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.
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.
The most clicks in the AW2021 trends report were to some beautiful jewel-coloured plus-size jumpers. Heading into the cooler months here, chunky, soft, cosy jumpers are in high demand; I get it. Defined as (yeah, I looked it up, eldest daughter mode engaged) a knitted garment typically with long sleeves, worn over the upper body; jumper. With that in mind, I went looking a little further afield and found some GOLD.
The best part about a jumper is that you can wear them with anything. Literally, anything you like. You can dress them up or down, wear them around the house or out on the town. Even the images (grabbed from the retailers) below show the range of ways you can style them. My personal favourite is jeans and boots or over a dress. I love that a statement colour or a chunky knit pattern can do all the hard work for you.
Years ago, my sister bought the wrong size of a mustard knit jumper and gave it to me. To say that I wore that jumper to death is an understatement. Even now, it’s still in my wardrobe because I won’t part with it. Buy well, and you’ll have your jumper for seasons to come. This sort of look never goes out of style.
Have you been wondering what’s new in Australian Plus-Size Fashion for Autumn/Winter? Phew – that’s a mouthful! I’ve been taking a look around (mostly looking for boots; where did you find boots this year?), and these are the trends I see everywhere. Some have been popping up for a little while, and some are fresh for the AW/2021 season. Now, you know me, and when you see this list, you’ll see there is one, maybe two, that I’ll be getting on board with. But there’s plenty of other goodness for the rest of you, too.
And no, no one here expects you to rush out and purchase anything. We’re much too old for that. But I also know that it’s handy to have a little help from a friend when staying on-trend. Someone to do the legwork, find some great items and make the whole process easier. Since I was doing my research about some of Australia’s best plus-size retailers and brands on what was out there, I thought I’d be that person for you. Let’s dive into what I found, shall we?
Trends, Styles + Tips – Australian Plus-Size Fashion Trends for 2021
Knits as far as your eye can see
Please don’t roll your eyes at me, Meryl! Knits for winter, groundbreaking, right? Well, before you click away, hear me out. This season, I see many statement knits, knit sets, knit dresses, and skirts for a fun take on the normal cozy favourites. It was hard to narrow this section down, so you will find that most retailers will have more than one offering in this category, so make sure you take a look around.
Who doesn’t want to be a picnic, right? This trend is hanging on from Spring/Summer and is seeing a lot of brands bring out options in deeper and darker tones as we move into the cooler seasons. When you’re after a fun gingham or a moody plaid, there is a lot out there at the moment. And I don’t know about you, but I’m still not over The Queens Gambit and all the stunning checks (or the breathtaking cinematography), so why not wear them too? This is such a go-to dress for me, and I think you’ll find something similar that works the same in your wardrobe.
If you’ve been here for longer than a minute, you should have guessed this is the bracket I’ll be dipping the most into for my AW2021. I’m living for the matching tracksuits, basics in stripes and warm tones, as well as those small details that make an item more than your average loungewear piece. Shop these styles if you’ve committed to the “stay at home” aesthetic and won’t give it up. Or, if, like me, you believe sneakers are never going out of style.
If you came past the gingham etc., section, you’d know that sleeves are 100% a thing, so much so that I had to give them their own section. Big sleeves or small, this season, they’re saying something. Another carryover trend, I think this one is just waiting for the chance to get out in the world in a big way. Heck, even I’ve worn some outfits with a sleeve; this checked monochrome dress or this one that shows up in some of my profile images. As someone with broad shoulders, I used to worry about going big with a statement sleeve or shoulder pad. But do you know what? It’s too much fun not to!
We’ve already spoken about matching tracksuits, but what about the one-piece jumpsuit? As simple as a dress with the convenience of pants, that’s always been my favourite part. Plus, they make dressing up so easy. You’ll see that I’m a massive fan of a jumpsuit (I own the Hope & Harvest one in the first row, #2) from posts on the blog, but I can’t seem to make overalls work for me. If you have this secret magic, please let me know your secrets! That’s the major upside of this coming season; there is a cut and fit to suit everyone and their comfort zone.
Heck, I hope you’re feeling well informed about Australian Plus-Size Fashion for Autumn/Winter 2021 team. Because THAT was a mission. You’re lucky you’re cute because I wouldn’t spend this amount of time rounding up images and links for just anyone. Haha. So, tell me, what’s your wardrobe look like this year? Are you adding much to it or going with what you have? Due to an expanding waistline, I’ve had to get some new jeans. But other than that, it was a knit or two for me, maybe a tracksuit or two (that I don’t need), and the search continues for a pair of decent ankle boots.
