Janine is on a mission to find the perfect maxi dress for Christmas Day. I mean, aren’t we all. While watching a movie last night, I started having a look around and bookmarking some of my favourites as I came across the. This post is about sharing what I found from some of my favourite online plus-size retailers.
I love a maxi dress for Christmas Day. Simply because they’re easy to wear, can take you from a casual gathering to something more dressed up if it needs to. And, the most important, you can eat and drink freely without feeling like your clothing is cutting you off. I did the same thing for my brother’s wedding last month when I needed something to work in (I was doing their photos) and something that looked dressy enough for a wedding.
And can I just say? Boho ladies, this is the year for you. Oversized shapes and prints, layers of lightweight fabrics and ruffles EVERYWHERE. But if it’s not your style, don’t stress, I found some options that I love that are a little less flouncy. I mean, we all know that my style could hardly be described as Boho. Let’s check them out, shall we?
Buying clothes when your plus-size can suck. On this blog, its something we talk about a lot. But, what about where to buy clothes for plus size men? Are there a lot of options for on-trend fashionable pieces for the big guys? The short answer to that question is that it has come a long way from the Big and Tall shops of the past.
The idea for this post actually came from the search terms on my blog post Where to Buy Clothes for Plus-Size Teens. I realised, while there were lots of options for plus-size women in that post, by not including a few of the big guys, I had excluded those who are looking to dress in a more masculine fashion. I should have known better (I’ve since updated that post).
This is my attempt to offer some options for the plus-size guys who may find themselves here looking for fashionable clothing options. Let’s dive in.
Kel and my brother have both been roped into featuring in photos for this brand (see below). Since then, it’s where I go if Kel needs new clothes especially anything for special occasions or the sort of wardrobe staple I expect to last (jeans or dress pants, jackets etc). The price point is pretty middle fo the range and they often have great sales or special offers.
I’m happy to recommend this brand and we continue to shop there. However, I have to let you know our horrible experience with customer service over a pair of shoes that my brother purchased. They wore through (worn Monday to Friday for work) really quickly and they wouldn’t take them back/listen to our concerns as they reference the extensive wear which was the point of the concern in the first place.
To be honest I don’t remember how it was resolved as I left it with my brother. But suffice to say that it left a bad taste in our mouth. Maybe as far as the accessories go, shop the sales. 😉
I think you’re going to love the range and selection offered by ASOS. If I’m stuck and can’t find anything for Kel (and sometimes for me too) then I head to the ASOS Plus-Size Men’s range to see if I can find it there. Especially jackets, lounge or sportswear or basic tees.
With the mid to low price point, it makes for a good option for the on-trend pieces it can be impossible to find. Especially since they are added new styles and brands to their line up all the time. One of those big sellers that will become a resource for you, I’m sure.
One word on this one, Trendy! BooHoo has always boasted a low price point and up to the minute fashion pieces. Their BooHoo Men range is no different. I refer to this style of retailer as cheap and cheerful because if you’re looking for something fun or that you’ve seen your favourite wearing, this is the place to go. They’re always turning over new styles with fresh takes on current trends.
The bad news is that Boohoo is often listed as a thumbs down due to their manufacturing process and labour conditions. I won’t even make my usual joke about it being ‘not ideal’ because it’s worse than that. I do believe that with continued pressure a brand like this can be made to do better. But, always, I thought you should have all the information before making your choices. In this case, which happens too often in plus-size clothing options, for a lower price-point, this is what we have to live with.
I came across this brand when I was shopping for Kelvin recently for a wedding. This is more of a classic style, with button-ups and business casual attire then a lot of the other options. Things like sleepwear and swimwear as well. There are a lot of styles and fits, usually available in multiple colourways, but unfortunately, none of the clothing is shown on models for fit.
This is also a great spot for things like belts, suits and sports coat; the sort of staples you need to build a solid wardrobe. On my rounds, I noticed a lot of the retailers don’t merchandise a lot of accessories specialised for plus-size bodies (especially belts) which is such a missing. You can find a lot of that here.
When you head to The Iconic there is a more limited selection of men’s plus-size clothing with only a few brands featured. That said, there are some great wardrobe staple items here such a basic tees, classic polos and style jacket fits. For me, the range is a modern take on the casual classics I personally gravitate to.
The other thing that they’re great at is accessories. You’ll find an extensive range of modern, even designer, sunglasses, shoes and bags. Especially sneakers if you’re into such things.
There we go! Some great options for clothes for plus size men. Was your favourite spot covered here? I especially want to know if we missed any small retailers based in Australia or New Zealand. We love a local small business. Let me know if you have any questions as you go through, I’ll answer whatever I can and outsource the rest.
