Weight loss and Fall fashion!

Hello, dear readers. I am sorry it's been so long. I just wasn't really into fashion for most of the spring/summer season, since I was busy trying to lose weight and didn't feel like trying to dress up a body that would soon be going down a size or two. I finally bit the bullet and joined Weight Watchers Online in May. It's my 2nd time on WW and I know that it works for me. I've lost 20 pounds since joining up this time. This is not an endorsement - different weight loss methods work for different people. For now, this is right for me.

My goal at the moment is to get down to a size 16/XL. I do not want to get to the point with WW where I feel like I am starving (and believe me, I got there last time). I can't do much exercising because I have fibromyalgia and it makes my whole body hurt. Some days I can walk around, and when I can, I do...but other days, not so much.

Anyway, I've gone from a 2X to a 1X, and from a 20 (or sometimes 22) to an 18. This makes me very, very happy. I still have not gone down a bra size, but that's OK for now because I am not looking forward to having to buy new bras!

Having gone down a size has brought me back into shopping mode, because I don't seem to have enough clothing from the last time I was this size. Actually, that's not quite true. I have plenty of warm Winter sweaters that still fit, which is great because those can get expensive. But it's Autumn now, and I want to wear long-sleeved shirts or less bulky sweaters.

I will have to do a shoes and accessories post soon, because I have been kind of obsessed with shoes and socks lately. At the moment, though, I want to share the results of an amazing retail therapy session at Burlington Coat Factory with you.

Sorry about the picture quality (or lack thereof). Anyway, this is a sweater by Design History. I bought it in these colors; and another in navy, black, and white; and another in a gray pattern. I love it. I plan to wear the heck out of it. Also, it's machine wash and dry! Hooray!

This blue top is by Cha Cha Vente. I almost didn't try it on because I was worried that it would be too long and the hemline wouldn't be flattering, but I am so glad I did because I really like it!

And, last but not least:

Here's that same hemline again, this time in a sweater by Joseph A. Sadly, this one has to be laid flat to dry. It's a really pretty color, though - prettier than the picture suggests. It looks better without the shirt underneath, but I wanted to try it that way when I got home so that's what you get a picture of. (Yeah, ouch, I ended that sentence with a preposition. Sorry.)

I haven't been following the latest trends much, so I'm a little out of the loop. Horizontal stripes are still VERY "in" - that much I can tell. I'm also liking the deep, rich colors that I've been seeing in the stores, and I'm glad to see a lot of gray since I love the color gray.

Anyone know what that hemline is called? Is it a handkerchief hemline, or is that something else?

Thanks for reading!

I did my nails!

Hi there! It's been a while. I haven't been feeling particularly fashion-y lately. I've been pretty much living in this sweater from Lands' End in various colors, and cords from Lands' End as well (I swear they are not sponsoring this blog in any way!). You can choose your own inseam for the cords, which is extremely helpful. They're not made for Plus Petites, but they fit OK.

One thing I have been excited about is nail polish. I managed to grab an Essie Holiday Kit while they were in stores.

I just did my nails with the basic red in the set (2nd from the right), Forever Yummy.

It's a little darker than I'd expected, but it's growing on me. I don't know why I've been wanting red nails lately - I don't usually go for red - but why not?

Also managed to get my hands on the Essie Winter 2013 Collection.Great colors. So far, I've only tried the light blue (Parka Perfect). Actually, it looked blue in the bottle, but it's really more gray. I wasn't so happy with it by itself, so I put a coat of clear sparkly polish over it and that was much better.

I'm getting sort of excited for the Peter Pilotto for Target collaboration coming out on February 9. You can find the lookbook here. I don't know if any of it is really my style, and I won't know until I see it in person. It's very bold.

I will certainly be selling items from it in my eBay store, so if you don't have a Target near you or if there's a certain item you just can't get your hands on, check it out after the launch! If there's anything specific you'd like me to try to get for you, please comment here or send a message to me via eBay. (Of course, I can't charge the same price as Target does, or I'd go (more) broke. But I'm reasonable.)

In the meantime, I've still got some great Phillip Lim stuff left, gorgeous plus size Daniel Rainn shirts, and Nick & Nora pajamas in size XL.

BOOM! It's Phillip Lim for Target!

The 3.1 Phillip Lim line for Target has generated a lot of excitement (now that's an understatement). I was online for its release, which was...painful. I waited until 4 AM for my chance to get a few of these items--many of which sold out right away, right under my nose. I managed to get 3 bags: a Tote with Gusset in Taupe, a Medium Satchel in Purple, and a Mini Satchel with Gusset in Taupe, all of which I will be receiving tomorrow if the delivery's on schedule. I may or may not keep them. It depends on how heavy they are (I usually only carry really light weight bags) and how pretty they are in person (somehow I don't see myself being able to part with the purple one!).

