Dear Bodacious Sisters,
I found a store called Maurices that sells that hardest-to-find (for me, anyway!) of items: cute, plus-sized summer clothing for work. I have a lot of the summer off and don’t need much by way of professional clothes for warmer weather and that’s lucky because they’re so hard to find. I really do sympathize with you guys and gals who live in tropical climes. I spend most of my summer in pigtails, a straw cowboy hat and silly cotton dresses.
Yay! Something tailored with short sleeves! The ruching is subtle, and I would probably replace the cheap-looking buttons with something more substantial-looking. Garments look so different on- line, though, it’s hard to tell.
Yay! Another similar jacket! I like this one even better with the banded waist and the flattering peplum, but I could never do the banded arms because my hamhock upper arms would probably not like the fit. It really depends how the garment is cut. We don’t have Maurices in New England so I have no idea how their sizing works. Anyone out there know?
And this isn’t really for summer but it will certainly be cute for spring in New England. Don’t wear it if we’re going to the same event because we could end up in matching outfits. 😉
They have a fantastic selection of jeans, too, but again, I can’t vouch for their quality or fit.
I LOVE Maurice’s. I’m so glad we’ve got them in Ohio. They’re jeans for plus size are cut so that one never has to fear her rear hanging out, sitting OR standing. The only problem is that so many of them are whiskered/torn in style that I find it hard to find any that I can wear in any non-casual setting.
I can’t do much talking about the fit of tops, because I have found that they aren’t cut well for bigger women with smaller “girls.” [Thanks for the feedback! I look forward to receiving my order. I did order a pair of jeans, which is something I NEVER do without trying them on but they looked like the right shape and they were a nice dark denim. I agree that many of their jeans are too casual for our purposes. – PB]
Peacebang, I’m surprised that you are in favor of short-sleeved blazers! I have always felt that they are the epitome of frump. I think 3/4 sleeves are as “summery” as a tailored jacket should get…if the occasion calls for a structured blazer, it probably doesn’t also call for short sleeves, ya know? I would love those top 2 blazers with 3/4 sleeves, but as is…sorry, but ewww. [Well… yea… but let me see if I can style this up really cute and change your mind. I have 3/4 length sleeve blazers for more formal summer occasions like preaching. These would be for something like teaching a class in a hot classroom. So picture them with a knee length really cute cotton skirt in a bold pattern, a great pair of wedges, a big chunky necklace or with a little neck scarf and trousers and high-heeled sandals. I would style that second peplum one in a kind of 50’s way with open-toe pumps and bright red lipstick and a skirt with a bit of a flare. – PB]
Short sleeve blazers are the epitome of frump when they are boxy and boring, which these are not. Both of these blazers are super cute – I absolutely love the one with the ruching. Both of these would be fabulous for work with a pencil skirt and chic pointy toe pumps. Nothing frump about that!
Not being familiar with Maurices, I clicked the link hoping they had non-plus sizes, which YAY they do! PB, would you mind reporting back on the quality and fit when you get your order? [Be happy to! And you’re so right about short-sleeve blazers usually being boxy nightmares. – PB]
My daughters (age 23 & 16) love Maurice’s. The jeans are too distressed for me, and sometimes the fit for plus-size me.
I don’t like shopping there. The stores are small and so crammed with stuff, they stress me. They do have good sales and if you get on the mailing list there will be coupons in your mailbox regularly.
They have a store locator on the website, looks like New England is well covered. [Oh my goodness, really? I’ll have to look again! Thanks! – PB]
I’m new back in the US and never heard of Maurices. I *love* the stuff on the website – stylish, appropriate, and most of all, affordable. Thanks so much for the tip. I’ve already signed up for their emails.
Hmmm…well, I try to be open-minded, so I am happy to say that I do really like your styling suggestions! I probably won’t be wearing a short-sleeved blazer any time soon, but I think your suggestions sound ok because they are not too matchy-matchy. Nicely done, PB! I think my real issue with short-sleeved jackets is from seeing too many women wear them with matching or almost matching slacks or pencil skirts–trying to pull off 2 different messages: “It’s summer!” and “I’m in a suit!” [Eek! Couldn’t agree more! – PB]
I love Maurice’s!! I discovered it recently and while I haven’t bought anything yet, I love looking there. I’ll probably get a couple of items after the baby is born. As a plus, one of their stores is located in the small town where my DH works!!
So glad you liked your Maurices stuff. I enjoy shopping there, because I can find things with a nice structured fit appropriate for an almost thirty year old professional, but with beautiful fun details, on trend colors, etc. I have also been really happy with the fact that my 3 sisters and I, all as different in body shape and size as you can imagine, can find clothes there that suit us. I am medium height, slender, boyish figure, whilst my oldest sister is tall and plus sized, and my middle sister is average sized but with a pear shape since her sweet baby boy, and my youngest sister is petite in height but average weight…. somehow they have figured out how to provide clothing that flatters all 4 of us. This, in my mind, is a bit of a clothing retailer miracle.