19 Replies to “Go-To Tops for Plus-Sized Gals”

  1. Oh deary me. Yuk! That jacket and ‘shell’ (is that the same as a T-shirt? Another UK/USA translation difference) are simply hideous, too short and prob;lem the most unflatterig thing I’ve ever seen.

    I’ve noticed that jackets are getting shorter and shorter and I’m lamenting the loss of my lovely thigh skimming length jacket I used to have, was so flattering – I went and lost weight and it looked silly…..

    I love this site. You are wonderul Victoria. In your UK tour, there’s always coffee and cake on offer in the West Midlands….! Lou x

  3. One reason I read your blog is because I HAVE NO FASHION SENSE WHATSOEVER. So you’re going to have to explain to me: what’s wrong with any of these things? Seriously, I clicked on the links and went, “What? What am I supposed to be upset about?”

    Ignorantly yours,
    Laura

    [Hi Laura! Well cripes, kiddo, you’ve been reading this blog for long enough that I hope it has helped your cluelessness somewhat! (smile) Well, the tunic is big and boxy and shapeless and in a pattern that resembles a television test pattern (ow! headache! Talk about bad feng shui!) and the jacket is like, “Hi! I’m a BOX! I am totally square! And I’m wall-papered or gift wrapped too, for your opening pleasure! Cheap, ugly, garish pattern, horrid colors, atrocious cut. – PB]

  4. The top looks like it belongs on the halloween costume rack, – it’s scary. And the model doesn’t look plus-sized.

  6. This reminds me of when Trevor, the Wippell’s salesman, came to my seminary to display their new line of shirts for women. My snarky friend Susan held up a particularly heinous example between her two perfectly manicured fingers and said, “When I was young, I had an allergic reaction to strawberries and broke out in hives all over my body. I’d rather that happen again than ever wear any of these shirts.”

  7. I’ll second Lou – coffee and cake in the Staffordshire area of the UK whenever you care to drop by, sweetie!

  8. awww hun….you know this is really an attempt to make plus-size girls feel guilty for not being a size 0.

    I’m only looking at solid color things right now; until plus-size manufacturers actually put out something that doesn’t make people think I look like a zebra or leopard or some other animal that is out in the African wild.

    So I’m only looking in the WomanWithin, Jessica London and Just My Size catalogs right now with the weekly look at the Catherine’s website.

  9. Sigh. I am not much of a clothes shopper, but realized this fall that I desperately needed some new things–and seriously, it was all tunics, empire waists and boxy jackets. Awful on this super-busty but not so bad in the waist & hips type figure. Really, I can’t imagine how it would be flattering on any full-figured gal.

    I ended up at Burlington Coat Factory, where I got lucky and found several new dressy tanks, skirts and blouses, which were clearly (by the price) considered last year’s fashion but fit just fine.

  10. Here’s a picture similar to the skirts I found:
    http://pics.livejournal.com/voyeurwithwings/pic/00063h8d/

    They are made by KC Stevens, and they are a stretchy material that fits gently to curves in a loose pencil shape, with a nice distracting ruffle just below the knee. They are elastic waists, but the fit is good (on me, at least). I bought one last year, in a great blue, black and white pattern, and then bought two more in radically different patterns this year. I like them because they look great and the patterns add a little interest to my go-to top ensemble: dressy tank, jacket or open blouse as jacket.

    It’s no help on new tops, but it’s something.

  11. The ‘national’ newspaper put a fashion tease on the front page recently. I think the headline was actually something like “shocking new trends” and showed a size 0 girl wearing black slacks and a tailored white shirt. So I suppose in some minds having us all dress like waitroids is shocking.

  12. flyfishingpreacher, GOOD CALL on that first model! That’s part of what throws me off completely– she doesn’t look plus sized at all, but then that tunic seems to be hiding a rhinoceros. Why would you wear something that seems to make you look LARGER?? Oy vey.

    As a Plus Sized Shopping Assistant (I have friends who are plus sized and I traipse through Lane Bryant telling them they MUST GET THAT TOP and they thank me for years), these options are just hideous. At least it saves us money?

  13. Then of course there are those of us who are “vertically-challenged” as well as plus-size. We look like we have no legs when we wear tunics!

  14. Thanks for the response.

    The truth is, I don’t think it matters how long I read this blog; I can’t see what you see. I absolutely rely upon people whom I know to have fashion sense because I am simply tone deaf in that area.

  15. Try Macy’s Plus Size online site. I think there are a few go-to tops there but I don’t know how to take pictures and post them here. [I wish you could, because I did look at Macy’s and found zero! – PB]

  16. I was just at JonesNewYork outlet store, and found a number of their usual-tasteful (if a bit plain), fashion-referential (if not high fashion), and well-fitting (if not cheap) clothes. I find that if I add a fashion-forward shoe or well-chosen accessory, their pieces last many seasons, and I never feel silly. [Thanks for the tip! Fashion referential, affordable and well-fitting clothes that last are ALL a girl could want! – PB]

  17. My fave was the Avenue top…ruffled tank top, perfect for the well endowed. In some alternate universe!!

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