now $19.99

Satin Woods

Upto 50% OFF on selected pieces.

charlotte cocktail dress now $69.98

SexyPlus Clothing

Clearance Sale is on now with markdowns on winter fashions and resort wear for anyone going on vacation.

why yes! plus size cocktail dress now $54

SWAK

Sale-A-Palooza!  Upto 75% OFF on selected items until Jan.16^th.

joan maxi dress now $39.99

TORRID
Boots $20 OFF plus BOGO 50% OFF!  Plus lots of other deals.

Trusol - Black Tricia Wedge Boots Now $48.50

Ulla Popken

Take 25% OFF 1 item, Use Code: C12K0110, valid until Jan 15th.

I will continue to add to the list as I find more sales.  If you have found one feel free to let me know about it and I will add it to the list.  

Happy Shopping

Sherri 

An Interview With Designer Karen Kane

Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing Karen Kane.  I love to hear about people who follow their passion to make a dream come true.  Read all about Karen's story...

Tell me how you started designing?  And for how long?
I grew up loving clothes, and I learned to sew when I was young so I always designed things I'd wear myself. When I graduated high school, I moved to Los Angeles to attend FIDM. That's where I learned about pattern making and the fashion industry more broadly. After graduating from FIDM, I worked as a pattern maker for a few years, which is how I met my husband. We worked together, and after a couple years, we decided to start our own company. The first season of Karen Kane shipped at the end of 1979, so I guess that's when I "officially" started designing!

Can you describe the clothing Karen Kane offers?
I believe in clothing that's versatile enough to last several seasons, yet fashionable enough to be of-the-moment. We're known for our clothing's comfort, ease, and longevity. I want women to not only look good in what they wear, but also to feel great while they're wearing it.

11 days Until A Plus Size Party in Toronto

If you live in the Greater Toronto Area it is time to party!  BigBeautifulWellness.com is hosting their annual party that celebrates Big Beautiful Women.  Everyone is invited including your loved ones.

Date and Time: Saturday, September 24 · 7:00pm - 11:30pm

Location:  Holiday inn Yorkdale, 3450 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario 

There will be appetizers, drinks, a DJ, live jazz music, burlesque and belly dancing performances and lots of prizes.

PLUS a Fall Fashion Show by SexyPlus Clothing

To purchase tickets now and/or to learn more visit Liz’s site.

BigBeautifulWellness.com is a community site for big beautiful woman that are living… and not stuck in their bodies waiting to live.  Through retreats, workshops and meet and greets, Liz McCallum of BigBeautifulWellness.com motivates and encourages whole wellness in physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and social.  Positive living, positive choices and practical solutions is the focus. 

VIP Shopping with Penningtons

Sorry for the delay in telling you about my VIP Penningtons event.  I am sure you can understand that the life of a VIP can get very busy :)

I should start by saying it has been sometime since I have been shopping in a Penningtons store.  I check out what they have online regularly but actually visiting a store - it really has been awhile.

Penningtons invited a number of local Plus Size Bloggers and customers to the Heartland store in Mississauga for a new shopping experience and to be "Styled to Surprise".  

I would highly recommend you make the trip to Mississauga to visit Ester (Store Manager) and her staff at the Heartland store.  They knew their merchandise and were eager to help, but not "too" eager - if you know what I mean.

I was greeted with a refreshment and let loose to go shopping.  There were appies, a DJ, a make-up artist, stylists and a fireman.  Hmmmm, curious right?


While shopping I was asked if I had been to the fitting room to see the surprize.  My response was, unless it is that fireman waiting for me in the fitting room, I am in no hurry.  (Sorry honey, he was a fireman dressed in fireman gear!)

Surprise!

It was firemen in the fitting room but not like you think (or wish).  The big reveal was an innovative mirror that when you stood on a mat it would prompt a video scenario to start with two firemen appearing in the mirror with you. They flirt, offer you champagne all the while your reaction is being captured electronically, ending with you having an option to share it all on Facebook.

I did find it odd, why would I want to share my shopping for clothes with someone I haven't seen since Gr. 3? (insert sarcastic tone now, "Thanks again Facebook for reconnecting us!") Conveniently, while I was in the fitting room there were a number of technical glitches so I never had to step on the mat.  When I shop for clothes, I shop alone. I grab my pieces, try them on, and I don't leave the fitting room unless I need a different size.  

Typically I don't have my hair or make-up done, I don't have the right shoes, I leave my socks on when trying on dresses - the process is not a pretty one.  I would rather the first time my friends see my new clothes be when I have completed the entire look.

Maybe I am just showing my age, not sure, but if this is something you might find fun go check it out.  The "mirror of men" will be at the Heartland store for 3 months.

