Back Again With Amazing Bargains

It has been a while since I've posted...here's what I've been up to in my eternal quest to find something that fits me ;).

While Christmas shopping at Saks Off Fifth outlet, I came across some nice cashmere blend sweaters by 7 For All Mankind. As you know, you can't find their jeans above a 32" waist. So I wasn't hopeful the sweaters would run true to size. I picked out a short-sleeved, oatmeal colored sweater in L and when I tried it on, it fit perfectly. The sweater was $79.99 but with a discount coupon, I got it for $59.99.

I got an even better deal on a Tory Burch long-sleeved top at Nordstrom Rack. It was $39.99! And again, the L fit just fine. There was a cute TB dress in a size 14, but it looked like it was still a little too narrow for me.

Then today, while at Loehmann's, I saw that Paper Denim Cloth actually makes tops up to XL ("4"). I never knew that it did, since the biggest size I'd seen in any of their tops is L ("3"). How 'bout that?

Not everything I've acquired this yuletide season was discount. There was a way cute jacket from Anthropologie I initially tried to order from its website, but when it was backordered, I called the closest store (20 miles away) and it turned out there was one left in L and in the color I wanted. Woo hoo!

IGIGI sizes down

IGIGI, the popular plus brand for the fashionable set, is now available in size 12:

http://www.igigi.com

Yet another premium denim brand sizes up

Avenue, the plus-sized national chain, has started selling premium brand Yanuk in two different styles starting at size 14, for $150. Let's hope it's not another ripoff like with the Seven7 line a couple of years ago:

http://www.avenue.com

Update: Avenue is also featuring an exclusive design from another premium brand, Antik, for $175.

Catching up

How has your holiday shopping gone? I went to Desert Hills Outlet Mall in Cabezon, CA on Black Friday. It was a madhouse. But I bought a pricey pair of shoes. Shoes are great on anyone of any size!

I've bought two items from Erin Fetherston's new line for Target. The line is girly-girlish and therefore not for everyone, but I found a couple of things that I liked. One is a red corduroy jumper/dress for $29.99. I'm a 14-16 and the large fit me just fine. I also bought a gray "oversized" cardigan with heart buttons. It's soft and comfy, even though some people online have sniffed at the fact it's acrylic. Acrylic isn't cashmere but really, what do people expect? I've ordered from Target.com the heart-shaped bags since none of my local stores carry much of the accessories.

The perfect quote

I saw this on a blog at http://www.luckymag.com in response to a post about a pair of wide leg Genetic Jeans:

For real? I feel like these are designed for women with zero hips. Who are you genetically blessed freaks?

It's Been A While...and Holiday Parties

Don't worry, I haven't abandoned this site! I had internet issues and I was busy with other things.

The only thing I can comment on as of late is the issue with holiday parties.

Many of us attend at least one Christmas-time party, and maybe a New Year's Party. Despite what the magazines and stores try to sell us, not very many of us go to fancy-pants, semi-formal or formal/black tie events. Family gatherings don't require tuxes. People don't put on prom dresses for New Year's anymore. Every office party I've attended has only been slightly dressed up.

Of course they want you to buy this stuff on top of your other gift-giving purchases, telling you that strappy shoes, accessories, etc. are must-haves. Sure it's nice to have these things on-hand in case you are invited to an event where you're required to dress up. But those events can come up any time of the year. And in all likelihood you'll only go to a couple of them.

Untapped Resources: Wal-Mart

Women of all shapes and sizes have a resource available to them that few people talk about...Lord Wally of the Mart.

I love Wal-Mart and its big box brethren. Just as you can find your favorite products at a discount, you can also find things that can fit your body...and not look bad either!

For years I've hit Wal-Mart to find casual clothes like track suits for lounging about at home or trendy wear for the weekends. But in the last couple of years, I've also found stuff nice enough for work thanks to its George ME line. Just last weekend, I bought a nice-looking brown suit for around 40 bucks (jackets and pants are sold separately):

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5995652

Sizes go up to 18.

And two weeks ago, I found a great-looking cropped jacket from the store's junior No Boundaries line:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=6372138

The XL is true to size.

The quality of Wal-Mart clothes varies and sometimes you do have to size up. But I've found that there are many items that are of as good quality as things you can find at the mall.

I'm impressed...

While I was stuck home during the wildfires earlier this week (my job closed for three days), I had a little too much quality time with shopping via the internet. Thanks to the California Style blog, I discovered the Harmony Lane website. Harmony Lane is a Beverly Hills boutique popular with celebrities, particularly t.v. stars. But don't let that stop you. The stuff they have is on par pricewise with other hot-with-celebs L.A. boutiques like Kitson, Lisa Kline, Intuition, etc. but there are actually some nice, reasonably-priced items as well. I ordered a long-sleeved tee and really did not expect to get it for another few days, particularly with all of the fires and freeway closures in SoCal.

I ordered the item on Tuesday and I got it yesterday from FedEx! I couldn't believe it. FedEx is awesome. They must've taken a boat or something.

And inside with my order was a personally-addressed, handwritten card from Jess at Harmony Lane thanking me for my business. I'm not Jessica Alba and I didn't order $2000 worth of stuff, but they still went through the trouble. You rarely see that kind of service these days. Nice going, Harmony Lane.

Svoboda Fall 2007

I first found out about a SoCal line aimed at plus sizes called Svoboda last year after reading online raves about its line of premium denim. At the time, Svoboda was the only line making designer-quality denim and sophisticated tops for a market that sorely needed them. I now own 4 pairs of Svobodas and I love 'em to death. They are among the best-fitting jeans I own. And the great thing is Svoboda now offers sizes 10-24, meaning all tweeners can get their hands on a pair and feel the love. Next spring, Svoboda will offer sizes 8-24.

Anyway, here are some of the highlights of this fall's offerings:



Beth Button Down Trouser Jean $148



Cece Sailor Trouser Jean $148



Eddy Corduroy Pants $128...I ordered a pair of this in gray.

The new tops haven't been posted yet, but they will be soon.

Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Neiman Marcus have carried Svoboda in the stores or online, but you can also order directly from http://www.svobodastyle.com. And if you use the code SKORCHENHOT, you'll get 15% off your order!

Paige Premium Denim (Monarch) On Sale...But In Stores Only

I found out via the Curvy Chick message board that one of the three styles of sorta-plus Paige Premium Denim jeans, the Monarch, is on sale at Nordstrom. It's this style below:



The original post on Curvy Chick came from someone in Chicago who saw the jeans on sale at the Michigan Avenue store for $99. This is down from the original $209. There are however three catches:

1. The sale is only at the stores (Encore department). The jeans are still $209 online. However, the poster on Curvy Chick said she actually talked to online customer service and it will honor the store price.

2. The sale only applies to the Monarch style. The Mandeville Canyon (plain pockets) and the Las Palmas (light embroidery) styles are still full-fare.

