On Facebook lately I have read about several women ordering from Chic Star, a Chinese on-line plus size clothing vendor. I did a review of their fun product line in May, and you can find it here. I am getting consistent information from buyers that the clothes run almost a full size smaller than the size chart might indicate. I still love their clothing, and I am not hearing any complaints about the quality, but since I am a size 26-28 myself, I probably will not try to order anything from them since their styles generally do not contain much knit or stretchy material and I am concerned about it fitting. Just keeping my ear to the ground for us. I would love it if you could share any information you might have about them. Ciao Bellas…affinity
Category Archives: How Does It Fit?
The Perfect Wide Boot v.2
For those of you, like me, that continue to be on the hunt for the perfect knee high wide calf boot here is my current favorite. It is a David Tate. I need a Size 9.5 WW US with a wide width and a wide calf. I do really well with a lace boot, because although my feet and calves are wide, my ankles are not. Sometimes I like less expensive boots because they are lighter. Today I found a new “on-line only” vendor. At Wide Widths, not only do they sell wide boots but they tell you how to choose among them.
Everywhere I go I see knee high boots, but I live in my mid-calf comfortable, cheap Avenue Boots (above), which I wore yesterday. I yearn for the elegance of knee high boots. But as I have told you before, because of this yearning, and many years of failure, I have a deal with my husband that I will not order boots by mail, I can only buy boots if I try them on in person. So I may wait for fall and check out the local Avenue and Torrid stores for knee boots (or I might just have to sneak in an order from Wide Widths, because I do love this David Tate, and so do my readers). I thought you might like to know about this on-line specialty boot shop. Ciao Bellas…affinity
November 13, 2012 Update: Great blog post by The Fat Girl’s Guide about Wide Calf Boots, HERE
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Forever 21 Plus Size – A Review
I had been seeing Forever 21 in various other plus size blogs but I checked it out and the largest size is a size 3X, so I did not bother pursuing them. But then I went back again and I love graphic t-shirts and design and they had the best I had seen so I decided I would try some. The deco print t-shirt, like all 3 t-shirts was about $20 U.S. (they are online in the UK) and just my colors, and I love the design. So I am trying them out on my cruise around Italy where it is quite warm and I am loving them. I am wearing a tank underneath them, which I may whip stitch together with the t-shirts so they sort of become attached so the look is more consistent. It seems to work best if the t-shirt is a little small for me so the armholes are small enough and my bra does not show, which I have not mastered When I was choosing what to buy I bought t-shirt material or knits so they would have more stretch. The shirt above is a 3X and my favorite.
This is only a 2X, but I just had to have it since it was a Beatles song and I just loved it.
This shirt is a 2X also and fits fine. You cannot really tell but the front is sequins and I wore my “LOVE” earrings with it. I received a ton of compliments the night I wore it.
Shipping was free since I spent more than $50. I am providing you with a link to their Returns policy since that sometimes makes a difference in whether I buy something or not.
I just ordered another t-shirt from them that will be there when I get home from my trip and I will let you know if I can make the 3X work for me. I just read that they have free shipping today, so this might be a good day to try them out. Ciao Bellas…affinity
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Venice Cruising
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Favorite Moment in Venice
Cruising along the Grand Canal in a water taxi with our new Aussie Friends
Favorite Question: How do you know your friend so well when you live on different continents? Answer: We just met yesterday!
Wearing a Lords of Liverpool tunic from Torrid that says “All you need is Love”. Size 2x. I make it fit by stretching it out when it is still damp since I usually wear a 3X or 4X. I bought mine on EBay and I notice that there is a 3x on there today, I forgot to tell you that the t-shirt/tunic has all the words to the song written on the back. It makes me smile to wear it. It is a low v-neck so I often wear a t-shirt under it…affinity
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Roaman’s – a Review – Capri Leggings
I made a little fashion mistake last week. I ordered a size 4X leggings from Roaman’s. I did not review their size chart, I did not look at any notes I might have had about sizing for Roaman’s. But guess what, Roaman’s runs VERY large. According to their size chart a 4X is equal to a 34-36, not a 26-28, which is what I usually wear. Good to know, doncha think? So I am off on my vacation to Europe without tights to match my new Forever 21 t-shirts, which you will be seeing soon…affinity
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Tripp NYC Plus Sizes – Review
A Tripp skirt might be the first piece of clothing I ever bought from Torrid, years ago. The skirt was a purple underskirt with tulle overlay and was a 4X, and always a bit small, but I loved it so I wore it anyway. At the time it seems to reflect Torrid’s edgy style. Then this fall I found this turquoise pleated skirt at Torrid in a 5X, and it is a perfect fit. That drew me back to Tripp and I bought a couple of pairs of jeans (leopard which you will see later), which you can buy at One Stop Plus or Torrid (as well as a bustier on sale) for about the same price. FYI, the short jeans are just a bit too short for me and I am 5′ 5″. I look for Tripp pretty often on Ebay because I rarely find anything else that I like quite as much.
