Our Tips For Looking Great in Anything

Our Tips For  Looking Great in Anything

Year-end means time for New Year’s Eve.   That one special night where we celebrate with friends and family the years that has passed and celebrate the future the New Year holds.   With parties just days away many plus size women are in a deep panic about what to wear and how they can look their best.    Don’t fret we have  tips to help look great no matter what you are wearing.

Tip #1 Confidence Rules

Want to be the hottest girl in the room no matter what your size or what you are wearing.  Hold your head high, shoulders back, and walk with confidence.  

 

 

Tip # 2 Get the Right Support

A good bra and the right shape wear can make you looks sizes smaller and help give you a seamless look.  If you have not already done it use this as motivation to get a bra fitting.  Trust the professionals!    Don’t be afraid of shape wear.  Today’s shape wear is less binding and does not have wires or boning.   Spanx is the best and is worth every penny.

 

 

Tip #3 Smile

Your best accessory is your smile.   Whiten you teeth and show the world your smile.    Try one of the two hour whitening kits to get you party ready in no time.

 

Looking great while getting fit

Let’s face it gyms and activewear traditionally are not very Plus friendly.    Walking into the gym in over sized sweats and a baggy t-shirt doesn’t make you feel any better.  We have found a new line of activewear that will have you looking stylish and feeling work out ready.  It’s so cute you may even be the envy of the size 2 gym members.

 

Taffy is a hot new activewear  line designed specifically for plus size woman. All tops and bottoms are tailored to fit and flatter a woman's curves. Taffy combines fashion and function effortlessly in order for you to get as much enjoyment from your outfit – and workout – as possible.

Taffy's  concept is simple: when you feel good about how you look, you work out harder. Their mission is to help plus size women feel confident about the way they look in activewear. Whatever their goal, curvy women can look stylish and attractive as they lead healthier, more active lives.

" Lucky Brand" Now In Plus Size

The wait is over!   Plus size shoppers can now enjoy premium denim and style from Lucky Brand. In Late June in a WWD article  CEO Dave DeMattei said  in a statement  "We are particularly excited for the launch of this collection as we recognized a void in the plus-size marketplace for an accessible, premium denim, . Our goal is to be inclusive of all body types when creating clothing."

The line launched this July and is already flying off the rack.  Yesterday I stopped in a Nordstorm location to check out the line and try on the Ginger jeans.  Love them!  Just the right  amount of stretch to hug your curves.   They come in straight, skinny , and boot cut in a variety of colors. The collection also includes 75 tops.   One my favorites for fall is this cute leopard cardigan. Where can you find Lucky Brand Plus Size? Macys and Nordstrom stores and online. The pieces range from $49-$129.  

Summer is here! What should I wear?

Summer is in full swing and that means picnics, outdoor concerts, beach outings , and other summer outings.   Wondering what to wear for summer fun?  Here are some of out picks to help you show up in style.

Picnic Pretty

This simple chiffon dress paired with sandals or flip flops is modern twist on the summer picnic dress.   Available at oldnavy.com  in sizes 16-30  on sale for $20.

Outdoor Concert

A flow colorful tank with some distressed jeans can take you almost anywhere.  This looks has a pop of color and a fun relaxed style.  Both the tank and jeans are available at oldnavy.com

Beach Outings

Ah does that mean I have to wear a swimsuit?   No.   Shorts and tank or a cover up are a great way to cheat at the beach and still be in seaside style.

Weekend Getaway

I don’t know about you but for me getting ready to finally take a weekend away from it all sounds like bliss till I start to think about what I will wear.  This time of year a weekend getaway most likely includes beaches and pools.    To help you pull it off with style here are our must haves to help you vacation in style.

1. Swimsuit  That Fits

I know you had the idea of swimsuit shopping but a suit that fits is worth the agony.  You can have it for  years too if you buy a well constructed one.   Don’t get hung up on the size on the tag either.  No one can tell what size it is when it is on you and if it fits right it will make you look smaller.

Our Pick:

Sorrella Signature Medallion Suit $218

2. Great Colorful Coverup 

Not yet ready to sit in your lounge chair in your suit.   A great coverup keep you covered and in style.   Regardless of size you will see women in cover up dresses walking in the resorts or on the beach. Many of the styles out there today can double as a dress. 

