Shoesday Tuesday: Boots, boots and more boots...

I am obsessed with shopping for boots right now. Maybe it's the sudden change in weather, maybe it's the fact that I've moved north where boots are a necessity, not merely a fashion statement. Whatever the reason, I'm dying over so many boots right now. And I will admit that now that I'm back in the colder climate, I understand the reasoning behind Ugg boots. I still don't think they're attractive- I still think they are appropriately named- but I GET them. These, on the other hand are very pretty:

Madden Girl Luciee, Zappos, $39.95

I adore the button detail on these- it's very steampunk, which seems to be becoming a bit of a trend these days. You won't be seeing me in full Victorian garb unless I somehow end up in the cast of "A Christmas Carol" at a local community theatre, though. And that's highly unlikely. However, a hint of Victorian like these boots? Now that's much more likely! 

I'm also in love with "Houston" which is in my October Showroom from Shoe Dazzle this month. It's available in black as well as this rich tan: 

Houston, Shoe Dazzle, $39.95 (Membership required) 

The heel on "Houston" is a tad high, especially for everyday, but I like how the calf looks wider than your average pair of knee-high boots. If you're anything like me, finding boots wide enough for your calves is a challenge. I discovered there are actually "wide calf" boots available, though. Obviously, you can find them on plus-size sites like Avenue, Lane Bryant and OneStopPlus, but Zappos also carries an impressive selection. For example, I'm digging these gorgeous ones by Fitzwell available in black, brown and grey, although I'm partial to the latter two: 

Fitzwell Kyoti Wide Calf Boot, Zappos, $125

I also like these:

Type Z Worth Wide Calf Boot, Zappos, $93

Based on these choices, I seem to be drawn to lighter shades of tan and dove grey, which is new for me. I have a couple pair of black boots, so I'm sure it's just that I'm drawn to ones that aren't similar to what I already own. That's definitely a good thing! At least I'm not being redundant! 

As the weather gets colder, don't you feel like there's something comforting about boots? Even a pair of Uggs, I can understand. It's not currently part of my plan to purchase any new boots, but if the perfect pair just happen to present themselves for a remarkable price, I might just have to change my plans!

Workday Wednesday

I recently purchased this pair of white jeans from Old Navy- they were on sale for $24.15:

As the warmer weather descends, consider a crisp pair of white trousers for your workday look. They're a fresh change from khaki, don't you think? There's something about dark trousers in the summer that just doesn't seem appealing, even if you work in a heavily air-conditioned office. (I know there are times mid summer when my little office gets so cold that I actually keep a hoodie stashed nearby just in case it gets too chilly for me in my little sun dresses.) But even if it's chilly in your office, somehow wearing black or grey or even brown can feel wrong in the middle of a heat wave. If you don't have a crisp pair of white pants, now is the time to get them. And that rule about no white before Memorial Day or after Labor Day? That rule is SO your Grandma's fashion. Nowadays you can wear white with pride all year long! Check out these white pant options I found. I recommend pairing them with a crisp pastel button-front if you work in a conservative office and just about anything else if you don't!

White Cotton Sateen Trousers, Ann Taylor, $88 (Also available in Petite)

White Trouser Jeans, Banana Republic, $89.50

White Linen Pants, Gap, $59.50 (Also available in petite and tall)

Sailor Button Jean, OneStopPlus, $24.99 (Plus size)

I wore my new white jeans to work today with a cute beige top and some brightly colored accessories. I guess I didn't wear enough color, because Andrea's reaction to me all day was, "WHO ARE YOU?!?! You never wear just neutrals!!!" We laughed about it. I tried to say I had lots of color in my accessories, but she's right- I wore white and beige. I was very happy with my outfit, but she's completely right- it was not my typical over-the-top brightly- colored style:

For the record, my earrings are bright pink, my ring is turquoise and my shoes are my favorite florals:

When I wear these shoes, I often think of them as the "quirky" part of the outfit, so I try not to go too over the top with everything else. Apparently I was a little short in my estimation of how colorful the rest of my outfit could be. I think it's good to wear something unpredictable every once in a while, though- keep everyone guessing. ;)

St. Paddy's Day Fashion

You know, green isn't the only Irish color out there. In fact, wearing green indicates you practice Catholicism, while orange is indicative of a Protestant background (at least that's what Google tells me). Apparently the three stripes of the Irish represent the two religions and the white is the "hope" that the two will find peace together. So they say. Any Irish out there who know anything more specific? Leave a comment! Today, I'll celebrate all three colors in my picks:

Christian Louboutin Peep-toe Pumps, Saks Fifth Avenue, $745

Crossover Plus Size Dress, OneStopPlus, $69.99

Short Sleeve Wrap Shirt, Banana Republic, $59.50

Lacquered Heart Earrings, Forever 21, $3.80

Drawstring Tote, New York & Company, $27.96

Coil Chip Bracelet, Ann Taylor Loft, $29.50

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Square Peg, Round Hole?

