In my inbox this week are Hank & Hera and their thoughtfully designed sleep and loungewear available in sizes 4 – 34. Yes, you heard that right. It’s a generous size range, and I’ve found them to have plenty of room to move within that range. But I’m getting ahead of myself. In my inbox might be the series, but Hank & Hera isn’t new news to me; I’ve been working with Philippa on their website and emails for a while now. From the start, I had a draft here waiting for me to share the story of this brand with you. What is ‘In My Inbox’ for if not that?
Backstory-wise, I first “met” Pip through her website Sisu and Finn while actively blogging. We worked together on some photos and a post for the blog—in a dress, mind you, that I still wear to this day. You know the one, the navy wrap dress I wore for family photos the other year? And to my brother’s wedding? That dress. But we’ve had poolside adventures together now in some very fine establishments. Once, she took Kel and me on an adventure in Sydney to kill some time before our flights. When internet friends become real-life favourite people, right?
But now, a little more about Hank and Hera from their website:
Hank & Hera was founded by Philippa Giles in 2023 as a frustrated consumer who wanted beautiful garments that did not exist in plus sizes. Through Hank & Hera, Philippa combines an adoration for timeless silhouettes and an unwavering commitment to ensuring that all women have access to impeccably crafted garments to design luxurious, natural fibre sleepwear from size XS to 4XL (AU 4 – 34). Her driving force behind the brand is to create garments that evoke a sense of divine beauty and celebrate all women, of all sizes.
Hank & Hera is proudly designed in Australia. Each garment is meticulously crafted and supported by female-founded businesses. By supporting local professionals and embracing female-owned businesses, we contribute to a legacy of quality craftsmanship and empowerment within our community.
In a busy world with so many time pressures, Hank & Hera believes every woman deserves to indulge in luxury as part of the everyday. Our designs cater to individuals who savour life’s finer pleasures, echoing the sophistication and grace of our namesake, Hera, the Queen of the Gods.
Just like the enduring elegance of our muse, Hera, our range is designed to transcend the latest trends, celebrating lasting style through quality fabrics and classic colours. The range is designed to effortlessly transition from traditional sleepwear to chic ensembles suitable for any occasion, embodying a slow fashion ethos that prioritises longevity and versatility. Whether you’re relaxing at home or heading to brunch, Hank & Hera’s range has been designed with versatility in mind, to add value to the customer.
And then, for Christmas 2024, Philippa gifted me this light, cotton beauty, which is perfection and one of the most beautiful gifts I’ve ever received. It’s an Aurora nightgown (size 3XL), and while I’d never consider myself a girly girl, the femme details and classic style are, somehow, so my style. I love it. I only take it off to put it through the wash and start again. But never fear, and I know you were worried about me. I have theArianna in Navyto wear while that happens. I haven’t reviewed this style yet because I haven’t had a fancy bathroom to take photos of (mine still isn’t renovated, sigh). But I’ll get there. With the pictures and the renovation, of course.
But for now, head to the website to check out the entire range. Use code SUGER10 (linked to my affiliate account) for 10% off your order.
A beach baby since before birth, I’m team summer, even if it leaves me a frizzy, sweaty mess more often than not. Thankfully, after a little exploring online, some new to me plus-size brands with big summer energy popped into my feed. Everything you need for a Queensland summer, from swimwear to activewear (or as I like to call them, clothes), as well as lightweight sets and dresses.
What constitutes ‘big summer vibes’? No compromise on style or trendiness, no mention of flattering (gag). Fun, exciting shapes and designs in a range of sizes. As usual, I cut any brands that didn’t offer at least an AU 22. Which is, let’s face it, the bare minimum we should expect these days. But the majority go larger, and so they should. Grab the anti-chafe cream, and let’s dive in.
Speaking of the Queensland Summer, this brand was started right here; we’re practically neighbours. Bright and colourful swimwear, as well as coordinated sets and separates designed with nostalgic prints and designs. If my style has evolved at all over the past few years, this is what it has morphed into. Casual, elevated styles in a neutral palette. That’s not to say they don’t bring the colour, though; they are doing that too!