I know what I’m talking about when it comes to plus size clothes for teenagers. How? Well, I’ve been over 5’10” since I was 12. To say that I was a plus-size teen is an understatement. I was tall, large and in varying stages of puppy fat and angst-driven disordered eating between an Australian size 12 to 18 the entire time. I was thinking about that the other weekend when my nieces visited. Tall, slim girls have the issue of length when it comes to buying clothes. They had other issues with fit, but that got me thinking about teenage girls shopping for clothing right now.
The girls, just like me, the plus girls.
When I was a teenager there wasn’t a lot of options shopping wise. I remember losing a bit of weight in my senior years and finding that I could fit back into the mainstream stores who by this stage were regularly stocking a 14/16. What a relief! Bye-bye peasant skirts and men’s board shorts. I do remember once though, in a change-room, when my Mum handed me clothing in a size 14/16 that she mentioned it was as far it as it went, sizing wise. That stuck with me and not because I was upset she pointed this out to me. But because I was not that big of a person. HOW could this be the largest sizes available to women. Why was that even a thing?
Luckily teens have way more options today.
LOTS AND LOTS of options. And while I think you should get your staple items from the excellent Australian online retailers that were in this post or from the brands I listed in my post about minimalist plus size clothing, a teenage girl wants to be fashionable, to wear what her friends are wearing, to be cool. In this post, we’re going to give you some options for where to buy plus size clothes for teenagers; some local and overseas options for the young adult market. Clothes that are more on-trend than wardrobe staples. The sort of clothing that helps a teenage girl fit in with her friends instead of having to wear styles older than she is. Let’s get started, shall we?
Where to buy plus size clothes for teenagers
Torrid
With stores throughout the USA, this brand is established and can be counted on to deliver on-trend basics for reasonable prices. The shopping to Australia can be a killer so subscribe to the newsletter for discounted shipping days or split an order with a friend. A shopping tip: I wear my standard Australian size in their denim and the majority of the range. Check out online reviews for more information. There are plenty!
I love Forever 21+ for modern, on-trend pieces. The pricing of the range puts it on par with the likes of Supre and such in Australia. Postage is reasonably fast and affordable. As a size 22/24, I find I’m at the very top of the size chart and would recommend this store for sizes 20 and below. Recently Australian stores have opened but the pricing isn’t on par with the online store and the range is better online. Shop by the look is another great online feature for those developing their own style. Grab your teenager, sit them down with the page open and let them shop.
A great Australian brand featuring great lifestyle pieces for everyday wear. A personal favourite of mine, but don’t tell the kids. When you want to mix quality denim and easy to wear lifestyle pieces, this is the place I recommend you start. Especially denim, the team specialises in great on-trend fits as well as classic shapes. I’ve found any number of styles make their way into my everyday wardrobe. And the best part? Because they’re made of quality fabrics, they’re going to last better than anything you get at cheap competitors stores.
A new addition to the Cotton On (Typo, rubi, Supre) family is the range of Cotton On clothing in Curve. Stocking sizes 16 – 24 in a range of on-trend items that are both seasonal and affordable, but wearable long after the season is done. You’ll get everything here from Jeans to Swimwear, graphic tees to basic loungewear. If your teen is sick of not being able to wear the same cool, causal clothes as their friends, this is a range you want to check out. Not so bad for us oldies either, I featured a number of these items in my casual capsule wardrobe post.
Don’t be afraid fo the slinky fits or sexy shapes on their Instagram account; I assure you this is a teen-friendly brand. Haha. Find anything from casual dresses, t-shirt, light denim and more at this cheap and cheerful online store. It’s a USA based store, but just switch the currency over to AUD when you arrive and you’ll know where you stand price-wise. I love this shop for casual tees and fun items you just can’t find anywhere else.
My fashion-forward friends in blog world turned me on to Misguided Plus and they were so right. By all accounts, the sizing is generous, especially in the styles designed to be oversized. Check out the charts and online reviews because you may find that you need to size down here on some items and upon others. I like to compare this range to the festival chic styling of Sportsgirl with the added punk you just can’t buy here. Loads of cool items that will raise your fashion game no matter your size.
A larger store with a range of clothing, underwear, sports and activewear, City Chic offers a few ‘in-house’ brands that cater to different styles and they’re always incorporating on-trend pieces that are made of higher-quality materials compared to a lot of the big brands. They have a great range of denim and boots too. All the good stuff.
Shop the new-season City Chic range here.
ASOS Curve
A great one-stop-shop for a range of styles, brands and sizes. Plus, if your teen identifies as a boy, there’s an entire section for plus-size men too! Easily one of my favourite places to shop. When I found ASOS Curve at the beginning of my style journey, it was like the world had changed. I’d never been able to find the clothing that suited my style; in fact, I had no idea what my style really was until I could start to explore it with clothing that fits me. Your teen might just find themselves there too.
