Sparkles Sparkles Everywhere

You may have noticed that one of the most ubiquitous trends for this holiday season is sparkles. Sequins, glitter, and shiny paillettes are everywhere to be found, and fortunately, this is a trend that even us fat girls can take advantage of. Sparkles are a great option because they allow you to add a bit of pizazz to your wardrobe and give an outfit instant going out cred without having to show too much skin.

The best way to take advantage of this trend is to buy a short sleeved or sleeveless blouse and top it with a jacket or cardigan. Paired with dark denim and boots, you'll be ready for a night out on the town. Fortunately, there are many options for us larger ladies.






















Sequin Knit Top
$49.50 at Lane Bryant




















Burgundy Lace Top
$34.00 at Torrid






















Embellished Knit Top
$39.50 at Lane Bryant

If you're not quite ready to purchase sparkly apparel, test the waters with accessories - always the best way to approach a trend you aren't sure about. This sequin scarf from LOFT is sure to turn heads:

Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland

Well, it's not exactly winter - yet - but it is time to start thinking about outerwear. Because of the breakneck pace of fashion retail, winter apparel has already been delivered to many stores, and buying early will assure that your size and color choices are still available.

When it comes to winter fashion, I tend to go for more neutral pieces (blacks, browns, greys, and navys), and dress them up with colorful and textured accessories such as scarves, gloves, and hats. The great thing about cold weather accessories, of course, is that they're pretty gosh darn close to one-size-fits-all; coats, on the other hand, can be a bit more tricky.

Surprisingly, Land's End has a fabulous collection of not only generously sized, but cute, outerwear.

Below, a few of my favorites, all available in multiple colors:

Dressing For Success: Fall/Winter Edition, Part 2

As promised, a small collection of dresses that would work paired with opaque tights. Unfortunately there is not a huge selection out there, but I've pulled together some of the better looks.

Empires are flattering on most body shapes, but it looks like this one may not have left enough room for the boobs. Definitely a contestant for order-online-try-on-and-return-if-necessary. Also available in black.






















Cowl Neck Knit Dress
$48 at Avenue

Love this for night time. The rouched bodice probably is more appropriate for women who want to enhance, rather than minimize, their busts. Wear colored tights to brighten things up.





















Muse Jersey Poet Dress
On sale for $64 at Nordstrom

I love sweater dresses. They're great for both work and weekend, and I promise you'll live in them if you pick up a few. Plus the material is good camouflaging certain areas.






















Calvin Klein Cable Bodice Sweater Dress
On sale for $118 at Macy's

This is a good option if you like color. Contrary to popular opinion, larger prints actually look better on larger women. The bell sleeve will help with air circulation. Definitely keep accessories to a minimum.






















INC Boatneck Ruffled Dress
$89 at Macy's

Dressing for Success: Fall/Winter Edition

When the leaves fall and the weather turns cold, and after I've recovered from my end-of-summer depression, I pull my winter wardrobe standby out of my closet. Dresses and tights are what I will live in for the next 5 months.

Chubby women tend to stay away from dresses for a variety of reasons, many of which are rectified by adding a pair of tights to the ensemble. Tights not only squeeze flabby hips, thighs, and love handles, they also make legs look slimmer, especially when they are black. Tights that are high-waisted will also eliminate lines caused by a bra working overtime.

Another great thing about the dress and tight combination is that it is so versatile. You can bring a dress and tight outfit from day to evening by adding some jewelry, a pair of heels, and dark eye shadow. Sweater dresses are perfect for a more casual look, for Fridays at work or the weekend.

A few tips for making this look work:

1. Tights are not a place so be stingy. Don't hesitate to spend a decent amount of money for a really great pair of tights that are high quality and will last longer than one wearing.
2. Tights MUST be opaque. Seeing skin will ruin the whole effect. That's why I always tend to size up when purchasing a new pair.
3. Look for a pair with a control top. Trust me, your mirror will thank you.
4. Before walking out of the house, do a few laps around your bedroom and make sure the dress does not ride up. Certain fabrics, such as denim, cause friction against the fabric of the tights, which can lead to some embarrassing situations.
5. Make sure your dress is completely free of your tights when you come out of the bathroom!

