Deborah found these gorgeous photos of the latest couture gowns from Versace at Style.com, and we both started drooling!!!
JJ: “Oh, my gosh, aren’t these just gorgeous!!!”
DEB: “To die, for! Can’t wait to see which celebrities turn up in these!”
Can’t you just see Elizabeth Hurley in that sexy blue gown? How about Michelle Pfeiffer in that nude, jewelled waisted one?…(even though she is loyal Armani fan)
Lots of bold color, curves, ruffles, Grecian Goddess looks. They’re the ultimate in femininity!
We know that most of you won’t be running out the door to purchase one of these ultra pricey designer creations, but we still thought you’d enjoy this little taste of glamour.
Do you have a special event that you have to buy a dress for? Study the color and style of these gowns and look for something similar if you want to look updated and fabulous!
If you’re a size 12 or over there’s no reason to have to settle for clothes that are baggy and unstylish anymore! A new web boutique called Lola and Gigi has arrived that specializes in hip clothes for women 12-3X.
Lola and Gigi is a labor of love for Laura Caravaggio who was frustrated with being unable to find fabulous, modern plus size clothes to wear. “My dream was born out of a desire to really dress myself in away that was an outward manifestation of who I was inside. I felt sexy and beautiful and the selection was just not out there. I felt I deserved a choice.”
So Laura contacted new and upcoming designers in Canada and U.S. who were selling interesting plus size designs in local boutiques and pitched helping sell their clothes on line.
Lola and Gigi carries clothes for both Lola types (Sophia Loren-ish…sexy but classy) and for GiGi Types (fresher, riskier, more out there gals). Favorite designers include MoMo (who was making up to size x-tra large and Laura persuaded her to go up to 3x) and Vancouver designer Diane Kennedy who creates comfortable eco friendly clothes made of bamboo and soy. Can you believe this brown Charm shirt is 92% bamboo?!
Laura tells us she is careful to use plus size models with different body shapes, to show how the right style can balance you out. Here’s a few examples of what works with what body shape.
If you are bigger on top, smaller on bottom- Choose a style that cuts into chest so you don’t look so top heavy such as V neck or wrap dress. Look closely- Laura is in middle!
Pear shape-small on top, big on bottom. Laura recommends the new Kimono dress because it balances out the body perfectly. Here it is modeled by Miss Plus size Canada who is two sizes smaller on top than on the bottom.
All shapes-New trouser jean. It’s wider at the leg and so balances out wider hips. It also looks much more elegant that skinny jeans which don’t suit big gals.
What’s in store next for Laura? She’d love to do her own line and is especially interested in designing dresses because they are so comfortable and easy.
“I’d like to become the Diane Von Furstenberg of Plus size.” Way to go Laura!
It’s hard enough to find hip fresh clothes to suit the average sized woman aged 40 or 50+. But if you are older and larger size, it’s a double nightmare!
That’s why it’s great news that celebrity fashion designer Tina Knowles, Beyoncé ‘s mom, is coming out with a plus size line for “forgotten women”. The line, called “Miss Tina”, will debut August 9th on the Home shopping network with sizes ranging from 2-24!
According to Tina the line “emphasizes figure-flattering silhouettes and exquisite attention to detail to enhance every woman’s personal style. The collection is designed for women of confidence who like to make a statement with the clothes they wear.
It will feature aspirational head-to-toe fashions that include denim, sweaters, blouses, jackets, trousers, skirts, t-shirts, footwear (i.e. boots, pumps and sandals), handbags and other accessories, such as hats, belts, gloves, capes and cuff links. Prominent signature monograms and crests have been incorporated throughout the collection to add a unique flare.”
Having seen the outfits she designs for Beyoncé we all know this gal loves glitz and glam…great for the stage, but let’s just hope her real women designs aren’t too costume-y.
Regardless,we have to say that Tina looks beautiful…. as much as a Star as her famous daughter! Get the full scoop on Tina’s new collection at The Budget Fashionista.
Over Spring break, had a chance to shop in charming Charleston, NC, where I happened to wander into a refreshing new shoe boutique. It is called Farushga and it carries the most gorgeous and unique hand crafted Italian shoes!
When I am looking for shoes, I want not too high a heel but one that is still sexy but that I can walk in, without my feet pooping out in 5 mins.
Eva Mahgrefteh, the owner was oozing with enthusiasm over all her special brands that only she and a few other stores in the US carry. The ones I ended up getting were 3 1/2 inch nude sandals from Gianna Meliani.
According to Ms. Mahgrefteh, the nude shoe is the hot item of the season, with its ability to match almost everything in your closet, while making your leg look longer and sleeker! Can’t beat a sales pitch like that one…sure sold me!
Farushga
377-A King Street
Charleston, SC 29401
(843- 722-3131
www.farushgashoes.com
Ever picked up a cute sweater, only to find out the the blouse under it, is not really a blouse at all, but two items sewn together for a “mock” layered look? Horrors!!
