The Case for Anything Over a Size 14

NOTE: I'm actually going to take a break from posting in the next few days because of a few school and church projects that I have to work on this week. Since this is a fairly new blog I don't think I'll be gone too long, but I'll try to check in from time to time. In the meantime, enjoy.

Here you go: the Ultimate Guide to Plus Size Fashion from The Budget Fashionista.

Seriously, I think this article pretty much says everything that I've always wanted to say about plus-sized fashion, and I'm saying this as a voluptuous woman myself. Just because I don't fit what the fashion mainstream defines as "curvy" doesn't mean I'm condemned to dress as a slob for the rest of my life.

That said, however, I'm still waiting for the day when I can walk into a store in Honolulu that sells clothes in my size, at a price I can afford, that won't make me look too frumpy or slutty. Ross is pretty much hit-or-miss on that front, and even I'm burning out on buying yet another pink-and-black matte jersey blouse after wading through racks of chambray mom-dusters and elasticized broomstick skirts. Old Navy has gotten a little better with the sizing, but I've had more luck with separates (especially jackets, skirts and low-rise pants) than dresses. And as much as I love Lane Bryant and Torrid, I'd rather wait for my next trip to the Mainland - or the next online sale - because those shipping rates don't come cheap.

And if I ever see one more extra-large T-shirt with the words "Baby Girl" written in sparkly studs in the front, I'm going to scream. I don't care which store it is, which rack it's located in, or what color it comes in, or even if I see it on another woman, because... dude, that's just not right, yo.

Speaking of Torrid: is it me, or are the clothes in that store getting a little more decent? I know that they're owned by the folks from Hot Topic, and when I went into one of their stores in Lakewood I thought it was just another version of Corporate GothWear for (Chunky) Mall Rats. Yet I can't help but notice how cute the clothes are getting on their site. Plus, I've seen some of their older stock turn up at Jeans Warehouse II at Ala Moana, which also seems to be easing up on the slutwear - or, if they haven't, at least it's more Sienna Miller than Jenna Jameson, so it's easier to work with.