Workwear? Really, Suger, are you serious? Yes, yes, I am. From the cheeky shorts to the coveralls, this brand grabbed my attention and wouldn’t let it go. In case you missed it, I’ve gotten into gardening in the past couple of years (it’s a whole thing, don’t ask, haha). It all started with a single raised garden bed, and now I’m making over our entire property with natives and edible plants of all varieties. You can’t really blame me for eyeing off those overalls that look this good on all shapes and sizes. I could be a farmer in those clothes…
On an adventure around the internet, I joined the mailing list and have enjoyed watching the brand unfold ever since. As yet, we have some great options for activewear made closer to home, but the tennis dresses sucked me in. I blame Serena Williams and my short-lived sports superstar ambitions. Oh, and not to mention Clueless and Cruel Intentions. /what kid of 80s baby would I be if I hadn’t wanted to live out my preppy dreams in a tennis dress?
Need itty bitty ‘kinis in your life? Look no further than this recently launched brand. As someone who loves a graphic tee, this is like the graphic tee of swimwear with bright colours and text patterns. So cool. There isn’t a large number of styles available just yet, but that’s a symptom of how early we are getting to the party. Let’s just say that I can’t wait to see what’s next, but for now, this is exactly where you need to be for loud, bold swim pieces.
I’ve chatted with the owner of this brand once or twice on Instagram. But having never worn the range myself, I haven’t included many (if any?) pieces in my plus-size ‘where to buy’ round-ups. But I could resist no longer. There’s something very summery about the light and breezy styles, soft prints and classic designs. There’s a casual comfort to the whole range that calls out for long afternoons in the sunshine, cheese board at the ready. Take a look for yourself; I’m sure you’ll agree.
More hot, hot, hot swimwear action over here! With the added bonus of some of the most fun sunglasses styles I’ve seen in a while. Ochre Lane seems to be another brand that is new’ish with an expanding range. But if your thing is summer neutrals, look no further than the creamy, warm tones of their latest range (plus the orange is a nice touch). Gorgeous! And as a photo-type person, I loved the campaign and social media images for this one; so good. Hard to resist something that calls to me from my Instagram feed as this did.
Are you into the light but bright styles? Can’t seem to get over the smock dress or flippy skirt? Ummm, do I have the brand for you. New to me because I don’t own any of their pieces, but well known to a lot of you, Proud Poppy is a Queensland brand (apparently) that is all about taking a walk on the bright side. IMO. I’ve selected a couple of styles for the photos that are more my personal muted vibe, but if colourful prints and patterns are your things, click the links now and have a good old time!
This new-to-me brand (as in, I hadn’t heard of them before this search) speaks to my new casual, comfortable aesthetic. And wait until you hear this. There are matching mini (kids) versions of the styles! Cuuuute. I’m not sure my nieces will want to go matchy-matchy with me now that they’re all a little older and have their own style, but perhaps one of you can live out that twin life instead. Choose from light summer separates, dresses and recently swimwear and embrace that tonal, never goes out of style, vibe.
This fun addition is a family-run business that, in their own words, creates designs with your ‘peach’ in mind, with silhouettes that are developed to fit and flatter your curves in just the right places. Fashion that makes you feel truly confident, comfortable and amazing in your own skin. Love that! With affordable basics and fun, on-trend pieces for every season, they’re worth a closer look when you’re looking to add toy our wardrobe this summer.
And that wraps things up for this big summer energy post. Don’t forget to check out some of the stores mentioned and share your favourites in the comment. And it’s probably worth mentioning that some of my old favouritesalso offer bright, fun collections this summer. There’s something very summer about fresh summer styles in light, bright colours.
Taking Shape is thrilled to reveal the first-ever First Nations designs by the highly regarded artist Elverina Johnson. A highly respected Gungganji Gurugulu woman from Yarrabah in Far North Queensland, Elverina is one of the Nation’s most recognisable and accomplished artists. Her belief is that arts can empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and restore a genuine sense of pride in their culture and communities.