A little note about your plus size teen if you’re a parent, guardian or concerned adult-type person. Leave them alone. That’s my hot tip. Live well, be an example and leave them alone. I don’t know if you’ve ever been the fat kid, but when you remind them they’re different, you aren’t telling them anything they didn’t know. I speak from experience. We KNOW we don’t fit in and sometimes that hurts. So be cool, love us and let your ideas about what we ‘should be’ go. And finally, if they’re not that into clothes, that’s okay too. It’s hard to care when you feel like you are constantly being excluded from a conversation.
Where to buy plus size pyjamas and sleepwear for the curvy folks amongst us. We’re bringing this where to buy post to you today by request! In the past year or two, we have certainly learned to love our loungewear, and a big part of that is sleepwear. When I first received the request, I was like, errr, this will be a short ass list. But, the more I looked into it, the more I found some great options from big and small plus-size retailers.
Yes, I know I’ve said multiple times that I wasn’t that into the Where to Buy style posts. But, to be honest, they’re growing on me. Especially when we start looking for things like sleepwear which I’ve never even considered doing. Or was surprised to find a bunch of options I’d never considered before. While that happens, I’m in. Don’t come for me. Haha.
Sleepwear, what does that mean, right?
In the past year or two, we have seen a huge amount of loungewear hit the market. This isn’t necessarily that, even though there is some crossover. What we are talking about is good, old fashioned plus size pyjamas. PJs and nighties (nightgowns for the non-Australians). It’s not just loungewear that crosses over into this category either. There are plus size lingerie based pieces like teddies and camisole nighties, but again, there is some crossover. What you’ll find will depend on the retailer, but there is a good range of options here (if I do say so myself). Let’s get started, shall we?
I was part of the first drop for this brand and their marketing, full disclosure. I was excited. As someone who had squeezed themself into PA pyjamas for most of my early 20’s, it was exciting to see the brand launched into plus. That said, it needs more. More sizes, more styles and more coverage across the limited edition or special drops. Give us more, Peter! But if you’re looking for that Peter Alexander whimsy and fun, they do have a decent range (when writing this, there were over 50 styles listed), so head over and check them out.
It’s in almost every single one of these posts, but I always feel like I’m letting people in on a secret when it comes to ASOS. This category covers a lot of lingerie and lounge, but there is a strong selection of items like the pyjamas in the feature image with a pick and mix range. For example, there were eight pieces in this range set that you could mix and match from. I love that level of freedom with sleepwear; I want the people at my house set, summer, and I’m hot set and the winter cozy set. At least! You’ll find lots of options at ASOS, I always do.
Fun, fun, fun! This range is heaps of fun, has a wide selection of fits and styles with options to a size 24 and a decent range. That said, I do think, given the massive selection here, this would be a great range to expand their sizes and offer some decent choices in larger sizes. I mean, shouldn’t everyone be able to access cute PJs? That aside, there were many pieces in the range that I could see myself wearing, especially the black nighty in the gallery below. I have something similar now and adore it. This range is well worth a look.
Australian shoppers will know Best and Less, and if you’ve been in-store in the last decade, you’ll know their plus-size range of cheap and cheerful fashion is pretty great. Their range of plus-size sleepwear and pyjamas is no different. Everything from cute nighties, PJ sets for summer or winter, lots of robes and accessories too. A one-stop shop for modern or classic styles, whether you pop in-store or shop online, if your budget is a major factor, start here!
A recent addition to the Ada + Lou offering (they also added kids clothes, so cute) is their sleepwear range. Light and airy looking, these pieces give off a holiday vibe. I don’t know about you, but I can see myself and my girlfriends wearing these styles, flouncing around a holiday house and drinking cocktails by the pool. I’m sure the photos they’ve used on the website help with that vibe. Bring on my holidays later in the month.
City Chic (12-24)
Another larger Australian retailer, City Chic, has a decent size range of sleepwear and a major offering of chemises perfect for ramping up the hot-ness factor around your house. I mentioned in an earlier section having a nighty that I wear all the time, and it’s from City Chic. It’s a jersey sort of fabric with lace at the neckline (also stretch), and I’ve worn it to death over the past five years or so. Sort of like this one, but with wider straps. Worth a look for something a little sexier than the average.
This is a small retailer I found during my travels, thanks to some Google Ads. While I haven’t purchased from them directly, they did have a good range of robes and more traditional style nighties. With cottage-core being everything it is these days, they could be a great option for that floaty, classic look. Not to mention some cute printed pyjama sets and other styles available to a size 24.
