Wide Calf Black Boots
The Ros Hommerson Women’s Step Wide Calf Boot from Shoes.com is one of my favorite boots. It’s simple lines and low heel (1 3/4″)make it comfortable enough if you have to walk between stops and the leather allows it to be dressed with casual and career wear. One of the best things about them are their calf size — 18″. 
Getting a Good Pair of Boots:
- Measure your calves (both) with a tape measure. Chances are one will be slightly larger than the other. Go with the larger number.
- When you are shopping for boots online it is important to read the calf circumference in the product information.
- If there is none listed in the product information then don’t order. IF you really want the boots email the retailer and ask for specifics. A good retailer will have no problem giving you the information and will respond within a few days. If they don’t they are probably not a company you want to deal with.
- Read any reviews for clues on comfort and fit and whether customer read the product information.
- Expect to spend a little more on your boots for a good fit and comfort. That being said, extreme prices don’t necessarily mean both.
A little something to get you in the boot shopping spirit:
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Topic Links
* Get your own Ros Hommerson Women’s Step Wide Calf Boots from Shoes.com
New Year’s Closet Resolutions
Every new year while others are making resolutions for their bodies I’m making ones for my closet. Most of which I’m pretty good at keeping throughout the year. My closet is probably the best organized place in the house. This year my New Year resolutions for my closet are:
- For every new item I hang in my closet I will give at least one item that I haven’t worn in the last six months away. This is an ongoing goal that I have been pretty good at for the last few years. I highly recommend it.
- This year I will try a color outside your comfort zone — or perhaps multiple colors, as in more patterns. I’m still considering my color options.
- I will give my closet a thorough spring, fall, and winter cleaning. This will of course include vacuuming, dusting, organizing, and downsizing as necessary.
- I will not organize my clothing by color. That way my husband can’t tease me about my limited color choices (he doesn’t get the variance of color — i.e. teal, aqua etc) when I buy another, red, blue, green, black, or grey top.
- This year I will try organizing by sleeve and pant length and casual and dressy.
What is a new year resolution you have for your wardrobe for 2010?
Plus Size Military Peacoat
One of the hottest trends this winter is the military peacoat; both double and single (if you can find it). And lucky for us it looks great on the plus size body. If you want to get in on the trend don’t wait much longer because outerwear is disappearing fast!
Here are a five of my favorite plus size military peacoats:
Avenue’s Short Military Peacoat, $44.99
In red or plus — Sizes 14 to 32
JC Penney’s St. John’s Bay Hooded Pea Coat, $89.99
In ivory or brown — Sizes 1x to 3x
Avenue’s Long Military Wool Coat, $99.99
In black — Sizes 14 to 28
Nordstrom’s GUESS High Neck Peacoat, $109.99
In red — Sizes 1x and 2x
Macy’s Jessica Simpson Plus Size Military Coat, $159.99
In black — Sizes 2x and 3x
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Topic Links
* Get your own plus size military peacoat from Avenue
* Get your own Hooded Peacoat from JC Penney
* Get your own Guess Peacoat from Nordstrom’s
* Get your own Jessica Simpson Plus Size Military Peacoat from Macy’s
Just My Size Clothing Review
“Great fitting, lifestyle apparel designed to flatter the plus size woman.”
Over the holidays I was pleased to received a box of clothing samples from the people at Just My Size, specifically for review on this blog. JMS main focus over the last few years has been bras and basics. This winter they introduced a new line of every day and career wear. All pieces are in sizes 16 to 28 for $22 or less. Yes, that is right $22 or less. I still can’t wrap my brain around it. Most of the clothing is available at Walmart stores in the U.S. and online. Here is some video footage of the New York premiere of the JMS collection:
JMS sent the following samples for review:
Venice Blue Sweater with Scarf (relaxed fit), $18 — I love the rich color and softness of this 100% acrylic sweater. The wide sleeves are on trend and the included removable scarf is a nice touch giving two completely different looks. This sweater was made in China and is machine washable.
Beet Red Cardi Vest Sweater (relaxed fit), $18 — I love the color, length and look of this 100% acrylic sweater. The long cardi length with slightly asymmetrical front and cables are right on trend. There was a thread loose in the shoulder that I cut free with no issues. This vest was made in China and are machine washable.
Snow White Ruffle Shirt (shaped fit), $16 — This blouse is less forgiving than the sweaters in the arm area. I also found the 100% polyester not very strong near the stitching even on a stress free place like the shoulders when I placed mild tension them. If you really need a blouse it is a nice addition under a sweater style-wise with the delicate ruffles, in a size up for roominess. This shirt was made in Bangladesh and is machine washable.
Ebony Pork Chop Pocket Pant (shaped fit), $16 — Plus size pants for $16! That blows my mind. They are nicely cut and stitched but the zipper is coarse and makes me leery of long term wear. These 98% cotton / 2% spandex pant seem to be a low level cord but unfortunately they are still too noisy for my liking. I don’t like to be heard coming! Would love to try them in another fabric like a brushed cotton or khaki with a longer leg. At 5′ 9″ I find them shorter than I would like. These pants were made in Bangladesh and are machine washable.
