It’s our turn to host the Fashion Flash. Read on for some fresh fashion and style tips from some of the top over 40 bloggers! This week we are excited to introduce a new member of to our group, Jackie Silver from Aging Backwards.
Now here is a little taste of each of our fabulous group of Bloggers!
Black Cat Plus discusses her five faves in plus size fashion this holiday season. Read more
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!
Recently we had an excellent comment from one of our newest readers named, Sharon when we asked her, “What is your single most important style comment?”
She said, “The single most important thing to me is that I present myself as stylish to the world because I am a plus size and that is a negative in some peoples eyes and I want to show a woman can be glam, stylish and sexy and still be a plus size!!?
We say, you are right on track with that comment!! One thing we have noticed is that out there in the retail world of shopping, it’s really not that easy to find clothes that are fashionable and come in plus sizes.
We recently spotted a great post at Glam Chic on this subject that we think all of you gorgeous women will enjoy
For more great tips, like this fun, functional and full size raincoat by Michael Kors, click here: Fashion Tips for Plus Size Women
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.
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!!