Our Pick:

Watercolor Coverup from avenue.com $48

3. Maxi Dress

Solid colors are best you can dress it down or add some great jewelry and dress up for the evening.  Add a colorful scarf during the day or some fun casual jewlery like a strand of shells or wood beach.  

Our pick:

Tahari Woman 'Samara' Maxi Dress$98 available at nordstorm.com

Colored Denim

Colored denim is back and bold.   We have some tips to help you rock this trend at any size.

 Balancing it all out

To help balance out the bold color pair colored denim with natural solids.  Pair a simple white tee or white button down shirt with colored denim and some jewelry to get a simple but colorful look. Pair your colored denim with nude tone belts and shoes.

Shape and Fit

To help you wear bold colorful denim and flatter your curves make sure that you buy the right size.   Brightly colored too tight denim will not only give you a muffin top but it will show off every imperfection.  If you have too buy up and see a tailor to help you get the right fit.

Topping it Off

Since most colored denim jeans are skinny fit or jeggins you will need to pair with  flowing or tunic style tops  to help create a figure flattering look. Try layering a tank under a button up to create more figure flattering lines.  For a casual office look pair your colored denim with a blazer that flows over your hips and it  will help you camouflage the trouble spots in your mid section.

Fuschia  Skinny Jeans from Forever 21 $24.80

www.forever21.com

Swimsuit Season is coming!

We are getting close to that time of year we often dread called Swimsuit Season.   Finding suits that fit and compliment your curves can be a battle.  We recently viewed the line of suits from Sorella Swim and were impressed and wanted to share it with you. Sorella Swim is the first luxury swim line developed exclusively for plus size curves.  They focus on fit, support, and the fabric while designing.  One more reason we love them is the line is Made in the U.S.A.

Here are some of our favorites from the line:

Check out their site to find a store near you.

http://www.sorellaswim.com/

Spring Hot Picks Starting at $38

Now that we have changed the clocks it is time to refresh our wardrobe.  We suggested adding a few key pieces that are hot for spring to bring your wardrobe up to speed. Our stylists have some picks that won't break your budget.  Some as low as $38

Neon

Bold bright color is back.   Not ready to rock this look head to toe?  We  suggest trying accessories in neon colors.  A belt, scarf, earrings or even a pair of shoes will give you the look but not overwhelm you.    Just a little goes along way when toward giving you the neon glow.

Tarnish Asymmetrical Scarf $38 available  at Nordstrom.com

Art Deco

Fabric prints inspired by the Miami Art Deco architecture  were shown in almost every designers collection for Spring. From dresses to bikini's art deco prints will be all over this spring and summer.

Collective Concepts Print Blouson Tunic (Plus) $68 available  at Nordstrom.com

 Athletic Chic

Inspired by the upcoming Olympic Games designers created athletic inspired looks for spring.  Mixing functional modern athletic pieces with heels and skirts created a new modern look that is easy for anyone to wear.  

Women's Plus Compression Jackets $ 39.94 available at oldnavy.com

It's About What's Underneath

For plus size women what we wear underneath our clothes can make or break any outfit.  The challenges of creating smooth lines and taming the bulges of a curvy figure is tough work.   To help you the Curvtique style team has 3 tips to seamless and bulge free looks.

Tip #1 Get a bra that fits and supports in your size!

Your cup should not runith over .  The straps should not leave dents in your shoulders.  Most importantly how does it support you?   Spend the extra time and money to get the bra that is right for you.   Many stores offer fittings.  Invest in basic tone bras that fit even if they are spendy.  You will be thankful everyday when you see how your posture and style is affected.  

Our Pick :

Lane Bryant Back Smoothing Bra $ 40 available at www.lanebryant.com

Tip #2 Protect yourself from VPL (visible panty line)

Today’s styles are hip hugging and tight across the backside so you need to make sure you have the right panties.   Fill your intimate drawer with a variety of styles so you have just the right pair for every outfit.  Try some of the new seamless thong style panties.

Our pick:

Hanky Panky Plus Size Thong Set  $98  available at http://www.barenecessities.com

Tip# 3  Smooth it all out! 

Use shapewear to help give you smooth lines and take off a few inches.  SPANX are a favorite of many of the plus size stars.  They have a great way of smoothing you out and not creating overflow. 

