Review of Plus Size 28 or 4X at Target

I am always interested to see what I might wear from one of the big box stores, and their largest size. Target carries up to a Size 28 (see Size Chart below).

Of the dresses above, I could wear most of them and be happy about it. I tend toward sleeveless, strappy dresses, and I was surprised by how many of those there are.

I was also impressed with the array of bestselling tops in a size 28, but these top sellers were much more casual than the dresses, but included several cute styles.

Target Size Chart

Target Size Chart

I would definitely call these choices a win, and even the Mossimo Brand size chart looks quite generous, especially in the waist, where I am quite large.

Maybe it is time to check out Target.

Peace…affinity

Photo: Leori Gill Photography

Plus Size 24+ Blog Roll

The Plus Side of Me included Affatshionista on a list of 20 Plus Size Fashion Bloggers at Sizes US 24+ a few months ago. I was thrilled to see her list and to be included. I had been looking for these blogs, and there was now a plethora of new ones to gobble up. I find the list very useful and often refer to it.

To bring in the new year, I used it to update my Blog Roll. In addition, I added some of the Ahead of the Curve Bloggers, that are part of the blogging collective I participate in, and some other bloggers, mainly from the US. I chose bloggers that provided information about US Size 24+ clothes, mostly clothes you can purchase but some with DIY approaches, and that were more clothing oriented rather than lifestyle or beauty oriented. I hope you will find it useful.

So check out my new list on the upper right side of my blog:   Blogs I Love  – 24+

Happy New Year!

Kitty’s Night Out via ModCloth 4X Style

Kitty's Night Out via ModCloth
ModCloth invited me to participate in a competition this week using ModCloth products on Polyvore. I quite liked doing it, and of course the dress is a 4X.  And I have been wanting a pair of lace kitty ears. I love the black necklace (I may just have to have it) and love the black heels.
Can’t you just see me wearing this?
Peace…affinity

How do Size 26 -28 Sizes fit at ASOS Curve?

Did you know that Radiant Orchid is the Pantone Color of the year for 2014? It is my favorite color, purple with a little red thrown in, it matches my glasses, it was my wedding color, and it is my current toenail polish color.

So when I saw this skater dress at ASOS Curve, in a US Size 24, I just had to have it. I asos purple club Lassumed it would fit I have many ASOS Curve items in a US 22 or 24.  But I failed to notice that it was not an ASOS Curve Brand Dress, it is a Club L Dress, which is says right on the title of the dress. And it was so small in a Size 24, I could not even get it over my head.

I am loving ASOS Curve right now. Reasonably priced, lots of fun clothes, and their US Size 24 usually fits, because it runs big. I usually wear a Size 26-28, but heads up, if you are really a US size 26 -28 like I am, only buy the ASOS Curve brand. I will keep a list here of some of their brands that my friends and I have tried that do not fit.

May Fit Similar to ASOS Curve

  • Alice & You

ASOS CURVE BRANDS THAT RUN SMALLER THAN THE “ASOS CURVE” BRAND

  • New Look – Runs True to Size
  • Club L – Much smaller than ASOS Curve
  • Carmakoma
  • Junarose
  • Inspire

Peace…affinity

Kiyonna Chameleon Convertible Skirt & Dress Plus Size 5X Review

kiyanna dressWe are in Palm Springs this week because a friend was kind enough to offer us her timeshare that she was not going to use.  So in anticipation of being in 90° weather I went to my Gwynnie Bee account to have something light and deserty to wear. It turns out that this Kiyonna skirt/dress is incredibly heavy and I would NEVER be able to wear in warm weather, even though, since it is strapless it looks like it is designed for a hot day.  I was quite disappointed.

kiyanna descriptionI did not pay attention to the size chart (my bad) and the 5X fell off of me so much that I could not really even take a photo of it.  My measurements are HERE if you want to compare your size to mine and see if this would fit.  The sizing is good to know, since I have never worn Kiyonna before, that this skirt/dress it runs true to size, since I usually wear a 4X. This dress not longer appears to be for sale but you can still find it on Gwynnie Bee.

As you know from this review, I have a trial membership to Gwynnie Bee, and if you are interested in checking it out please read more HERE (full disclosure) if you sign up I do get a free month free.

Peace…affinity

ASOS CURVE Sequin Pencil Skirt Size US 24 – Review

asos curve sequin skirt LG2As you know from this review, I have a trial membership to Gwynnie Bee, and if you are interested in checking it out please read more HERE (full disclosure) if you sign up I do NOT get a free month free since I am not going to continue my membership beyond the trial.

I would not have bought this wild multi color sequin pencil skirt, but when I saw it was one of the choices I could “rent”, in a US Size 24 no less, of course I had to try it. It is a little snug, but after all it is a pencil skirt. The entire skirt is made from a stretch poly blend. (ASOS does have a free/easy return policy, which makes it easier to take chances) You can see my measurements HERE if you want to know how this might fit YOU.

I probably would not buy this, even if I needed a sequin pencil skirt, because sequins are not very comfortable to wear, but oh is this SO gorgeous.  When I opened the box my husbanded was blinded and loved it. And guess what, it is on sale right now. I saw another blogger had belted the top and I wish I had thought to do that with a thin belt in one of the colors found in the skirt (lots of choices), it seemed to give the outfit more definition.

The top I am wearing is several years old INC International Concepts Size 24 made of a stretchy knit, which is very comfortable and fits quite well.

Lots more Gwynnie Bee outfits to come, watch this space.

