Fab Fashion Find: Merona Women’s Floral Wrap Dress

Ok, by now you know I am a huge fan of Target fashions, and why not? They have great styles in a variety of sizes at super prices! So introducing the latest Fab Fashion Find! I LOVE this Merona Floral Wrap Dress.

Maybe it’s the fact that it’s still February and I am longing for spring, but it was love at first site when I first saw the dress hanging on the rack. The colors are so vivid and fun. I couldn’t wait to try the dress on, though I always remain cautious. I generally have a good idea of what will work for my body shape, and this looked like a good candidate, but you can never tell for sure until you actually put something on. I am happy to say this dress was just as adorable on (in my humble opinion) as it was on the rack! And the best part is, it’s only $24.99! And that’s full price!

I will say, the size seems to run a little big, and where I usually wear a medium in many of the clothing items at Target, a small definitely was a better fit. And don’t let the picture fool you. It’s not as short as it looks (unless you have mile-long legs like the model in the picture).

I read some of the reviews online, and the consensus is this dress works on curvy figures. So next time you’re at Target, get in the spirit of spring, and give this dress a try!

Tyra Looks for “Real” Teens in Her Next Model Search

There it is again. That word. “Real.” I’ve seen it thrown around a lot lately, and I even admit to using it myself (wrongly) when referring to every woman that doesn’t meet the traditional, model standard of beauty. But what does “real” mean, anyway? Is a woman less real because she happens to be beautiful by society’s standards? Is she less real if she does so at the expense of her health? We have to realize that every woman is a real woman, but apparently Tyra didn’t get the memo because she is looking for “Fiercely real teens” in her latest model search.

In case you were wondering what a “fiercely real teen” is, apparently it is someone between the ages of 13-19 (ok, she got the teen part right), wears between a size 12-20 (ok, so ‘real’ means plus size in this case), and, wait for it … is 5′9″ to 6′1″. Seriously? How many teens do you know between 5′9″ and 6′1″? I can tell you in round figures how many I know. ZERO. Ok, wait. I take that back. I do know of one girl — a supermarket cashier — that looks to be in her teens and is probably six feet tall. But she’s very thin (seemingly naturally) so I guess that means she’s not fiercely real.

It seems to me that if the word “real” is going to be used, than it should at least represent a portion of the population that one might actually be acquainted with. In this case it appears that Tyra is using the word “real” as a (unnecessary) euphemism for plus-size while still seeking a very narrow standard of runway beauty. And yet, Tyra is quoted in US magazine as saying “I’ve always felt it was my mission to expand the narrow perceptions of beauty” and then added that she tried to “challenge industry and universal standards” by “celebrating non-traditional beauty” and “stressing the importance of inner beauty.” I’m not sure how doing a model search that requires the entrants fit the typical standard height for models is challenging the industry. With all the talk she has done about self esteem and body love, fighting against the stereotypes she herself has been held accountable to, she still manages to propogate industry standards, with the only difference being a slightly wider girth.

Don’t get me wrong. I think Tyra is full of great intentions. She tell US magazine “Adolescence is such an impressionable time in a young woman’s life, and I hope this contest helps teen girls discover their own beauty from the inside out.” But as we know, good intentions do not always lead to the best of actions, and in this case, by focusing on such a tiny percentage of the teen population, I wonder how a 5′5″ plus-size teen is going to discover her beauty based on Tyra’s criteria.

Flattering Plus Size Fashion Tips

With designers and retailers finally realizing the huge market in clothes for women who are not a size 2, the barriers to fashion are coming down for plus-sized women. Still, no matter what size you wear, each woman’s body is different, and knowing your shape and how to dress accordingly is essential for looking your best.

Often the instinct for larger women is to hide their figures. Define your shape and accentuate your assets to flatter the body you have. Start by creating a waist, suggests Racine Peters, Partner and Co-Founder of Budget Fab, LLC. Experiment by “wearing distinct separates, using a belt, or even wearing blazers that create a V-neck at the top and an inversed V-shape at the bottom” like this Old Navy blazer on sale for $27.99. Like to make a statement? Try this wide basket-weave belt for only $11.80 at Lane Bryant.