Before we go, here are a few more photos of Kel and my brother Dean looking great in Johnny Bigg items featured on the blog in the past. No brand association currently exists, but when we took these photos it was for either sponsored posts or content creation for the brand. Full disclosure, you know how it goes.
What do you think about when I mention a casual style capsule wardrobe? For some, it will be jeans and tees, and for others, less interested in waistbands it may be t-shirt dresses or a go-to maxi. Which is it for you? Or perhaps, like me, you are a combination of both?
Since I started working at home full-time, my need for clothes to leave the house in has gone from light/moderate to non-existent! That’s before any of the stay at home orders or lockdown. Most days I work in either cut off denim shorts (which I couldn’t find any decent ones online this time, I’ve added jeans and other shorts instead) and a tee. Or my favourite go-to when I can’t be bothered to a maxi dress. During winter, I add a jumper of some description. Simple and effective.
But lately, I’ve been thinking about taking it up a level. I am selecting a group of items that work together to create a capsule wardrobe; causal style, of course. The sort of clothes I can wear all day, then add something to go out for dinner or visit the family. I don’t need much, but I want to feel like I’m making an effort again. While I was on my adventure to grab some new items (like jacket and lounge set below) I found some links to old favourites too.
Here’s what I’ve come up with; my ideal plus-size casual capsule wardrobe!
Ponte Pants + Sass Dress or Ribbed Tank or Grey Tank + Smock Dress (women open) + Superstars or Birkenstocks
Mum Jeans + Sweet Top or Cocoon Top or Ribbed Tank or Bodysuit + Superstars
Marty Coat + Maxi Dress + Dr Martens
Phew, what a mission THAT all was. Not to mention expensive as I added a few to cart as I went. But, what say you, would these pieces make the cut for you? There’s not a lot of colours here, I know for some people that would be a no-deal, but I’ve noted the selects that come in different colour-ways in the links. I was torn between the grey lounge set from Cotton On and the plum one, worth a look if grey (or black) isn’t your thing.
If you’ve been around this blog for a little while, you know white sneakers are my go-to shoe. For almost all occasions with any style of clothing, I reach for white sneakers. But I was getting dressed to head out the other day I needed something a little more dressed up. Some cute flats, sandals or heeled ankle boots would have come in handy. The white shoes hunt began! To the internet, I went in search of something white I could wear with my wide-leg jumpsuit or a maxi-dress for those out to dinner type occasions.
And I decided to stick with white.
Why? Because if there is one thing I’ve learned over the years of wearing sneakers with everything, it’s how to pair a white shoe with anything. I may be a little late to the party, but I figured a white ankle boot would make a great addition to my wardrobe. So too would some kind of slide or flat. Dressy but still casual. And it wouldn’t hurt, I don’t think, to have some options to dress thing up a bit. I don’t know about you, but as a lover of casual clothing, the past few months has made me miss my ‘going out’ wardrobe. The clothes that require a little more effort and a lot more ironing (gross).
This is what I found on my white shoe search!
White Shoes Shopping List
Hover over the images to see the shoe name and match with the link below.
Talking about shopping bras, during a Stay at Home directive? Come on Suger, what are you thinking. I know, that’s what some of you must be thinking, but this update to an older where to buy plus-size bras post has been in the works for a while now. And while there is plenty of bra-free time going on with a lot of us may all be working from home, for some of us going bra-free is actually the less comfy option. So, that’s why.
Now, onwards.
This Where To Buy Plus-Size Bras guide is a little different in that YOU gave me the names of places you love to shop for bras. It didn’t matter if they were everyday bras or something a little fancier, I wanted to know. And BOY, did you guys deliver. It took me ages to wade through your suggestions and select online plus-size bra retailers who offered a decent size range in both band and cup size. That’s what we have here. Click through to see the range on either the header text or the image for each brand.
This Queensland-based retailer came up over and over again in the comments thanks to their strong online presence and successful retail space. And for good reason, they stock a large range of bras with inclusive sizing in most ranges for every occasion. A one stop shop with online fitting available. Win!
For a while now my everyday t-shirt bra style bra has been my go-to. I have one in black and one in nude and off we go. I’ve never really paid much attention to the lingerie side of things, but WHOA, this season they have amped up that side of things with everything from racy to lacy. Woot woo.
They’ve re-invented sizing so you can marry your body proportions with your bust proportions for a perfect fit. This range of lounge wear styled bralets and more are the perfect upgrade for your around the house underwear.