A few weeks ago, I found this 4X mini pleated skirt in a purple plaid and I just had to have it but as you can see below it is a little small and I will not be wearing it again. So it seems to me that Tripp NYC runs just a tiny bit small but I love their fun style and I think it reflects who I am, so I will continue to buy it when I can find it in my size.
I purchased the belt on Ebay many years ago. If I were buying it today I would not buy rhinestones since I have lost a few over the years…affinity
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Kmart Festival Dress – OMG – It Fits!
This week there was a going away party at the Burning Man Headquarters because one of my favorite people ever and the Communications Manager and Regional Network Manager, Andie Grace is moving on. She was my boss when I was the Wedding Coordinator for Burning Man for several years and I will miss her terribly. Although it was 68 degrees in San Francisco that day I knew it would be warm at the party so I wore my new sundress.
A couple of weeks ago I decided that I should check out kmart’s plus size clothes, just ’cause. I ordered this Festival Dress in a Size 26-28 (my size) for $18.74 with an extra 15% off, and it is 100% cotton, what a bargain. I had no hope of it fitting and then it came and when I tried it on it did not fit, but while I was putting it back in the bag and felt a drawstring which untied and then tried again – and OMG it fits and it is precious. I cannot remember the last time I was so happy with a piece of clothing. It was made for Burning Man or a hot day in the city. It also comes in a print and if you wear this sort of thing it is a must have. You might also want to check out the rest of the Love Your Style Love Your Size line. I am pleasantly surprised by kmart plus sizes…affinity
Necklace: I made this is 2009, Precious Metal Clay and Colored Pencil
Bra: White strapless Goddess bra, fabric spray painted green for project
Bracelet: Handmade gift at Burning Man 2006
Earrings: Dichroic Glass from Etsy
Just for your amusement I have added a photo of the project that the bra was spray painted for, I made a life size paper mache of Tara: the Tibetian Goddess of Compassion. I don’t paper mache anymore but I thought this might make you smile.
photo of me and Tara: Julian Cash
photo: George Post
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I Love My Raincoat
I think this morning might have been the last little rain that we are going to have so I wanted to tell you about my Mycra Pac size XL raincoat (I am a size 26-28). I fell in love with one in a store but they generally run over $200, so I stalked them on ebay until I found one for $100. They are reversible, they run very large, I really wanted an animal print and I always feel dressed up when I wear it, what more could I ask for?…affinity
P.S. I hear there is an outlet store but I have never been there: Mycra Pac Designer Wear Outlet 535 Center St · Moraga, California
June 2013 Update: Since I wrote this post In Full Swing in Oakland CA has started carrying these fabulous coats.
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Torrid 4X Belt – How Does it Fit?
I bought this polka dot black bow belt in a size 4X from Torrid a couple of weeks ago and I love it. I am always looking for a belt with a little more style. It fits snugly on my size 28 waist, the elastic parts fold where they should and it is very comfortable. The little piece of sheer ribbon with the polka dots is not going to hold up and will have to be cut off, but that is okay.
I wear a belt almost every day, so I will be in the look-out and would love to hear about any that have worked for you…affinity
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Coral – The Universal Color?
I love the look of a cropped, lightweight cardigan over my everyday wardrobe. I have worn it to work, then out for the evening and to lunch with the girls. It brightens up my look (my husband likes it when I wear something besides black) with a sweater that is light enough to leave on all day. And did you know that coral is considered a universal color and looks good on everyone? Do you agree with that?…affinity
Sweater: Torrid – Size 4X
Bracelets – Torrid – Size 4X
Cami – Avenue – Size 26 – 28