 Our Pick:

SPANX Hide and Sleek Slip $80 available at www.Spanx.com

Plus Size Red Carpet Fashion

Just a few years ago the thought that a plus size woman would be walking the Red carpets in Hollywood and showing up on best dressed lists would have seemed impossible.  Finally the reality that women come in many sizes and can be beautiful and fashionable at any size has caught up with Hollywood.   This award season we saw Melissa McCarthy, Octavia Spencer, and Adele prove to the media and critics that plus size women can walk the red carpets and look sexy and fashionable while doing it. 

Here are a few of our recommendations to get your own plus size Red Carpet Look inspired by the plus size women from this years awards season.

The Dress

·         Fit is critical so if you have to buy it a size too big and get it tailored to fit you perfectly do it.

·         Stick to a single color dress the flatters your skin tone.

·         Pleating and ruched fabric at the waits to hips can help camouflage some of your trouble spots.

Our Pick –

JS Collections Ruched One Shoulder Gown (Plus) $248 available at Nordstrom.com

The Jewels

·         Simple and classic vintage inspired designs give you a timeless look of elegance.

·         Cuff bracelets give you a great look and are easy to wear.

·         Less is more.  With some dresses you might not need a necklace.

Our Pick

 Amazon.com Collection Silver Diamond Cuff Bracelet  $125 available on Amazon.com

The Shoes:

·         Make sure you can walk and stand in them.

·         Stay Away from strappy.

·         Break them in by wearing for a few hours each day prior to the event.

Our Pick-

Marc Fisher Shoes, Joey Peep-Toe Pumps $59.98 available at Macys.com

Plus Size Dress for Success Tips

Dressing for success is important for women of any size but can be a difficult challenge for Plus Size Women.   Over the years I have found ways to achieve the  polished look of success but it takes work. Here are some of my tips.


   Get the perfect black suit

Even if it takes trying on hundreds once you have it you will have your go to outfit for years to come.  In fact I recommend if you find a brand and style you like buy two if you can afford it since they are hard to come by sometimes.

Shop for separates

This allows you to pick the best size for each piece of the suit.  Also you can create a bigger wardrobe by mixing and matching the pieces together.  Mixing cardigans and jackets with  your skirts and pants gives you options.

   Get your clothes tailored

Fit is everything .  Get your suits , skirts., pants, and tops tailored to your.  Buy for your largest area and have them altered to fit you.  After all your unique  so don’t expect the off the rack selections to give you that tailored look.   Once you find a good tailor locally and understand how he can help you some of the frustration of shopping will be eased .  You will realize that you can make things fit with a little help. 

Being plus size does not mean you can't dress for success.  These are just a few tips to help you.  Send us your fashion problems and we will keep the tips and solutions coming.

Five Tips for Getting the Best Deals from Your Favorite Store

By Curvtique Stylist Margaret McGriff

The holidays are officially over and after all of that Christmas shopping we are watching our wallets more than ever.  That doesn’t mean you have to skip shopping all together!  You can still get the best bang for your buck when shopping your favorite stores.  Here are five tips for getting the best deals in store and online.

1.        Know the regular retail price of the items you want.  Just because the sign says “Sale” doesn’t mean you’re getting the best deal.  If you know what the regular price of those shoes you’re eying, you’ll know a great sales price when you see it.  Stores can be very sneaky with their deals, only offering a few dollars off the regular price.   

2.       Be the first to know when a sale is on by signing up for email alerts, newsletters, or even following your favorite stores on Twitter and Facebook.  Not only will you will not miss a sale, you may even a great coupon (H&M gives you a 20% off you’re first purchase when you subscribe to their newsletter), a free gift with purchase, or take of advantage of an early sale – just for signing up!

3.       Buy your seasonal staples at the end of the season.  Stores don’t wait for the temperature to change before getting ready for the next season.  Big chains like Macy’s are already clearing out their Winter wear, which could spell great sales for you!  So, take advantage of these transitional times to stock up on wardrobe essentials like coats, boots, or even bathing suits depending on what part of the world you’re on.

4.       Bring a lot of patience when scouring the clearance racks.  They can be daunting (and very messy!) but if you’re on the hunt for that dress that was out of your price range it may be worth it!  So instead of browsing the regular racks, hit the clearance racks when you first arrive to the store so you can make better use of your time (and energy!).

5.       When shopping clearance online, it’s essential to know your size. Clothes and shoes on clearance not only go fast but are also limited in quantity so you want to make sure what you’re buying is the right fit the first time.  Otherwise, if you need a size bigger or smaller, it may no longer be available by the time you return it.

How do you shop for the best deals?