Fashion for curvy girls

So, I happened to stumble upon these Ulla Popken deals over on eBay...

http://shop.ebay.de/ulla-popken-mode...1.c0.m14.l1514

Amy Jones4 said:Outfit Combo 1
Marks & Spencer tunic, size 22
Dereon shoes (Sho Be Doo), size 9
Coat (boutique find from downtown Zanesville)
Belt (stretch style) from a local discount shop
Costume jewelry (just some leftovers in the drawer)
Socks (from a budget shop)



Outfit Combo 2
Mini skirt (thrift store find, Germany)
T-shirt (found at the Tower mall, clearance rack, size Large)
Belt length (125 cm, Bulgaria)
Pitarello handbag, Gusacci line
Footwear, from a department store in Reno, about $15



Outfit Combo 3
Dress (boutique find from rural Ohio)
Belt (cheap elastic kind from a discount shop)
Pitarello shoes, size 10
Nude mesh stockings

Don't take this personally, but this is pretty rough😢
I’m not talking about your body or weight or anything like that, but I honestly don't get the point of the belt/waistband🤷 I mean, it actually looks worse because your stomach just spills over it... why try to emphasize a waistline if it isn't really there?🤷 A belt like that isn't going to create one for you.
I'm all for plus-sized people not hiding behind their clothes, but still, there's a line somewhere, and it usually comes down to aesthetics.

Out of all these looks, only the last one works for me.
No offense intended, but the others are just bad.

Jason Moore63, he’s definitely a guy. 😳 😬 It’s like trying to find a decent pair of jeans that actually fits right—sometimes you just can't find anything 😬

: switching out of blonde mode:

Thanks, Alex Hall4😘

Jason Moore63 said:Don't take this personally, but this is pretty rough😢
I’m not talking about your body or weight or anything like that, but I honestly don't get the point of the belt/waistband🤷 I mean, it actually looks worse because your stomach just spills over it... why try to emphasize a waistline if it isn't really there?🤷 A belt like that isn't going to create one for you.
I'm all for plus-sized people not hiding behind their clothes, but still, there's a line somewhere, and it usually comes down to aesthetics.

Out of all these looks, only the last one works for me.
No offense intended, but the others are just bad.

There's really no reason to be angry; that's exactly why I posted these photos in the first place
. At least one out of the three is decent—so it's not like everything was a complete disaster 😉.

Wait—did I just misread that? Or was it some kind of shorthand? It feels like one of those moments where you think you’re following a conversation perfectly, only to realize you’ve stepped into a room where everyone else is speaking a language you haven't quite mastered yet... regardless... what exactly are we discussing here? There seems to be a sudden shift in tone—or perhaps just a lack of context—that leaves me feeling a bit adrift. If there's a point being made, I'm all ears, though I suspect I might need a map to find it... kaže:
I honestly think the mods ought to just lay it all out on the table—cardboard it, if you will—and make things clear for once... 🙄 ... honestly, you’ve found the perfect spot for some good old-fashioned mockery... 😕

Why on earth do you all think this is some kind of joke? And honestly—why should anyone even be facing a ban? Which specific rule was supposedly broken here...?

Last time—that department store near the river, last Saturday...



Plus two studio sessions from about two weeks ago...




And one more from this morning...


Hey there.
Amy Jones4

VestaWhere did those shoes from the first studio shot come from? The black and silver ones? Thanks. 🙂

Jerry Bailey47 said:VestaWhere did those shoes from the first studio shot come from? The black and silver ones? Thanks. 🙂

It's at that big department store—the one in downtown Chicago, first floor, just to the right of the escalators. They carry them in black and red... I think they might still have a few sizes left, though who knows these days. The price was around $100, but they’re likely marked down by now.

If you aren't local to the area, we could always coordinate—I wouldn't mind picking them up for you if your size is actually in stock.

Best,

Amy Jones4 said:It's at that big department store—the one in downtown Chicago, first floor, just to the right of the escalators. They carry them in black and red... I think they might still have a few sizes left, though who knows these days. The price was around $100, but they’re likely marked down by now.