Now to the good stuff: shopping!  Penningtons very graciously gave us $150 to spend that night and with the extra 20% off New Arrivals, my fashion math calculates that to be $180 in new clothes.

I was honestly Styled to Surprise when I started shopping!  Previously, Penningtons wasn't on my go-to-list for clothing.  While I have found pieces there in the past, I would often find a cut or style I liked but would wonder why they would use such an unflattering pattern or colour.

It was obvious they have worked really hard to change this perception.  I found the clothes to be younger, flattering and stylish.  One of the reasons I started this website and blog was out of frustration and not being able to find stylish clothes.  With the largest plus size chain stores all being owned by the same company I felt our hands were tied.  I do believe they have heard our cry for something different.

I now see Penningtons as a company who offers on-trend clothes without being too trendy. 

I think I am your average 40+ (eeks!) woman who just wants to have clothes that are fashionable and flattering.  I am not in my 20's, I don't have to or want to wear "off the runway" styles; you will never see me in purple skinny jeans.  (Oh boy, never say never!) Silhouette is more important to me than wearing a designer name.  I also expect to get a season or two out of my clothing purchases.  I really think Penningtons hit the mark on all accounts.

Their Fall styles offer a good jumping off point.  The styles work such that that by adding accessories and mixing and matching you can create a unique style of your own.

I usually wait until late September/October to go shopping for Fall so shopping this early was a treat.  I had my pick of styles, colours and sizes.  On my third round in the fitting room I wondered why I hadn't shopped in August before!

Everything I tried on fit, I actually had so much stuff I consulted with the stylists Giselle and Sebastion to help me weed down my purchases.  It was honestly the best shopping experience at Penningtons I have ever had.

I left with 2 dresses, a sweater, jeans, a top, and a tank for a total of $260, minus the $180 I had to spend, it only cost me $80.  I love everything I bought and got two thumbs up during my mini fashion show for "the dude" and my MIL (Mother-in-Law).

I will share my purchases with you later.  When I went online they didn't have everything listed and I didn't think the pictures did them justice.  Not to mention I have been droning on and on in this blog post.

I will end this post with a suggestion to check out Penningtons.  If you haven't been there for awhile I think you will be "Styled to Surprise"

Happy Shopping!

Sherri

P.S.   Thanks to Penningtons and Melissa, the event coordinator.  I appreciated the invite, the clothes and all the hard work that went into the event.

OneStopPlus.com Now Shipping To Canada!

Wow I thought I was sleeping at the wheel yesterday when I stumbled onto OneStopPlus.com and read they were shipping international!  I wondered how long that had been happening without my knowledge.

Today I learned it was announced yesterday, phew, I feel much better and don't feel like I have been missing out.

If you are not familiar with OneStopPlus.com they are a marketplace for plus size woman and men.  Basically, it is a one-stop shop for all of their Redcats brands which include Woman Within, AVENUE, Jessica London, King Size (for men), and Roaman's.

Since their launch in 2007 they have also added online retailers to their offering also Torrid, Igigi, Kiyonna, Ulla Popken and more.

When reading their shipping policies alot of the existing online retailers do not ship internationally through OneStopPlus.com. I recommend reading their specifics before placing an order.

All brands on OneStopPlus.com are available for international shipping with the exception of the following: Aerin Rose, Aerosoles, Alight, Carol Wior, IGIGI, Kiyona, Lafayette 148 New York, Torrid, Ulla Popken, SVOBODA, Sealed With A Kiss Designs (S.W.A.K.), Tafford Uniforms, Reebok, ShoeBuy, handbags, jewelry, fragrances, costumes, home and kitchen, items delivered from the manufacturer, or gift cards & e-gift cards.

If you have done any shopping online you have probably come across this website and been seriously disappointed to learn they didn't ship to Canada after finding a bunch of things you wanted to purchase.

Here are a few things that we can now shop for....

1. Lightweight Cotton Denim Jumper $29.99-$39.99 and Denim Illusion Print Scarf $19.992.  2. Taillissime Printed Empire Waist Maxi Dress $69.99-$79.993.  3. Woman Within Comfort Smocked Dress $34.99 - $39.99

1. Taillissime Slightly Crinkled Chiffon A-line Dress $79.992. 2. Taillissime Tiered Tunic $24.99 - $44.99 3. Taillissime 2-in-1 Blouse $54.994. Taillissime Wide Leg Pants  $24.99 - $44.99

Don't miss their huge clearance section too.

A sunny summer Friday just got alittle bit better.  Happy Shopping!

Craigspass, a modern approach to couponing

Have you heard of Craigspass? Started by a Toronto company, it is like real time couponing.

So the idea is you join Craigspass and you will be notified with your mobile device or computer of sales, contests and exclusive offers within your area or even where you are right now!