3. The sale price varies. At my local Nordstrom, the sale price was $117.90. That's almost a 20 dollar difference.

I tried on the Monarch style and the fit on this is exactly the same as the Mandeville Canyon. In other words, if you're a misses size or if you're a plus with thin legs, it's your lucky day.

Update 10/30/07: The sale on the Monarchs extends to Nordstrom.com as well. Supposedly it's on sale because the zipper is too short, but I compared it with the Mandeville Canyon and the zippers are the same length. However, the label inside the Monarch misidentified the jeans as the Mandeville Canyon. This might be the reason for the sale. And I was able to get refunded the difference between the sale price at my local Nordstrom and the sale price at another Nordstrom in Chicago.

I decided to go ahead and buy the jeans and try to see if I can get the difference between this price and the one at the Chicago store refunded from Nordstrom. I'll keep you posted.

The weekly haul

Here are the interesting things I've picked up recently:

Bloomingdale's had some great stuff on sale over the weekend. I managed to find:

*Socks for as little as $3.50, plus 40% off
*Betsey Johnson Intimates boy cut undies on sale for $15, plus 40% off
*AK Anne Klein shirt dress for $32

Over at Sephora I picked up some eyeshadow, a nice base from Bare Escentuals and a shadow in "Barefoot Contessa" from Stila. I also got to watch the staff keep an eye on a couple of suspected shoplifters.

Remember the Salt Works jeans I mentioned a while ago? I spotted them on sale for $58 at Nordstrom.

Today I was sprung out of work early due to the holiday. I went to Anthropologie and managed to actually find a size 12 dress on sale for $39.95. It's navy with green and purple embroidery. Very nice!

Where can we go?

Just now, I was looking at Lucky magazine's redesigned website(http://www.luckymag.com) and I noticed there's a street fashion section where you can "be inspired...by wildly cool girls" in Brooklyn, NYC.

Wildly cool girls? How very "Sassy" magazine circa 1990.

Anyway, the women pictured all appear to be under 25, and thin. Now if you happen to fall into both of those categories, great. But most of us out there do not. So where are we supposed to find inspiration?

Being at the upper end of straight sizing means there's no website or message board that suits you 100%. Or even 85%. I do go to a plus size board or two, but you're there with size 24 women who have different issues than you do. And they're not always positive places to be for a lot of emotional and social reasons. I also go to a lot of mainstream boards and sites and well, I don't feel like I fit in those sites either. Sure you can get great info on accessories, trends, sales, and the stuff I can fit into. They certainly have their value. But you also feel a little left out. On some sites, there's a prevalent attitude that anything and everything is solely for the young and thin. When they're dominated by 22-year-olds, it's easy to think that way.

(Note: This does not mean I advocate dressing like a teenager when you are not one anymore.)

The closest thing I've found to a site that addresses the real-life consumer, and not necessarily just the young and/or slight, is Budget Fashionista. It would be nice if there were more!

Resentment Theater

One thing that sets me apart from the larger ladies who wear only or mostly plus sizes are issues concerning them and thinner women. I might get annoyed with retailers, manufacturers, and designers who treat any woman over a size 6 or 8 as a pariah. I might get annoyed at a media culture that promotes a too-thin image as the ideal. But holding against somebody smaller than me?

Unfortunately, when you are part of a group that has experienced discrimination or exclusion, it's easy to succumb to resentment toward those you think are getting all of the breaks in life. Personal issues of rejection, insecurity, and humiliation become revenge fantasies. I admit to schadenfreude when Jude Law cheated on Sienna Miller--a thin actress held up as a fashion icon and plastered on many a mag cover--with his curvaceous nanny. It's ridiculous, because it doesn't excuse or change the fact Mr. Law was a cheatin' pig or that banging the nanny is just flat out immoral. It was a moment of pettiness.

That said, I'm a little baffled when I see posted on some plus message boards that they don't want to see smaller women shopping in "their" stores or plus designers making stuff for "skinny minnies." On my end, I want just as much respect as other misses customers. I don't care if they make my pants in a 0, just make them in a 16 while they're at it. I won't have a heart attack if I see a five foot tall 80 lb. girl wearing a dress I have. If it looks great on both of us, isn't it a good thing?

Look, anybody can end up fat or skinny. A baby, an illness, stress, etc. can change your body. Grinding your teeth at "those people" isn't going to make you a happier person.

HM is coming to my local mall!

At last, HM will open a store in my humble burg within the next year. Undoubtedly, store executives in Sweden must have noticed that sales dropped significantly when I moved from the HM-saturated Northeast to the West Coast four years ago.

It's about time, guys!

(note: for some reason Blogger is not letting me use the "and" symbol)

The weekly haul

I've decided to start posting on the great finds I don't otherwise mention during the week while out at the stores.

1. I bought a second blouse from the Alice Temperley for Target line, a vintage-y black blouse with blue dots and a tie in the front in XL. Very cute, classic, and only $29.99. Then I found a nice headband in the dollar bin.

2. At Saks Off 5th outlet I noticed the men's department has started carrying Rock & Republic jeans. (Who cares what Clinton has to say about that!) Unfortunately, they were almost out of them and the remaining two were rather small. I know, I'm tapped out on jeans, but dang I love the R&Rs I have.

However, poring through the clearance racks I found two incredible deals from the SFA label. First is a nice long-sleeved tee (a fall/winter staple in SoCal) in yellow for $8.97 and the piece de resistance, a lovely gray short-sleeved jacket/top for $20.97. The latter is a wool/cotton/cashmere blend that originally retailed for almost $150. Better yet, all clearance items were an additional 20% off! Woo hoo!

Review: GO International Alice Temperley for Target

The latest GO International line debuted at Target on Sunday, this time from red hot Brit designer Alice Temperley.

From what I saw--and it's not everything in her line--most of it looks a little too small and youngish for me. I really had wanted the sailor pants but even its size 13s looked waay too small.

But there was something on the racks that grabbed my eye...the ruffle front blouse in gray.

Normally, I'm not a frou-frou kind of gal but this blouse was a stunner. I'm no fashion expert but I know good design when I see it. It's close to what you'd find in the high-priced line, Temperley London. The great thing about the blouse is that you can wear it to work, wear it to a party, make it casual with skinny pants, modernize it with a sleek pencil skirt, or go all gothic lolita with a short skirt, striped hose, and stacked lace-up shoes.

Oh and it's 30 bucks.

I bought one in XL and it fit perfectly. I have a feeling that everything in this line runs small, so purchase accordingly.

J.Crew & Banana Republic To Size 16 Customers: "Bugger Off, Fatty!"

I haven't shopped at J.Crew in ages but a week or so ago, I saw some posts on Stylethread.com about the absence of size 16s in its stores. For a while, J.Crew seldom stocked anything over a 14 in its stores and the few that supposedly did segregated the stuff into a tiny section. Who knows if this is accurate or not, but whatever the case may be, you cannot buy anything over a 14 in its brick and mortar stores but size 16s remain available for some items online and in its catalogues.