Steel Heather Long Cardigan (relaxed fit), $20 — This is one of my favorite pieces and totally on trend for 2010. It is soft and comfortable 100% acrylic. Love the length and how the buttons end midway instead of at the bottom of garment. You can see this one in the above video worn with leggings and boots. This sweater was made in China and is machine washable.
The wash test: Everything seemed to wash fine. I put everything in the washer and used a drying rack for the sweaters. There were a few knitting knots that popped out front of the sweaters but they were easily tucked to the underside. I didn’t notice any fading to the dark pants which were washed inside out. The blouse needed minor touch ups with the iron.
Overall experience: I’m quite impressed with JMS new plus size clothing line both in price, workmanship, and style. But like any other brand attention must be paid to each piece to determine if it is appropriate for your body, needs, time, and money. From this sampling I would definitely recommend JMS for any fashionista who is tired of paying too much for plus size clothing.
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Topic Links
* Check out Just My Size’s new clothing collection online
* Check out Walmart’s plus size clothing collection online
Merry Christmas
All the best to you and yours!
Addition-Elle Preboxing Sale
Celebrate the holidays with AdditionElle / Penningtons / MXM preboxing day sale. They are offering and extra 50% off sale items.
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Topic Links
* Visit AdditionElle / Penningtons / MXM for holiday savings
The Cardi Shawl
If you haven’t picked up one of the asymmetrical cardigans there’s still time. Penningtons has their Cardi Shawl on $39.99. It is available in black, purple, and silver in limited sizes from 1x to 3x. They ship within Canada and to the United States.
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Topic Links
* Get your own plus size Cardi Shawl from Penningtons
* More asymmetrical cardigans and ideas on how to wear them
Buy Two Bras Get Two Free
From now until January 3, Lane Bryant has their Cacique bras on sale. The buy two get two free event is one of their better bras sales. If you have been reading the blog for a while then you know the balconette (pictured first and last) is one of my favorites for style and fit. Here are three of my favorites from their current bra styles:
Cacique bras range in price from $32 to $44 depending on style. And sizes range from 36C to 44DDD.
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Topic Links
* Stock up on your own Cacique plus size bras at Lane Bryant
How to Use the Convertible Dress
There’s no doubt that Monif C’s Convertible Marilyn Dress is the most versatile piece on the market. There are a few basic colors but usually new colors are introduced each season. It comes in a long or short version that can be used as a party dress, wedding dress, brides maid dresses, New Year’s dress… it is endless. Because the dress fits sizes 8 to 24 you pretty much always know you’ll have something that fits wheather you are up or down ten pounds. The dress costs $195 which seems like a lot for one dress but not for 22 — that works out to almost $9 per dress.
Here’s the latest instruction video from Monif on how to wear the many faces of this dress whether long or short. I bet you can come up with more.
The first instruction video:
More Convertible Dress:
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Topic Links
* Get your own Convertible Marilyn Dress from Monif C
Promo Friday
A sale or two to get you through the weekend:
Addition-Elle / MXM / Penningtons is offering 25% off orders of $80 or more
Coupon code: HOHOHO
Expires: December 19, 2009
Visit Addition-Elle / MXM / Penningtons for plus size clothing (now ship to U.S.)
Designer Shoes is offering 40% off their sale items
Coupon code: SALE40MORE
Expires: December 19,2009
Visit Designer Shoes
Catherines is offering an extra 40% off already-reduced clearance
Coupon code: NA
Expires: December 24, 2009
Visit Catherines for plus size clothing
Baghaus is offering 10% off Everything and Free Shipping with $50 or more
Coupon code: December
Expires: December 31, 2009
Visit Baghaus for handbags
Igigi is offering 50% off international shipping rates
Coupon code: NA
Expires: December 31, 2009
Visit Igigi for plus size career and party dresses
Making it Big is offering free shipping on orders $100 or more
Coupon code: FSHOL
Expires: December 25, 2009
Visit Making it Big for plus size clothing
Shoes.com is offering 20% off site wide
Coupon code: HOLIDAY20
Expires: December 21, 2009
Visit Shoes.com for regular and wide width shoes and boots
SwakDesigns if offering 30% off sale items
Coupon code: sfbs30
Expires: December 23, 2009
Visit SwakDesigns for plus size clothing
Hot Topic is offering Buy One Get One 50% Off all novelty tees
Coupon code: NA
Expires: December 24, 2009
Visit Hot Topic for plus size novelty tees
Torrid is offering a shipping upgrade to express shipping on orders $50 and over
Coupon code: NA
Expires: December 20, 2009
Visit Torrid for trendy plus size clothing
Avenue is offering 40% off site wide
Coupon code: AV91174
Expires: December 21, 2009
Visit Avenue for plus size clothing December 17-21 only!
Swimsuits for All is offering 15% Off Womens site wide
Coupon code: SNOW15
Expires: December 27, 2009
Visit Swimsuits for All for plus size swimwear
Always for Me is offering Free UPS Ground Shipping (U.S) for orders $100 or more
Coupon code: freeship100
Expires: December 20, 2009
Visit Always for Me for plus size swimwear, active wear, and lingerie
Gaiam is offering 20% off Any Order
Coupon code: LASTMIN9
Expires: December 21, 2009
Visit Gaiam for yoga accessories and information
Have a great weekend!
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