After a nice, long warm fall here in Chicago, winter has finally arrived! I’ve had to pull out the heavy coats and once again, I bemoan the fact that there aren’t cuter coats for us plus-size gals. I see adorable, colorful coats everywhere–complete with buttons, bows, and ruffles of all types–but coats in larger sizes are often baggy, plain, unfashionable, and come in dull colors. Well, maybe things are looking up! This year, some designers have noticed the discrepancy and have come out with some super cute options. Here are a few of the cutest coats of the season!
Just As You Are is one of the most promising new line of coats. Instead of picking out a coat in your size, you enter your measurements, and the site recommends the coats that flatter your special shape. I have 3 that I’m totally lusting after:
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| Arizona – Faux beaver and faux fox fur = Awesome. I’ve seen this coat in real life-Check out Jaye Rockin’ it on Curvatude. |
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| The Alabama – Not only is it named after my home state, it’s the most adorable motorcycle jacket ever! And the FUR! |
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| The Angola is not for the faint of heart. This will attract mucho attention–You can WERK it! |
Jessica London also came out with some awesome coats this season! And…they are all on sale right now!
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| Wool Coat by Taillisme – The wide notched collar frames the face perfectly, while the nipped in waist and darts help the fabric lay nicely over hips and tummies. |
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| Wool Blend Coat with Ruffles – Gorgeous Ivory color brightens up the winter gray days. The position of ruffles down the front pull the eye vertically, which is flattering and fun. |
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| Love love love this Sherpa Coat. It comes in winter white and black and is just perfect for the not-so-frigid days this season. |
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| And another gorgeous, over-the-top option for those of us who love glamour: the Faux Fur Coat. |
Asos Curve has some funkier options, for the inner 60s chick in all of us.
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| This Pleated Swing Coat in gorgeous bright blue is perfect for twirling in the snow! |
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| Short Coat with Faux Fur Trim — AHHHHH LOVE! |
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| This Belted Tweed Coat has Sweater Sleeves! Perfect for a casual Friday night out with friends at a pub. |
Have you found any other coats that don’t make you cringe this year?? Send me a link!!
I bought this dress 2 years ago at Ross Dress for Less, and have never worn it! It was ridiculously cheap (like $12), and I thought it would be fine to throw on for a low-key day at the office. However, when I put it on, I realized it was just a bad buy. It was too thin, too short, and too busty-mcbusterson. It actually doesn’t look that bad in pictures, but y’all know what a cheap dress feels like, and how you feel in it.
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| The weird waistband hit right under my girls, and it kept riding up when I’d walk two feet. |
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So, how do you save a bad buy?? You keep adding to it! I grabbed a vest I got at Forever 21 earlier this year, which added an extra layer (so the dress didn’t feel so thin), and diminished the over-exposed bustline.
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Then, I added a belt over the vest, at a more flattering spot at my waist. This gave me more of an hour-glass shape, and added more depth or dimension to the dress.
I also added boots over the black tights which saved the dress from appearing as short as it was. Even though these tights look way sheer in the flash than they did in real life…
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So, with these few additions, I made a bad buy better…still not great, but a definite improvement. I need to keep working with this outfit, and maybe I’ll come up with something that redeems the whole purchase. lol.
That’s one thing I always keep in mind when I get dressed in the mornings: I build on previous outfits and try to add one more thing or change something up so that it continues to evolve. And I’m open to suggestions! What would you do to make this bad buy better? Tell me!
Can you tell that I’ve been looking forward to meeting Shavonne Dorsey at this month’s Chicago Fashion Connect mixer?? I know I’ve mentioned it a billion times…but it lived up to my expectations! Shavonne is one of the most promising plus-size designers I’ve encountered–and she’s based here in Chicago. She is absolutely charming and her designs are approachable, pretty, comfortable…and above all…flattering!
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| Here I am with two of the gorgeous models in Shavonne Dorsey’s S/S12 designs: TaJ’ae Robinson and Perry Ellis Fish. |
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| Can’t you just see yourself wearing either of these dresses to a wedding, a nice brunch, or a happy hour on a patio somewhere? Gorgeous! |
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| And of course, here’s my friend Nikeya Young looking stunning in this flowered wrap dress! |
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| In case you’re wondering, I’m wearing the Siren Satin Dress in the Graphic Rupture Print from Kiyonna. |
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| The sherbert-bright colors are perfect for Spring/Summer! |
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| This is my favorite picture! So ladylike! |
So, the November mixer was held at 120 Ultra Lounge, which was a great space right across from the entrance to Navy Pier. Raven and the team at Chicago Fashion Connect put on another great event. And I must say that I am so impressed that they would draw attention to a traditionally neglected sector of fashion-the plus size market. I met some great people at the event, and ran into some regular faces, too. 🙂
What do you think of these dresses? Can you see yourself wearing them??
How gorgeous is this Graphic Rupture Print Siren Satin Dress by Kiyonna?? I am honored to be a part of Kiyonna’s Blogger Brigade, which features real women with curves in Kiyonna’s signature dresses.
This dress was everything I could hope for: a flattering sweetheart neckline, a ladylike length, slim arms (that lay nicely under a cardigan), and a great retro-feeling silhouette. To take these pics, my friend Wendy and I moseyed down to the Allegro Hotel and had some fun posing all over the lobby. This dress is on sale right now for $96! And Kiyonna just released their Screen Siren collection, which has me swooning! Check out Kiyonna right now!
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| This is how I wore it to work: with Kiyonna’s Elizabeth Retro Cardigan. So very work appropriate! 🙂 |
Do you have any dresses from Kiyonna? What are your favorites?
Shavonne Dorsey is taking Chicago by storm and is totally representing for the curvy ladies everywhere! I was first introduced to her designs at the Fashion Fetish Fete, and again during the Macy’s Chicago Fashion Incubator show.
And now…I get to meet her in person at Chicago Fashion Connect’s November Mixer tomorrow night, where she is the featured designer. I’m so excited! And since I’m in the Shavonne Dorsey fan-girl mode, I thought I’d post a video I took of her runway show during the Fashion Focus week.
Her designs are fun and practical at the same time. I could see myself wearing that floral wrap dress to work, brunch, a wedding shower…or any number of other events. The shapes of Shavonne’s dresses are flattering and have an unexpected flair.
What’d you think? Which dresses were your favorite?
Check back on Friday to see pictures from the event tomorrow night! 🙂
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