The Avella range at BigW is another plus-size staple when it comes to essentials like sleepwear. I swear they used to stock more sizes? Or maybe they still do, but I missed them on the styles I looked at? Let me know. I love this navy set, the white piping is the cutest, and the other navy set that is more loungewear-based is perfect for winter. These classic styles are more up my alley, but there are plenty of merchandise (i.e. Disney) and fun styles too. Lots of great options here for every occasion of sleepwear wearing; take a look in-store or online.
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.
It’s about that time when we stock up on winter essentials to get us through the colder months. In fact, perhaps it’s a little late with the weather we’ve already had this year. I had been looking around for things to add to my winter wardrobe and it got me thinking about the things that make up my winter essentials list.
You know, the items that I reach for every winter. The ones that you can invest in and wear this year and every year. When I was thinking about what items I reach for it came down to high-quality boots, a few key pieces that can be dressed up and the chunkiest of chunky knits.
My key winter wardrobe essentials;
Ponte Pant
Tube Skirt
Dark Wash Denim
Knit Dress
Faux Leather Skirt
Chunky Knit
Big Jacket
Biker Jacket
Shop the Winter Essentials Mood Board
City Chic Biker Jacket | City Chic Trench Jacket | City Chic Long Jacket | Monica the Label viaHear Us Roar Luxe Teddy Jacket
I want to know if you’re plus-sized or large-chested if you wear chunky knits. A friend was saying the other day she doesn’t wear chunky knits because they add bulk. Which, I guess they do, but surely the appeal of the squishy, soft, chunky knit beats that, right? Tell me I’m not the only one. I can’t be the only one.
Speaking of tricky plus-size essentials, if you’re in the market for boots, I updated my posts about knee-high and wide-fit boots with current links. Some of the example photos may not be available, but all the stores are live and ready to sell you the new season version. Check them out. I know having a decent pair of boots is pretty essential to my winter wardrobe.
What would you have on your winter wardrobe essentials list? Seen anything in your travels that you want to share? I’ve opened the links in the comments so you can share them with us.
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Feature image via Monica The Label at Hear Us Roar
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.
We were talking about the whole wearing a dress as a top thing on Facebook this week. The blog post I wrote a while ago had made a comeback and it got me thinking; there has to be more I can do with the clothes in my wardrobe now. So, the first chance I got, in the rain and one billion percent humidity I grabbed Kel and went outside with the mission to show how this printed wedge dress (from 17 Sundays) can also be worn as a top. I even had cute hair until I went outside!
I’ve found the easiest way to pull this off, is to tuck the bottom hem of the skirt either into the waistband of the pants (or skirt) or into your bra. Then you just let it blouse over the pants or half-tuck it for a longer side look. Anyway, you get what I’m talking about. No pinning or sewing necessary, just tuck and go!
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
You read the title, right? Well, the worst offender in my books HAS to be I get compliments every time I wear them. It’s the most meh term of fashion blogging/writing/sales that I can think of. Whether it be a passing comment or actual description, it’s so meaningless it leaves me wondering what the heck you were getting dressed for. Or perhaps more accurately WHO the heck you were getting dressed for.
It shows up a lot in ad copy for different items of clothing. Today, and the cause for this rant, I saw an ad on Twitter for white jeans. No real call out to construction or style or fit, just that they were white and that ‘they’, however they are, always get loads of compliments when wearing them. GASP. White jeans!? But that never happens. Right?
Think about it. And sure, maybe I’ve thought about it too much. But the language implies that they are GOOD because someone, or lots of someones, said so. Not because you chose them and loved them, but because THEY decided it was so. It’s gross in the gives you the willies kind of way.
Or is it just me?
I think if you love something you should wear it. Who cares what other people think or if they approve of your choices. I want YOU to approve of your choices. The practice of trusting yourself with the decisions and course of your own life start small and grow from there.
Today it’s looking for others to choose your jeans. Allowing them to dictate your tastes and ideas to tell you what is good or bad, right or wrong. Then tomorrow it’s the big things. You’ll let them decide if you want kids, or what sort of job you have, or how you choose to spend your time.
But it’s not up to them. Stop letting them decide.
If there is one thing I hope you get from this blog or any of the socials related to it, it’s that you are the boss of your own life. Captain of your ship; to draw on the old phrase. You don’t need stuff or things, people or places to make you who you are. You just need to know yourself, trust that knowing, and go for it.
I try to lead by example with this, but I find it hard to not want the validation, but it doesn’t serve us. And as the eldest child, a people pleaser from birth, I find it hard not to defer to others opinions of me or my choices. But with practice, it has become more comfortable. It doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt to be rejected or disapproved of, because it does.
It means freely making choices is more important than those temporary hurts.
Choosing jeans is the least of your problems, you’re here to figure yourself out and live a life you love. Bigger fish to fry, as they say! Time to stop handing over the reins to someone else and get on to it, don’t you think?