It’s been a little while since we saw the collaboration with Active Truth and (a personal favourite) Bobbi Lockyer (my insta share below) and it’s exciting to see more and more of these opportunities coming to fruition. I’ll never stop saying that we need to keep pushing and need to do more to be more inclusive, diverse and interesting than we’ve been before.
Collaborations are a great way to start, but let’s also support these creators, artists and makers when they do their own thing too. Get behind those teeny-tiny micro brands, IMO, that’s where the gold is.
The Taking Shape email goes on to say that with a shared passion for empowering women, promoting confidence and creating strong supportive communities, Elverina connected with her local Taking Shape in Cairns, a relationship that grew and lead to this beautiful, artistic collection. Enriching the fabrications with Elverina’s bold prints and traditional storytelling invites the wearer to engage with culture and country. Find out more on the Taking Shape website here.
“The traditional and very unique Australian country was my inspiration for these designs. In Yarrambah (FNQ) we are so lucky to have land and sea around us. My designs reflect the blue waters and the mussels of the ocean and the intricate designs of weaving, deep from within the rainforest. There is inspiration all around us, we just have to look” ~ Elverina Johnson
Welcome to my new series In My Inbox where I share updates and news from plus-size brands direct from my inbox. Want to keep me in the loop with your brand? Send me an email or shoot me a DM, I’d love to hear from you. Come across something interesting in your travels as a plus-size shopper? I want to hear from you too!
Modibodi has partnered up with PUMA to launch a range of leak-free period activewear and underwear*, created to help women stay comfortable and active during their period whilst making a positive environmental impact. Awesome news for my inbox this week, right?
I love this range and was immediately on the site to buy. One small problem! Their choice to only do limited extended sizing to AU 8/XS – AU 18/2XL means despite being a regular Modibodi customer I am unable to shop this range. How disappointing, right? Hopefully, in the future, Modibodi can consider their customers who wear a 20-26 when doing special collections like this. If you can do it for your regular range, why not here? Does that blame belong on your shoulders? Or with Puma?
Welcome to my new series In My Inbox where I share updates and news from plus-size brands direct from my inbox. Want to keep me in the loop with your brand? Send me an email or shoot me a DM, I’d love to hear from you. Come across something interesting in your travels as a plus-size shopper? I want to hear from you too!
Welcome to the next instalment of the Where to Buy posts. This week it is wide fit boots. Boots for the plus size, large legged amongst us. Some have extended shoe sizing. Others offer wide fitting calf and ankle boots. Earlier this week, it occurred to me that it was feeling like the cooler weather might be just around the corner. What better time to talk boots? Wide calf and ankle boots are available now for the Autumn 2013 season in Australia, right? Thankfully the brands were on the same page because the new season boots are hitting stores now. Join one with the other, and hey presto, a post is born.
For the past couple of seasons, I have picked up at least one, if not two, pairs of boots from the Autograph range. The first year there was a black pair and a brown pair, which was pretty much it—boy, how the range has grown since then. Exciting news of the new red boots spread like wildfire through the Aussie Curves ladies, and if you head online, you’ll see the range covers a lot of bases. They are sized to a size 12 and priced at around $100. These are a great value boot, especially for their price point.
City Chic
One of the first times I met Dani from Danimezza.com, she was wearing a pair of heeled City Chic boots, and I couldn’t help but ask about them. They were a gorgeous fit, and she was running around like a madwoman in them, so they must have been comfy enough. A couple of years later, Dani still has those boots, and they are still just as fab. A good quality boot will do that for a girl. The City Chic boots have a higher price point, but the previous seasons have been worth the money if the reviews are anything to go by. I would love a pair of wedge suede boots myself. They’re on my list!
This brand approached me to review their boots for the blog. Having heard some great things online and being a bit of a boot fiend, I replied that I would and pointed out a pair I’d love to test drive. It turns out {awkward} they weren’t offering me a pair; they were requesting a review. I told them I would file the idea away should I ever need it and thanked them for thinking of this blog. So when doing this post, there is no way I could go past them even though I’ve never personally tried them. There’s a HUGE selection of boots that can be ordered in various widths and sizes. Well worth a look, for sure.
