Posts Tagged: we love colors

Events / OOTD — 14 Comments
10
Feb 12

OOTD: Fatty Affair

As promised, here is my outfit from Fatty Affair! If you missed the event post, you can find it here and you can see the whole set of pictures up on Flickr.

OOTD: Fatty Affair

Dress – ASOS Curve, UK 26
Jacket – Joanna Hope, Simply Be, US 28
Tights – We Love Colors, EE in Scout Green
Belt – Torrid
Boots – Fitzwell, “Syrup” via 6pm.com
Bracelet – F21
Bangles – Torrid

For this event, the “dress code” was on the fancy side. Since I was speaking about fashion, I wanted to pick an outfit that was sparkly, special and something I felt comfortable in. Movement, comfort, warmth (or lack therof) and if possible, something I had worn before, were all concerns.

Being nervous (public speaking!!!) and experimenting with new clothing combinations is a recipe for disaster, in my experience.

This jersey dress from ASOS certainly fit the bill on all counts! I’ve worn it before with my favorite black and white cardigan, but it is one of those OOTD shoots that never made it to the blog (yet). Lately I love the idea of pairing bright pink with teal… so with my color palette set, I picked out a couple of coordinating accessories.

Here are a few more awkward pictures for the road!

OOTD: Fatty Affair
OOTD: Fatty Affair
OOTD: Fatty Affair
OOTD: Fatty Affair

When wearing ASOS Curve clothing, I’m constantly reminded that while they can obviously find suppliers to make clothes that fit my size 28 body (UK 26 is a US 22) but have “no plans to extend their line”. Grr.

Part of my awkward speech was about giving companies feedback. Fight for your right to be able to find the kind of clothing you want, in a size that fits your body – which I’ve wrote about before. You don’t know how many times I’ve been told the two solutions of – lose weight or learn to sew. You don’t have to do either!

More and more companies are listening to the growing demands for plus size, fashion forward clothing, extended sizing, etc. and with my purchasing power, I try to support the ones that are.

It is important to give constructive feedback and give it often. Don’t like what you see? Give feedback. Don’t see what you want? Ask for it.

Check out Kath’s great post – YOU have the power to drive change. She has written a great post on how to engage with these companies and do it effectively – as she’s worked with two companies in Australia already.

We all have the power to instigate the changes we want to see in plus size fashion. Now it is time to speak up!

Challenges / Five Take / OOTD — 21 Comments
26
Jan 12

Five Take: Primary Colors

If you’ve noticed, I’m a bit of a color nerd. I blame it on being an art student but if we’re being honest – it started way (way, way) before that. This week, our Five Take theme was primary colors – red, yellow, and blue. Can you guess who chose it? ;) Though now I can’t help but think… Wonder Woman.

In 2011, I took a step back from the color roller coaster and added more neutrals to my wardrobe to try something different. Even after my experimenting, I still feel like some pop of color is always needed.

Most of my outfits with color tend to utilize the color wheel. I’m not kidding when I say that I used to carry one of these babies in my purse:


Yes, I am completely serious. Actually I have two, a mini (purse sized) color wheel and one that was with my school stuff. Hey! They come in handy. Over the years, they have gotten put… who knows where, but color theory is now ingrained in my brain.

Five Take: Primary

Top – Simply Be, size 28, here.
Skirt – Avenue, 26/28
Jacket – Torrid, size 4
Tights – We Love Colors, size EE in Gold, black patterned tights from Avenue.
Boots – Fitzwell, “Syrup” via 6pm.com
Bracelet – F21, here.

For me, it is almost impossible to resist the urge to add color to anything. Almost physically and mentally impossible to resist adding color to my outfits, makeup, interior decorating, the food I cook – yes, I add different vegetables for color (okay, sometimes flavor). Usually, I’m drawn to a bright color. Surprise, I know.

Not that I always follow “the rules” (because they are meant to be broken) or have an entire rainbow (and then some) of clothing to choose from (despite my best efforts) but the thought is there.

Five Take: Primary
Five Take: Primary
Five Take: Primary
For this challenge I had originally planned to keep it simple and wear just one primary color – I was thinking blue. The last several days work has been really busy and this weekend I spent most of the time in my snowman pajamas. Alas, they are not primary colored – otherwise you might have seen them. Since I try to not play “dress up” for the blog, you get this a few days late!

This morning I realized, that it was already mid-week and I needed to take pictures but a simple outfit no longer appealed to me. So here we are – two colors and lots of “stuff” or texture – sheer, floaty sleeves, houndstooth, cut outs, beads, patterned tights. Well, you can’t actually see the sleeves since I forgot to take a picture with the coat off! This outfit definitely has a lot going on.