If you aren't local to the area, we could always coordinate—I wouldn't mind picking them up for you if your size is actually in stock.

Best,

Thanks! I'm actually based here in Seattle—that's why I asked—but I'll go check it out! 😉

Hey everyone, this is such an incredibly good topic, and I really hope it hasn’t died out 🙂. Basically, my sister is getting married in a month, and here I am—carrying way too many pounds and standing a few inches too short. As you can probably imagine, I need to look absolutely stunning. 🙂 I’ve been scouring Google for advice and shop recommendations, which is how I stumbled upon this thread. To give you an idea of my size, I’m usually a US size 16, though it fluctuates between a 14 and an 18 depending on the day. Finding a formal dress is proving to be especially tricky because, on top of the obvious fit issues, I’m just not the type of person who typically dresses up or goes for an "elegant" vibe. That said, I definitely don't want to look frumpy or throw on something shapeless and old-fashioned. Regardless of the scale, I know I can look great if I get the right advice to highlight my best features and camouflage everything else.
Usually, when it comes to pants or jeans, I’ve always shopped at stores like Old Navy, though their sizing has been acting a bit weird lately, even if there’s still some decent stuff to find. In the summer, I sometimes pick up those relaxed fisherman-style pants from places like Gap; they’re fantastic, super comfortable for the heat, and work fine for my job since I don't work in a high-formality environment. For shirts, tunics, and sweaters, I mostly stick to Target, H&M, or Gap—sometimes Target feels a bit "momsy," but other times I can’t choose between ten amazing pieces. I actually just picked up a gorgeous tunic from Monsoon yesterday; they had a massive 50-70% off sale!
I’ve read through this entire thread and made a list of all the stores you guys mentioned. Next week, I’m starting the mad, exhausting hunt, and I’m crossing my fingers that I find something beautiful! If anyone knows any other stellar dress boutiques—and I’m willing to drop a significant amount of cash this time since it is my sister’s wedding, after all—please let me know. It feels like this thread hasn't seen much activity lately! Thanks so much, and I’ll check back in with updates throughout the week! 🙂

Joseph Turner92, take a look at Peek & Cloppenburg in the CC1 mall. They had a decent selection of evening gowns this past spring, and the sizing was reasonable. Their cuts run large—I usually wear a 14, but I fit into a 12 without any trouble.
Of course, it isn't perfect; most of the fabrics are synthetic. :-/
At least the prices were fair.

Over on Ilica Street—take a left from Frankopanska toward the British pub—and near the start of the pedestrian zone, you'll find MAC. They’re a bit pricier, but they have genuinely beautiful dresses. Actually, correction—they *had* them this spring. 🙂I haven't a clue what their current stock looks like. In that shop, they offered to take my measurements and custom-tailor a dress if my size wasn't available or if I wanted a different fabric. Usually, I can find up to a size 18 or 20 there.
And yes, the material quality there was quite high. 🙂

Good luck! 🙂

I finally snagged a dress!! All thanks to 🙏, because honestly, I would have never even noticed that little boutique, especially since it's tucked away in such a hidden corner of the neighborhood. I actually found several options, and I was fully prepared to just settle for whatever 🙂 I could find that fit me properly. After that, I wandered through a few other shops, but the selection left much to be desired. For instance, they didn't have anything in larger sizes at all right now—though they do offer custom tailoring! Then I popped into Axa over on the main strip, and I tried on about ten different dresses (so they definitely have variety and sizing), but the prices were absolutely mind-blowing. And get this: they also do custom work, and they can have a dress ready in just three days. The sales clerk was incredibly sweet, but she told me with that same lovely smile that they ONLY accept cash, which nearly made me faint. If it wasn't for that boutique in the backstreets and this gorgeous dress that fits me like a glove for $200, I might have actually been willing to drop a massive amount of money at Axa—if only they let you pay in installments! 🙂 So, my fellow ladies, we can all dress up fancy and feel beautiful too. This dress of mine hides my tummy, cinches my waist, boosts my curves, hides my arms, and flows beautifully down to the floor. I am beyond happy! 🙂

Anyone know where I can pick up a dress for a wedding? Nothing overly formal—not looking for a ballgown, just something youthful that I might actually wear again later. Since having kids, I haven't been able to budge from a size 14, and I really don't want to show up to a wedding looking like a total afterthought. Looking for suggestions in the Chicago area.

