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:

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

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!

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.

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!