Product Review - Old Navy Empire T Shirt

First, let me say that I have been a patron of Old Navy for over 10 years now. They often have cute things that I like to wear and even more often have the kinds of staples at the prices I need. I will always shop there as it is convenient, has my size, and will always be there.

However, I was quite disappointed with my recent purchase from their Women's section. They have quite a few new spring t shirts on their site, which is perfect for the climate in which I live. I am the layering queen so cute t shirts are great to go under jackets on the windy days and on their own on the sunny days. So, this cute striped shirt looks perfect for the upcoming warmer days. When I purchased it there weren't many reviews online and they were kind of mixed, so I took a chance. Now, checking back it seems most people are having the same problems with the shirt that I am.

Here is the rub. The colors are not as presented and the widest stripe on the shirt is white and placed right around your middle. When I first put it on (with no body shapers) I looked like I was wearing one those inflatable rings for the pool. Then, the "gathering" under the bust that appears to bring in the waist is not that at all. It's really a piece of elastic sewn into the shirt, about 3 inches long. The shirt does gather a bit right where the elastic is but does not bring in the waist at all. Basically it's a big striped boxy shirt and that's not usually a style that plus sized girls go for. I am keeping the shirt. I have found that with a dark camisole under it, it can pass for very casual weekend wear. But that's not really what I was intending to use the shirt for.

So, items fall flat sometimes. It's hard to shop online, right? Right. Except that what really irks me about this particular fashion flop is that it makes me wonder if the clothes are being misrepresented, as in are they being pinned on the dress form? I guess I'll never know, and as I said before this wont stop me from shopping at Old Navy. But I will have to keep in mind that things may not be exactly as they appear on their website. It makes me miss the days when they carried plus sizes in the store.

New Plus Size Shopping Site - Lucie Lu

Luck would have it that this new store some how found me. When an email came through last night advertising this store I knew that it would require further research. At first I thought they were associated with B & Lu, a rather well known plus sized apparel site because the names are similar. After some preliminary digging I can't seem to find any indication that they are in fact affiliated.

But what I did find was that they have absolutely gorgeous clothes for reasonable prices. This great new store is called Lucie Lu and they are brand new on the plus sized scene. They offer a variety of clothes including dresses, skirts, denim, knit tops, blouses and more. Their line offers a trendy and youthful vibe with a mix of elegant and classic pieces dotted in. A few of my favorites include the Adele Tunic, the Antoinette Dress, and the Patience Skirt, all seen below.

Their sizes vary by garment and can range from size 16-20, 1x-3x, and some styles even going up to 5x. Prices range from about $16 - $62.

The jury is still out on the fit and quality of this line as they are brand new, but I will definitely have my eye on them. I'd love to add another fantastic plus sized store to my list of favorites!

Perfect Jeans - Review

Every plus size girl knows that finding jeans can be one of the most gut wrenching tasks. Something as common as jeans shopping can be really quite traumatizing and not having a pair of jeans that you are comfortable in limits your wardrobe options. So when I determined it was time to throw out my old jeans last week I was dreading finding a new pair.

See, I've never quite found a pair that I loved, I jump around from brand to brand, buying different sizes, lengths, and washes hoping to find that one special pair that is made for me. And I know that when I find them I will never again have to search through millions of jeans. It puts a lot of pressure on the jeans shopping task.

When I found these Levi's online I knew I was interested. They are the Levi's 590 Women's Plus Fuller Waist Boot Cut Jean. I had loved Levi's jeans in college but hadn't tried any of the plus sized options as they were not easily available at the time. The reviews were good for these jeans, and the price just right so I went ahead and ordered them. They arrived and I quickly tried them on.

They are heavenly.

They are a beautiful dark wash with a boot cut leg. The boot cut isn't too extreme so it doesn't hug you in the wrong places. There is just enough room in the waist to let you breathe without stretching out too much. And it really hugs your butt in the best way, something that plus sized gals tend to love!