Meanwhile, I've taken note of the size 16 vanishing act at BR before. Again, 16 is available online but is increasingly scarce in its stores. Just yesterday I went to a BR Factory Store and there was nothing--NOTHING--above a 14 anywhere. But there were craploads of 4s, 6s, and 8s. Now, the Factory Store is not, as many people think, where older and out-of-season BR merchandise is sold post-clearance from its regular stores. It is instead where you can get slightly (and I mean slightly) cheaper versions of merchandise that's already in its mall stores. So it's not as though they were just plum out of 16s; they flat out don't make them.

I can understand no store cannot cater to every imaginable size. Lord knows the misses 18s and 20s have been screwed this way since, well, always. But as I've pointed out in the past, BR USED to stock 16s in its brick and mortar stores. But ever since it chose to pursue the 00 market a couple of years ago, it decided the size 16 chubbettes needed to go. The Factory Store is proof that it wants a certain market and I ain't it. Sure I can still buy tops, and A-line skirts in 12-14, but when it comes to pants or other types of skirts, I'm screwed at BR.

Gap, Inc. has made some truly goofy decisions with larger clothing in its stores over the past few years. One can still easily find 16s in the Gap and Old Navy. But 18-20s still have to shop online for Gap merchandise. Old Navy produced an ill-fitting and uninspired plus-sized line (so I'm told) and instead of improving its designs and promotion for the line, it moved it out of the stores. Naturally, you can still buy it online. Gap's Forth & Towne Crashed & Burned quickly due to Gap's financial problems, and that carried up to size 20 in its stores.

Perhaps there's some egghead at these companies who have discovered that there is more financial return on smaller sizes than bigger ones. After all, it would cost more to make a size 16 pair of pants than a size 0 pair of pants...less work and less fabric. Or maybe all there is to it are a bunch of snobs in Manhattan who think a size 4 girl doesn't want to be looking at the same pair of pants as a size 16 or that having heavier people shop there make the stores declasse or something. And if they feel that way about 16s, how long will it be before they decide to axe 14 and XL? Or whack out 12 while they're at it?

Wearing Man Jeans

For a while, I've meant to post about one of my oddest fashion secrets. You see, while finding premium denim has become easier than it was a year or two ago for the curvy among us, our options are still more limited than it would be for thinner women or than if we wanted to wear inexpensive denim.

It all started more than a year ago when I saw on Lucky magazine's forum a post from someone who had lost quite a bit of weight but when she was a size 16, she used to buy her Seven For All Mankinds and so forth from the men's department since the waist sizes are bigger. "Grr, why should I have to do that?" I thought.

Well, a few months later I was at Nordstrom Rack and in the men's department was a nice pile of True Religion corduroy Joeys for the low, low price of $80. Lo and behold, they had a 36 waist, which is about my size. I tried them on and...gasp...I could get them on! It was all too good to turn down. So, a habit was born.

A couple of months later, I returned to Nordstrom Rack and there was a pile of Seven For All Mankinds in the men's department for the low, low price of $89. And one in my size. I couldn't believe my luck. I liked my first pair so much that when I found another pair of slim leg, dark wash Sevens for the clearance price of $49, I cheerfully picked it up. Then last spring, I bought the A-pocket Sevens. In between, I found a pair of William Rasts for $79; hey, those things retail for $250. How could I turn that down?

Then I set my sights on getting a pair of Rock & Republics. Unfortunately, you don't find those in the men's section at the Rack, and believe me, I've looked. They're a dime a dozen in the women's sizes at Saks Off Fifth but not in the men's section. My only option was finding them on sale elsewhere (like heck I was going to pay full fare for those puppies). But if I'm not able to try them on, how do I know how they're going to fit? Well, my solution was going to Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, and pretending to be interested in getting a pair for my "boyfriend." (I'm not dating anyone now, and if my track record has anything to show, anybody I would be dating would consider WalMart Wranglers a "luxury" brand.) "So, do those stretch much?" "How's the fit around the leg?" "He hates low rise jeans. How do the rises run?" Then in June I managed to find a pair of the "Neil" style on sale on NeimanMarcus.com. I love the dark wash and the R's on the back are more subtle. Perfect.

With that, I think I may be ending my run on man jeans. I've reached critical mass in my jeans collection as it is and I'm pretty satisfied with what I have. But for those of you who are thinking, "Wow, what an awesome idea" here are some tips based on my experiences.

1. Shop outlets first--You'll get way better prices and there's only one dressing room for the entire store so nobody will look at you funny if you walk off with them from the men's section.

2. Try before you buy, if you can--These are obviously cut for a guy and men tend not to have big booties, generous thighs or wide, curvy hips. Don't be surprised if you have to go up a size from what you think would fit to compensate for the difference in fit.

3. Advantages of man jeans:

a) Roomy, relaxed fit--If prefer a more roomy fit than most women's jeans, you will love man jeans. On you they will have what they call a boyfriend fit (women's jeans ironically cut to fit more like man jeans). Undeniably comfy and you won't have to worry about your breath being cut off.

b) Wider leg--If you have big legs, man jeans tend to have wider legs so they'll look more balanced on you. None of that sticking to your saddlebags nonsense.

c) Bigger rear pockets--Bigger pockets will look more in proportion and more flattering to your booty.

d) Better prices on sale and at outlets--For some reason, this is true. Check 'em out and compare.

4. Disadvantages of man jeans:

a) Gaping around the waist--If you're a pear shape, this can be a problem. But it's a problem with women's jeans as well. Nothing a belt or a tailor can't solve most of the time.

b) Some man jeans leave some room for the junk up front, if you know what I mean, that can look a little funny on a lady.

c) One can better appreciate a great pair of jeans cut for a curvy woman's body (i.e. Svoboda or Paige sorta-plus) over man jeans 99% of the time. They are going to look a little boyish after all.

With all of that said, my favorite of the man jeans I've purchased are the Rock & Republics. They fit great and make my legs look awesome. If you're going to buy only one, try the R&R in Neil dark wash. If you want a more casual jean, go for the Seven For All Mankinds.

Note to manufacturers: We Need Bigger Armholes

My arms are not that big, yet I've been having a devil of a time finding shirts that aren't meant for women with skinny arms. I'm sure some of you know how it is...you pick up a size 12 or 14 or XL shirt off the rack and while the rest of it fits all right, it's so tight on your arms you feel like the circulation is being cut off. Last weekend I tried on a denim jacket in XL and the arms were as tight as a jacket meant for an XS girl.

I know there are those of you out there who will say, "Hey, I'm a 14 and my arms are thin as a rail! I need the bigger shirts for my tummy! I need the bigger shirts to fit my boobs!"

Be that as it may, sizes are based on averages. Chances are if you're a double digit or L/XL in tops, it's because you're that size in proportion to your chest, tummy, shoulder width, arms, etc.. Most lines made for misses recognize that. The lower-cost lines, due to their cost-cutting designs/manufacturing methods, and what I call the "hipster" lines, who think "L" means you're just taller and leaner, do not. It's worse with shirts that have fitted or capped sleeves. Plus-sized shirts may not be a good option because the arms and just about everything else are too big and baggy.