Jeremy Peterson9 said:Anyone know where I can pick up a dress for a wedding? Nothing overly formal—not looking for a ballgown, just something youthful that I might actually wear again later. Since having kids, I haven't been able to budge from a size 14, and I really don't want to show up to a wedding looking like a total afterthought. Looking for suggestions in the Chicago area.

Check out H&M over at the downtown mall... they have some great stuff, though it really depends on if you catch them while the good stock is still out. Good luck! 🙂

Has anyone actually been to the H&M in downtown San Francisco? I read somewhere that they're the only ones in the States carrying the Big is Beautiful line. Anyone know if that's true?

Honestly... finding decent clothes for plus-size women here in the States is a massive struggle, especially once you hit a size 14 or higher. I’m curious, what kind of price points do you all find reasonable?
If you have any benchmarks for what counts as a good deal versus what's just overpriced, please let me know.
I'm heading back home soon, and with everything going on in the job market right now, I’m looking to find my own path. This idea of starting a clothing line specifically for larger sizes has been buzzing in the back of my mind for ages, but I haven't really taken the leap yet...

In my opinion, they definitely have plus-size options at prices that won't break the bank, but when you look at their trendy stuff for younger crowds, the style is just... off. At least, that was my experience back when I was rocking a size 14. I could never find anything that actually worked for me at C&A, and even my mom—who’s also on the curvier side—rarely finds anything she likes there either. I don't mean to be rude, but honestly, some of those pieces are just tacky; they look like something you'd pick up at a cheap flea market. She usually shops at Nordstrom, but man, those prices are astronomical—some jeans are practically $200! But yeah, I think the real issue is just finding styles that are actually cute, classic, and not super over-the-top.

Takko does carry some plus-size options, and from what I’ve gathered, the quality isn't actually terrible.
It’s just... the selection is pretty thin. I guess if you were looking at the Takko stores over in Germany, you'd find a much better variety.

Timothy James9 said:Honestly... finding decent clothes for plus-size women here in the States is a massive struggle, especially once you hit a size 14 or higher. I’m curious, what kind of price points do you all find reasonable?
If you have any benchmarks for what counts as a good deal versus what's just overpriced, please let me know.
I'm heading back home soon, and with everything going on in the job market right now, I’m looking to find my own path. This idea of starting a clothing line specifically for larger sizes has been buzzing in the back of my mind for ages, but I haven't really taken the leap yet...

In Chicago—and I’m assuming it’s the same everywhere else in the States—there’s zero modern clothing in larger sizes that actually looks urban, elegant, and colorful. It’s all just black, gray, brown, or navy. Everything is so drab...
When I travel abroad, I can always find incredible pieces with great fabrics and actual modern cuts without breaking a sweat.
As for pricing, say I was in Paris—I picked up a dusty pink cropped blazer for €70, and this stunning silk blouse with crazy details that was €50 on sale (originally €100). It was so gorgeous I honestly would've paid way more for it.
In Munich, I grabbed a winter jacket for €50 (marked down from €100).
In Graz, at this little boutique downtown, summer dresses were around €200$117, and skirts, tunics, sweaters—all about the same.
Oh, and one more thing... whenever I buy something locally that’s made right here in the US, the sleeves are always way too long. I never have that issue with anything I buy overseas...

They always throw in a little extra, mostly because Ujevic spent millions at TTF and still hasn't managed to wrap up an anthropological study on Americans...
When I'm sewing for someone, I stick to German sizing since we’re basically cut from the same cloth...
Better to have too much than not enough...

C&A, Takko, and Klik all have their clothes manufactured in India and China for pennies. The quality is decent enough, depending on what you pick up, but the design? Yeah, the design is a total disaster.
Typical German style...