Recommended by raving fans, Not Just Bras is a shopping destination with a strong online presence like a lot of these amazing boutiques. Shop a large range of bras and more at this impressive one-stop shop.
A revised addition to the list (thanks Bec) I went back and added Berlei who offer bras training from size 8A to a 26H. To be honest, I’ve flagged two brass in particular here that I want to try for everyday bras. They look great! It’s been a long time since I considered Berlei, if you’re like me, maybe take a second look.
I mean, one word, RIANNA. This increasingly size inclusive (across more and more of the product lines with each release) Savage X Fenty is hot, hot, hot. And you’d be forgiven for thinking it was all just longer style pieces, but no, it’s got a strong everyday branch too. Worth a look even if you only end up following them on Instagram. HOT.
I couldn’t say it better than they say it themselves; “Rose & Thorne is lingerie made simple. When we started this label, we knew that buying bras could be costly, time consuming and often uncomfortable for many women. So we set out to change the entire lingerie experience.” I’m so here for that, make sure you check them out.
Another fan favourite, Brava Lingerie came up time and time again on all the socials. You guys love their range and fit as well as the reliability. And I can’t argue with that! When buying a bra online it’s nice to know that when you measure you’re going to get something that works for you.
Featuring plenty of customer sourced images throughout their socials, Tutti Rouge will give you a genuine feel for how these items will look on you. Correct me if I’m wrong, but these look seriously soft and comfy, while being sexy as hell. Right? Gorgeous.
Boutique bra shopping looks good at Lisa’s Lacies. Fans tell me they have two stores and that the online site is the perfect compliment to that. And I can see why! A stunning range of not only bras and underwear great you, but a lot of speciality items for maternity or cancer-treatment needs. There is heart here, you can tell. Love that.
Savage X Fenty – 1
Savage X Fenty – 3
Savage X Fenty – 2
Big Girls Don’t Cry
Big Girls Don’t Cry 2
Big Girls Don’t Cry 3
My Cup Runneth Over 2
My Cup Runneth Over
Berlei
Berlei 2
Berlei 3
Rose & Thorne 3
Rose and Thorne 1
Brava Lingerie 1
Brava Lingerie 2
Brava Lingerie 3
City Chic 1
City Chic 3
City Chic 2
Tutti Rouge 3
Tutti Rouge 2
Tutti Rouge 1
Not Just Bras 3
Not Just Bras 2
Not Just Bras 1
Lisas LAcies 2
There you go! Where to buy Plus-Size Bras as recommend by YOU!
Do you have a favourite, size-inclusive brand that we missed? Leave them in the comments (links welcome too, I’ve turned them on). Happy hunting, let me know how you go.
I’m your girl when it comes to plus size swimwear. Why is that? I’m a water baby, and living in the water requires that you have something to wear. As body confident as I am, nude beaches will never be my thing. So off I go in search of swimwear that fits, works for the various uses I require it to and looks good. I’ve had success and failures and now own somewhere in the region of 15 pairs of togs (that’s swimwear in Queenslander). That makes me an expert, I think.
Where to buy plus size swimwear, shall we?
City Chic
My first decent swimsuit came from City Chic. It was a strapless (with removable straps) suit with a giant ruffle along the front. It was the first time I wasn’t squashing into a regular size 20 and hoping for the best. I still have that suit 3 years later, and it’s good as new. That’s got to be the best advertisement for swimwear if it holds it’s colour and shape through numerous years of use. Two enthusiastic thumbs up. PLUS, my friend Desiree has the bikini in this collage, and it’s AMAZING in real life. Sooooo good.
After a few seasons of trying them on, I’ve found that I wear the XL (I’m a 22 in swimwear normally) in the swimsuits. All the sizing is pretty consistent across the range. Try one you’ve tried ’em all is my advice, get in-store if possible and try some on, then you’ll be set for ordering online. If that’s not possible, the measurements appear to be on track.
Shop the City Chic swimwear.
Curvy Swimwear
A recent addition to my closet is the watercolour bandeau suit from Curvy Swimwear. This is a capsule luxe collection from the makers of Capriosca Swimwear. I own a number of their day-to-day and chlorine resistant swimwear and have always found them impressive. This suit, though, is something else. It lives up to the luxe price tag in the fit and quality of the material. Gorgeous.
As far as sizing goes, I found it a great fit, if not a little on the small size. This could be me with my long torso, but a size up would’ve been perfect. I own the 22, and if I weren’t so tall, it would be a great fit because it fits like a super good-looking glove elsewhere. If you’re after something special, something that you won’t see everywhere, these are the suits for you.