Look for pieces that create definition on their own. You can never go wrong with wrap shirts and dresses for a flattering look that never goes out style. Layering is another great way to define your waist, like with this Tie-front shrug for $39.50, also from Lane Bryant.

Where your clothes begin and end is an important thing to consider when looking for styles that flatter. When buying a skirt or dress, Donnella Tilery of CEO & Founder of Donnella’s Closet wants to make sure it isn’t too long past your knee or “you’ll look dumpy or frumpy!”This teardrop printed dress from Avenue is a perfect transitional piece from winter to spring or for a more conservative look, try this Nordstrom’s Semantiks Pencil skirt, on sale for $68.00.

Don’t let the term ’skinny’ intimidate you when it comes to pants. Anyone can wear skinny jeans as long as you pull the look together with complimenting pieces. These Calvin Klein “legging” jeans found at Nordstrom.com for $69.50 would look great with a pair of heels to elongate the look of your legs, as suggested by Laura Yoder of 24-7 Style. In the case of skinny jeans, Yoder suggests pairing with a top that just cover the hips.

And no matter what you wear, start with a good bra that fits properly, reminds Rachel Perlmutter, Owner of The Greater LA Woman. You can put on a great outfit, but if “the girls” are looking droopy, it will detract from your overall look. And besides, it’s a great way to feel sexy on the inside if you’re too shy to show it on the outside. Once again, Lane Bryant offers a great selection of adorable bras that will give you the support you need while making you feel sexy like an embroidered balconette bra.

Finally, what you wear on your feet can make or break a look. Heels and pointy-toed shoes elongate your legs and look great with a long pant. Have fun with skirts and dresses by wearing boots. If you have trouble finding boots with shafts that fit your calves, try Silhouettes.com where they carry boots with larger shafts and stretchy fabrics.

Fab Fashion Find: Merona Fit Solutions Jeans

I admit it. I have an addiction. It comes in the form of denim. Half of my closet consists of it. I have boot-cut jeans, straight-leg jeans, low-rise, mid-rise, dark rinse, medium rinse, longer cuts for wearing with heels, shorter cuts for wearing with sneakers, flap pockets, plain pockets, embellished pockets. And yet, I haven’t been able to find the perfect pair — until now.

Once again, Target has come to the rescue. After a failed attempt to find a new pair of jeans at the mall earlier in the day, I decided to hit Target. After falling in love with the Merona Fit Solutions dress I bought a couple of weeks ago, I thought I’d check to see Merona had Fit Solutions jeans. I am pleased to say, I hit the jackpot! These Merona Fit Solutions Jeans are so incredibly fabulous, and the fact that they are priced at a mere $24.99 makes it clear why some of the reviewers who left comments (and gave the jeans 5 stars) at Target.com bought several pairs.

The dark rinse is one that I always prefer because it is so much more versatile as you can easily dress it up or down. The mid-rise waist line sits low enough that it doesn’t look like mom-jeans (though I must admit, some of the pix on Target.com make them look that way), but not so low that everyone will see you underwear every time you bend over. The stretchy fabric and control panel help make your tummy look flatter without making you feel like you are wearing a girdle. They come in Short, Regular, and Tall sizes up to size 18.

I wore my pair last night at my home viewing party for America the Beautiful, and got so many compliments on them. I love shocking everyone by telling them I bought them at Target at such a great price! And they look great with this cute Merona Wrap Top I got to go along with them.

I have a fun weekend planned and this outfit will be doing a repeat performance. Just a note though — the tag does warn that the dark rinse can come off on other fabrics and recommends washing them (separately in cold water) before wearing.