The first pair of boots in the TS14+ range has hit the online store, and I expect that there will be more to come. Last year TS14+ had some fantastic boots. So keep an eye out for more coming soon. These cute, on-trend ankle boots should get you started. Loving the chunky heel; I bet that makes them SUPER comfortable.
Bennett’s Boots was one of the first brands I recommended in the last post. I don’t have any personal experience with them, but the readers here who had tried them raved about them. Extra-wide calf widths work beautifully for those who require a little more room. The sizing chart is a wonder with listings for every part of the foot and leg, so get your measuring tape and get measuring. There are also reviews on most of the boots to give you an idea of fit and quality, and let’s say that the range is pretty darn impressive. Massively so! The Adele boot is one of my wardrobe investment pieces hit list. Just gorgeous.
Another brand mentioned was Boots for Broads, and when I went over to check it out, I was impressed by this collection for the modern classic styling. All the new season boots look very new season with modern colours and styles, but I believe they’ll be just as at home in the wardrobe in a few years. Beautiful detail work, and that’s not even the kicker. These boots are custom-made for your measurements. Seriously. Starting from $280 for knee-high boots, this is excellent value for a custom fit. Oh dear lord, won’t SOMEONE please pick me up a pair of those mustard boots! Gah. Perfection. And those red cowboy boots? Sigh.
While I knew about My Size for clothing, I didn’t realise that their range included wide calf boots in sizes 38 – 41 with three levels of widths. I think they may be seasonal, though, so don’t stress if they’re not there when you go looking. The sizing chart looks detailed enough to get you a decent fit if ordering online or if there are boutique stores across Australia. It’s a small range at the moment with four boots in the field, some in brown or black. With prices from $199, I would expect the same level of quality that is synonymous with the brand’s clothing. Let me know about your experience with My Size boots if you have any; I’m very curious to hear about it.
Currently, I have three pairs of SARA boots. I generally wear a size 11, but the only pair of SARA boots that fit me is a size 12. While older, size 11 boots had wider widths in calves, I found them to be pretty standard, if not a little narrow, in foot width, which hasn’t worked out for my broad foot. I’m not sure if this has changed, but in my experience with the last pair, the customer feedback comments and sizing guide were accurate, so I highly recommend using them.
The SARA brand is more of a fashion brand, and you’ll find synthetic materials and more affordable prices {similar to a lot of the boots in the first post, such as Autograph}. My brown boots from the recent Aussie Curves: Boho post is from SARA, and I couldn’t be happier with them. There are loads of incredible options there this season which is such an exciting thing to see. Yay!
It started in the lead up to Christmas. We were heading north, and I knew that meant long days in the heat or pool, coming out for meals or to sleep. So, I wanted something that looked festive but was easy to wear. Enter this accidentally oversized swing dress in white brocade. No, that’s not the word for it.
*pops a new tab and googles eyelet fabric, usually white, starts with b?* Broderie Anglaise, that’s it.
It had been a slow evening at home, and I was scrolling through the ASOS range of dress offerings on a hunt for a ‘Christmas Dress’. As I’ve mentioned, I tend to lean towards relaxed, comfortable and usually in a maxi style for maximum easy-breezy. Then I spotted this dress and well, it ticked every box for me. So I quickly ordered, somehow ordering probably two sizes larger than I needed, and it was on its way to me.
A Christmas miracle. Right? In plus, how often does it happen that when you’re looking for something, you can never find it? It’s why so many of us buy items just in case or keep them forever because we might just need them again—all fair in my books. Buy the best quality available to you and wear them until they break down to compost; that’s my strategy. This dress, this beautifully made dress, fit into that plan flawlessly.