I suppose I could exercise more to tone up my arms, but wouldn't more muscle just make them bigger?

Macy Gray Jumps Into the Celeb Designer Fray

Heh heh, like that title?

Posted on the Curvy Chick message boards was a story that appeared in the Brit newspaper The Independent about singer Macy Gray designing a new line of clothes for the bigger gal called "Humps" (no, really):

"Ms Gray (pictured below) said of her new clothing line: 'It's actually for voluptuous, curvaceous girls, girls with thighs and hips.' She expects the range to be a hit with the 'average-sized girl in America who is a size 12 or 14 [UK 16 or 18]' and who struggles to find 'even a size 8 [UK size 12].'"

According to a poster on Curvy Chick who went to a model call for the line, she was told it wasn't going to be so much a plus line as a line aimed at women sized 10-18. You know, folks like us! I'm not crazy about the name but if the clothes turn out to be nice, I'll be happy.

Review: Dear By Amanda Bynes

Recently, Steve & Barry's launched yet another celebrity-endorsed budget line of clothing, Dear By Amanda Bynes. Bynes is one of approximately 6 young actresses in Hollywood who does not have a criminal record, so she makes a fitting spokeswoman for a line aimed at the junior set.

What rocks:

The prices. As is the case with Sarah Jessica Parker's Bitten, almost everything is priced under $20.

Beyond that, it depends. If you're a juniors shopper (tween, teen, early 20s), Dear has a lot of cute t-shirts, tanks, hoodies, jeans, etc. that your student-sized budget or your mom's budget will love. The store didn't have much in the way of accessories or shoes but I'm sure they will keep rolling in over the next few weeks and months like the Bitten stuff did. Dear certainly skews younger than Bitten, which might not make the clothes as appealing to adult shoppers.

I did however find an exception. I flipped for a trouser jean with coin pockets and silver buttons front and back. The style is simple and classic and frankly, I found it better looking than Old Navy's new trouser jeans (no stupid pleats on these). The fit is pretty similar to a lot of the trouser jeans in stores lately, fitting more like regular jeans through the knee and then going wide on the lower leg. For $14.98, why the heck not?

Pant sizes go up to 18, so I imagine the tops probably go up to XL or XXL.

The meh:

Since Dear is a juniors line, it runs smaller than size. I can fit into a Bitten 16, but for the trouser jeans, I had to go up to size 18. Still, it's rare to find a store besides Old Navy, Torrid, Target, or Wal Mart that will stock larger juniors sizes.

Should the white go away after Labor Day?

One of the persistent questions of life, the universe, and everything is whether to continue wearing white anything after Labor Day, the official unofficial end of summer.

Well, I'm no Emily Post nor am I a fashion expert. But I do think it is acceptable to wear white after Labor Day for a number of reasons:

1. It's often freakin' hot through the month of September in most of the country. Why put those white sandals away when it's still 85 degrees? In a place like Miami, it's summer weather nearly year-round. When I lived there, I wore white all of the time.

2. The rise of "winter white." White--especially off-white or ivory--has been used more for colder weather clothing and accessories. Just as long as it is of course stuff made for that kind of weather. Once the leaves have changed and the pumpkins are out, unless you're experiencing Indian Summer weather you probably should've moved on to your fall wardrobe.

3. White's a good neutral, period. A nice white dress shirt can be transformed into season-appropriate wear with a sweater, jacket, or suit.

As fall progresses and the temps get a little cooler, then you can start to pare down on the white shoes, suits, and accessories. Go by the climate, not what's in the stores or in the magazines.

Untapped Resources: Avon

Avon has made a bazillion dollars off of its cosmetics and skincare products. But Avon addicts know that the company also sells all kinds of stuff: holiday decorations, jewelry, bags, shoes, underwear, knicknacks, lingerie, clothes, etc.. Not everything Avon sells is the height of fashion but every now and then it sells some cute outfits, tops, and skirts through its main catalogue or through its popular teen/young adult catalogue, Mark.

The regular catalogue features clothes, pajamas, and underwear in both misses and women's (plus) sizes. The misses sizes usually go up to 16 or 18. The Mark catalogue has offered tops up through juniors' size 17 or XL. Recently I noticed a top was available in XXL.

As with most Avon products, the prices are reasonable, more often than not under $35. The quality is more or less what you'd expect for the price.

Store review: Zara

Christmastime 1995, I went with my mom and my brother for a long weekend in New York City. We were just across from Bloomingdale's flagship store in Manhattan when a lovely red midlength coat on display in a shop window caught my mom's eye. I took one look at the coat and figured it was going to be expensive. The store looked expensive to me. But on the floor next to the mannequin modeling the coat was a very small sign with the coat's price...$59. We went inside and an obsession was born.

The store was Zara, a Spanish chain famous for its crack team of designers who can knockoff runway looks and get them out to the public in a matter of *weeks.* Back in 1995, that Manhattan store was the only one in the U.S.. Now Zara has several stores in NYC and a smattering of outlets across the country, as well as in many other countries around the world. But in Spain, Zara is as ubiquitous as Starbucks. There, it's not unusual to find Zaras only a couple of blocks from each other and each store might have merchandise the others didn't have. Over the years, I have hit Zara stores in Madrid, Seville, resort towns like Torremolinos and Palma de Mallorica, Paris, Cancun, New York, Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. The D.C. store opened about a year and a half before I moved from Northern Virginia. Unfortunately for me (and perhaps fortunately for my wallet), the closest Zara is in Costa Mesa, a little more than an hour away.

What rocks:

Great European style at decent prices. It's much more expensive than H&M but I think the quality is better and the overall collection is more grown-up. The clothes and accessories look different from what you'd find at other stores, but I think it is because Zara tends to borrow from very high end designers you don't typically find at your local Macys. Only a hardcore (to use an overused term) fashionista can pick out who Zara is knocking off with a particular piece.

You can find very basic things like t-shirts in a variety of colors, evening wear, casual wear, career wear, and funkier items aimed at juniors. Accessories are along the lines of hats, belts, sunglasses, and shoes. Lots of shoes! Some Zara stores also have men's clothes.

Whenever Zara has a sale, look out! We're talking about prices as low as $4.99 for t-shirts or $20 for skirts that originally sold for $90. But the good stuff tends to go fast.

Zara carries sizes up to XL/16 for its Woman line.

The meh:

Its junior line runs small. It seems like everything is either a small or a medium, which is a bummer if you see something you like.

The shoes used to be much cheaper; now they're kind of pricey even on sale.

Also, some of the tops and jackets can be too small around the arms or across the chest.

Order online?

Sadly, no.

Website: http://www.zara.com

Untapped Resources: Home Shopping TV

Aside from store reviews, I'd like to also bring to your attention other sources where you can easily find larger sizes but for whatever reason don't get a whole lot of press.

We all know how much of a hassle it can be to shop at brick and mortar stores, where everything seems to be made for sylphs and teenagers. It's even harder if you live in a small town or a rural community, where the nearest "nice" store can be a long road trip away.