Better known in the fashion world as the “two-fer”, and synonymous with discount stores and cheap good, in the old days, this was a common practice, and is called a dickey.
Funny how if you rename something it can sound so much better. This year’s fashion darling, Tory Burch has taken it back to its roots. Her new “Dickey Dress” that is in made with fine fabrics (jersey knitt) and has gone on to be a top seller at $325.
At first we were very wary of this trend, however after looking at it, we realize that it does give you a nice rich layered look with out all of the bunching! This dress is both comfortable and stylish.
Way to think out of the box, Tory!
There must be something in the air because the tide seems to be turning. Our image of the perfect body is shifting and suddenly it’s o.k. to have some meat on your bones.
First there was the news from Spain that underweight models had been banned from the runway. Next we started seeing curvy Dove pro-aging nude grandmothers popping up on billboards in Times Square. Just recently, we all went wild cheering on full-figured singing sensation Jennifer Hudson, who has since landed the gold stamp of approval and cover of Vogue.
Now, this just in…Michael Kors and Calvin Klein are finally jumping on board this “bigger is beautiful” bandwagon and have begun to produce designer clothes for plus size gals. The lines are being sold sold at Macy’s, Bloomingdales and Lord and Taylor and run from $50 for a blouse to $250 for a trenchcoat.
It’s a godsend for boomer women who still want to look stylish and chic despite some extra menopausal pounds. After all, 62% of American women are a size 16 or over. It’s unrealistic to think that we are going to stay our high school weight forever.
Trying to find high quality, fashionable goods for those of us that are over size 16 has been a struggle for years. The high end fashion designers have thumbed their noses at the plus size market for far too long. We salute those designers and stores that are finally waking up to reality.
Women of all ages and sizes still want to look and feel fabulous!!
Have you been sucked into Handbag Status Hell?
The latest email from Neiman Marcus, shows this season’s newest look… the HUGE oversized handbag from designer Jimmy Choo. The price, $1,690. OUCH!! (and it’s ugly!)
Funny how no one really talks about it, but somehow we have been brainwashed into believing that if we are not toting the latest, greatest “it” bag, that we haven’t really made it. The pressure is on and every time you pick up a fashion magazine, there’s some writer making the justification for buying one of these much obsessed about bags that come with outrageous four figure price tags. The rationalization is that these hot luxury bags are after all, such amazing quality, and that when you really think about it they add up to only a few cents a day over many years, and best of all, you’ll have them for a lifetime!
But aren’t we fooling ourselves a little? Yes, we boomers have more money than our parents did, but aren’t we going overboard? You have wonder- How much quality do you really need? Are you actually going to use such a pricey bag a lifetime (boring), and isn’t the price slightly insane, especially when you are encouraged to buy another “it” bag every change of season.
We too, have felt the pressure to own an expensive status bag and confess that on one occasion we’ve both spent close to $1,000 on a single purse. (a special “treat” we told ourselves). But was it really worth it?
Yes, the bags we bought were gorgeous in our eyes, and yes, we could afford them, but after a couple of seasons they are now stashed away in our closets we’re on the lookout for something new and interesting.
So the question is: When it comes to buying a new purse how high do you go? Once you do buy a status purse are you hooked into forever buying expensive status purses? Do you become a purse snob? (We think it’s an easy trap to fall into)
If you find yourself going down this crazy road, one option is to at least test drive one of these purses first. BAG BORROW OR STEAL is a great site that allows you to rent a high end designer bag that you can carry around for a while and then take it back when you are done. That way 3 months from now when the new styles roll around, you have not sunk all your money into a purse that is suddenly out or that you are just tired of.
If you think you can somehow move past your “It’s only a great purse if I pay a fortune for it hang-up”, then we have a few suggestions for some classic handbags that are beautiful, high quality and won’t leave you feeling ripped off.
These purses, from:
Francesco Biasia, Stuart Weitzman, and Furla are all fabulous choices.
They’re classic with a modern twist, high end, but all under $500.
Expensive, but not totally outrageous. A good compromise perhaps!
Attention fashion designers and retailers!
Haven’t you noticed that women over 40 are taking more of an interest than ever before in the way they look and dress?
They are taking care of themselves, feeling younger and want their appearances to reflect that.
In fact, a survey of 1,001 Americans between the ages of 42 and 60 revealed that there’s a new subset of boomers called Generation V (V for Vitality), who feel 12 years younger than their chronological age.
Gen V’ers are making health and wellness a priority and have more energy and vitality than most other people their age, or than their parents did at this age. They exercise, take vitamins, and are optimistic about life.
And we all know when you feel good, you want to look good and you want to shop!
So, when are you going to start paying attention to us Gen V-er’s, because we’re still finding that there is a big gap out there.
We don’t want to dress like teenagers, but we don’t want to dress like grannies. Where are the stores that sell stylish, comfortable,and classy clothes for women like us?
If you’ve found a store or designer you like, we’d love to hear from you!