Soon I found myself wearing it to travel, out for dinner, with crisp white sneakers, chunky slides, or heels (I have no match fitness for THAT anymore). I can even see it with boots when that time comes. I especially love it worn casually over swimwear with a messy bun, no shoes and the warmth of the summer sun across my face. Sigh, I miss holidays, don’t you?
This is why I decided to write this post despite not knowing the current stock levels of this exact dress. I want to remind you that trends come and go, but your style can be whatever you want it to be. Find pieces that call to you that you love, and wear them. If one thing has changed since I first started blogging, there is no go-to look we all have to adhere to. No way. The kids wouldn’t have that. Express yourself through your clothes, do it as quietly or loudly as you see fit. Just be yourself.
With things around here settling in for the year, it felt like time to get back into the swing blogging-wise. Kelvin opted to have most of January off from the business (doing odd jobs here and there). And I was helping out with the extended school holiday childminding while restarting my work on Fiverr. A slow start, for sure, but I know we aren’t the only ones. But now, I’m feeling the surge of energy that usually comes through late December/early January, and I’m ready to go.
Heck, I’ve even made some promises to get out more this year which I’ve actually been keeping.
This brings me to what does one wear to launch themselves back out into a world (albeit timidly because I’m not down for catching COVID just for the sake of it – no, thank you). As you may know, my usual casual style has been taken up (down?) a few notches since I quit my job to work for myself from home. It’s all simple dresses and bike shorts with oversized tees around here. Sometimes I forget that I even own bras with wires. Not a structured waistband to be found. All in all, it’s pretty chill.
So, dressing up to head out for breakfast, lunch or coffee started to get a little tricky. I had older clothes, plenty of them in fact, but most don’t fit me. The last couple of years, working from home and keeping to myself led to changes in my body. I found myself stuck and falling back on the same few pieces over and over. Which worked for a while, ages really, until I got bored. And I decided it was time to add some new items to my wardrobe that didn’t come from the great selection of cheap and cheerful dresses and nighties at Best & Less.
Enter this tie-dyed wonder from Friday Flamingo.
What can I say, I’m a creature of habit. It’s black and white, right in my wheelhouse. It is casual and made from 100% cotton so it doesn’t smother me in the Queensland summer. Plus the fun sleeves on it not only make it extra comfortable to wear but they add a little something to elevate it from the dozen and one t-shirt dresses I already own (in various states of well-loved wear). This girl knows what she likes. What more is there to say? Add some sneakers or my current obsession, Birkenstocks, and off I do. Which is exactly what I do, you can count on that!
And before I head off can I just say? Whoa, team, Kel and I are a little rusty at this whole outfit photo thing. Not just remembering to get a photo, but how the heck we used to take something that resembled an interesting one. Sigh. So you’ll have to hang in there with us as we get back into the groove of such things. But for now, enjoy the shots of this casual cool tie-dye dress that helps me elevate my everyday style with some killer sleeve action.
Around here, we embrace the bikini body, especially for the fellow long torso friends. But as much love as I have for the bikini, tankini and all their ‘ini friends, sometimes I want something more. I want to be able to move freely, without concern for what I’m wearing and any potential ‘cup runneth over’ moment. So often, that means I’m reaching for a one-piece swimsuit. Something that will give me the coverage to jump, reach and play hard without worrying that your bits and pieces will giggle free. The kind of togs you can wear to the beach to body surf, the pool for aqua aerobics or around small children who love to expose a boob while clinging on for dear life.
The always dependable, granny knickers of the water; a one-piece swimsuit.
The good news is that in opposition to your granny pants, you don’t have to forgo looks for your swimwear performance. Long gone are the days when you only had a black or navy speedo (there’s still one in the mix below, for old times sake, haha) to choose from when it came to plus-size one-piece swimsuits. I started looking for something recently and found dozens and dozens of options.
For this post, I’ve tried to focus on the type of suits that would give you a little more support and coverage for an active moment. But if you want that stomach coverage and are into showing off a little more boob or bum, there are plenty more options from most of these retailers to show some more skin. Speaking of which, I noticed that cutouts are having a moment (still?). The swimwear brands theme seems to be to do what you want, wear what you like and enjoy your summer. Now that’s a message I can get behind!
