Flattering Plus Size Business Wear…Finally!

As I’ve said before, plus size designers clearly think that anyone over a size 18 is unemployed or employed as a circus tent based on the limited options available. While they are few and far between, I’m learning that there are some designers out there who get it.

Check out the fabulous sweater dress I just got from the new arrivals at Gwynnie Bee! This is the second dress I’ve chosen from them by Spense, a brand I was unfamiliar with until joining. (Here’s a link to the other if you want to check it out too).

Spense Sweater Dress Plus Size Set for Fall

Since I normally work from home, my closet is filled with yoga pants and leggings, not suits and dresses. While I (of course) want and need to look professional when I visit offices or attend events, I hate to spend a ton of money on a piece I’m only going to wear once or twice. This is where Gwynnie Bee saves me!

Spense Sweater Dress from Gwynnie Bee

This sweater dress from the November new arrivals was just the thing for my meeting; it came at the perfect time. Not only did it fit well like the other Spense dress, but it was professional, comfortable and easy to run around in, and kept me looking pulled together all day since I didn’t have to worry about fabric wrinkling. I wore it with black suede wedges since it was a corporate meeting, but to go into a more casual office atmosphere I could see pairing it with black or brown boots. And when I’m done, I can send it back. I don’t have to worry about only having one “meeting” outfit and everyone noticing that I’m wearing the same thing.

Remember that if you mention Kristin H. when you join Gwynnie Bee during the month of November, you get 30 days FREE! If you’re on the fence, give it a try. Now’s the perfect time with holiday parties and you’ve got nothing to lose!

PS – Forgive my bored “fashion model” look, we’re still getting the picture thing down.

Your Weather and Fashion Forecast in One – Wevther.com

Getting dressed in the morning is…let’s say an interesting process for me. Growing up, I never wanted to know the temperature. My mom or the weatherman would tell me some random number of degrees that meant nothing to me, and I would follow-up with the following questions:

  • Is that sweater weather?
  • Can I wear my flip-flops or is it a boot day?
  • Do I need a jacket?

I continued this after getting married, although I never even took the time to change from Sports Center to the news. I would ask Mike what the weather was, and after hearing his logical response of a certain number of degrees, would stare blankly until he told me colder/warmer than yesterday, take your sweatshirt, etc.

Well, I just found a website that is going to change my mornings. Have you  heard of Wevther? This site is AWESOME! You enter your zip code and it tells you the temps, gives you little cloudy/sunny icons and gives you pictures of weather-appropriate wear. It’s like they made it just for me!

Wevther.com Screenshot

My mornings just got a little more streamlined and a little more fashionable.  

Cute Saturday Casual – Plus Size and on a Budget!

Instead of just complaining about the lack of cute plus-size options available, I’ve decided to make it my personal mission to prove that you can find trendy, comfortable and affordable options. This is a look I wore this past weekend out to lunch with the hubs and running errands. I normally HATE button down shirts and have a hard time finding ones that fit my chest, but this one from JC Penney is super soft and fit well. With the exception of the scarf, these are the exact pieces that I wore, and I not only got a ton of compliments, but got carded – twice! If that doesn’t say something, I don’t know what does!

The pieces are all available (as of this post) at main stream stores and online – I’m talking Target, Penneys, Old Navy and Maurices. The only difference you’ll notice is that Polyvore didn’t have the plus size options of the shirt or the leggings, but they are both available and are only a few dollars more.  All of the pieces are great to mix, match, and layer for fall, and accessories included comes in under $150.

Next time, I promise I’ll take a picture of me wearing the outfit to share too…

Saturday Casual

A Treat for You, No Tricks – Introducing Gwynnie Bee

Those of you who read regularly know I often complain about shopping, my wardrobe, and plus-size clothing in general. If you know me in real life, you might have noticed I’m looking a little more stylish lately, and I’m happy to say it’s been with less stress, money, time-wasting shopping trips and even less laundry. I’m excited to finally be able to share my new secret to fashion success with all of you – Gwynnie Bee!

Gwynnie Bee offers clothing without commitment for women size 10 and above. And by above, I mean up to size 24. That’s right – real, true plus-size clothing!

Gwynnie Bee New Arrivals

What’s so different about Gwynnie Bee? You shop online, but it’s not an online store…it’s more like an online best friend who happens to be your size’s closet and she always lets you borrow clothes. You sign up for a membership that allows you to “borrow” anywhere from 1 to 10 pieces of clothing from Gwynnie Bee’s massive inventory at a time. You fill your  virtual closet with all the pieces you like, and depending on your selected membership plan, they ship a certain number of them to your door. When you’re done (with one, a few, or all), just ship them back and new goodies are on their way to you. Unlike online shopping, there’s no shipping or return shipping charges.

Wanna sneak peek at my closet? I love that I can get dresses for work events, sparkly tops for evenings out, and casual cardigans to wear on the weekend. Since I signed up, I’ve tried trends I never would have (hello sequined peplums, bright colors and bold patterns) and even discovered that I like to wear some dresses! It’s allowed me to dress more appropriately when I’m in an office without filling my real closet with expensive professional clothes that I have no need for the majority of the time working from home. I can invest in higher quality basics now (think black pants and jeans) and use my Gwynnie Bee finds to spice them up.

my Gwynnie Bee closet

Worried about cost? There’s a monthly plan to fit just about every budget. I’ve found that this is actually more affordable for me than the constant shopping I was doing. It’s hard to find flattering plus-size clothes that are age and life appropriate. Often, it’s harder to find them in my price range. By paying one monthly fee, I can try brands that I normally can’t afford like designer Anna Scholz, or pieces that I wouldn’t wear enough to justify the price, like a Kiyonna dress. I know many of you are like me, and don’t want to spend a ton of funds on clothes in a size you’re hoping not to be in for too long. With Gwynnie Bee, I can treat myself to quality pieces and designers I deserve for the body I have now, without worrying that I won’t be able to do the same if my weight changes in a few months.

Ready for a treat, no tricks?
Gwynnie Bee is offering my readers one free garment for their first two months when you sign up for a membership before midnight on November 14th 2012. Just go to Gwynnie Bee and be sure to let them know I sent you in order to take advantage of the promotion.

Please know that I do get a commission for my referrals, but I approached Gwynnie Bee because I was so happy with the service and clothing that I received and really wanted to share it with my readers.

My Curated Collection for Novica – Everyday Fashion Essentials

Being a blogger has its perks, but one of the ones I’m most excited to share with you is my recent opportunity to curate a collection for Novica! Not only is it fun, but it gives me a chance to gain exposure for artisans all over the world.

I put together the Everyday Essentials collection as a starting point for all the fantastic finds on the site. Far from being basic, I selected neutral, multitasking pieces for work, the weekend, including jewelry and of course, purses!  Below is just a small sample of all the goodies.

So go check it out, like or follow if you dig the collection since there are tons of fun contests going on to celebrate the launch, and leave comments below on what type of collections you’d like to see in the future.Novica Curated Collection Everyday Essentials

 

Novica Everyday Essentials Collection

If you’re not familiar with Novica, you can check out my previous post here.