Plus size fashion help

cbg

Sun, Oct 09 2016, 11:37 am

Don't know what your style is, but I like to sheath dresses for Shabbat, pencil straight skirts with straight tops that don't have pleats or waves

For every day I like a pencil skirt with a sleeveless printed top, a shell if needed, and a cardigan, but the cardigan can not be low cut, rounded neck is best for me. Also a pull over could be nice.
That's just me. I like to look very neat and straight.
I'm not into the flowy look.

Also I like color, so I'll wear a maroon skirt with a very printed top and a cardigan in a different color that's in the top, let's say mustard if it's in the top.
I usually go with solid bottom, solid sweater, printed top.

I live OOT, so I don't have frum shops around me. I shop Macy's, TJMaxx, Marshalls, Burlington, JCPenny, etc.
I never pay more than $75 for a complete Shabbat outfit, usually more in the $50 range.
Everyday no more than $50, but usually in the $30 range.
If I can get double, triple use, better.

amother

Khaki

Sun, Oct 09 2016, 3:54 pm

cbg wrote:

Where do you get pencil skirts that are not too tight and 'unwalkable'?

cbg

Sun, Oct 09 2016, 5:17 pm

amother wrote:

Where do you get pencil skirts that are not too tight and 'unwalkable'?

Kasper brand in Burlington are ok for me even when I sew down the slit.
I also got others there that were stretchy, but I had to get a bigger size so that they don't mark my back side.

This is my basic black skirt
https://www.steinmart.com/prod.....gory=
27" is good for me I am 5'0. I like the skirt on the longer side, fits mid calf.

I also bought similar at Burlington, Kasper 32", long to my ankles, for $13. Don't know if I'll shorten it or not.

spring13

Sun, Oct 09 2016, 8:18 pm

I'm short and curvy (including a belly like you describe), so wearing very straight styles doesn't work for me at all - I just end up looking like a barrel. I need waist definition, and have found that the best way to get it is with styles that flare out (at least somewhat) from my natural waistline (or just a bit above it). Which can be tricky to find, but when I do it ends up being awesome. Look for dresses with a-line skirts and some kind of detail that helps distract the eye - a print, a knot or bow, ruching, something. I like sort of vintage 50's-style things in general, they're flattering for curvier women.

Plus, you know, control top hose and spanx type things.

Here's the kind of thing I'm trying to describe.

http://www.eshakti.com/shop/Dr.....43498
http://www.eshakti.com/shop/Dr.....43204
http://www.eshakti.com/shop/Dr.....43484
http://www.eshakti.com/shop/Dr.....40445
http://www.eshakti.com/shop/Dr.....43587
http://www.modcloth.com/shop/d.....dress
http://www.modcloth.com/shop/d.....dress
http://www.modcloth.com/shop/d.....dress
http://www.modcloth.com/shop/d.....dress
http://www.modcloth.com/shop/d.....dress

MagentaYenta

Sun, Oct 09 2016, 8:27 pm

What is the fashion theory for having a defined waist (sometimes accented with a belt or a waistband) for us ladies who carry the weight around the middle? To me it's just a big arrow. Admittedly I've had my own style for years and it's adapted well to the post menopausal changes of my body so I'm not going to jump on this fashion statement and ditch my current wardrobe.

spring13

Sun, Oct 09 2016, 8:37 pm

MagentaYenta wrote:

All I know is that it works for me. Things that hit in the right spot and skim my curves the right way look good. Very straight up and down stuff just emphasizes my overall width.

My figure is sort of an exaggerated hourglass though: big chest, big hips, short torso, but still a defined waistline. Maybe my chest helps make things balance out? If someone has a belly but not much of a bust, then yeah, I suppose this style wouldn't work as well.

But in general, assuming the fit in general is right (not too tight or too loose anywhere), this kind of style should look good on almost any figure.
http://www.modcloth.com/shop/d.....false
http://www.modcloth.com/shop/d.....false

amother

Emerald

Sun, Oct 09 2016, 8:37 pm

Yes, magentayenta, I totally agree with you. If I would wear something with a defined waist as shown in links, I would look pregnant. For me I am thin except for my pregnant looking stretched out belly so I like to wear longer bigger tops and I like to wear them with skirts that I wear under my stomach almost at my hip.
. while this does look drop baggy, I save myself the embarrassment of people thinking I'm pregnant. I still haven't found a way to look good after
body changed from having kids. I hate wearing garments to "pull me in" as they make me sweaty and uncomfortable.

spring 13, I'm not putting down"" your advice. I'm sure it works for you.

cbg

Sun, Oct 09 2016, 8:39 pm

spring13 wrote:

If I wore any of these styles id look like the good year blimp.

spring13

Sun, Oct 09 2016, 8:51 pm

I think there's a difference between having a belly when you're a bigger size overall, or when it's only your belly making you look big. B/c the OP referred to plus sizes, I thought it might be worth considering.

spring13

Sun, Oct 09 2016, 10:56 pm

If you look here, you see that none of the dresses are columns. They ALL have some kind of waistline or detail, often somewhere above the natural waist, and these are styles meant to flatter plus sized women who presumably have bellies. If you look at the tops, they all have some kind of flow or detail that creates an hourglass to some degree. The thing is that they don't cling to the body, they skim over it. Again, it might work differently if you're not large anywhere but your stomach.

http://www.kiyonna.com/plus-si......html

MagentaYenta

Sun, Oct 09 2016, 11:13 pm

amother wrote:

I'm glad it works for Spring. My body is no longer quite so defined in the figure department. I like loose over shirts, mostly kimonos over a shell type shirt. The printed kimonos lead the eyes away from my belly to the sleeves. If my under shirt, skirt or trousers are close to matching, the drape of a short kimono gives me a narrower looking middle.

amother

Forestgreen

Mon, Oct 10 2016, 11:42 am

spring13 wrote:

Not into the dresses much and I am big on my tuchus and thighs more than my stomach but I do dig their sizing. As a US Size 12, I'm pleased to be a zero size on their site! (OK, it's 0X but still...)

Aribenj

Mon, Oct 10 2016, 11:02 pm

I have the same issue, I look 6 months pregnant when I'm not, but I have a drooping belly to boot. (That's what happens after gaining 60lbs with each of my 5 pregnancies within 8 years...) So any top I wear has to reach like where the bottom of my tush reaches.
I used to be able to wear kikki rikki skirts with a flowy tunic but for some reason I've been getting "when are you due?" comments lately... So now I'm looking for other options too.
Some dresses look good. Especially ones with draping, bows, or big dark patterns in the skirt part... But no way can I shop for that online. I definitely need to go to the store. Macys has a great plus size section!