My preferred brand is Spanx (you can find plus size options at Lane Bryant, among other locations), but that is not by any means your only choice.

Coming soon: dresses options!

Shoes for Every (Foot) Body

A lot of people assume that shoes are the perfect choice for a session of retail therapy because they will democratically fit women of all shapes and sizes. What people forget, though, is that being fat will make your feet fat, too. There's no unseen fat barrier that runs between the bottom of your ankles and the top of your feet, leaving them fat-free while the rest of your body grows.

That's why finding retail outlets that stock wide shoes is such a great find, and unfortunately, a rarity.

That's why I'm saying hat's off to Torrid for their pretty amazing shoe selection. Some shoes are available in medium width only, but the majority will fit women with wider feet and larger calves. Below you will see a sample of some of the Torrid footwear options. Click on an image to get more information. Enjoy!

HEELS








BOOTS









FLATS

A Rant on Both your Houses

Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

I'm just disgusted. I went to Macy's this afternoon to go shopping for some clothes. Being relegated to the plus size section, miles away from the regular-sized shopping population, is humiliating enough. But then I saw the clothing selection and almost cried out of frustration.

It's as if designers think all plus size women are either 80 years old, completely lacking in fashion sense, or blind.

I've got news for you, Macy's merchants: I'm not 80, lacking in fashion sense, or blind. Please get stock some clothes that don't make me curse the day I was fat.

Win Tickets to Mamma Mia and a Free Trip to London!!!

Received this email below - be sure to let me know if you win anything!!!

Now is your chance to share the red carpet with the likes of Pierce Brosnan and Meryl Streep! Plus size fashion leader Lane Bryant, together with Universal Studios and Mamma Mia! the movie, are teaming up to give you and a guest the chance to win a one-of-a-kind sweepstakes! Beginning April 28, you can register at www.lanebryant.com to win a trip for two to the star-studded Mamma Mia! (the movie) premiere in London.

Mamma Mia!, the beloved musical seen by more than 30 million people worldwide, is now a star-studded movie set to open in theatres July 18. Produced by Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, and starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Christine Baranski, and Colin Firth, Mamma Mia! promises to be a huge box office hit. You can watch the movie trailer at www.mammamiamovie.com

Mamma Mia! is the story of a young woman on a quest to discover the identity of her father. On the eve of her wedding, she brings three men from her mother’s past back to the Greek island paradise they once visited twenty years ago – and sets in motion a celebration of life, love and laughter.

Sweepstakes ends June 10, 2008. Customers can also enter at their favorite Lane Bryant store.

THE CONTEST:

ONE (1) GRAND PRIZE WINNER will win an all- expense paid trip for her and a guest to the red carpet global premiere of the Mamma Mia! movie in London.

Air travel to New York City for a Lane Bryant shopping spree with a $500 Lane Bryant Gift Card

Overnight stay at the Hilton® New York hotel

British Airways® World Traveler flight roundtrip to London

A day of London sightseeing

First-class hotel accommodations in London

On the day of the premiere, the winner will be treated to:

Hairstyling by a REGIS hair artist

Personal makeup artist

Tickets to the star-studded global premiere at Leicester Square, London

FIFTY (50) FIRST PLACE WINNERS will receive:

4 tickets to the Mamma Mia! movie

$100 Lane Bryant gift card

Mamma Mia! movie poster

A special Mamma Mia! movie gift from Universal Pictures

FIFTY (50) SECOND PLACE WINNERS will receive:

4 tickets to the Mamma Mia! movie

$50 Lane Bryant Gift Card

FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED (4,500) THIRD PLACE WINNERS will receive:

2 tickets to the Mamma Mia! movie

Adorable Ballet Flats at Avenue

Flats have been all the rage for a while and I don't see that changing anytime soon. They're adorable, fashionable, and the best part is that they're incredibly comfortable. Pair them with a pair of jeans for a casual look or black pants or a skirt for work. Lots of stores now have them available, but they're not always made wide enough to fit a larger lady. Thankfully, Avenue has filled that void with their new line of ballet flats! These are some of my favorites. What do you think? Is there a better place to buy flats?