This brand has been a big supporter of my blog. Technically they are stockists of the awesome Capricosca brand, and since my first advertorial style post with the brand, I have collected 5 Capricosca swimsuits. Yup. FIVE. I have a black chlorine resistant one I use for swimming, a red tankini set, the polka dot one piece in this set, an aqua one piece and the navy panelled one piece. I wear these suits week in and week out. They are my go-to suits for pool swimming, especially.
AS far as sizing goes, I have the 22 in all items. The chlorine resistant suits fit tighter than the others, so if you can size up or wiggle into them, laying down on your bed as I do. They’re worth the effort getting into them because as you swim, they don’t move. Again my long torso comes into play; shorter ladies wouldn’t have a problem in their usual size. Check out the size chart, and if you have questions, Sequins and Sand are happy to answer your questions over the phone, via email or on their social media accounts. They’ll ALL over that.
This is the ASOS of plus-size swimwear shopping locations. This site stocks everything from size 8 to 30 in some of the styles. Amazing, right? I noticed that the bikinis and mid-kinis tend to stop at size 24, but I didn’t check them all. Well, worth a look, especially if you checked out the Curves at every size photoshoot, I featured on the blog a while back. LOTS of choices, lots of great sales and something for everyone.
Sizing wise, the best advice I can give is that, like ASOS, they stick to several brands. You MUST check the size chart for every different suit. Don’t think you have it sorted and clickety-click away; check the chart. Swimsuits for All have reviews on all their suits, and from the ones I looked at, these are some of the most comprehensive reviews on any site anywhere. And there are LOTS of them. Use them if you’re in doubt. You won’t go wrong then.
Check out the biggest range of swimwear I’ve ever seen at Swimsuits for All.
Confidence Swimwear
A recent find for me, I have two sets of swimwear from Confidence Swimwear and wanted to add them to this post. Beautifully, sustainably and ethically made and available to a US size 20 (which I am wearing in the review as an AU24), they are worth looking at. Disappointed about the size range? Well, they offer custom sizing at no extra cost, which is perfect for those requiring a large size and those with differences that require unique sizing. The team say they want all people to feel empowered in their body, and this suits that tick all the boxes might do that!
Shop the Confidence Swimwear range here.
Artesands
I originally found this brand via the team at Hear Us Roar and love the wide range of prints, fits and styles they offer. Most pieces are available in up to ten styles, including mix and match separates and one-pieces. They describe themselves as a curvy girl swimwear brand filled with passion, persistence, and commitment to normalise the female body. They, as a team, are striving to break down the stereotypical swimwear industry ideals. Through artisans like craftsmanship, each piece is styled and sculptured with great bust support, secure contouring power mesh and luxurious fabrications to create fashionable women’s plus-sized swimwear that supports and fits our curvy body shapes.
Over the past year or two, I’ve been lucky enough to review many of the brands featured, as I said at the start. Swimwear is just such a major feature in my life it felt weird not to include it on the blog despite my self-imposed modesty rules. While I loosened up a little on those, I knew that I couldn’t go soft on the actual review. So I didn’t. I hope they prove useful to you. Let me know how you go, and don’t hesitate to ask your questions in the comments. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Which is often fast as. Haha. Click on any of the images in this slide, and a new window will pop out to the original post.
It’s a search as long as time itself; where to buy plus-size activewear! After all, society is just desperate for fat women not to be fat anymore; there must be a HUGE range of plus-size activewear and gym clothing options out there, right? Well, let’s say things are looking better than they used to when I first published this post in 2014 with multiple lifestyle brands featured because they stocked items resembling something you would want to work out. The good news is that NOW this post will give you a good rundown of activewear-specific brands made for people ranging in size from an AU 8 to an AU28. Let’s get started.
Where to buy plus-size activewear? Let’s go!
Exoticatheltica
If you’re on Facebook occasionally, you will have seen the marketing for this shooting star brand! With a bunch of loyal followers, many of you are among them; they are serving up a range of plus-size activewear and other lounge-inspired pieces based on their bold prints and expansive selection of colours, styles and fits. Having never worn their items myself, they captured my interest with their try-on videos and short stories. But I’m excited to include them because you love them, and even looking at their website excites me. I loved what they said on their about page, so I’d share it here.
For so long, women have been programmed to think that being strong and powerful is masculine, that being sexy and sensual is too provocative, and that being emotional is a weakness. And even today, these residual beliefs still influence women worldwide and steer them off course from where they need to be. Somewhere along our journey, we seem to get lost. We seem to lose our natural born instincts and end up trying to live up to someone else’s title for us, whether this is wife, mother, grandmother or daughter, and we seem to forget to stop and think about what we are to ourselves. Shop the Exoticatheltica range online here.