I thought it might be too much, especially the coat & tights combo… but I like the effect. Though I don’t like the fact that the black tights scrunch around the knees – making it nearly impossible to see the pattern without hiking them up every two minutes.

Five Take: Primary
Five Take: Primary
Five Take: Primary
Five Take: Primary

My closet is well-stocked but the dominant primary color in my wardrobe is this bright, cobalt blue. A year ago, it would have been red. Yellow is definitely lacking… but I have a few pieces. 2011 was a great year for blue… and it’s a good thing because Pantone named Tangerine the color of 2012.

Guess what goes well with that? ;)

Don’t forget to check out how the others wore their primary colors!

Claire – A Monkey Fatshionista
Rebecca – The Plus Side of Me
Gina – Fat Fit Fine
Becky – The Ramblings of Mrs BeBe


What is the dominant primary color in your wardrobe? Do you use color theory in your outfit choices?

Challenges / Five Take / OOTD — 15 Comments
15
Jan 12

Five Take: 1960s

This week for Five Take, our theme was the 1960s. So far, this is the first time we’ve paid homage to a specific time period and it made me a little nervous! There is so much to draw inspiration from. How is a girl to choose?

When I think of this time period, one of the first things that comes to mind is a dress. Surprise, right? I’m talking about a sheath dress. When you think of “mod”, what pops into your mind? For me, it’s a dress shaped something like this:

A simple, classic shape that stands the test of time. In the 60s, there were many, many dresses of a similar style – usually in bright colors, bold patterns or even color blocked.

Turns out that the above doesn’t describe anything in my wardrobe (need to remedy this asap?), so I made it work with what I had in my closet.

Five Take: 1960s

Dress – Avenue, 26/28
Cardigan – Lane Bryant, 22/24, here.
Tights – We Love Colors, EE in Scout Green
Belt – Torrid
Earrings – Vintage screw-post earrings from my grandmother
Boots – Ros Hommerson via 6pm.com, 2010, $60

The 1960s were a turning point for fashion in a variety of ways and it is one of my absolute favorite decades. Mini skirts, go-go boots, short dresses, stripes, bright colors – right up my alley! Unlike other decades, the styles worn changed dramatically from year to year or even based on political affiliations.

I’m from California, people call me a hippie or tree-hugger all the time, does that make me an expert? Maybe my childhood obsession with tie dye and bell bottoms? Probably not.

Five Take: 1960s

Five Take: 1960s

The first dress I planned to wear was a cute black sheath dress with a little twist – but it’s a secret for now! I had planned to get it altered (before this challenge) but it didn’t happen. I’ve been searching high and low for a tailor in the Bay Area without much luck! Found a seamstress who has done plus size clothing/alterations but she couldn’t take anything until February. (Psst, do you know of one?)

I was going to wear the dress anyway because I didn’t remember it being that bad… but oh boy, was I wrong. The result was comical. It turned out looking more like a baggy hospital gown than a sheath dress.

Next up? Classic sheath dress from my closet. This dress is nearly identical to one I wore last month and it’s a very similar outfit too, oops. When thinking of the 60s within the context of my closet I thought bright colors, stripes and the highest pair of boots I own would be the best to pair with this classic silhouette.

Maybe I’m already subconsciously inspired by the 60s? Or in my last minute panic, I went for what’s comfortable and familiar for me. Ding, ding, ding.

Five Take: 1960s

Not there’s anything wrong with that… but I feel like this outfit is a bit of a cop out. I wish I would have planned a bit better this week, so I could push myself into doing something a little different, not back into over well charted territory. But there’s always next week!

Five Take: 1960s

Five Take: 1960s

Five Take: 1960s

Makeup attempt. Someone teach me, quick! Or loan me a pair of steady hands.

After coming out of “vacation” mode… and considering today was my first day back to work, we’re lucky that I didn’t take pictures of 1960s inspired pajamas.

Don’t forget to check out how the others styled their 1960s outfit!

Claire – A Monkey Fatshionista
Rebecca – The Plus Side of Me
Gina – Fat Fit Fine
Becky – The Ramblings of Mrs BeBe

What is your favorite 1960s trend?

Challenges / Five Take / OOTD — 33 Comments
9
Jan 12

Five Take: Boots

As promised in our pre-holiday teaser, we’re back for the new year! I’m a little late to the Five Take party this week, but I’ve been out of town – as you might have noticed. When planning for my trip I just had the warm Southern California weather in mind and thus… didn’t pack the appropriate item for the challenge. Doh!

The first theme of the year is… boots! If I had to pick a favorite shoe, it would be a pair of mid calf or knee high boots. There is just something about a taller boot that just “works” for me (and my feet).

Boots, boots, boots!

Finding comfortable boots – or hell, shoes in general, that fit well are an issue for everyone. Having fat calves makes stylish, wide-calf boots the Holy Grail.

