Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Star Jones Admits to Gastric Bypass Surgery

The truth has finally come out! After evading questions about her rapid weight loss for years, Star Jones has admitted to getting gastric bypass surgery in order to lose over 150 pounds. She did not reveal the truth earlier, she says, because she "was worried what people would think about her." Hmm...was it always her plan to wait a while and then tell the world her secret, thereby lengthening her somewhat small amount of fame? Thoughts?

Read the full story here on the Washington Wost.

Friday, July 27, 2007

Monique's "Fabulous And Thick" Jeans

Comedian Monique has recently come out with her own line of clothing. The collection features three styles of jeans, among other products for the larger ladies. My personal favorite - "Skinny Women are Evil" for $12.99. I saw Monique on the Mike and Juliet Show recently and she was hysterical! She made it clear that her jeans are different because there is no largest size - whether you're a 24 or a 50, Monique will be able to accommodate you. Check it out at onemonique.com.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

F*ck Me Boots for the Larger Calf

I love boots. Absolutely love them. However, I'm hardly ever able to buy a pair that goes higher than my upper ankle because regular boots will not fit over my calves. I've searched high and low for cute, larger-calf boots and have had little luck until recently. I stumbled upon torrid.com's shoe selection and was pleasantly surprised by their selection of boots. I've inserted some of my favorites here - but go to the site to check more out.

Where's your favorite place to shop for boots? Share the wealth!

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Lounge Around in Comfort and Style


I'm a big peeved right now at Old Navy for selling plus size clothing "exclusively online" - i.e., NO LONGER SELLING PLUS CLOTHING IN STORES, a big no no in my book.

However, Oldnavy.com is still a great place to stock up on basics. Most of Olf Navy's clothing is cheap and poorly made, but occasionally you come across a great, cheap find that is worth the money even if it only lasts a few months.

I found some great lounge shorts in cute styles on the old navy website. For only $14.50 a pop, they're a steal!

For Inverted Triangle Body Shapes - Flatter Your Figure

IGIGI gives its tips on how to flatter an inverted triangle figure:

10 Tips to Flatter Your Figure: Inverted Triangle

Attention Inverted Triangles: Check Out These 10 Tips to Flatter Your Figure

1. Dress up without a dress: Because inverted triangle figures carry their weight disproportionately, picking different pieces for different parts of your body can be helpful. Try sporting a skirt and blouse for your next soiree instead of a dress.

2. Wearing the Right Neckline: For the inverted triangle gal, soft U necklines are the way to go. Tailored shirts and V neck wrap tops are also a great way to slenderize your upper half. Be sure to avoid halters, boat necks, gathered sleeves, and strapless tops.

3. Slimming the Shoulders: To slim your shoulders, try Raglan tops or shirts with shoulder slits. Also, soft collarless tunics are perfect for flattering the inverted triangle figure. Try leaving cardigans unbuttoned to help soften your shoulders.

4. Color Counts: Place your colors carefully! Wear lighter colors on the bottom and darker colors on the top to visually balance your figure.

5. Position Your Patterns Properly: For inverted triangles, busy patterns on top can point out your problem areas. Stick to simple and vertical patterns on the top to slim your silhouette.

6. Choosing the Right Skirt: Choose skirts that add a little flare to your figure. Knee length skirts with contoured waistbands will look great on you, as will full circle and pleated skirts. Avoid pencil skirts if you are on the busty side, as they will make you look more top heavy.

7. Picking Pants: The best part of being an inverted triangle is that your pants options are endless! Any style will work for you and you will look better in boot cuts than everyone else.

8. Outerwear and Accessories: You can wear jackets of any length as long as they are fitted at the waist. Avoid bulky necklaces.

9. Buckle That Belt: A funky belt will not only spice up your wardrobe, it will compliment your curves as well. For inverted triangle figures, belts look best buckled at the waistline.

10. Feel Fabulous: The best way to look great is to feel great. Whatever you wear, wear it with confidence and accessorize it with a smile.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Great Summer Dress from Lane Bryant

Dresses are a great way to keep from overheating in the summer. The great famous LBD (little black dress) is a perfect thing to add to your summer wardrobe, because you have the flexibility to dress it up with heels and silver jewelry for night time, or flip flops and fashion jewelry during the day. Lane Bryant recently added a great black dress to their online site - the dress will flatter most body types with its scoop neck, cap sleeves, and empire waist, emphasizing the smallest part of your body. The skirt then flows away from the body, making it a great way to camouflage large hips and butt. Click on the image to buy Lane Bryant's LBD for only $49.50!

Burgundy: The New Neutral

Burgundy is a color that is often overlooked in the fashion industry, put aside by whites, blacks, and beiges. These colors are great because they are neutral and can be paired with almost anything. Burgundy should be in this same class of colors because it goes well with every outfit, while adding some color at the same time. It seems that designers are finally catching on, making more products available in gorgeous shades of burgundy. Wear a burgundy handbag with jeans and a top, or pair it with a black suit to add some funk to your outfit. The great thing about this color is that you can wear it all the time! Jump on this versatile bandwagon and add a little pizazz to your wardrobe.