Here are some plus-size one-piece swimsuits I found that are available online now;
It’s that time, team, shorts season! I mean, as a Queenslander, pretty much every season is shorts season, but you know what I mean. I’ve talked about how to find and wear shorts as a plus-size woman on this blog before. Of course, I have; this blog is a million years old. There have been many, many posts about shorts. Check them out next if you want some tips.
And, I see you out there. But, those of you who can feel your body physically tighten and the little voice in your head start to work itself up, stop! Seriously, stop that. No matter your shape, size or the current situation with your legs, you can and should wear shorts if you want to. No one cares as much about what you’re wearing as you do, so do what you want. And if someone has a problem, tell them to come and talk to me.
So, I thought I’d take a look around and find some shorts and put together a few outfits for you all. There are a couple of casual options, some that you can dress up for summer evenings, and all that in-between shorts goodness. Sound like a plan? Let’s get on with that.
Outfits for Plus-Size Shorts you’ll be wearing this Summer
Sweet Sweet Pastels
Even for someone like me who wears a lot of black, something about the warmer months has me craving colour. It’s pretty hard to resist. So get your colour fix in soft, pastel tones in sweet candy colours. I love to add colour to my shoes, but tops and other accessories are perfect.
And then, when you pair the ice wash, pale blue, denim with these colours, you’re sweet as (that’s for my NZ friends, lol). Lightwash denim is the perfect addition to your wardrobe; it’s just so versatile no matter the time of year. Don’t you think?
Ladies and gentlemen, nostalgia has entered the chat. When it comes to all things seasonal and on-trend, nostalgic items are top of the shopping list for those who identify as Millenials—especially geriatric types (otherwise known as Zennials).
Grab some shorts that all your favourite teen movies queens would’ve been proud of, and wear your childhood with pride. And no, in case you were about to ask, I don’t think you’re ever too old to wear Powerpuff girl socks.
There’s nothing I enjoy more than having people over for some beverages and a BBQ. Seriously, it could be the only socialising I enjoy doing anymore. I know post lockdown it’s all about the picnics, but I’m firmly team backyard BBQ. That said, this outfit would work for either. And for these kinds of events, you want comfortable, easy to wear clothes that look like you made an effort. Enter my dress as a top (discussed at length in this post) over shorts.
And you know me, I would typically default to a sneaker or a slide with this kind of outfit, but I came across these chunky sandals. They not only are in a great neutral tone (elongating for those with similar skin tones), but the chunky heel looks comfortable, stable and adds points for effort. Of course, nothing says I tried more than a heel.
Am I going to work out, or am I just getting coffee? That is the question? My love of activewear as daily clothing started, officially, when I started working for myself full-time. Working from home meant that comfort won across the board—more than style, more than looking the part, all the things. The good news is that these days, there are plenty of others that feel the same way.
I’ve linked to the range at Active Truth which you folks rave about, but I own bike shorts from so many retailers ranging from Best & Less to Hine Collective. Trust me; once you put bike shorts on, they’ll convert you. My favourite part is taking a simple bike short and crop and turning it into an outfit. If you want or need to. Take an oversized tee, some eye-catching sneakers, and you’re good to go. Pull up those socks, lady, and you’ve got style.
Now we’re back in my comfort zone; welcome to monochrome. I love mixing black and white together in an outfit, and adding printed shorts to the look makes it get up and get out the door approved. There will be no tough decisions to make when you go with this look, not to mention how versatile the shoes and tank are when worn separately.
What’s a flippy short, I hear you ask? Well, it’s a soft short, lots of room in the legs for a wide, easy-wearing fit. Perfect for those with larger bums and thighs that need more room. Soft shorts, the summer update to our favourite soft pants, are comfort dressing at its finest, and yet, you still look like you made an effort. Would recommend.
