Over 40, At Work, In ASOS Curve

I don't usually think of style in terms of a particular age (except for when I'm forced to, as for instance when items I just think of as "clothes" are called "retro 90s"), but I had to name it something and since I am myself waaaaay over 40  and shop at ASOS (regularly described in media as a site for 20-somethings) for work-wear, thought I'd go with that. Actually, this post is really just an excuse to ogle some items on my ever-growing ASOS Curve wishlist. The totals make it pretty clear why this is just a VIRTUAL shopping trip.



1. "Puss in Boots"

ASOS curve swing dress with pussybow $44, curve tights $8, red light ankle boots, $75, ASOS neoprene tote, $20, River Island crystal earrings $12.$159.

2. "Juiced Couture"

 

ASOS curve viscose-nylon kick flare pant (in lengths), $43, hammered crepe hip length jacket, chartreuse, $78, faux suede brogues, $40 river island earrings, $15. $176.

3. "Wine Me Up"

 

ASOS curve soft drape jacket, $78, spear bib necklace, $21, easy leather ankle boots in oxblood, $58, junarose vest midi dress, $26, kenneth jay lane ball drop earrings, $15. $198.

4. "Knot Now"

 

ASOS curve peplum top knot detail, $63, wide leg viscose pants, $43, jumble suede look flatforms, $55, Kenneth Jay Lane spike earrings, $20. $181.

5. "Pretty Polygon"

 

ASOS curve v neck swing dress, longer length, $50, crop leggings, $16, New Look Jingy orange asymmetrical flats, $24, and Finchittida Finch Cow Bell Earrings, $10, Becksondergaard C-Diva Star Warm Blush Scarf, $20. $104.

And in case you are wondering, especially with the last outfit: no, my workplace does not have a clothing policy, lucky me. But I spend a good deal of work time making presentations, so being pulled together, if not exactly dressed up, is a priority, right along with my own standards of work appropriateness (which for me = no armpits, knees or significant cleavage on display ) comfort and ease (low heel or flat shoes, low or mid heel boots, leggings or tights are ok, but no panty hose or spanx, nothing that requires constant adjustment or fiddling to look right--except lippy)

Frock Art

A beaut dress is a joy forever. Or something like that.


1. "Mona Lisa"

 

               da Vinci, 1507              SWAK Juliette dress


2."Madame X"

            Sargent, 1884                       SWAK "Eternity" Dress


3. "Girl in White"

                 Whistler, 1892                   ASOS Curve dress

          mulberry paper fan, stylecolor,cultured pearl earrings,LaBelleDesign

4. "Green Study"

  Waterhouse, 1908                    ASOS Curve broderie dress

5."Time Flies"

          Kahlo, 1929               ASOS Curve smock; necklace, CharleysRoses 


6."Glamour Queen with a Paintbrush"

 Lempicka, "Woman in Yellow," 1929                         ASOS curve shift dress

7."Blue Music"

ASOS Curve dress                             Lempicka, "The Musician" 1929

8. "Op Shopping"

Riley, "Loss," 1964                                Jessica London dress

Featured artists (order of appearance--and chronology [yep, I'm a nerd]): Leonardo da Vinci, James Abbott McNeill Whistler, John Singer Sargent, Frida Kahlo, Tamara de Lempicka, Bridget Riley.

One Dress Ten Ways: Part I

Every so often you find a piece of clothing whose possibilities are just about limitless. And when it comes in sizes up to 40, well, then you've REALLY found something: Jessica London's "Classic Boatneck Dress" sizes 12-40 comes in various solid colours and also navy and green stripe, but the black white stripe is a chameleon: funky and classic, contemporary and retro, ladylike and tomboyish (hello, sailor), absolutely conservative but also avant-garde (RIP Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol). 

1. "Graphic Content"

Shown with Etsy vintage spectators Sweetnancyvintage $30, 1960s tote Syeceevintage $20,handmade perspex bangles, Sheynedesign $18; ASOS chunky oval sunnies $14.

 

2. "It's a Cinch!"

ASOS black leather obi belt $39; One Stop Plus denim shirt $20; Zappos Romantic Soles boots, $47.99; Etsy vintage brown suede hobo bag, plattermatter $24. (hey, good thing this dress is already in my "wardrobe" or I'd be way over my $150 limit!)

3. "French Dressing" 

ASOS black flats $23.48; Etsy vintage straw shopper, Angeltreasures, $30 and fine wool souvenir de Paris scarf, Chicdevintage1, $38. Et voila!

 4. "Nautical-But-Nice"

Yoursclothing military style cotton jacket $56; Etsy 1960s red leather and suede purse,Redlightvintageshop, $32; New Look sunnies, ASOS, $12; Michael Antonio Alaric shoes, Zappos $40.

5. "Earthy Kit"

Etsy vintage Oaxaca necklace, Anteeka,$46, MMS clutch,vincentandtheo, $9, and handmade leather/rope bracelet,mooli, $3; New Look sandals, $48, and sunnies, ASOS. 

Virtual outfits by a virtual shopper

Love to shop, but don't love debt. So I am diverting myself with virtual shopping: curating the cute, cool, and covetable in the sometimes sad and lonely polyester (AKA "breathable woven fabric") world of plus size and seeing what can be achieved with the rather ordinary, affordable plus size clothing via strategic deployment of new and vintage accessories.

The blog is inspired by a recent  wtf, plus size clothing manufacturers? contest (to create an outfit in size 28 and under $150 for Roxy--see site for details).

My cutesy names are clearly a rip-off of Mod Cloth--but they are ripping off--um, inspired by-- 1960s Barbie fashion, so it is all OK and cool in a retro, inter-textual, girl culture sort of way. And having the chance to play with presentation--however crudely*--is why I'm not just listing stuff on pinterest.

(* FYI, it's called "bricolage" a French term with a long history in the arts which literally translates as "I can't be bothered using photoshop to make this stuff look perfect.")

This is me having fun. (I used to paint and go thrifting in my spare time, but oil paints are expensive and messy, ditto thrifting, at least when you go at it with Olympic level intensity and live in a house with no closets as I also do.) But if you want to give me a particular challenge like put together a starting-to-work wardrobe for under $200 in plus size whatever, let me know and I'll give it a go.

Here are the outfits I put together for Roxy (who specified no heels, a preference for boatnecks and wide scoop necks, horizontal stripes and poofy sleeves, plus anything with animals). A lot of them incorporate ASOS items which officially go up to US22, but many bloggers who wear 24+ have found items to fit on this cool and useful UK site.


 
1. "Opposites Attract" 

2. "On a French New Wavelength"

3. "Deco Dame"

4. "Job Hunt!"

(I should add that the brooch is from MODaccessoiries--and doesn't it look like it needs a third rhinestone, maybe in pink?)

 5. "Obi Cute"

(I should add that the bag is from VIVALASVINTAGE on Etsy.)


 6. "Green Thoughts in Green Shades"

7.  "The Girl in the Jellyfish Bangle"

(FAB jellyfish bangle is from buymycrap and the lovely clutch is from lighthousebags on Etsy.)