Anyway, now we get to the "meat" of this post. You know, the part where I write about Petite Plus Size stuff. The 3.1 Phillip Lim collection for Target actually has some items that fit plus sizes! I don't know if they did it intentionally, but whether they did or not, hooray!!!

Here is a list of the things I tried and how they fit:

• First up, The BOOM! Sweatshirt - I love this thing. I don't really know why, I just do. The XL fits me, albeit a little tightly. If you wear a size 14-18, this will probably fit you. I wear a 20, so it's maybe a little tighter than I would like, but since most people seem to prefer wearing clothing a little more tightly than I do this would probably fit my fellow size 20 wearers as well. It's got a cute hemline and is just the right length as far as I'm concerned, so it might be a little short on taller people. I bought this one and I'm keeping it. Verdict: fits a size 20! Eureka!
• Sparkle Dress in Blue - this looked so pretty on the hanger, despite its being a sort of shapeless sack. (And when I see a shapeless item on a hanger, my first thought is, "I'll give it some shape!") I tried it on in size XL. Strangely enough, it fit great in the torso but was too tight in the hips. I am bigger up top, so that rarely happens! Verdict: if you're a size 18 or smaller, this should fit, though I don't know how well. 
• Sparkle Peplum Top in Black - this is an awesome top. Again, tried the XL. Unfortunately, I'm too busty for it, so I got smooshed. Didn't look pretty. But if you're a size 20 and not super busty, it will probably look great. It almost looked nice on me. It gave me a waist, which I don't actually have! Also, it stretches, so it might fit even if you have a big gut like mine. Not for those of us with bigger boobs, though. Verdict: may fit other size 20s without huge boobs, and will probably fit (and flatter) those who wear lower sizes.
• Sparkle Tank in Grey  - Too long and too clingy in the butt area. Verdict: not for Plus Petites.
• Long-Sleeve Blouse in Green - Another "almost." If you're a size 18 or below, you can probably pull this off, BUT you'll probably have to wear it tucked in because it's quite long and the hemline is weird. I thought it was rounded in front and squared off in the back, but the pictures on the website make it look like a normal high-low, so maybe that was just my perception. And another surprise: it wasn't too tight in the boobs, just in the tummy area! Verdict: beautiful color, too long and too tight on me, but will probably work for anyone even a little smaller even if you're busty. Don't get it if you're like me and hate to tuck in shirts!
• Drop Dress in White/Black - I wanted this to fit so badly. It was just a little too tight. Again, if you're a size 18 or lower, it'll probably fit. Sigh. Also, the length was still above-the-knee on me (but not by much). Verdict: size 18 or lower, this may work for you.
• The BOOM! Sweater Dress - Honestly, I tried this on just for a laugh. I thought it would look ridiculous on me. It actually didn't look so ridiculous. It clung to my curves, but in a good way--the sweater is really stretchy. The dress came down to my knees. If I could wear really high heels, I bet this would actually look kind of adorable. Verdict: will even fit a size 20 but might be a little long on a Plus Petite.

 

As for the rest of the items in the collection, they either haven't shown up in a size XL in our local store yet, or I just haven't liked them enough to try them on. Please let me know if you've had different experiences with the items I wrote about, or if you have info about the other pieces in this collection that might be helpful for other petite plus size ladies!

Also, a little message from me to Target: please, please, PLEASE start making your designer collaborations in larger sizes! Just XXL and XXXL and so many of us would be so much happier, and we'd gladly spend our hard-earned money at YOUR STORE! It's a win-win! Seriously!

A few current fashion trends I love

Like I said in my last entry, I'm not super-trendy. I do, however, keep track of the trends when I can. I also go to stores, and of course I do some people watching. And really, trends are unavoidable, unless you want to just wear old clothing all the time (in which case you probably wouldn't be reading a fashion blog!).

Here are some of this season's trends I really like:

Polka dots. Small (but not too small), tasteful ones, like on this shirt by Lane Bryant (photo from their website):

(I own the shirt. The sleeves are a bit of an awkward length for my short arms, but I love it anyway.)

Florals (depending on the color and size of the print). There are some really nice bright floral prints around this season. No rules here - big or small flowers are fine with me, as long as they're pretty.

Peter Pan collars. Need I say more about this one? I just think they're adorable.

Blues and greens. Cobalt blue and emerald green are really "in" right now, and I love them. Oh, and yellow, too.


What trends are you into this season (if any)?

Soon to come: an entry about current fashion trends I loathe. ;-)