Links:
New Look Floral Flippy Shorts (other prints available)
You know what I mean, right? I can picture it now, the European cities, wine on the terrace, your days spent adventuring nut never breaking a sweat. I may not be able to promise you international travel or decedent adventures, but this look will transport you there all on its own. Effortless style, impossibly chic, perfect for those who are looking to holiday at home.
The higher waist and flat fronted waistband of these shorts make them easy to dress up or down. Add the matching jacket (yes, you heard that correctly) and a heeled sandal and you’re all set for your evening. But during the day, paired with stripes and denim, you’ll be exploring in comfort. Now, excuse me, I’m going to grab a wine and pretend I’m on vacation.
There you go, team, my plus-size summer shorts round up. I hope you were able to take away some inspiration for your summer shorts style! At the very least, you are now feeling more confident to put together items in your wardrobe. So, get those legs out into the world; summer is coming up fast. I can’t wait to see what you come up with, so tag me on Insta, I want to see.
Welcome, fellow large footed friend. If your internet search for women’s shoes for large feet has landed you here, I’m glad you found us. I know that search well. You don’t get to be a 178cm tall woman without big feet. It’s par for the course, as they say. These days, I wear a ladies 11/12 thanks to having a long foot and a wide one as well.
Finding fashionable shoes in the sense that I’m into wearing them that fit and are reasonably comfortable to wear is a whole thing. My love of sneakers and basic slides is probably born from years of uncomfortable work shoes and crazy-ass heels. I’ve had some big feet adventures, let me tell you!
Buying shoes for my large feet.
Luckily, my family travelled to the United States when I was a teenager, where my siblings and I stocked up on the latest and greatest sneakers. Think Reebok Pumps and blue suede Sketchers. It was years before I would need to buy shoes again, and that’s when I realised it was going to be more difficult than it had been overseas.
When I first started working and needed decent work shoes, I would purchase a size 10/10.5 in brands like Joanne Mercer or Diana Ferrari. I’d squish into them and wear them in. for this strategy you have to be sure that you buy leather; the natural give helped. When I started blogging, I discovered Torrid and would buy on-trend heels, flats and shoes that were just fun, via fellow bloggers (second hand or sharing the postage) from there all the time.
Learning the ropes; buying women’s shoes for large feet.
But, don’t you worry my friend, things got a little better. Over the years, I’ve found some great options. I’m always looking for more and will continue to update this post as I find them. After all, finding women’s shoes for large feet that fit has been a struggle for as long as I can remember. So, here are some that I’ve found and happily recommend.
Oh hey team, it’s ankle boots daaaaay! I was a wee bit excited to write this post because I love ankle boots and I want to make the plus size women of the world love them too. Because they’re awesome. Short versions. But because nothing is easier to wear, can keep you stomping around all day being a boss or cooler than an ankle boot.
You want that right?
Of course, you do. Following on from the how I wear knee-high boots post from earlier in the week, this post has two main examples of wearing ankle boots, with jeans or leggings and with skirts and dresses. It’s a little more abbreviated in the skirts and dresses section because I’ve written a WHOLE post about this before. Yay.
How I wear ankle boots as a plus-size woman!
Ankle Boots with Skirts and Dresses
I wrote this post especially with my tips for wearing ankle boots with skirts and dresses. Let’s face it; it’s my go-to style, and if you’re going to let someone tell you what to do in this area, it should be me. If you want to click over and read that post, it will open in a new window so you can finish up here. Easy.
Here are some of my favourite outfits.
Oh dear, I could have added outfits to this gallery for days. Haha. When I say boots are my thing, they absolutely are. Though have you noticed my sneakers sort of took over there for a while? Swings and roundabouts I suppose. But looking at all these posts, with a side order of a winter chill in the air, makes me miss ankle boots with everything.
Ankle boots with leggings or jeans
So, you want to wear ankle boots with jeans and leggings. Awesome! This is a great way to ease yourself into the ankle boot without feeling like you’re wearing a sign that says hey look at me in my ankle boots with a dress. Choosing a similar colour legging or pant to your boots is the baby steps level, going from there with some colour combinations that stretch you a little.