Fab Fashion Find: Calvin Klein Dress

Alright, I know the last Fab Fashion Find was a dress too, but what can I say? I love dresses! I especially love dresses with flattering cuts that can work well on different body sizes and shapes, and this Calvin Klein Sleeveless Criss-Cross dress that I came across via my daily sale alert from Shop It To Me definitely fits the bill. And for a mere $65.99 (original price was $158), I can hardly resist. This dress is a color and style that can be worn all year round, so you just can’t go wrong with it. Since it’s on sale, there are currently only sizes 4-12, so if you love this dress as much as I do, hurry up and get yours!

Sale Alert! Ann Taylor LOFT

I LOVE Ann Taylor Loft. Everyone has a store where the clothes fit them particularly well, and AT Loft is my store. So when I visited their web site this morning, I was ecstatic to see they are having limited time promotion where for each item you buy, you can get a second item at 50% off. The promotion includes ALL merchandise, regularly priced and items on sale! If you have an AT Loft store near you, go check out what they have, or you can visit them online at AnnTaylorLoft.com.

Though there are limited sizes available on much of their sale items, regularly priced pieces go up to size 18. They also carry Tall, Petite, and Maternity sizes.

Here are just a few of my favorite things right now, but check out their web site and see if anything catches your eye.

Fab Fashion Find: Merona Fit Solutions Ruched Dress

I found this dress completely by accident. I went to Target to take advantage of their sale on Champion athletic wear, and as I was coming out of the dressing room, ready to head off to the cashier, this little black dress caught my eye.

I am always quick to notice potentially flattering, affordable clothing, but my style senses were heightened by the fact that my husband and I are going to a fancy French restaurant this Saturday to celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary, and, well, I have nothing to wear. Or should I say, I had nothing to wear.

I didn’t have time to try the dress on, so I looked for a medium, prayed it would fit, and threw it in my basket with my new workout pants and tops. As soon as I got home, I stripped down and started to slip the dress over my head, immediately feeling how tight it was, and thinking there was NO way it was going to fit. But I went ahead and finished putting it on, thinking I would at least get an idea of whether or not it was worth it to exchange the dress for a larger size. While I was wriggling my way into the under layer, I noticed on the tag that it said “Built in slimming underlayer.” Aha! I had not heard of Merona’s line of Fit Solutions apparel, but I was instantly a fan.

After I got it all on, and adjusted the underlayer, I looked in the mirror, and WOW! It was love at first site! Between the high ruched waist line, and the a-line bottom, this dress is super flattering. If you have any excuse whatsoever, I highly recommend this Merona Women’s Fit Solutions Ruched Dress for a mere $29.99. You can dress it up for a fancy night out, or you could throw a fitted blazer over it and wear it to work. Wear with flats and voila! You have a perfect dress for a Sunday outing. There is no end to the possibilities this dress has. And it comes in plus sizes too!

Cold Weather Styles That Flatter

I love all four seasons, but as with many people, Fall is probably my favorite season. Sure, the beautiful colors of the changing leaves are spectacular, but equally important for me is the opportunity to put away shorts, and comfortably break out my jeans, sweaters, and jackets again. I LOVE sweater weather. I love cardigans, I love turtle-necks, I loved ribbed-knit sweaters, pull-overs, sweater coats — anything knitted that keeps me warm and feeling cozy. The problem is, like any other type of clothing, some styles work better on my body than others, and while I do gravitate towards sweaters that make me feel like I’m wearing a hug all day long, I want to also make sure I don’t look like I fell into a pit of shapeless wool. Likewise, when I don my winter coat for the first time of the cold-weather season, I don’t want to get lost in clumps of puffy down that make me look like the Michelin man.

While many dread the summer season because they don’t want to wear shorts for fear of revealing their legs, they look forward to colder weather as an opportunity to cover it all up. But in order to really look your best, there is definitely a balance. It’s just as important to find the proper fit with cold-weather apparel as it is when you are searching for shorts that come down further than your butt cheeks (which I know was especially hard this past summer!). Since most of the styles we see in fashion magazines aren’t represented on women whose bodies reflect the sizes and shapes of most women in the real world, I sought advice from those in the know about how the rest of us can stay warm and look our best.