Sure, you have the internet. But how do the clothes look on a real person as opposed to a skinny model? Not to mention the amount of time you have to spend looking around for stuff you actually like.

Home shopping t.v. can be your answer. Home Shopping Network (HSN) and QVC sell a LOT of clothes and accessories. They range from casual wear to the latest trends to lingerie to clothes for work. Not all of it is wonderful in my opinion, but people can find clothes to suit their taste, age, and lifestyle. Career wear can be among the trickiest and most expensive clothes to buy, but I've found plenty of stuff on QVC. Since they are selling things at high volume, the prices on home shopping t.v. are often pretty good if not downright cheap. A lot of the items are available on flex pay plans, meaning you can pay a small amount per month on the items instead of the full price. Best of all, most of the lines sold on both HSN and QVC go anywhere from 0 to 3X, maybe higher, with plenty available in between.

If you're hard to fit, you're taking almost as much of a chance with home shopping as you are with buying over the internet. But on t.v., they will often have models of different shapes and sizes wearing the clothes so you can get an idea of how it will look. And returning things to HSN and QVC is easy. The only other problem is whenever they have a very popular line, the items can go very fast and your only recourse is a long waiting list.

Who would've thought your remote control could point the way to clothes that fit and are frequently moderate in price? Check them out.

Another premium line sizes up

While making a lunch hour run to Nordstrom, I walked past the Individualist section. You know, where you can find Not Your Daughters Jeans and sparkly tops (not that I mind NYDJ...it's actually pretty decent). Anyway, I noticed that they were carrying the East Coast premium line Salt Works and the sizes went up to 16 misses. At $88, it's one of the less expensive premium lines, so go ahead and check 'em out.

Store review: Anthropologie

So what do you do when you're too old for Urban Outfitters but still want cutting edge stuff for your closet and the rest of your home? Why, the same folks who bring you UO has the answer, Anthropologie, a chain of shabby chic housewares and feminine clothes aimed at ladies late 20s on up to whenever you start to feel like shopping at Chico's instead.

What's good about Anthro:

I don't really buy much of the housewares stuff but I love, love, love the clothes. They're a little bit European, a little bit fashion-forward and a little bit retro/vintage-looking, very feminine, and conservative enough for work without being stodgy. Generally, the quality is pretty decent, though it can vary. Many of the brands there are in fact in-house brands but they also carry stuff you can find elsewhere like Joe's Jeans or Generra. You can also find books, not-too-expensive fragrances, and some nice accessories. You can occasionally find some good deals in the sales/clearance section. In-store, it's easy to find up to size 12-14 though many of the clothes are available to size 16 online. I've had no trouble fitting into tops and have found size 12 skirts that fit.

The downside:

Lordy, it's expensive! Usually I head straight for the sales because I'm not too frequently in the mood to blow $100 on a cute skirt or $78 on a lovely top. Even the accessories can be pricey. The sheets and towels? I've found better prices even at stores like West Elm.

My other quibble is that the stores do not stock size 16s, even though it is a standard misses size. Given that it is aiming for a youngish but not teenage customer, it would make sense to carry up to 16 or even 18. Some bigger tops would be nice too.

Located: Nationwide. Look up http://www.anthropologie.com to find one nearest you.

Old Navy deals!

Yesterday, I popped into ON during lunch and found two weekly specials...trapeze tops (for early fall) on sale for $10 and t-shirt dresses in a variety of cuts on sale for $12.50. Since it's Friday, better hurry in!

Review: Paige Premium Denim (plus)

As posted last month, Paige Premium Denim is trying out the plus market at Nordstrom by introducing three of its designs for women size 14-24W. The jeans came out this past week, and soon thereafter on "curvy" message boards, people were saying that they ran small. Having pre-ordered a pair in the Mandeville Canyon (plain pocket) style through Nordstrom.com, I started to panic that my usual 16 was going to be too small. Exchanging sizes through the mail can be tricky, especially if the size you may need runs out.

So on Tuesday after work, I popped into my local Nordie's and headed for the Encore department, what they tastefully call the plus-sized department. The store had the Paiges there, so I got a 16 and an 18 Mandeville Canyon off the rack and went to go try them on. The sales lady told me the jeans were running small but that they will stretch out after an hour of wearing them.

Well, the 16 fit me just fine. Which is good news if you're a large misses. If you're a true plus, unless you have unusually skinny legs, you're going to have to size up.

What I loved about them? The Paiges are the softest, most comfy pair of jeans I have ever tried on. They feel like you've owned them for years. They feel very light, which also distinguishes them from pretty much any other jeans I've worn. I'm happy Paige didn't make a crappy, half-baked knockoff either the way Seven7 did for Lane Bryant...the look and quality is identical to its regular denim line.

The meh? Oy, the price! Paiges run about $175-$225 depending on the style, and the Mandeville Canyons were the "cheapest" at $198. The other two styles are over $200. One can buy almost two pairs of Svoboda denim (a great plus denim line) for what one of these costs. This is definitely a luxury/splurge item.

Fit wasn't an issue with me but if Paige Premium Denim wants to succeed with the plus market, it will likely have to adjust its sizing, particularly in the legs. I would also suggest that they make their back pockets bigger. Bigger pockets are more flattering on a wider rear end than small pockets. This is especially true if you are going to put some kind of design on them. The proportion of pockets was okay on me but if baby got lots of back, small pockets are going to look ridiculous.

In any case, I hope this foray is a success and that other premium brands will also give the curvy market a shot.

Review: Jeanology for Newport News

Colored denim has turned up as a trend this summer that appears it will stick around through the fall as well.

Do not be distressed by the high-priced, limited-sized colored denim you see featured in the magazines. Old Navy has them for $37.50 and I just saw some cute red skinnies at Target for 20-odd dollars.

But I found a great deal in the pages of Newport News's catalogue. For $19, or 2 for $17, you can find colored denim as part of its Jeanology line in a variety of cuts and sizes. Straight legs and flares go up to 18, while slim fits go up to 16.

I ordered a pair of the slim fit red jeans. They look really cute, fit really well, and the twill denim does a good job of holding in and shaping the legs, thighs, and tushie. Some people find stiff denim less comfortable and harder to move around in, but the advantage is that it works like Spanx, heh heh. And there's no beating the fantastic price.

Street fashion blogs ignore the non-waifish?

The Budget Fashionista linked to an entry on Dollymix about street fashion blogs (blogs that specialize in photos of what regular folks are wearing) and how they ignore anyone with a double-digit size (given the entry refers to UK sizes, this means anyone above a size 6 U.S.).

http://www.dollymix.tv/2007/07/can_nobody_over_a_size_10_dres.html

Personally, I have marginal to no interest in these types of sites because not only do they not feature anyone remotely close to how I look physically, but also because they don't seem to feature anyone of legal drinking age either. Sure, the wacky London streetwear or Harajuku girls are fun to look at, but at my age, I'd look ridiculous in full gothic lolita regalia and I haven't been to clubs in a loooong time.