So many women I know struggle to find affordable, quality clothing that fits relatively well right off the rack. Even more difficult are the women who are larger than a size 14, or have extremely long legs, or are curvy yet short, or just text-book "petite." Women come in all different shapes and sizes, yet the stores and clothing manufacturers act as though we all fit into a very small number of categories. It's funny how menswear works just the opposite. In menswear, a man can find his exact waist size and his exact inseam length. Shirts are the same way- neck and sleeve measurements are available in every possible combination- off-the rack clothes that fit perfectly. But it's even worse than that! If a man's got a large belly, his suit is considered an "Executive" fit. A woman with a large belly? She's "Plus size." Horrible, right? But I digress- I'm not here to rant about the glaring discrimination against large women vs. large men. I'm here to provide solutions to finding clothes for those "hard-to-fit" bodies so that you don't feel like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole every time you shop!

I'll focus mostly on "Plus size" since it seems to be a common question for lots of women- where to find stylish, affordable clothing in a range of sizes above 14/16. Also, plus size women tend to get overlooked all too often and I don't agree with that. Women of all sizes should be able to wear stylish clothing that's designed with their body type in mind. One of the best sites I can recommend is OneStopPlus. This site actually sells clothing from all sorts of Plus-size vendors including Roaman's, Woman Within, Avenue, Chadwick's, etc. And it's not all shapeless tunics and palazzo pants! There are cute pieces like this flattering top and fabulous leather jacket:

This is a great jacket for any woman, not just plus size. The way the buttons taper in at the princess seams is flattering no matter what your size. If you need to define a waistline, this will do it! They also have a great selection of shoes and boots. Do you have large calves and find it difficult to wear knee-high boots because of that? I do! This website has a large selection of wide-calf boots that are fabulous. They have heels of all heights and widths, too, not to mention the ultra-trendy flat boot:

Another great plus-size site is Kiyonna a site for size 10 and up. I am in love with this colorblock faux-wrap dress:

 There are a lot of great separates in classic silhouettes and fabrics to choose from, too:

I know your closet may already be full of classics and basics, and in that case, there are some cute print options for you as well, like this leopard print blouse:

Another great plus-size site is Igigi. This store is the best I've seen for cocktail dress and classy formal wear. This gorgeous dress would be perfect for a Christmas party, New Year's Eve, a night on the town, a date, pretty much anything:

And once again, there are lots of great separates to choose from, like this skirt & top:

I also appreciate that Kiyonna and Igigi actually use plus-size models. When purchasing a size 20 or 24, you don't want to look at the garment on a size 8 girl and try to figure out how it would look on you, right?

Now I haven't forgotten about you lovely petite ladies or those of you with legs for days who can't find pants long enough! My heart goes out to you as well. First, for those of you who are petite, I highly recommend Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor Loft and Banana Republic. All three of these great stores offer a petites section with all the same stock as the rest of the store, but the pieces are cut to fit a more diminutive woman. I'm not talking about just short legs, I'm talking about everything a little smaller, so that the crotch on your pants won't be baggy and the shoulders on your blouses will actually rest where they are supposed to. Refreshing, right?

Perhaps you're like me- you have short legs, but are far from a "petite." Old Navy and the Gap offer "short" and "ankle" lengths respectively on jeans and trousers. Personally, I appreciate it. Hemming pants is a pain!

And for those of you women with legs that seem to go on forever or an extra-long torso and arms, I offer you LongTallSally. You may be a size 6 with a 36 inch inseam and if you are, this is the store for you. Most of their pants and jeans come in 34, 35 and 36 inch inseams as well as having lower knee placement. Blouses and shirts have longer sleeves, lower waists and darts appropriately placed for these longer cuts.

I hope this post has been helpful for all of you ladies out there. If you don't fall into one of the categories covered in this post, I'm sure you know someone who does. Pass it along to them. And also, if you have any recommendations for places to shop, leave a comment and tell me about it! Have a great day!