Lemons and Lemonade

. . . that's what plus size style is about about, 90% of the time.

A simple A-line dress, in silky/crinkle rayon (eg. GOOD fabric, relatively speaking, with nice drape, no ironing, plus I personally appreciate its retro vibe), under $50 in sizes up to 6X, in multiple colours is an item so potentially useful to fat women in hot climates that it is practically a public service. AND it comes in petite sizes, so those princess seams hit in the right place if like me you are 5'4" or under. (Woman Within, One Stop Plus, $49.99)

Unfortunately it is also pretty much presented in the mode of public service by WW (as if to point out how pathetic you are for needing it in the first place.) 

(Without getting into the territory better--more thoroughly and amusingly--covered by WTF, Plus Size Clothing Manufacturers?, can I just say that perhaps WW shouldn't have hired grads from the Walker Evans School of Fashion to style their shoot?)

Anyhow, my first thought was "blech," but my second thought was, what could I do with this?

I’d start with a snip. Maxi’s are great for standing by the pool sipping cocktails, but for the rest of the week when there is work to be done and busses to be caught, I prefer knee or just below knee length, esp. in a-line frocks. Hemming adds about $15-20 to the cost of the dress if you don’t sew.

 Then style. Some plus sized glasses of lemonade coming up.

1. "Orange You Glad You Like Purple?"

Shown with Sun-brella from Hinky Imports (no,really), $15, Amazon.com; Ashley Stewart Signature Cropped Shrug $25(available up to US26, rayon/cotton--good for when you've got to go from steam heat to a/c and waist length adds nice shape);Blue Q "Encyclopaedia" Messenger Bag, $20; Ollio faux suede flats, $17, Amazon.com. total= $127 (sans shipping or alterations).

2. "Black is the Warmest Colour"

Black and purple floral is shown with black crop leggings, yoursclothing and ASOS black flats (both a staple of my imaginary wardrobe--likewise my real life one) plus yet another pair of ASOS sunnies, $12; Etsy vintage midcentury "town and country" straw purse, OverHomePA, $26, sun parasol, RajasthanRoyals,$40 (sunblock makes my eyes sting and sun  parasols are groovy) total with dress $128.


It's cold down under, so here's a fall/winter version:

3. "Olive in the Past"

Etsy vintage western ankle boots, tinyvictoriesvintage, $33, vintage leather bag, crazygoodbananas, $28, and handmade corrugated wool hat from selectknits, $32 (maureen o'hara's face not included), vintage ukrainian wool scarf,bestluba, $19; yoursclothing black brushed jersey biker style jacket, $17.50 and black tights, $11. With WW dress is well over budget at $190 (nostalgia--and keeping warm in style--ain't cheap).

So, whaddyaknow? Turns out the woman within is a funky, stylish fat girl!