Active Truth
A plus-size activewear brand started right here in sunny Brisbane, Queensland! They started their brand with a few prints and items and have grown season after season to be where they are now, as one of the most recommended brands when I asked the team. You can’t argue with real-world experience and recommendations. Nadia & Stevie started Active Truth because they believe women deserve better from the activewear market. They were tired of buying tights online that turned out to be see-through or rolled down during a workout. They believe all women deserve stylish activewear that fits, flatters and supports. And are committed to using diverse women in images — that they never, ever photoshop. They want women to look to Active Truth and see someone like her – happy, active, and looking and feeling amazing in her activewear. Shop the Active Truth range online here.
Hine Collection
A new find for me, thanks to the team on Facebook. And boy, am I glad they pointed me in this direction! I can’t wait to order some swimwear range (not what we’re talking about, but still) and their t-shirt dresses! But aside, this is legitimate activewear built for people here to get it done; I love that.
HINE had a humble beginning in 2018 when the founder Mīria started her own Hauora/health journey. She wanted to find friendly activewear that could give her the confidence to rock the gym, feel good, and look good. But got frustrated when she saw that activewear brands only went up to size 14. I thought that was harsh and unfair for women like her. Furthermore, she was concerned about the industry’s message about body size and the measurements they would need to wear the clothes they loved. Want more? Check the Hine Collection out online now (their Instagram is also worth following).
Taking Shape
My first love when it came to workout clothing. I wore their leggings or shirts ALL the time. My sister had the tank tops; we love them. I look forward to adding the crop to my collection, a tank or two, and the cotton tee’s {which I wear for casual clothes and gym wear}. The enjoyable part is that they release some new colours and styles every season. Fun, fun! If you’re a size 12-24, there will be something to suit your workout style. Seriously. This is my workout brand. Full stop. I highly recommend it. Shop the range online here.
Baseline
Baseline is the creation of fitness influencer Ashy Bines. This range crossed my radar when my cousin, a long-term follower of Bines, bought some items from the field. I assumed they didn’t offer plus sizes, given my impressions of the fit-girl focus of the brand. But I was wrong; they offer up to a 4XL in some items, with items more frequently available up to a 3XL. I recently tried that 3XL, and as an AU24, most were too small. I loved the range, though, and I live in the Baseline tee pictured. Check the size chart, which would be my hot tip, and learn from me and my assumptions. You know the old saying about being an ass. Haha. Shop Baseline online now.
City Chic
Australian brand City Chic is a one-stop shop for plus0-size fashion and tends to show up on these lists time after time. And for a good reason. They offer plenty of on-trend, quality plus-size activewear pieces that can be tried in-store (sometimes). In addition, their CCX range can be an excellent example of delivering what is missing for the customer. I hadn’t looked into their range for activewear in a while and was pleasantly surprised to find a good range and sizing (offered to an AU22, mostly, some extended AU24 sizing). Worth a look; shop the City Chic CCX Collection online here.
Rainbeau Curves
Another brand that has many raving fans on Facebook is Rainbeau Curves. They tell me that the leggings are easy to wear, look great, and the service from their US base is excellent! Founded and based in San Francisco, Rainbeau is a family-owned business that has embraced the California active lifestyle for over 30 years. When spandex was introduced in the 1980s, Rainbeau was one of the pioneers who realised its clothing potential. The stretch and comfort of spandex supported freedom of movement during all active endeavours. Today, Rainbeau continues to be a respected and innovative manufacturer of activewear and dance apparel for women and girls across the US and the world. Rainbeau Curves is committed to creating fashionable clothing that keeps up with a woman’s active lifestyle and flatters a fuller figure. Shop the range online now on their website.
Kmart, Target, ASOS and Big W
Now, let’s talk about the classics, the old favourites, and the reliable providers of plus-size activewear out there. Some of the brands that came up repeatedly were the Michelle Bridges line at Big W, the house brands for Kmart and Target with their cheap and cheerful basics or brands like Nike Woman and Reebok available online at ASOS. Who also have a tremendous in-house range at a more affordable price point. Whether you’re shopping online or, in some cases, buying in-store, we all swear by the basics that their stores offer, especially if you’re on a budget or find that your body is changing rapidly.