Peace…affinity

Review of Sparkle Skirt from ASOS Curve

sparkle skirt leori croppedI just had to have this ASOS sparkle skirt. It is short and cute and sparkly. Of course I did not have anywhere to wear it, nor anything to wear it with, but I just had to have it.  After it hung in my closet for FOUR months I came across this little sparkly, silvery, leopard embellished top on FatToo Grand, an on-line plus size 4X thrift store on Facebook.  I still have not worn it out but I am going to two BBQs this weekend and I might just have to wear this.

sparkle skirt leori3ASOS Curve Skirt: U.S. Size 22 (this style in other fabrics) I usually wear Size 26-28
Torrid Twist Tee from FatToo Grand: Size 4X
Bob’s Belts: Black Stretch Belt Size 3X (50-52) I have been wearing these belts for years with my work dress pants.

Peace…affinity

photo: Leori Gill Photography

Review of Plus Size Flirty Mini from Yours Clothing

good Yours Clothing polka dot LGSince my sweetie and I bought a condo in Oakland, CA, last month I have been catching up with my friends that live on this side of the Bay and going out to lunch or a movie whenever I can.  This flirty polka dot mini dress, with leggings, is my new go-to outfit.  Yours Clothing was kind enough to send it to me to be reviewed. It is a UK Size 26 – 28 which would be a US size 22 – 24, and it is a great fit. I also love this black version with a print, which I might just have to have for the warm weather to come.  It looks fun, and it is very lightweight which is great since Oakland weather is about 10 degrees warmer than San Francisco.

I have been wearing this dress with neon pink fishnet tights from We Love Color, which come in 51 colors, and these are Plus Size “One Size” Size 1X – 3X and they fit perfectly, but I think I am at the top of their range, since I am a size 26-28, the size chart says hips to 48 inches and mine are well over 50″, they are also not very long.  I think the fishnets would also be fun with black stockings underneath them, to match the polka dot color even more, but it would have to be a pretty cold day to make that comfortable.

The silver shoes are a Size 10 from Torrid and I would love to have 10 pair of them.  They are my favorites, and I seem to have bought the last pair in the world.  And the silver belt was a gift from a friend.IMG_2783I also tried the dress with cropped tights and little black flats since it was really warm one day, but I think it looks better with long tights whether they are pink or black.

Peace…affinity

Screen Shot 2013-05-03 at 6.37.38 AM5/32013 Update:  One of my readers suggested the pink tights needed a pop of pink at the top of my body, perhaps a scarf, and I agreed.  But I am not really a scarf girl so I bought some vintage 1980s big button clip on earrings which are totally tubular for less than $10 including shipping.  We will see if that does the trick.

Top photo: Leori Gill

The Plus Size Princess Dress from Sydney’s Closet

Explo 1The highlight of a wonderful evening…We have just moved to Oakland, CA, to a more working class neighborhood, and I was standing on the street waiting for my sweetie to pull out of the garage and pick me up and some cholo teenagers were coming down the street.  I thought “Oh no, they are going to embarrass me, the old fat lady, in a strapless ball gown”… And while they are walking by, one of them turned to me and said, “YOU LOOK LIKE A PRINCESS”.  I almost cried it made me so happy, we had a little moment and I smiled and my sweetie pulled up and I responded with, “Oh look, here is my Prince Charming now.”  I smiled and he smiled and the whole crew smiled at me. What could make my evening better than that?

The dress is from Sydney’s Closet, Size 30, although I wear a Size 26-28, and then altered to make make sure it fit. It is the dress in my “About Page” and I had it shortened to tea length because it is a lot of dress and the long length just felt too bulky and heavy to me.  I originally wore it with short dressy Ariat cowboy boots because I bought it for Joe Olivier’s  Cajun style birthday party.  But for the Gala I wore simple Lane Bryant Size 10 dressy flats.

Some of my favorite friends hosted us at the amazing Exploratorium
 Opening Gala, and when we arrived there were Rickshaws to take us from the car to the entrance to the Gala, and some guest rode on the Serpent Twins.

1807--Exploratorium-jennifer 120412_largeHere is a photo with my friend Jennifer Raiser, you can find her account of the evening here (Tom and I even get a little shout out in her fabulous narrative) in her online magazine that keeps up with all the social events in San Francisco, SFWire. My favorite line from her article is “The glee was palpable, one of the few things a scientific instrument wasn’t set up to measure.” And since it is an art and science museum, that amused me. Jennifer is a fairly new friend and I am just finding her to be a delight.  We both love connecting with people and have an interest in fashion and writing and Burning Man. That dress Jennifer is wearing is vintage Bill Blass from the early 80’s, matte sequins and aurora beads on silk mesh, purchased from Ricky’s Exceptional Treasures on eBay.

1814--Exploratorium-grouplargeWe had a wonderful supper club dinner with our friends Paul and April Buchheit and the rest of our fun dinner partners, and then there was time to explore the art and science exhibits and listen to the bands.

clarePaul and April’s friend Clare Dibble was here from Colorado for the event and she looked like spring.  Her dress was from Dress Barn and it looked great on her.  That was especially fun since like many women these days she only wears a dress occasionally.  Thanks for posing Clare.

Thanks to my sweet friends for one of my favorite evenings ever!

Screen Shot 2013-04-18 at 8.20.07 PMHere is the original photo so you can see more of the detail.

Peace…affinity

photo with Jennifer & Group: Drew Altizer Photography