But the entry makes a fair point. It seems like the amateur photogs don't have an eye for curvier, plumper figures so they just ignore them. Think of how helpful it would be for a broad-shouldered gal to see how someone like herself can pull off an outfit. Or someone who's bosomy or has more trunk space, so to speak. I think the only street fashion sites with a variety of body types are the hip-hop ones.

Perhaps the solution are streetwear blogs featuring full figures or career wear or women over 50.

C7P For JCPenney

Budget Fashionista posted that premium denim line Chip & Pepper has launched a new juniors/young men's line at JCPenney called C7P featuring jeans, hoodies, and tees for approximately $15-35.

http://www.thebudgetfashionista.com/archives/what_to_buy_fall_2007/c7p_chip_pepper.php

The good news for those who have wanted to check out this line but were daunted by the prices is that you can possess a pair of these jeans for just under $35.

The even better news is that the jeans go up to a juniors 17 (approx. a 16-18)!

The thrill of the hunt at discount stores

Someone on a message board wanted advice for how to shop at discount stores like TJMaxx or Marshalls. Others offered helpful tips on how to get good at going through racks looking for labels, because otherwise you'd spend all day trying to look for stuff. Things are often thrown together and searching through it all requires some patience as well as knowing exactly what you are looking for.

These types of stores are good for two things: finding "designer" or popular or high end goods cheap and finding on-trend stuff, often weeks before the "regular" stores get similar items, at lower prices (though often not with the big names). What's great about them, for folks like us, is that it's easy to find things in every size since they have everything from 0 through plus/women's sizes.

I liken the experience to shopping at thrift stores. Finding the real gems require frequent visits, patience, and luck. The first thing I do is head for the clearance racks. I've scored at dirt cheap prices Havaianas flip flops and C&C California t-shirts that way. Even at their "regular" prices I've managed to score deals on a Harajuku Lovers bag (just weeks after they were in the dept. stores) and Juicy Couture stuff at my local TJMaxx. I once found a pair of Kitson shoes for $24.99. In addition, I've found a lot of nice suits for less than $75. Sometimes you're not always so fortunate...I found a rack of Antik jeans at TJ-land, but of course all were too small for me. Ditto for a pair of Paper Denim Cloth jeans selling for $25. There was a great set of Betsey Johnson pajamas on clearance at a Marshalls, but they only had a medium left.

Oh well...my additional advice on this message board was to get to know when new shipments arrive. If new things come in Thursday or Friday, most of the good stuff will be gone by Sunday evening. Stores located in well-off areas tend to carry the best items. There's a Marshalls in Loma Santa Fe, near a very wealthy area of the county, where every now and then a shipment of Marc Jacobs or Cynthia Rowley will arrive. A Marshalls in LaJolla had a huge selection of designer shoes. The Loehmann's and Nordstrom Rack in Mission Valley have top brands in just about everything. I'm also convinced that stores in some states just get better merchandise than others. I've found way better stuff in Southern California than at the very same stores in Virginia.

Finally, if you are buying any of their "house" labels or anything you're not familiar with, be sure and try before you buy. I've found that sizes can vary. Once I got a nice long denim skirt that fit perfectly even though it was a size below my usual, while I've found stuff in my size that was a little small.

Happy hunting!

Do stores stock fewer items in 12+?

Have you ever been frustrated by a trip to your favorite store when you're searching through a sea of 4s and 8s on the racks? And if you luck out and find your size, it's maybe one or two of the last ones? Have you ever been annoyed with sales, because your size is all gone while there are piles of XS and S for the taking?

Welcome to my world!

There are two possible reasons for this phenomenon. 1. Since the average American woman is somewhere between 10-14, logically speaking, the larger sizes are likely to disappear first because there are more people buying them. I experience the same thing while trying to buy shoes. It seems like the bulk of shoes are made for size 7-8, but it seems to me the average is closer to 8-9, so of course the 9s go first. 2. The stores don't stock as many larger sizes because they either don't want us there or don't think as many of us shop in their stores. This could also explain the excess of smaller sizes available for sales or clearances...if most of what they stock are 0-6, then they will have lots more left over than for 10-16s. Last year, I noticed a phenomenon of stores no longer stocking above a 14 (thankfully, this has started to reverse). So I think there is some truth to this.

In any case, it would be interesting to investigate.

Libertine For Target

The latest in Target's popular GO International line, Libertine, debuted on Sunday. The line seems to be best described as the love child of goth and preppy, as exemplified by items that have cute little whales and little skulls on them or the argyle vest sweater with skulls.

This is actually my favorite of the GO International lines so far, probably because Libertine is close to my personal style. Some people have reported the dresses running small, but I bought a very cool tea-stained top with all of these graphics on it in a Large and it fit true-to-size. The downside seems to be that the skirts and shorts have hemlines waaay up there. A couple of those shorts look like they'd get the wearer arrested if she didn't have anything on underneath. I imagine that like the rest of the GO International stuff, the bottoms run in smallish, junior sizes.

I love the accessories. The bucket hat is adorable (bought one) and the long scarves are quite pretty (bought one too). If I was in the market for a carry-all or overnight bag, I'd would have bought the whale/skull duffle bag too.

Update: I broke down and got the striped blouse with the bow too; very cute!

Ode To H&M

This is the first of a series on stores where those of us size 10-18 can find cool stuff fairly easily.

First up is Swedish superchain H&M, which has been slowly taking over the planet with its Euro style at low prices. It skews youngish but ladies of all ages can find something wearable there. Accessories are often ridiculously inexpensive and you can get great deals on its sales.

I first got hooked on the chain when I walked into one of its many NYC stores in July 2002. Shortly thereafter, H&M expanded like crazy on the East Coast, and in May 2003, one opened a short drive away from me in Tysons Corner, VA and one opened a short distance away from where I worked in downtown D.C.. Needless to say, I was a frequent visitor.

Then in 2004, I moved to Southern California, where there were no H&Ms. I went through withdrawal. When H&M finally came to CA, it chose to open first in...San Francisco. It took nearly 1-2 more years before it opened in L.A. and Orange County. Closer than San Fran, but its newest store in Irvine is still an hour's drive. Waah!

What's great for us: For most of its women's lines, it's usually easy to find sizes 10-16 or L and XL in dresses, skirts, pants, and tops. Generously-cut A-line skirts can even allow you to go down a size or two depending. You can find anything to fit your style, whether you're a teen or a workin' gal. Not to mention the low prices.

What's not so great: Size 18 on up are not available. H&M used to carry a plus line but it has been dropped from its U.S. stores (for good reason, the stuff I saw was fugly). Some items can run small, so it might be necessary to size up. Its sporty LOGG and junior Divided lines stop at size 12. Occasional items are a bit dodgy in quality.

Can you order online: Sadly, no.

Where's it located: Visit www.hm.com to find a store nearest to you.

Correction

I noted in my last post (July 12) that Rachel Pally's plus-sized line will debut in the spring. Not true. Pally's first batch of plus wear will be available for Fall '07; Nordstrom will have it next month.

