I was in the market for a going-out jacket, one of those only semi-practical numbers that you really hope you’re not wearing when your car breaks down! This metallic one over at Spiegel is just too cute–and metallic leather and I aren’t exactly on good terms, either. While I was worried about that cropped sleeve at first, I consoled myself by visually pairing it with my slinky sweater dress, one with long sleeves. You could also go with elbow-length leather gloves if you have a pair you love. Whenever I buy gloves, I try to get that as long as …read more

Catherine’s can be challenging to shop at for the younger set, I’m not going to lie. You can find more of the shapeless, body-skimming things over there, but who can ignore a “Buy 2, Get 1 Free” sale? Their jacket price-point is current around $120 for work pieces, and $60-ish for casual jackets.
My magic trick for making Catherine’s work for my curvy figure is to belt everything that otherwise wouldn’t fit quite right. If you’re saving $60-$120, why not try a few pieces out?
One of my favorite happens to have ruffles, but I swear it’s not intentional! This jacket is …read more

I can’t go a week without making a stop at Old Navy. This week, I ran into the amazing Plus Pleated Top marked down to $10, and it’s currently still available in 2X-4X. I have this top, and it’s grown on me. It’s soft, it’s silky, and it looks great with every shrug you have in your closet. The straps are adjustable, with a button closure, and while it was a holiday-time offering, it looks awesome for spring.
I already wore mine twice this week, so I highly recommend you zip over to Old Navy and get something great– even if …read more

Do you feel that plus-size designers are convinced we love the trapeze shape? As most of us know (or have learned through trial-and-error), nothing could be farther from the truth! Let’s make a promise to ourselves to aim for more shapely selections with beaded waistlines (see here) and nipped-in shapes that show off the fact that yes, we also have curves! Experiment with wide and skinny-ish belts to find one that looks good, and then run with it.
I’ve been really impressed with JCPenney’s selection of belted plus dresses, and this beaded one is on sale for $49.99. All the more reason …read more

(Tiered Plaid Dress, $45.00)
Shopping for teens can be hard enough– and getting plus sizes for them is even worse. If you’re looking for cool teen duds to gift or just assist a teen with picking up some goodies, consider these top sources:
Alloy: Alloy clothes have a refined look and are shaped for plus teen bods. The good news is that you can also get trousers with extended inseams.
Torrid: I loooove Torrid (despite being most definitely not a teen), and if you’re shopping for a relative or a teen friend, you’ll find that you’ll have your eye on certain styles, …read more