My hot tip here, for keeping things interesting is to show a peek of the ankle by cuffing your pants. A simple roll or two will do or wear a cropped style. Not too cropped though, you want a peek, not half a calf. Well, most of the time. The QUEEN of the cuff and the boot has to be the one and only, Nat Tucker from Make it Look Easy, which is what she does, she makes it look easy. Check out her Instagram for more jeans/boots combos. Seriously worth a look. You’ll love Nat.
With jeans and pants, I love a slim fit style with ankle boots, but if you’re cuffing them then a boyfriend or slouchier style is perfection as well. I love the post below with the slouchy pleather joggers with the low cut ankle boot. So fun and so good. So experiment with the fit of your pants and if it’s not working, try the cuff or try some socks above the boot line.
Here are some of my favourite outfits, click the image to view.
Buying your ankle boots for plus size legs
This is a tricky one, a question that comes up a lot on my blog and Instagram when I post an image wearing ankle boots is WHERE do I get them, and HOW do I get them to look right (most people mean, not chop my legs off by this). Good question! Let’s talk about that.
First, you want to be looking for a boot with a nice open ankle to give your legs some room. This isn’t always possible, but a few of the wide fit brands are starting to make sure this happens. I even find SOME Target boots can be generous in this department too.
Then, I like a little dip in the front of the boot if I can get it. My nude boots (worn to death, you’ll know the ones) are a perfect example of this. They dip a little at the front, and that makes your legs look longer. Or that’s my opinion anyway. And well, long legs are always fun regarding balancing out an outfit and its proportions.
some shops I recommend starting your search at are;
Right, questions or otherwise? Got a blog post or a photo you want to share of YOU rocking your ankle boots? We’d love to see it, add them in the comments (I’ve double-checked the guest feature is enabled for those without Disqus) let’s make this the place to go for such things.
If an item of clothing is going to live in my wardrobe, it had better be versatile. I don’t want any one-trick ponies. After wearing a dress as a top the other day, I thought I’d share more about how. So, this post is about how to take that summer dress you love, and turn it into a top you can wear all year round. No sewing and still keeping it as a dress. I’m about to double your summer dress’s potential. If only I could do so as easily with creepers on the internet. Ah well. Because we all need a bit of assistance in our lives when it comes to maximising your wardrobe. Turning a dress into a top is a great way to get started. So grab that dress, let’s do this thing.
Tuck, it’s all about the tuck.
So when it comes to tucking a dress into your bottoms, its’ easier with a lightweight material that doesn’t add too much bulk. That said, this idea works beautifully with a knit or anything with a cocoon shape.
All I did with the example below was fold it over and tuck the bottom allowing the rest to blouse over. Done and dusted. As you can see from Nat and Jo (also below) they have tucked the front to give a different look. My post from earlier, I simply tucked the entire dress into my denim skirt. Done deal.
This is one that most ladies have in their arsenal. Wearing a dress over some form of pants is the easiest way to maximise your dress collection. Take a summer dress through winter and beyond. I have a slim-fit knit dress that works better over jeans than it does as a dress.
It doesn’t always have to be a shirt dress either. Midi and Maxi dresses totally work as well. I’ve worn maxi dresses over pants, predominately shirt dresses that I leave partially open. Check out the shirt dresses option (last in this post) for more details on how I make that work.
As a have-er of a long torso, bodysuits can be almost impossible for me. So often, I’ll wear my bodycon dresses as a bodysuit. Especially under skirts. Once, I actually wore a bodycon under a tulle skirt to a wedding, when the dancing started later I ditched the tulle and danced the night away.
As if a shirt dress wasn’t already a super versatile item to have in your wardrobe, this is another great way to wear it. Using it as a top or a layering piece is easy and a layering win. Open the buttons and have a skirt or jeans (or anything really) underneath or wear it entirely open has an unstructured trench.
And that, my friends, is how you tackle wearing your dress as a top. Have an experiment with what you have in your wardrobe and let me know how you go. Already a dress as a top expert? Share your best tip with me.