I found a couple of different prices on a couple of different sites (levis.com, amazon.com, macys.com) so be sure to do the price checking for your size and wash. They run a little long (perfect for me, but probably not so perfect for others) so order the short or plan to get them hemmed. I have washed and worn them three times now and they have bounced back beautifully every time. What a great find!

Unisex Doesn't Have to Mean Manly

Screen printed t shirts are highly popular right now. If you're like me you have scoured the internet, scanned pages of Etsy, and shopped racks at clothing stores trying to find something cute that fits correctly. Many plus size stores have screen printed casual t shirts but the designs can be limiting. Some of the indie stores than can be found on Etsy only carry woman's sizes that tend to run on the small size and only go up to an XL. But I have found a breakthrough solution to this dilemma. Pay attention for the word Unisex. Unisex means for men and women. Now before you get an image of a Hanes Beefy T in your head, take a look at these beauties.


This is a Unisex V Neck shirt from American Apparel. It comes in a variety of colors and sizes. The biggest size in an XL with measurements of 48 inches at the chest. But I own this shirt and I would bet it measures even larger than that, plus it stretches.

Here is an example of an Etsy store who is using Unisex sizes in her designs. Even though it doesn't directly say American Apparel, it is pretty clear that this is the style she is using. Still looks pretty girly to me! This shirt is available at EveryLittleCounts store on Etsy.

A Very Special Etsy Seller

It's always great to find an Etsy seller who makes plus sizes. It's even more special to find one who loves their shop and their customers. I have been sort of stalking TheGarbologistsWife for quite some time. All of her items are so beautiful looking and she often has plus size ready to wear items. But when on the search for a dress to wear to the theater, this gem came up I knew I was in love.

This seller was extremely friendly and welcomed any and all of my questions. She offers to custom size any dress even though she has a wide range on her sizing chart. This dress comes in 4 colors, but she also offered to find any color I wanted, and can be made in sizes Small - 3X!

Check out her blog, too, she has some great plus sized finds.

I was thrilled when she informed me my dress was completed and that she herself was so pleased with it that she put it on her own blog! My dress is famous! Yes, that's MY custom dress right there in that post. So hurry over to her store before I buy up all of her cute plus sized stuff!

Forever 21 Plus Size Line - Faith 21 Extended Sizes

I appreciate plus size designers. They understand the different proportions that a plus size gal has. She isn't just "bigger" but her body is distributed differently than an "average" girl. But sometimes I shop around and whimper at the cute stuff available at awesome prices for those "average" girls. "Why can't they just make those exact designs in plus size proportions?" I ask myself. Well, someone over at Forever21 must have been a mind reader. They have introduced their new extended size line called Faith 21.

There are so many cute things Faith 21 and at those coveted Forever21 prices. They are adding new things to the website every day and the selections are different all the time. And the best part is that most of this line is the exact same stuff as the "average" sizes, only it's plus sized! You can see many of the pieces modeled by the gorgeous plus size models they have at Faith 21 and then again over at Forever21! And is that Miss Whitney, the first ever plus sized winner of America's Next Top Model I spot over there at Faith 21? Why yes it is!


Delight in some of these gorgeous selections from Faith 21. Don't forget you may even be able to catch this line in person as some of the Forever21 stores are starting to carry the line. Be sure to check the website to see if it's available at a store near you!

Get legs that will make everyone jealous!

Don't spend hours at the gym agonizing over those legs. Flaunt what you got, confidence makes anyone glow! And look at these gems of stockings I have found to draw attention to your stems. These tattoo tights by Post on etsy.com are so unique you are sure to get stopped a million times when you wear them out. "Where did you get those?" everyone will ask. It's up to you to keep it your little secret or share it with the world.

I love these tights so much I decided to share them with the world. And of course, the best part is that they come in plus size! All of their styles and colors come in size XXL, which can stretch to 48 inches at the waist and 55 inches at the hips. They are available in 5 colors so you can either try to match your skin tone or choose black or white. Now be sure to treat your tights well as they are delicate, hand wash them and be careful not to snag them. These tights are the oomph needed to jazz up a plain dress. I guarantee you'll feel extra special when you wear these out, just try not to feel beautiful, it's impossible!