Though ultimately I think you should wear what you really love and feel good in, Style Expert Amy Gordon of Artfulwears.com offered this tip for as a general rule: “Larger women should avoid heavier/bulkier fabrics and opt for warm thinner fabrics. For example, cashmere is not thick but very warm. If larger women want to layer, it’s a lot easier to layer thinner garments. Keep the bulk to a minimum.”

Michelle Poteet, a Professional Organizer who also has a flair for fashion added that “sweaters and coats that are more fitted in the waste or right below the bust will help to flatter average-sized to plus-sized women. Pairing an empire waste top or sweater with leggings can be attractive and trendy for any body shape.” To prove the point, I found this adorable swing cardigan at Nordstrom.com.

Personally, my favorite sweater trends EVER are the draped and flyaway sweaters. I think the long, uneven lines create an optical illusion that elongates the body while drawing attention away from the middle. In my opinion, it’s the best of all worlds, where comfort meets style as each style offers a flattering way to keep warm. This plus-sized cardigan from Calvin Klein is a little pricey even at its sale price of $72.90 , but Kohls.com has a great selection of stylish draped sweaters at a reasonable cost, like the Apt. 9 Floral Flyaway Cardigan.

Of course, an easy way to quickly alter the look of any outfit is to accessorize. Jewelry designer Amanda Jaron pointed out that “long necklaces and bold rings, earrings and bracelets help draw the eye to the sparkle and create a more balanced look.” While it is definitely nice to have unique hand crafted pieces from boutique jewelers if it is in your budget, there are plenty of great places to pick up trendy pieces at a low cost. Once again, Kohls.com offers a great selection of jewelry at much lower prices so that you can afford to experiment a little and have fun with different looks.

And we can’t forget about footwear. Donnella Tilery, CEO & Founder of Donnella’s Closet suggested that for a warm but still seductive look, “invest in a pair knee high leather riding boots chocolate brown or black with a small heel. These boots look great with jeans or a dress, so not only can you layer, but expand your wardrobe.” If you are thinking tall boots are out of the question for you because of larger calves, think again. Many stores now carry boots with larger shafts, including Silhouettes.com which carries a large inventory of plus-size shoes and boots, like this pair of Two Buckle Riding Boots.

Tilery pointed to another good investment for your winter wardrobe –  a long, fitted wool coat. If you like to be a little adventurous, try getting one in a brighter color to offset an otherwise plain outfit underneath. This Bell Sleeve Coat in Plum from Old Navy is a great way to stand out in the crowd without looking like you are trying to make a statement. Lane Bryant also has a fabulous belted wool coat in red that is worth checking out. But of course, you can never go wrong with black, navy, or gray if you want to stay conservative.

I got a lot of feedback on puffer style jackets, and the general consensus was this just is not a style for larger women, since it seems to add to the bulk. I disagree that puffer jackets can never be pulled off if you are plus size. I LOVE this quilted hooded coat, also found at Lane Bryant, and the belt at the waist gives it shape to offset the bulk of the jacket.

An additional tip Racine Peters offered when talking about winter coats was to remember that the tailor is your friend. “Coats and jackets look best when they fit well in the shoulders.  However the dilemma with this tip is that coats and jackets that fit well in the shoulders do not usually close on plus size women.  Purchase a coat or jacket that you can close and that fits the largest part of the body. Hurry to your tailor to have the shoulder reset as well as any additional alterations that need to be done. This will create a proper fitting coat or jacket.” And finally, her last tip might be the most important: “Remember that women come in a variety of shapes and sizes.  What works for one may not work for another.  Are you pear shaped?  Apple shaped?  No curves at all?  Find out your body type and shop accordingly.”

Fall for Boots!

One of the things I love about entering into the fall months is the transition from flip flops to boots. I have a weakness for boots and can’t wait for the first opportunity to put them on as the weather gets cooler. I also love to see what new styles have come out and want to use this opportunity to share them with you. I scoured some of my favorite shoe sites, and found tons of great boots, including many offered in wide and extra wide sizes. Here are just a few of my favorites.