After joining search for your favourite stores click “follow” to stay updated on their latest offers.

If a store is offering something you would like to share with your friends click “want” and they will learn of the great deal too.

To receive the offer no need for clipping coupons or using vouchers just walk into the store and show them your phone. Tada you just saved money!

Craigspass will never let you miss a great deal.  Out and about on a Saturday, take your phone and on your travels learn of what sales are happening around you.

I think the service sounds pretty cool but the company’s success is really dependent on both consumers and shop-owners.  Shop-owners really have to stay current and use the service (Which by the way doesn’t cost them anything unless someone actually redeems the special so why wouldn’t stores sign-up?)  And the job of the consumer is just shop and share.

I personally haven’t used it yet BUT it is on my todo list.  How did I learn about this service?  SexyPlus Clothing.  Stefanie is always embracing new technology and looking for new ways to stay in touch and keep her customers informed of what is happening at her store.

In case you were wondering, she does have an exclusive contest happening right now.  Click “want” on her contest and have a chance to win an iPhone 4 from Craigspass.  They have partnered to get the Craigspass word out.  The contest needs 400 “wants” by July 8th to activate.  If they hit 400 “wants” your name is entered into the draw.  I definitely WANT that!

While on the subject of SexyPlus Clothing, if you are in the city (Toronto) Saturday Stefanie is celebrating being 3 months Yonge with a  BOGO Sale (Buy one get one half off), a Sidewalk Fashion Show and a chance to win $100 SexyPlus gift certificate.  A party, shopping and saving all at the same time… sweet! 

Sizing Up The Girls

Today I am so excited to have a guest posting.  Please welcome Claire from Butterfly Collection, a place where busty Canadian woman can find great fitting bras.

If you’ve spent your whole adult life hating bras you may have come to the conclusion that the problem is your body and given up hope of feeling good in your lingerie. The good news is, there’s nothing wrong with your body and you can find the right bra for you! We’re not educated enough about why bras are important and what to look for when buying a bra so that it fits you and makes your boobs look fantastic! This has led to literally millions of women being left to struggle with ill-fitting bras that make your boobs look like a sack of potatoes – never a good look!

If you don’t get your underwear right then whatever you put over the top is going to take on the lumps and bumps underneath. When you’re a curvaceous woman to start with it’s even more important to have a bra that’s going to keep your boobs high and your waist visible. There are magic moments in my job when I get a customer into the right bra for the first time in her life and she realizes that her figure is pretty great after all! Getting women into the right bra isn’t done by magic and you can find your own path to the right bra from your own home.

Plus Size Boobs Need Fit and Style
You may have been for a professional bra fitting before or read an article about how to find your size but have still been left feeling bewildered and uncomfortable. When you’re a curvy woman it’s not enough just to talk about size, you have to talk about style too. But first things first, let’s talk size. Most stores don’t carry bras bigger than a DD and yet over a third of adult Canadian women fall into this category. If you get fitted at one of these stores they may try to shove your fabulous assets into the biggest bra they make which will leave you lumpy and in pain.

Sizing up the Girls

I always recommend that if you go for a professional bra fitting you do an at home fitting first so that you have a ballpark size to know whether you’re getting an accurate fitting or not. Measuring yourself is pretty easy or you can ask a partner, friend or family member to help you out.

Put on your best fitting bra then stand side on to a mirror. Wrap a soft tape measure around your body underneath your boobs. Make sure the tape is level with the ground at the back as well as at the front – this is where your bra band should sit, any higher or lower and your boobs aren’t supported. If your measurement is an odd number round it up to the next even number, if it’s even don’t add anything and just jot down your measurement in inches.

Next wrap the tape measure around the fullest part of your boobs (across your nipples) and make sure the tape is level with the ground front and back. Write down this number in inches exactly as it is.

Your band measurement is the first measurement you wrote down (most women are wearing bras that are way too big in the band which leaves their boobs sagging and painful).

To work out your cup size you simply deduct the smaller measurement from the bigger one and compare the result to this Canadian sizing chart:

1 inch	A cup	4 inch	D cup	7 inch	G cup	10 inch	J cup
2 inch	B cup	5 inch	E cup (DD)	8 inch	H cup	11 inch	K cup
3 inch	C cup	6 inch	F cup (DDD)	9 inch	I cup	12 inch	L cup

So let’s use an example, if you measured 39 inches underneath your boobs you need to round this up to the next number giving you a band size of 40.

If your biggest measurement was 49 then you deduct 40 from 49 to give you 9. Compare 9 to the chart and you see that you’re an F cup (some Canadian brands refer to F as a DDD – this is a throwback to when boobs were smaller and the accepted bra scale only went up to a D!) So your bra size is 40F.