After seeing pictures of what's being offered, my advice is for the larger misses customer to stick with the regular line. I understand Pally's misses wear runs big (lotsa fabric) and the plus line looks like it runs REALLY big.

Huzzah For Paige Premium Denim!

About a year ago, I was unhappy with how all of these premium (i.e. expensive) denim brands were blowing off consumers above a size 10-12, or a 32" waist. And I know from experience that with a couple of exceptions, the bigger sizes were hard to find and were often cut for women who nevertheless had no butt or hips. El cheapo jeans are easy to find in larger sizes. The hot brands, washes, and cuts though? No dice. So those of us who wanted to wear 7 For All Mankind, Citizens of Humanity, True Religion, Rock and Republic, etc. did without, got them in men's sizes (I'll do a whole post about that sometime), and/or turned to premium plus brands like Svoboda.

Even so, I figured at some point somebody was going to cave and realize the money of the curvaceous customer is just as green as the skinny chicks' and that the brand overall won't be diluted if a gal with a bigger butt is wearing it. Today, that somebody is Paige Premium Denim which is now offering three styles of its jeans in women's sizes 14-24 for pre-orders on Nordstrom.com. Selected Encore departments at Nordie's will also carry the jeans beginning in August.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/6007094/0~2376776~2374327~6007059~6007094?origin=plus_shop

The bad news...these babies aren't cheap. The original Paiges are $175+, and these hover around the $200 mark.

The good news...it's a sign the fashion world is realizing that we want more options. Last week, Rachel Pally announced a plus sized line that will debut next spring. I'm sure other designers will follow, especially if these efforts are successful. What I love about these Paiges is that they look just like the basic jeans offered to the misses' market. (Paige Premium Denim is the only brand to go up to a 34" waist for its regular line.) Since the original versions are cut narrowly, I'm going to give the plus versions a shot. They will probably allow more room for the booty and hips. I pre-ordered the Mandeville Canyon in 16...if it runs a little big, I can always trade it for a 14.

Why do I think these designers are trying plus sizes? Some upstart brands making high-end, fashionable clothes for the larger misses/plus market have had great success. Svoboda went from selling almost exclusively online to selling at stores like Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Neiman Marcus in less than three years. I also think that the premium denim market right now is extremely crowded; going for territory that's not as competitive might be a smart way to brush up those revenues.

Whatever the reasons, I think it's great news. I'm all for more choices for more people in every price range.

Big Girls Don't Cry But They Sure Can Complain A Lot

I visit a few sites aimed at plus-sized gals, mostly because there's some convergence between their world and ours (most plus sized stores start at 12 or 14, though plus cuts are bigger than misses'). There's a lot of positive advice you can get from these sites and lots of commiserating for those of us who know that the higher the size #, the fewer the options. (It works that way too for the tiny and petite, but that's a whole 'nuther can of worms.)

But there are times when I'm struck by the unhappiness of these women. Oh, I know the internet was made for two things, porn and gripes, but it seems like few things make these gals satisfied and happy. They're understandably upset if a clothing chain like Old Navy drops plus sizes from its stores. They're understandably upset if an attempt to woo plus sized customers falls flat, with ugly or badly-made clothes. However, if someone tries to make higher-end, better-made clothing for larger sizes then they complain that the clothes are too expensive. Or if a store sells sizes 2-22 in the same line--without even segregating the larger clothes--then there are complaints the sizes don't go up to a 28.

They don't make Armani quality at WalMart prices for anyone at any size. Don't look gift horses in the mouth; be an active consumer and show the industry you can be a valued customer.

Why Do They Make Short Shorts In A 16?

Sometimes the fashion industry sets us gals up as suckers. Such as when they make Daisy Dukes or micro mini skirts in larger sizes.

Chances are if you need to wear a 14 on up, it's not because you have unusually long legs. Some women don't mind showing off generous thighs or calves and as long as they're still in good shape, I suppose it's all right. But if there's a little too much jiggle or dimples, I just don't think it's a good idea at all. Yet there they are on the racks trying to trick the unwary into embarrassing themselves. The same goes for tops obviously not designed to be flattering on women with tummies or generous cleavage.

Sometimes you have just ignore the fact they make stuff in your size and pay attention as to whether or not it's actually flattering on your body. I stay away from anything with that horrible stretchy jersey-on-steroids fabric, even if it comes in a plus size, because I know that fabric sticks like glue to my thighs and stomach in way that looks awful. I have not worn any short shorts since I was a size 12 and even then, I probably shouldn't have worn them. Micro minis? Not since I was in college and even then I wore leggings with them.

So this summer, don't fall for the trap, ladies! Go with what looks good.

Get Successful, Lose Weight

Recently there was an article in the Los Angeles Times about the recent rise in prominence of successful performers and personalities who are breaking the size 0 mold favored by the media over the past 7 or 8 years. Certainly, we've seen curvaceous types like Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, "Ugly Betty" star America Ferrera, t.v. actress Sara Ramirez, etc. gracing magazine covers. Undoubtedly this is in a way a backlash against Nicole Ritchie/Olsen twins who epitomize the thin-thin-thin worlds of fashion and entertainment. Most of us find it refreshing, even inspiring to see ladies who look more like the rest of us rising to prominence.

But already we've learned that Miss Ferrera is a size 6 and that Hudson along with the most recent American Idol winner Jordin Sparks are already on diets to lose weight. Now, there's nothing wrong with trying to improve your health and well-being but none of these women are what you call obese. Sparks cruised to victory a size 12. She's no waif but she ain't fat. If America loves her just the way she is, what's with the dieting?

It's because they all get caught up in the machinery. Once these ladies achieve success, they're surrounded by "experts" like agents and publicists who tell them that if they want to climb higher and stay on top, they have to conform and lose weight. To them, being a size 12 is totally unacceptable. A 6 might still make you bigger than average, but it's better than being a 14 in their world. The media feeds into this by running positive stories about how so and so lost 20 pounds and how you can too. You won't see a story about gushing about how Ashley Olsen gained 20 pounds and how the underweight can pack on some curves too.

After all this is the same media that considers the bony Gisele Bundchen "curvy."

How to drop two sizes without diet or exercise!

About a year ago, there was a minor flareup in the media about an alleged phenomenon called "vanity sizing." This was about stores supposedly putting size 6 labels on their size 8s or size 12s on their 14s so that women will feel better about "fitting" into a smaller size.

I'm more inclined to think this is more urban legend than fact. Manufacturers use all kinds of fit models for their various sizes and any given individual's clothing size is an average, not so much a hard and fast number. It's like that with shoes. Most of the time, I'm a size 9. But occasionally, because the shoe runs small or big, I have to go up to a 9.5 or a 10, or go down to an 8.5. Last summer I got a pair of Punkrose shoes that I had to get in a size 7 because the shoes ran really, really big. How many women feel better about having bigger or smaller feet?