Curve Boss Australia
Launched in June 2019, Curve Boss Australia is an activewear range that offers a size range from AU sizes 16 to 30. You read that right, and I’m delighted to see a range provide such diversity in their sizing and styles. So if you need items like jackets, leggings or comfortable, casual t-shirts, they offer them. I plan to feature them in an upcoming post about crop tops (soft bras). So get over there and shop the Curve Boss Australia range online now.
Universal Standard
If you’re looking for a brand that caters to an extensive range of sizes (US 00 to 40), this would be where I would suggest you start. Not always an affordable option for us Aussies, but from the pieces I own, a quality choice that will serve you for many years to come. Their range is more focused on an athleisure vibe, offering items that you don’t tend to find elsewhere, such as one-piece yoga jumpsuits and the current trendy stirrup leggings. If you want your exercise gear to double as streetwear, they’re well worth a look. Shop the ACTIVE range at Universal Standard here.
…
And that completes my wrap-up for activewear recommendations. Some great Aussie and overseas brands are doing incredible things. I hope to see expansions in all the ranges to include larger sizes and encourage all women, no matter their size, to get active and get excited. Argh, sports bras, don’t even get me started on sports bras. Watch this space; I think many great things will come up in this market. And, of course, I’ll keep you posted.
You’ve heard of ASOS and The Iconic, but did you know that we have some great options right here in Australia? Owned and operated by, predominately, Australian women? Well, let me blow your mind with these online retailers that specialise (or in some way feature) plus size clothing from multiple brands. This post is going to make your shopping experience simple and way more fun.
Filter by size, come to Suger. 😛
Also important to note that most of these retailers sell a range of Australian owned brands (and some international ones) so we are doing our bit to support the Australian Plus Size Fashion market. And let me tell you, from the conversations I’ve had, it’s hard going out there for brands and businesses like these. The Australian market is tough from the cost of making and importing right down to the customer’s expectations. We need to do what we can to support where we can. Don’t you think?
This online retailer was started by a fellow blogger who saw a gap in the market and went for it. Located in Sydney, Pip has put her heart and soul into this website, and her butt on the line. A great one-stop shop for your Sonsee products, Capriosca swimwear and a range of local and imported fashion pieces. If you saw my Maxi Dresses post, the Kiyona brand ones I’m wearing came from this site. It is a beautifully pulled together range that deserves our support.
This website came up when I asked a little while ago for recommendations for plus-size retailers. In all honesty, I’d never heard of it, so I clicked over to the site and WOW. Immediately I was taken by the quality of the site and the diverse range of styles. It seems to keep in touch with a variety of trends while maintaining a beautiful line of classics. Well worth a look, I know I’ll be keeping an eye on these styles.
Birdsnest
Since I pulled on my first jumpsuit from the Belle bird range at Birdsnest, I’ve been obsessed. The new bird keepers range, available to a size 22, is a stunning collection of beautiful dresses and elegant foundation pieces to get you there. While it doesn’t entirely fit the brief of being a retailer of different brands, I thought it was well worth a mentioned. For work or play, Birdsnest is a pretty great place to start your next wardrobe update.
The Unique You
I first met Kim through this blog, so when she partnered up with Peter to curate their site to say I was excited was an understatement. Kim has been working hard ever since to bring a range of pieces to the market, often stepping in front of the camera herself to share the styles on a diverse range of bodies. A true family-owned and operated business supporting Australian brands; we stan.
This online retailer started as a boutique just down the road from me here in south-east Queensland. Stocking a range of easy to wear basics, especially free-sized dresses and tops, built for the Queensland climate and the fashionistas that live here. From workday and weekday basics to those special occasions, they’ll have you covered. Make sure you take a look, and if you’re in Brisbane, stop by and check out the store.
Know of any others? Let me know. And as always, if you’re looking for plus size fashion, make sure you check out my online directory for individual brand listings. Happy shopping, team.
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It’s been a while since we talked about clothes, team. Even longer since I last covered off on plus size maxi dresses. When was the last time? Can anyone remember? But this felt necessary because I am wearing a bunch of maxis on rotation at the moment. For almost every occasion, it seemed important to the whole documenting things thing. It’s not a where to buy, but I’ve included as many links as I could. Most are pretty recent additions, so they’re in stock. Some, not so much. But either way, I tried.
So, why maxi dresses, right?
What’s the appeal of that?
For me, it’s a really easy way to be dressed all at once. No mess and no fuss. Whatever the occasion; backyard BBQ to kind of formal occasion, you’re all set. Add some great shoes and whatever accessories float your boat and you’ve got a whole outfit. Maxis work for those who want to wear little shorts under their dresses in summer and are even cute with ankle boots in colder months. But surely, I don’t have to tell YOU that? You’re a woman of the world, let’s get things started, shall we? (This post contains gifted items, as marked, and affiliate links)
Plus size maxi dresses I’m wearing now!