**There is one more important thing to know about your size** A lot of plus size women find that they are more comfortable in a slightly bigger band size. This is because a snug band size is OK when you don’t have much flesh around your ribcage but when you do, a snug band can cause discomfort.  If you want to wear a band size bigger you must wear a cup size smaller – this is because your cup is PROPORTIONAL to your band.

Using our example a woman who fits a 40F may want to wear a 42 band so she needs a cup size smaller i.e. a 42E. The E cup on a 42 inch bra is the same size as the F cup on a 40 inch bra – the cup is proportional to the band.

You can check out our Bra School for more information on common bra complaints and solutions.

Stylish Boobs

So what about style? This is the missing element from most bra advice and is so important for curvy women. If you are over a D cup then you need a full coverage bra, that’s not to say you can never wear a racier cleavage boosting bra, but for day to day stuff when you’re moving around and need support you need a bra that has full coverage. The most important part of a full coverage bra for plus size women is the centre part that lies flat against your body between your boobs. Make sure this part is deep because it gives you so much more support and definition. Your full coverage bras can be lacy or moulded or in great colours, you don’t need to give up fashion, you just need a great style bra.

A lot of plus size women also benefit from wearing a wirefree bra. While wired bras give you good definition they can be painful around your ribcage if you’re extra curvy through your torso. Wirefree bras should have a high side panel to give you good shape and keep your girls in place.

I believe that every woman of every shape has the right to feel beautiful and supported in her underwear that’s why I started Butterfly Collection. When you’ve got some extra curve you need some extra support both physically and mentally, so we’re always happy to chat about your bras and boobs! I wish you all good bra shopping and hope you love rediscovering how great you look in the right lingerie!

Claire Dumican owns www.butterflycollection.ca with her partner Paul Syrenne. Their mission was to create a unique shopping and social space for busty Canadian women to find great lingerie and talk about their boobs. Butterfly Collection stocks bras that are designed to make big boobs look and feel great from some of the world's best brands. Claire believes that understanding your boobs and being proud of your figure helps you find your best bras. Her blog, http://blog.butterflycollection.ca/ talks about everything from how to make your bras live longer to the joy of cheese! You can email Claire directly at claire@butterflycollection.ca      

A Thank You to May Advertisers

It is the end of the month, can you believe it?  At least the weather is starting to feel like June. This blog post is a shout out to my May advertisers and something new I will be doing at the end of every month.  I truly appreciate their support and encourage you to visit their sites:

I also wanted to mention that my blog isn't going through an identity crisis :)  If you have been reading it lately things might be changing right before your eyes.  I have been playing around with the layout and design the last few days.  I figure fashion is all about style and so a fashion blog really should have it's own style.


The look is still in the "creative process", but what do you think so far?  I would love to hear your feedback and to find out if there is something new you would like to see.

Shopping at the New SexyPlus Clothing Store

As of April 9th, the retail store for SexyPlus Clothing officially opened in downtown Toronto (901 Yonge St.)  The Grand Opening was such a fun afternoon I spent with my girlfriends Liz and Laurie.  Stefanie, owner of SexyPlus Clothing and her super blogger sidekick Nina were gracious hosts.

There were fun fruity drinks, treats to keep our energy up and Jessica Sheppard singing to people on the street and customers in the store.  Check her out, she is a fantastic local talent that will be going places.

Liz, Laurie and I took our time browsing the store, challenging each other to try on things we wouldn't normally have tried.

On my first walk through the store I had looked at the Ruffle Shuffle Top, Liz and I both agreed there was too much going on with the colour, pattern and ruffles.  Suzanne, helping at the store that day convinced me to try it on,  saying she had it and loves it.  Wow, was I shocked, it hides everything!  I hold most of my weight in my stomach and with the Ruffle Shuffle top you can't tell.  I totally thought with the ruffles laying on my stomach it would add inches but I was so wrong. It is my new favourite!

I tried on a few things from the Pretty Woman line and was happy to see the sizing was a true plus size fit.  I wear a 3x/4x.  I should also mention the quality of Pretty Woman... really nice to the touch with enough stretch in the fabric to make it super comfortable but not too much that it looks sloppy.

I also purchased the Arwen Sun Plus Size Sheath Dress, which I have had my eye on for sometime now

and this little pink number I plan to wear as a top:

Each of us left the store with a few pieces which was really good because the all wear different sizes and have very different body shapes.  The rest of the afternoon was spent discussing how awesome we will look in our new clothes over yummy mexican food.
I know there are a ton of new arrivals to be posted to the SexyPlus Clothing online store so if you are not in the Toronto area don't worry you will beable to place an order soon.

My only criticizim was that I didn't win the $500 Shopping Spree!  I had it spent already :)
Two thumbs up to the new SexyPlus Clothing store.