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!