The casual maxi dresses
This is the section where you are going to be annoyed because you can’t buy the majority of them. Sorry about that. But I live in my 17 Sundays maxis* from last year, both the black and white stripe versions as well as the black and leopard print. Phew. They’re my go-to item for casual and work and if you didn’t buy one you’re insane. Sorry, that happened to you.
In rotation with that are a couple of City Chic maxi dresses. You’ve seen the blue maxi dress in my beach photos, which is sold out. BUT, don’t panic, they’ve just released it in a couple of new colours and prints and there are plenty of them in the RESORT section on their website These are such easy to wear dresses they could really be added to the nice maxis section below. But, well, they’re here.
The nice maxi dresses
These are the maxis that are more wear them out for the evening. Add sandals with a little heel or chunky wedges and you’re good for an evening out. This is such a great option for plus size women especially because they’re easy to wear, you have options on what you put under them (anti-chafe shorts or similar for example). Something like this PQ Collection dress is perfect for dinner and drinks. Trust me, I’ve done both. SO much room for dinner and drinks. Haha.
The ASOS Curve Black Maxi Tea Dress is one that I wear ALL the time but apparently have never taken a photo in it. It’s the same as the image I’ve shared below, but longer. Sorry, team. It’s still a basic black jersey fabric but the tea dress neckline and little slits at the ankle just make it a little more special than the casual maxis. It absolutely dresses up for dinner or I wear it to client jobs sometimes when I want good coverage, to be comfortable and also look like I tried a little.
My shorter version of the ASOS Curve Black Maxi Tea Dress (sorry, team)
My friend, Pip owns the website Sisu and Finn and when I started taking a few outfit photos again, she offered to send me some items to try out and keep a couple. These two Kiyonna Maxi Dresses were part of that parcel. It was my first time trying this brand and I have to say that the quality was beyond what I expected even after being told to expect them to be good.
They are beautiful to wear and look spectacular on. Special occasion coming up? These are worth a closer look. I ended up keeping the navy Meadow Dream maxi dress you’ll see below. Navy is more my colour all year round, and I felt like the neck (boob) line suited me more. Having both in my wardrobe would have been indulgent, so I was happy to send the green Vienna maxi dress (above) back to her to enjoy after taking a few photos.
Another great maxi dress for special occasions is the Embody Women (formally Embody Denim), Birkin Maxi Dress. My friend Desiree has this dress in the spot print and it is STUNNING. Such a showstopper no matter the occasion and available in a range of colours and prints to make finding something that works for you easy. My personal favourite is the current navy colour, it’s so beautiful. I think it’s pretty easy to see that come to special occasions navy is sort of my thing. Haha.
And there you go, team! A bit of a whip around my wardrobe of plus size maxi dresses. You have to agree that this is such a versatile length; especially when you go swishy and full with the skirt. Do you maxi? I hope you do, let me know about it, I’ve enabled the image upload int he comments, show me ALL the things. Otherwise, find me on Instagram, tag @sugercoatit – I can’t wait to see!
*indicates gifted items where it was weird to insert the word gifted
Friday night the ladies and I popped into the Hear Us Roar pop-up shop. What an amazing night! As a stockist of a massive selection of Australian plus size fashion (size 12 – 26) to be able to go into a pop-up has been a popular strategy for the brand. They’ve done Melbourne, Sydney and now they’ve made their way to our sunny piece of heaven in Brisbane. And let me tell you, team, they kicked things off with a bang.
The ladies and I had a great night!
Desiree (@madamerougemakeup) and Amanda (@iammandyleigh) tried on all the new season stuff (I was happily on camera). They even made a few sneaky purchases. Most notably, Desiree picked up Embody Denim’s Birkin Maxi Dress which was spectacular on her (and the many others that tried it on). SO GORGEOUS. But there was also lots of new season goodness from 17 Sundays (favs) and Hope & Harvest; with Harvest coming from the Gold Coast for the night. Suitcase of new arrivals in hand! Love that. The pop-up has a huge range of swimwear too, lots of casual and dressy outfit options and some basics and denim. All the things!
There’s something about the vibe in Brisbane that I just love. People really showed up for the event and were keen just to have a good time, shop, drink some cocktails and meet some new people. Everyone we met was happy to say hi and chat about what they were looking at or how they’d come to be there. I loved it and was running around like a mad person with a camera. Haha. It’s been a while since I really felt like stepping out like this, but I’m ridiculously glad I did.