Dress the Part - Undergarment Guide

With all of the new styles and options for the coming season, one thing is for sure. Nothing is going to make you feel as great as you do when you have on the correct undergarments. Getting a correctly fitted bra can make or break an outfit. I recommend getting measured in a store where they offer bra fittings. Both Lane Bryant and Victoria's Secret can help you out with this. I have found, though, that the number they give you may only be a starting point. That may the size you are in some bras, but other bras may be too tight across the back or the cups may not sit snuggly against you. Any time you are buying a new bra in a new style or brand I recommend getting a few sizes to try on. Here are some of my favorite places for sexy and comfortable bras in plus sizes.

For each store I have selected one sexy and one practical bra that I adore.

Hips & Curves:
This Ruffle Demi Bra is ridiculously cute. Right now it is available in 38 DDD to 44 DD in all black, black with pink ruffle, black with red ruffle, or all white. Some selections and color choices may be unavailable or limited. This bra is $42.95


The Essential Everyday T Shirt Bra looks oh so comfy. It is available in 38 DDD to 50 DD in black, lime, nude, mocha and turquoise. This bra is $22.95.


Lane Bryant Cacique:
Perfect for Valentine's the Ruby Red Pattern Balconette Bra is so cute. Stock is limited online right now but may be available in stores. This bra is $44.00.


The Smooth Balconette Bra is one of my favorites. I personally own several of these bras and can say they work with almost anything. The balconette is low enough to wear v - neck shirts and lower necklines but not so low that it makes everything bulge out the top. This bra is available in sizes 36C to 46DDD in delicate pink, cafe mocha, chocolate, algiers blue, white, black, and ruby red. It is prices $34 - $40.
Victoria's Secret:
I had written off Victoria's Secret for several years when it became harder and harder to find larger sizes. That was until not too long ago when I wandered in only to find a huge basket of bras in DDD! Thanks to that fateful day I have been eyeing some beauties on their website:

The Biofit Uplift Full Coverage Bra is to die for. Silky smooth and light weight, this bra gives the coverage and lift you need without any digging or pinching. I highly recommend this bra. Available in 32B - 40DD in a variety of colors. This bra is $45-$48.


This lace and striped bra is sure to make anyone feel sexy. Available from 32C to 40DDD in two colors. This bra is $48.

I hope you have found some selections that delight you. After all getting the right undergarments is all about making you feel great.

Ahoy Matey - eShakti Looks Toward Spring

I've been a huge supporter of eShakti for a couple of years now.  Everytime I wear something from eShakti I get huge compliments.  They offer beautifully crafted clothing that is trendy, yet different.  They like to embellish their clothing with bright embroidery, beading, or pleats and offer a huge selection from dresses and pants to jackets and coats.  The best thing about eShakti is that they offer all of their clothing is sizes 0 - 26W.  It feels awesome to have the same cute styles available to smaller sizes also offered to the plus sizes, and with no extra cost!  If you would like to opt into paying a small fee your garment can be custom fitted to you!  As long as you know your measurements, and preferences (yes you can change things like neckline, sleeve length, or hem) you can get an item that is unique just to you.  

I was absolutely thrilled when I got this email from eShakti earlier in the week celebrating their new collection called "Nautical".  They are offering awesome early spring styles from a tiered striped sun dress, to floral tops and sequin striped tanks.  They even have coordinating accessories for this collection.  I have ordered the Stripe Poplin Corset Style Tiered Sundress and will be waiting anxiously for it's arrival.  I too am looking forward to warmer days!  Oh!  And as always eShakti offers great deals and coupons, just for signing up you get $20 toward your purchase.  Happy shopping!

Welcome and happy shopping!

Even though January is just now coming to a close, the stores are looking ahead to spring. It's time to think of warmer days and I'm getting excited to start collecting some great items I can go to when spring finally arrives. I hope you enjoy the things I have found, focusing on plus size clothing and living.