Five Take: Boots

Sweater – Zenobia from Fashion Avenue Plus (bought on my SoCal trip), 3x
Skirt – High waisted skirt in mustard from JIBRI, custom sized
Tights – We Love Colors in black, size EE
Boots – Fitzwell, “Edeen” via 6pm.com
Ring – Evans
Bracelet – F21
Purse – ASOS (seen in other pictures)

When I started coveting a pair of knee high boots, I worried about fit. Was it even possible to find a pair?

In some stores, 14 inches is considered wide calf. My calves are currently around 19-19.5 inches. Not gonna happen. But thank god for the internet where you might not be able to try stuff on… but you can research products, read reviews and (hopefully) get free shipping.

I’ve had my share of boot success and failure. I tried and tried again and guess what – it was worth it.

Five Take: Boots

Five Take: Boots

The first pair of boots I tried was from Torrid but most of Torrid’s shoes tend to be of the heeled variety. Which don’t work for me because I’m a klutz. I bought the lowest pair of heeled knee-high boots (still 3 inches), tried to wear them once and my brother laughed at my mincing, wobbling steps across the driveway. But he was right – it WAS funny and they weren’t going to work. Needless to say, I changed shoes that night and sold them online.

Next I tried a few pairs of boots from Roaman’s and Woman Within like this pair. Even with WW shoes, the calf was a little too small but the boot was slouchy, so I could zip them up an slouch them a little more than intended – you couldn’t really tell.

Those extra slouchy, slouchy boots were as close as I got to knee high boots until two years ago, when I was alerted to the existence of 6pm.com. If you love shoes, you might not want to visit – it is addictive and dangerous. They have great deals on so many brands of shoes and I’ve found (and bought) several styles of wide calf boots (and other shoes – who are we kidding), usually 50%+ off retail.

Five Take: Boots

Holy grail no more! From 6pm, I’ve bought four pairs of leather, knee high boots. Starting with my very first pair for $43, which is a steal for good leather boots.

I’m hard on shoes, period. Boots from man-made materials don’t last more than a season… unless I wear them with holes, which I have done before. Then you end up in an unexpected rainstorm with soaking wet feet. Fun.

All the blah, blah, blah aside… this pair of three buckle Fitzwell boots are my latest pair from 6pm. I bought them on Christmas Eve and they arrived while I was on my trip! These boots are “wide” calf, my other two pairs from Fitzwell (Syrup in brown & black) are “wide wide”. These were a bit of a squeeze to get on at first but stretched to fit in a few minutes. Unlike my other knee high boots, they do not have an elastic gusset. If they did, I wouldn’t have had any problems at the top.

Cute, leather boots that don’t break the bank? And comfortable to boot (pun intended)? Sounds like a winner to me.

Five Take: Boots

Five Take: Boots

Five Take: Boots

Wide calf boots – even for 18+ inches, are a possibility! Don’t despair!

Most plus size stores have started carrying lines of wide calf boots – Torrid, Lane Bryant, Avenue, Evans, etc. but I prefer good, sturdy leather boots. I tried two pairs from Evans in 2010 but that didn’t work out so well. For the last year I’ve been telling myself that one day I will buy a pair of DUO boots… but it hasn’t happened yet.

Having trouble finding a pair of wide calf boots? Maybe these tips will help.

  1. Measure, measure, measure. Measure your calves (both sides!) and ankles. In multiple places, if you have very shapely legs. Having this information handy is important for successful boot shopping because you have a starting off point.

  2. Ask questions. If you’re buying online, ask questions before you pull our your credit card. 6pm and Zappos are great about product questions. Most shoes measurements listed on the site are based on size 6 or 7. Ask for the calf measurement on your size boot! Or for product recommendations, material quality, etc.

  3. Try before you buy. How are you going to wear your boots? When you try them on – wear that outfit. Skinny jeans, tights, etc. so you can see if they fit how you’d like. (This doesn’t quite work for online shopping but can help you decide if you should keep them.)

  4. Find a cobbler. Find a pair of boots that almost fit? If they are leather boots, a cobber might be able to stretch them for you. It could also be possible to alter or add a gusset to the boots (YMMV), but it depends on the style, material and cobbler.

  5. If at first you do not succeed… Try and try again. Finding wide calf boots isn’t easy, but it isn’t impossible! Try different styles – slouch, lace up, elastic panel, etc. to find the perfect boot for you.

Don’t forget to check out how the others wore their boots:

Claire – A Monkey Fatshionista
Rebecca – The Plus Side of Me
Gina – Fat Fit Fine
Becky – The Ramblings of Mrs BeBe

What are your favorite style boot? If you have large calves, where is your favorite place to buy wide calf boots? Do you have any tips or tricks to share?

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