It’s nice to be back in the game, you know?
And no, I don’t have any plans to be a full-time style blogger again anytime soon, but I do miss these kinds of chances to hang out with the crew. I had a few ladies asked if I worked at a particular retail store, which I think means they kinda recognised me and I’m not obsolete just yet! Haha. So, watch this space. You never know what could happen. Even if my Instagram Husband has now officially retired, there could be an outfit or two left in this old girl yet.
So, have a flick through some of the pictures on the gallery below. If you’re in Brisbane, make sure you pop down to the new location at Westfield Chermside (lower level, near Tony Bianco and Tigerlily) before December 5th when they shut up shop. Need more info than that? Easy done, you can get ALL the details from the Facebook event page if you need it. I’m hoping to be there again next week, maybe Wednesday at this stage or it might be Tuesday afternoon. But, I’ll keep you posted and let you know on MY Facebook or Instagram. So follow along for all that goodness.
Sun-smart products to get you through summer. Say THAT three times fast. Haha. As pretty much all of Australia wilts in the heat, it was about time to put together a sun smart products guide. For some of you it might be a little late, but with the usual string of long weekends coming up, maybe it’s just in time. The sun-smart products below will keep you out of trouble this summer. Protect your skin and help you make good choices.
Shout out to the hottest temps on record.
I’m a summer kid. I may hate humidity with a vengeance. But when it comes to long days in the sun, preferably at the beach with a beverage in hand, I’m in heaven. Talk to my Mother, she’s a beach babe too. Heck, the whole family are beach babes. It’s in the DNA.
Something I haven’t always been great at is protecting my skin from the sun. Horrible would be a great way to describe it. A fact that became clear with some dark spots and boob freckles in my late twenties. But one too many nights spent drenched in aloe from the plant taught me a lesson that finally sunk in.
Wear more sunscreen, dummy! Haha.
These days, along with regular mole scans, I like to pay more attention to the impacts of the sun. Through sunscreen, coverage, reapplying (so important) and avoiding those peak burn times when possible. You know, making good choices. Hence, this little sun smart guide to help you do the same.
Happy shopping, team! Keep your skin protected and your nose clean. After all, it’s pretty hard to function with sunburn or worse. Let me know what the one thing you don’t leave the house without in summer. Consider this a survey and feel free to leave me a link if it’s something you make.
I’m the sort of person that has work clothes, casual clothes and very little outside of that. Party clothes? Pffft, hardly. What even ARE party clothes, right? I don’t get out much. What’s the point? Simply put, some of these items are going to solve that whole, what to wear dilemma next time you head out. Without the fuss. Without the Spanx. And absolutely without feeling like the only grandma at prom.
Did you notice spell check gave Spanx a capital? What’s that about? Like undies that suck your guts into your spine are worthy of a capital. Gosh. Priorities, spell check. I can’t even deal with that conversation right now. you’ve heard about Suger’s war on shapewear, right? Okay, moving on.
This past weekend my baby sister had a birthday and there was a busload of antics to follow {you can see all the action in my first Vlog ever on YouTube}. The theme was white with a heaping helping of glitter thrown in. That’s when the what the heck do I wear to this thing panic set in. I have white dresses. Sure. Probably more than the average woman, it became a bit of an obsession last year. BUT did I have anything I could ‘go out’ in? Party clothes!? Not really.
It got me thinking. I can’t be the only one who looks at their wardrobe when something special comes up and just sighs. Weddings, parties, events… Heck, even a night at the clubs dancing. Some people have the wardrobe for such things, and some don’t. Today I decided I’d help you out with a few items that you could incorporate to build an impressive, instantaneous party wardrobe.
Who’s ready for some plus size party clothes?
One ASOS Curve Sliced Kimono Dress | Two City Chic Whimsy Lace Dress | Three City Chic Lady Portia Dress
Four Missguided Satin Wide Leg Pants {three colours} | Five City Chic Tango Dress | Six Missguided Nude Velvet Dress
Seven Boohoo Velevt Rouched Side Dress | Eight Crinkle Missguided Metallic Dress | Nine Missguided Black Corset Dress
Ten ASOS Curve Wrap Jumpsuit | Eleven Club L Lace Top | Twelve ASOS Curve Frill Sleeve Tunic| Thirteen Boohoo Sheer Panelled Dress {similarish}
There you go, ladies! Time to pull on some party clothes and get out there. I mean, I hate to say it, but the festive season really isn’t that far away. If I could be guaranteed of air con everywhere I went, those maroon velvet pants would be coming home with me, guaranteed! Which piece is your favourite?