Check at this Marc by Marc Jacobs satchel at Neiman Marcus for a great addition to your style.

Friday, July 20, 2007

Shoes Glorious Shoes!!!

Women can never have too many shoes. They're fun, fashionable, and functional, and they allow you to express your personality and dress up an outfit. Worn right, shoes can make you appear slimmer and elongate your legs.

The best shoes to wear to make your leg appear longer is a pointy-toe high heeled shoe. The pointy toe lengthens the leg line as much as possible, making your legs appear long and beautiful. When pointy toe pumps first started to become popular, I was skeptical. I thought they looked like witches shoes, and I refused to have anything to do with them.

However over time I've come to realize the beauty of point-toed shoes. They're actually not all that uncomfortable - they are significantly longer than round-toed shoes, so your toes won't be pinched when you wear them. Plus high heels are guaranteed to make you look hot! I feel great when I walk around the office in 4-inch heels. They may take a while to get used to, but once you've worn them for a while, you'll feel on top of the world.

I love nine west for pointy-toed shoes. The Freda style is perfectly for the workplace or for going out at night. So get a pair of pointy-toe heels and feel like a million bucks!

Hairspray Gets Raves!

Adam Shankman's film Hairspray, based on a 1988 movie by the same name, received a stellar review from A. O. Scott at the New York Times. Throughout the review, Scott lavishes the movie's choreography, songs, and actors with praise, especially noting the excellent performance of somewhat-newcomer Elijah Kelley as the lovable seaweed.

The movie is chock full of celebs, including John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, and of course, the fabulous Queen Latifah (one of our favorites!)

For the full NYTimes review, click here.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Nordstrom Launches Rachel Pally Plus Size Line

Nordstrom and Rachel Pally are teaming up to launch an exclusive plus-size collection designed by Pally. The collection will be comprised of 18 styles, ranging from dresses to trousers, and will come in sizes 14 through 20. See the full story below as published in WWD, as well as pictures of some of the available styles:

LOS ANGELES - Rachel Pally, the Southern California contemporary designer who believes that well-cut jersey flatters all women, is teaming with Nordstrom to launch a plus-size line filled with Empire-waist dresses, wide-leg trousers and her other signature looks for the fall.

Wholesaling from $26 for an obi sash to $120 for an ankle-skimming dress inspired by a caftan, the 18 styles made of Modal-spandex jersey in the plus-size line, Rachel Pally White Label, will run from size 14 to 20. The collection will include rich, saturated colors like teal and paprika, as well as abstract prints such as a climbing vine.

The only difference between the regular and plus-size groupings is where they will be sold, Pally said. At Nordstrom, the core line is stocked in contemporary-devoted Savvy department, and White Label will be carried in the plus-size-focused Encore, where brands such as Michael Kors and Calvin Klein are sold next to Nordstrom's private labels, Semantiks and Caslon.

Nordstrom will have a six-month exclusive for White Label starting in July. Pally said wider distribution to other stores will start in January for the spring 2008 collection.

"The women who shop plus size and need to shop plus size don't want to think that they have special things made for them," Pally said. "They can look across the store and see the same things in [ Nordstrom's] Savvy and Encore."

The plus-size line is the latest category that Pally, 26, is introducing for her four-year-old company based here. She will venture into cashmere this fall with swingy turtlenecks and minidresses with bat-wing sleeves. Palley plans to offer silk charmeuse for holiday and voile for next spring, and next summer unveil swimwear that will evoke clean, unlined suits by Eres.

Declining to provide sales forecasts for White Label, Pally said the plus-size market is "a segment of the industry that is totally ignored and there is plenty of money to make."

The plus-size market is also moving toward a fashion-forward direction. This marks the first time that Nordstrom will extend a line sold in Savvy to Encore, said Ana Swaab, a vice president who oversees those fashion departments, among others, at the Seattle-based retailer.

"I just think Rachel Pally's styling is so trend-right and so perfect," Swaab said. "As Rachel evolves her line and we evolve our [Encore] department, it's a nice partnership for us to offer our customer."




Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Star Jones to Open Up About Weight Loss


Star Jones is finally going to tell the world about her weight loss in the September issue of Glamour. She says:

"I wrote an article because I really wanted to go as in-depth as possible about the way I've changed physically over the last 10 years on the air," Reynolds, 45, said recently while promoting her new Court TV (soon to be truTV) talk show. "And I thought that that would be the most effective way to answer everybody's questions."

Anybody want to place some bets on whether or not she underwent gastric bypass surgery?

Read the full story from CBS news here.

You Deserve a Spanx-ing


In case you've been living under a rock the past few years, Spanx is a collection of bodyshapers, undergarments, intimates, and hosiery that is worn under clothing to make everything appear smoother and tighter. They can be a blessing when you're 5 pounds away from fitting into that hot dress, or your ass has decided to come down with a case of cellulite-itis. My personal favorite is the "higher power" body shaper; the material goes up all the way to the chest and can be neatly disguised under your bra for a seamless look from hips to chest. See the Spanx website or shop for Spanx at stores such as Nordstrom, Lane Bryant, or amazon.com. Expensive but worth it!!