Clothes work the same way. I've found that higher end designer suits tend to run a little bigger. I can comfortably fit in a 14 or even a 12 in them. Recently, I've bought A-line skirts from both Talbots and Anthropologie in a 12. Do I think they're fooling me? No...my body shape (smaller waist, fuller tushie and thighs) fits comfortably into the shape of the skirt. Conversely, I've had to go up to a size 18 or XXL for some outfits. Am I any fatter or thinner? Not really.

With shirts it's even weirder. Normally I run about a size 12 or a Large in shirts. But I've fit in anything from a small up to an XXL, depending.

So if you're finding the same issues, it's because of the wide variation of what constitutes a particular size.

Defining where this is all going

Sorry I haven't posted in a while! Vacations and other things have taken up my time. Anyway, now I'm back and I plan to post more frequently.

Reading around on some other blogs and stuff, I think that perhaps I need to let readers know what territory I'm covering and what I'm not.

This isn't going to be a fashion blog per se. I'm not a fashion expert. I understand the cycle/symbiosis between couture and the street/popular culture. I know a bit about the retail side of things. But since I'm guessing most of you are not Saudi princesses, trophy wives, movie stars, or socialites and I'm not either, I am not going to discuss haute couture. I probably won't even go into fashion shows. There are tons of sites written by people who know what they are talking about in that world. And besides, most of those houses normally do not go above a size 8 or 10 for their haute couture lines.

This is going to about everyday issues, not the fantasy world sold by the media where nobody really looks like you or me. I'm keeping it practical and keeping it real.

Help! I've been Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker!

After of months of hype and a roasting on the internet by fashion snobs, Steve & Barry's Bitten line--endorsed by actress Sarah Jessica Parker--was unleashed in its stores nationwide on Thursday.

Despite the online flaming, or perhaps because of it, I wanted to check it out for myself at the local S&B yesterday. I saw pictures of the clothes from when it was featured on Oprah a month ago and I thought it looked like stuff I would buy. I was especially pleased to see that the line would go up to a size 22 or XXL; virtually every other new "celebrity" line is not only expensive, it also ends at the size 14 watermark. And you're lucky if you can find that 14.

The prices were unbelievable...less than eight bucks for tops and nothing costs more than $19.98. The quality of the merchandise was a lot better than I expected; I'd say it's about the same as Old Navy, the Gap, or maybe the better lines at Targét. I saw some cute dresses good for date nights and I was sorely tempted by the cropped trench jacket. But the item I really wanted was the denim capris. It's tough finding denim capris in my size. All of the premium denim brands run too small for me. The only ones I own are a DKNY denim clamdigger I found at a Saks Fifth Avenue outlet some years ago and one pair from Lord Wally of the Mart. Svoboda makes denim short pants, but they're $138.

I tried it on and while the fit was a little snug, I figure going up to size 18 would be too big. So I bought that and a belt ($14.98 and $5.98 respectively). My mom went nuts, buying four tops. Ladies who need extra room in their tops will be happy to know the XLs and XXLs run pretty true to size.

The line emphasizes basics. It's up-to-date without being screamingly trendy and it's just classic enough to suit any kind of person. Which I suppose is the idea if you're creating a mass market line. I look forward to see what else they bring for summer and for fall.

Now for the complaints of the fashion snobs. I get the idea that they were upset because they expected Bitten to reflect the style of Parker's character on "Sex And The City" or Parker's red carpet looks. I also think they didn't like that the line was for a lower price point store that's not as trendy as H&M or even Targét. As far as I'm concerned, Bitten is Steve & Barry's attempt to shore up its appeal with female shoppers; S&B's is known primarily for targeting young men. Sarah Jessica Parker is simply endorsing the line; she's an actress a lot of people like and is known for her fashion sense. I don't have any illusions that Ms. Parker is sewing samples in her spare time any more than Justin Timberlake is stitching up William Rast jeans. I'm sure she has some input into the line but she's primarily there to help pitch it.

There's nothing wrong with more options for those who don't have lots of disposable income or just love a bargain or for those of us who belong to the double-digit size set. If the clothes don't appeal to you, that's fine, but the curled lips are a bit much. Judging by the huge lines in several stores over the weekend, it looks like S&B has won over the folks who really matter, the consumer.

Patrick Robinson for Target Go International

Targét has a winner in its popular Go International line, featuring high-end designers--many of them young and upcoming--making affordable stuff for the masses.

Unfortunately, it's a juniors line, not a misses line. I can fit in the XL tops but I've shied away from skirts, dresses, and pants. I've been concerned that the size 15s might still be too small. (Usually I size up in lower priced stores.)

But the other day I was looking at Patrick Robinson's crop of clothes for Go International and I really liked the medallion print baby doll dress. The largest size they had left was a size 13. Yet I could tell the cut of the skirt was really generous. Since I was short on time, I decided to buy the dress and try it on at home. If it was too small, I was planning to take it back.

I tried it on at home and I was amazed. It fit just fine. The dress bodice is definitely not for the big n' busty but otherwise, it's great for the booty-full. Not bad at all for 30 bucks! A great sundress for summer:



Obviously, that's not a picture of me.

Why I'm starting this blog

Over the past two years, I've been visiting various fashion-oriented message boards and blogs, mostly to find out what's out there. I don't consider myself particularly trendy--in fact I'm far better at dressing for work than casually, not exactly a plus here on the West Coast ;). But I like to look up to date just like anyone else and even at my age, I like stuff that's a wee bit ahead of the curve.

I'm a "tweener," averaging a 14-16 (misses). I'm what you'd call a pear shape, smaller up top than below decks. This means it's not too much trouble to find tops in large or extra large but it's an effort to find dresses, skirts, and pants that truly fit. Many of the "hot" lines, not to mention the real high end stuff, don't even go past a size 12 yet the stuff at Lane Bryant Land cut for women's/plus sizes are often too big and baggy.

Even though the average American woman is a size 12-14, women like us are an anomaly to the clothing/retail industry. To the plus size set, we're no different from Kate Moss. To the fashion industry and to retail, we're no different from Jabba the Hutt. I've read posts by a boutique owner who claimed that the stores often have to put designers in a headlock just to make a size 10. Yes, a 10. Several years ago I was at a Gap store when I overheard a male employee speaking to a customer over the phone. After he got off the phone he told a co-worker that the customer was asking if a certain dress was available in a size 14. He and the co-worker joked about the customer being a "heifer."

In recent years, stores have either cut back on 14-16s or eliminated them entirely. I've purchased stuff from Banana Republic for 23 years, back when it was the poor man's J. Peterman and the stores had this Indiana Jones theme going. It was never any trouble finding stuff in my size until a year or two ago. Tops are no problem; but I've noticed that size 16 skirts, dresses, and pants are suddenly scarce. A new Bloomingdales doesn't carry anything over a 12 in its contemporary wear department.

But this isn't going to be all about complaining and crying over how much the industry hates us. I'm no Stacy and Clinton, but I can point out cool stuff available to us in any price range. I can point out ways to beat the system.

I hope you'll enjoy and participate.