Suit It Up
Black suits are reliable and they go with pretty much everything but some times you need a suit that goes beyond black. Like say blue, or camel or brown or ivory! I love this ivory suit from Jones New York. The pieces are sold individually and at the moment Jones New York (which has sizes up to 16) has suiting up to 60% off on select separates plus free shipping on orders $75.
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Topic Links
* Get your own suiting separates from Jones New York
Career Wear from Igigi
I’ve always liked Igigi for their special occasion dresses but over the last year they have really been increasing the number of coordinating pieces they offer for career wear (as well as dresses). Here are some of my favorites, all “designed and made in San Francisco, USA” and available in sizes 12 to 32:
The Danielle Top in Royal Blue $54 / Michelle Skirt $62
The Evita Cowl Tunic $58 (also looks great with tucked in with Michelle Skirt)
The Jessica Dress $124
The Ofelia Dress in Parisian Blue $118
The Milano Jacket $124 / Milano Skirt $68
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Topic Links
* Get your own plus size career wear from Igigi
Plus Size Icons
Lane Bryant introduced their new Icon collection. The pieces offered are supposed to be inspired by the runways of Paris, Milan, and London. Luckily these are more wearable. Most of the pieces are career oriented and have a higher price point, I’m assuming because of their claim of using the finest fabrics. I also think they are trying to latch onto a new niche of shoppers looking for finer clothing. The name and product kind of remind me of Addition-Elle’s regular line and their new Love & Legend released earlier this year. I think their regular customers may bark at the higher price points but boutique shoppers may be drawn in.
There are currently just over twenty pieces but there were a few pieces that really stood out for me:
The cold-shoulder silk blouse is $98 and is available in sizes 14 to 28. The ponte knit pant is $49.50 and available in sizes 14 to 28 (as well as tall and petite). The teardrop earrings are $19.50. The only thing they are missing from their Icon collection is footwear.
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Topic Links
* Get your own Icon collection pieces from Lane Bryant
Torrid Skirts
Torrid’s online shopping shope is loaded with skirts for trendy curvy chicks. Twenty-five to be exact and they are all so different. The first descriptive that came to mind was flirty. They are available in sizes 12 to 26 and as you can see from the prices I have marked, all under $48:
There’s a little skirt or two for everyone: hanging out with friends, shopping, clubbing, lunch or the office.
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Topic Links
* Visit Torrid for plus size skirts
The Grey Suit
The women’s grey suit has come a long way since it was first introduced to take the heat of the black suit. Just like the black suit it is versatile with the color palette that can go with it. But it has been pretty limited as to design. 
Until now! Igigi has a wonderful two piece grey suit set. The first piece is the Marcela Wrap Jacket. It comes in sizes 12 to 30 for $142. The defining details are the notched lapel, pleats and off centre closure.
The second piece is the fully lined Marcela Skirt. It comes in sizes 12 – 30 for $62. It’s defining details are the princess seam shaping and the inverted pleats. I LUV those inverted pleats.
They are perfectly matched to be worn together and are perfectly acceptable to be worn with other items from your wardrobe like pieces of your black suit for instance or a blast of bold color.
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Topic Links
* Get your own Marcela Wrap Jacket and Skirt from Igigi
Grey Pants
I used to get so tired of wearing the black bottoms every day. Adding a pair of grey dress pants to your closet is a good way to spice up your career wear. 
These Tweed Pants from Lane Bryant are a combination of black, white, and grey which means they will virtually go with everything you already have in your closet while still breaking up the humdrum of black pants day after day.
These plus size tweed pants are so popular right now that LB only has sizes 24 through 28 left. They are a comfortable blend of polyester/linen/spandex and are machine wash. $59.50 is not a bad price to pay for dress wear.
If you are looking for something a little less fitting on the thighs and more sizes on the lower end then you might want to try these Textured Trousers, also from Lane Bryant.
These charcoal colored pants are a blend of polyester/rayon/spandex and are also machine washable. They come in sizes 14 – 22 for $59.50. The slightly flared leg all the way down adds camouflage and gives movement. I also like the buckle detail (can’t see in this photo) on the back of the waist.
Grey is a great addition to the career wardrobe. It may be a bit of an adjustment if you have always worn black but it’s worth the effort.
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Topic Links
* Get your own Tweed Pants from Lane Bryant
* Get your own Grey Trousers from Lane Bryant
Kiyonna’s Top 10 Products
I don’t know about you but I love “top ten lists”. You can quickly and easily see what’s hot and what’s not in a matter of seconds. Plus size career clothing designer, Kiyonna shared their top ten products this week.
- Essential Stretch Camisole
- Center Gathered Top
- Flaunt Cocktail Dress
- 3/4 Sleeved Scalloped Boudoir Lace Dress
- Short Sleeve Sophisticate Wrap Blouse
- Bellini Ballet Wrap
- Lucy Lace Blouse
- Retro Glam Lace Dress
- Tory Cinch Dress
- Romantic Rosette Top
My favorite from the list is the Tory Cinch Dress. It comes is passionate purple and black. We probably all have more than one black dress in the closet making purple the way to go. Purple is a great power color. Current sizes available are 3x – 5x. The dress costs $126.
Kiyonna has two promotions on now:
In the first they are offering 25% Off Already Reduced Sale items. Coupon Code: SAVE25
This promotion expires: January 31, 2009.
In the second they are offering Free Shipping on all Ground Domestic Orders of $175 or more. No coupon is needed for this and it expires January 21, 2009.
Kiyonna Top Three
Plus size clothing retailer, Kiyonna is one of my favorite shops for career and party wear. Last week they sent me a list of their hottest fifteen products of the moment. I’ve whittled the list down to my top three faves (purposefully not including items I might have mentioned on previous raves). Tada!:
Penelope Palazzo Pants (black)
Sizes 0X – 5X – $98
Sexy Secretary Chiffon Blouse (martini/black)
Sizes 0X – 5X – $88
Bellini Ballet Wrap (black/charcoal/twilight)
Sizes 0X – 5X – $62
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Topic Links
* Get your own Palazzo pant from Kiyonna
* Get your own Chiffon Blouse from Kiyonna
* Get your own Bellini Wrap from Kiyonna
Kiyonna’s Hot Top Ten
Kiyonna recently released a list of their hottest products so far this season. My favorites from the top ten are number 8 and 9 (ok number 5 is hot too):
Sophisticate Wrap Blouse in Scarlet
1. 3/4 Sleeved Scalloped Boudoir Lace Dress
7. Luca Dress
8. Short Sleeve Sophisticate Wrap Blouse
9. Stretch Gabardine Wide Leg Trousers
10. Stretch Poplin Wrap Blouse
Lane Bryant Week – Bottoms
One cannot (or at least shouldn’t) be without a pair of jeans. Several is even better. Because those of us who love our jeans know that there are no two pair a like.
Seven7® Argyle Pocket Jean – I found these lovely cotton/spandex jeans in LB’s new arrivals. I love the graduated color and the pockets. I’m not sure why but these jeans are “not eligible for discounts or promotions”. They come in sizes 14 – 24 for $69.50.
Wide Leg High Waist Trouser – I totally love these trouser pants. Wide leg forever! And a career pant that won’t show your butt when you kneel down. There’s something very Katherine Hepburn about these pants. They come in sizes 14 – 28 for $54.50.
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Topic Links
* Get your own Seven7 jeans from Lane Bryant
* Get your own Trousers from Lane Bryant
* Check out the current Lane Bryant coupons
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