I think I'm going to stock up on a few pairs myself!

Buy One Get One Half Off at Lane Byrant!!

Like Torrid, Lane Bryant is having a huge end of the summer sale to make way for fall clothing. Tons of sale items available - go have a field day! Just make sure to take good care of the clothing because the seams have a tendency to wear over time. Consider not putting things in the dryer and they will probably last longer.

Hurry...the sale ends soon!

Sale at Torrid - Up to 25% Off

Younger plus size shoppers may be interested in the huge end of the summer sale happening at Torrid. The stores is cleaning out its online inventory for new fall arrivals. Look right for some of the great sales offered.

Pay close attention to their bra selection (the strapless bras are great and it can be difficult to find one that fits well!) and the bottoms, especially the jeans.

The bags and jewelry are a bit on the cheap side, but can be worthwhile if you're looking to sample a new trend but aren't ready to spend the big bucks.

You Wanna Be a Super Model?

Your hair will shine like the sea (throwback to Clueless!)

Torrid is conducting its 2007 model search. As the company says, it is looking for models with "unforgettable curves and a shining personality". Models in the competition receive 20% off clothes during the event hours. Other perks include makeovers and free goodie bags!

Torrid is stopping in the following places over the next few months:

Jackets: Slimming, Professional if Done Right

When I was younger, my mother tried to pass of to me her old, colorful, long blazers complete with gold plastic buttons and polyester lining. Smartly I declined, thinking I would never be interested in wearing anything so hideous. While I'd never wear that orange monstrosity from way back when, I have since that time discovered the beauty of blazers!

Blazers allow you to dress up an outfit, pull your top and pants together, and add a spice of color to your wardrobe. There are a few key guidelines that should be kept in mind when buying a blazer and putting an outfit together.

1. Don't buy a blazer that is too long. Try to make at least some of your butt visible; otherwise your thighs in the back will look magnified. And no one wants that.
2. Make sure your blazer has a nice shape to it. Women should not wear straight blazers under any circumstances. Try to buy a blazer that nips in at the waist around your narrowest part; this will make you look thinner and emphasize your curves.
3. If you have large breasts, wear blazers with multiple buttons to keep the "girls" at bay, or get a one-button jacket with a button that is higher up than normal.
4. Dress up your blazer with jewelry, a lacy top, and black pants, or dress it down with jeans, a v-neck shirt, and a long necklace.

I've included a few blazers that fit the criteria in this posting - shoot me an email if you want to know where to purchase them at chubbychicfashion@gmail.com!

Online Shoe Shopping

Nothing sets off an outfit like a great pair of shoes. There are tons of online shoe retailers out there with a variety of wide shoes to choose from. You can wear shoes like your more narrow-footed friends! The sites I recommend most frequently is zappos.com, probably the granddaddy of all online shoe shopping sites, and shoes.com.

Playtex Bra Sale

Stand in front of a mirror and look slightly down. Now turn to the side and examine your profile in the mirror. Chances are, your "girls", as they refer to them on "What Not To Wear", aren't standing as perky and at attention as you would like. Many plus size women have large breasts, and finding a bra that can give enough support is often difficult.

Just My Size's playtex bras are on sale for only $13.99 per item. That's a price that can't be beat - check it out online and stock up!

Look 10 Pounds Thinner - In Photos!

About.come gives some great tips on how to appear thinner in photos. If you're like me, you hate it when your skinny friends tote around deck-of-cards sized digital cameras and snapsnapsnap like there's no tomorrow. These tips won't solve the problem, but they make you feel a bit better about posing.

Read the full article by clicking here.

Some tips include:

Secret No. 1: Turn partially sideways to the camera, planting one foot in front of the other. Point your toe to the camera and place your weight on your back foot.

Secret No. 2: Pull head forward slightly to minimize any appearance of a double chin.