Great Find: New York and Company

Don't be fooled - you can still fit into clothing items at some "regular size people" stores if the clothing is generously proportioned. One of those stores is New York & Company, previously called Lerner New York. I had the distinct pleasure of walking into the store last weekend and leaving with several great tops for work that not only were fashionable and fit great, but made me feel great too. And I got some flattering compliments at work this week after wearing my purchases! The XL size is cut large enough that it will fit many fat women (possibly up to size 22), depending on your body shape. NY&C has great outfits for work and the prices are fantastic, so stop by and stock up. I recently purchased the fairview collection wrap (pictured in the posting below) in multiple colors. I've posted images of some of my favorite items from the NY&C website. They're finally selling apparel online (what took them so long?!), but a visit to the store is certainly worth a look as well! Also, their pants go up to size 18, so that may work for some of you.

Another one of my favorite NY&C finds is the bodyshaper. It's essentially a built-in bra tank top made out of nylon and spandex that fits thisclose to the body and sucks in some of your not so flattering parts. The bodyshaper comes in a variety of colors and sizes - definitely check them out!

Now, I certainly don't like that all their apparel items are displayed on such tiny models, but that's a posting for another day.

All Good Things Must Wrap

Wrap tops and dresses are a great way to put together a stylish outfit while enhancing your better body parts and making you look slimmer. There are a number of features that make wraps a good choice for fat women. First, most wrap tops come with a V-neck, which elongates the torso. If the V is too deep or puckers slightly, simply stick a coordinating-color camisole to protect your private bits. This will also give you the opportunity to wear a slimming camisole for double the pleasure, double the fun.

Wrap tops also make you seem thinner by emphasizing the narrowest part of your waste. Tie the wrap top as tight as you feel comfortable - you'll be showing off the best part of you. Stick to darker colors or patterns for an even more attractive look.

Wraps dresses are also very popular today. A flattering wrap dress will have several elements in its construction:
1. A deep v-neck that can be worn alone or with a camisole underneath.
2. At the top of the v, a collar that will help balance you out and make things more acceptable for work.
3. Puffy sleeves: they won't make you look like a football player, but they'll elongate your torso and make your arms look attractive. This might sound a little strange, but trust me, give it a try!
4. A top that can be wrapped tightly to emphasize the narrowest part of your waste.
5. A skirt that starts at your waste, then flares out to the knee. The flare will minimize your bottom half, plus the flowiness of it is quite attractive!

Accessorize a wrap dress with large earrings and a pair of wedges or high heels, and you've got yourself a great outfit for work or play.

Faux wraps are also a good choice.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Accessories Are a Fat Girl's Best Friend

Even if your clothes are boring, drab, or somewhat uninspired, you can still put together a great outfit. Spice up your look with key accessories, such as jewelry, sunglasses, and handbags. And the best part? Accessories still fit when you've gained a few pounds!

A few basic rules when it comes to accessories:

1. Big bags balance out a big body. Small bags will make you look even bigger. Plus you can't fit anything in them.
2. Same with big earrings. Either go with sensible studs (the bigger the better), or, if you wear dangly earrings, make sure they're BIG. Small dangly earrings will look silly next to chipmunk cheeks.
3. Bags don't need to match your belt, or shoes, or outfit for that matter. Use bags to add a spice of color or to pull a whole outfit together.
4. Unless you have small fingers, NO RINGS. Nobody likes a sausage finger. The one exception: engagement rings (but remember, the bigger diamond the better).
5. Long necklaces are the fat girl's best friend. They're very much in style right now, make you look slimmer by elongating your body, and jazz up any outfit. Tip: stock up on cheap necklaces at places like H&M and Claire's until you've figured out what lengths / styles work best for your body. Then you can invest a little more in key pieces and know that you'll love them!

Lane Bryant Finally Gets It Right With New Denim Program


Trendy denim has never been easy for fat girls to find. Unfortunately, fashionable companies like Seven, Theory, and Diesel have decided not to make clothes for anyone who wears a size in the double digits. Lane Bryant has taken a step in the right direction by introducing their RIGHT FIT program, which consists of three different jean shapes: straight (yellow), moderately curvy (red), and curvy (blue).

Not only that, but sizes are on a scale of 1 - 8. Forget those high teens and twenties! Jeans come in a variety of styles, colors, and lengths, so you will definitely be able to find some denim that fits you well and makes your butt look hot.

For more information go to the RIGHT FIT homepage.

For more on plus size denim, see this month's issue of Glamour magazine, which has a special section entitled "Sexiest Jeans for Your Shape: Great Finds Endorsed by Real Women Sizes 0-26". Want a preview? Check out this video on Glamour's website that gives tips on how to wear flattering jeans.