Ok, so I do admit, I tend to be attracted to the same styles which comes from my strong need to balance comfort with fashion. But I tried to branch out with a couple of offerings, and I really hope you see something you like.

Fashion Advice for Every Woman

While researching the latest trends for the article Fall Fashion for REAL Women, I came across a lot of really great advice that goes beyond fleeting trends, and merited a dedicated article offering fashion tips for every woman. Whether you are a size 2 or a size 22, you will find fashion advice that works for you.

Laura Yoder of 24-7 Style had this to say: “In regards to dressing to compliment any size, it’s important to remember to create a perfect silhouette.  For instance, when choosing to wear skinny jeans or leggings (and yes, this can be pulled off in plus sizes –”skinny” only refers to leg hole opening), pair with tops that just cover the hips and finish the look with heels to instantly slim yourself by a few inches!” Proving the point, Lane Bryant creates the look with their Slim Leg Jeans.

Yoder also wanted to bring attention to an often overlooked area of an outfit: sleeve length. “Eyes are naturally drawn to the place where the sleeve ends.  So, if don’t want to highlight your hips, make sure your sleeves don’t end right at your hips. If you love your waist wear your sleeves at your waist.”

Over and over, one recurring message from so many fashion experts is the importance of a good fit. Oriana Khatso, owner of the small contemporary boutique Terra in Washington, DC., emphasized that “Fit is what makes or breaks a piece, so find a good tailor. Tailoring is the best way to extend the life of your purchase and maximize its impact. A good fit is more slimming than any label and ensures you will look your best. Do not let size influence how you feel about yourself. Focus on finding the right fit.” Oriana added “Shoes, jewelry, handbags, and eyewear are all part of how you create a finished look. Place importance on these items and coordinate them back to your outfit.”

Adding on to Oriana’s advice, Katy Goshtasbi of Puris Image & Style declares “NO matter what your size, you must accept your body and size (not love it!) and dress what you’ve got to look and feel your best.  Your overall image, confidence and interactions with people are completely affected by how you feel in your clothing.”

Michelle Poteet, who owns the professional organizing business Reclaim Order had this to say:  “Spend the larger part of your budget on classic pieces that will continue to be in style season after season. Look for trendy pieces on sale or at less expensive stores (ie. Target). This allows you to add some personality to your wardrobe without breaking the budget, especially since the trendier pieces tend to go out of style quickly.” (For hints on more timeless pieces, read 5 Essential Elements of Every Wardrobe.)

Stylist and personal shopper Indra A. Books of Your Own Entourage suggests creating a budget before you go out to buy, and avoiding impulse purchases. She also offered this important advice: “If you are trying to be stylish within your means, know your body type, your skin color and buy what works for you not what you see on the run way so that you don’t make costly mistakes.”

Self-proclaimed “minor fashion guru” Sally McGraw of Already Pretty points out that “Wearing the same color from head to toe is incredibly flattering, as your outfit provides no easy stopping point for the eye. You look tall, slender, powerful, and awesome.  Sure, cooking up a truly monotone look may require you to go out and buy some teal, pink, or navy shoes to add a splash of color, but is that really such a burden?” A great start is a simple black dress, and you can almost never go wrong with one like this black wrap dress from Fashion Bug.

And let’s not forget that great style begins with the first things you put on — your undergarments. “The best advice I have for women of all sizes is to wear a good bra.  A bra that positions you girls where they belong for a youthful and healthy appearance will make every outfit you have (whether it was $5 or $500) look its best.  Without a good fitting bra, a $500 outfit can look like something you would not want to spend $5 on!” This great truism comes from Rachel Perlmutter, owner of The Greater LA Woman. (For more about finding the right fit, read Taking Care of “the Girls”.)

Ultimately, you need to find the style that works for you, but hopefully these tips can help you make the most of any wardrobe.

Next Page »