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26 July, 2007Fat Fashion Thursday: Plus size fashion & vegan accessories
So apparently shopping is just never enough of a challenge for me. I mean it’s difficult enough already to find fierce, trendy, hot, well-made clothing in my size (16 if you were wondering), but then I had to go and stop wearing leather. So far, this is the only thing about being vegan that really cramps my style. Literally.
Before I went vegan, at least I could purchase luxurious accessories to jazz up a mediocre or cheaply made outfit — a really great suede bag or gorgeous patent leather peeptoe flats. Now that the animals aren’t contributing to my wardrobe, I find myself gazing longingly at a mustard-colored Chloe Paddington bag on sale at Nordstrom and pouting.
So I decided: less pouting, more scouting. And that brings us to a new weekly feature on My Aim Is True: Fat Fashion Thursday, where I’ll put together three hot looks for the fat and fabulous who choose to leave the animals out of it. My wallet is looking empty already.
In just mere weeks, we’ll all be heading back to school. I’m really excited about starting graduate school this fall (another post on that later), and some shopping may be in order! For me, school is all about comfort. Sitting in lecture halls is torture if you’re not comfortable, but you don’t have to wear pajama pants and flip-flops either. I love the idea of a bright, floaty top with dark wash denim on the bottom. This Camille Top ($44) paired with these Signature Apple Pocket Bootcut Jeans ($69) fits the bill! Apple Bottoms are my favorite brand of jeans — if you have full hips and a big butt compared to your waist, you’re probably tired of your jeans gapping at the waist or not fitting in the hips — look into Apple Bottoms. They fit like a dream. As for accessories, these Juicy Couture “JC” Pave Medallion Earrings ($75) are perfect. Juicy has a playful irreverance that I just adore. Pair those with Stella McCartney Patent Metallic Sandals ($495 on sale $248) and a hot pink Marc by Marc Jacobs Pretty Nylon Tote ($182) and you’re set to go. The tote bag has black signature fabric on the inside and is plenty big enough for your books, laptop and a makeup bag.
It might be time to step up your game at the office, but sophisticated doesn’t have to be stodgy. Menswear is huge this fall and these Giovanna Pants in Black ($69) are right on trend without being too wide to work on short girls like me. Pair em up with a Nexx Tie Front Blouse ($74 on sale $49) and a gorgeous piece of bold jewelry like this Dioscuri Long Wood Necklace in cherry ($118) and you’ll look polished and ready to get down to business. Resist the urge to always wear black shoes with black pants. Throw on theseKenneth Cole Reaction In The Bank teal “leather” wedges ($97) and grab a Maxx New York Saint Benedict large tote ($178) and pretty soon your coworkers will be referring to you as “that girl with the fierce wardrobe.”
Date night! We’re going simple here with bold color and luxurious accessories. This bold blue Nora Dress ($37) is universally flattering and comes in some gorgeous jewel colors. I am in love with this Stella McCartney Canvas East West Bag ($1095 on sale $438) with its’ piercing-ish hardware. Low, unfussy heels like these Annie Jelesa in bronze snake print ($47) will let you walk the last couple blocks to the restaurant without killing your feet. Finish up with more jewelry from Juicy Couture — a “Wishes” Charm pendant necklace ($48) that gives a little nod toward Tiffany with a much nicer price and a “Nice Girls” medallion multichain bracelet ($88) will give you just enough bling to jazz up this dress.
I’m sort of ecstatic about putting this together for you guys each week; feedback is greatly appreciated even if you’re not a big girl or a vegan.
Comments
this is a GREAT idea. so much to like (i.e. the yellow patent bag and the pink nylon bag)...for women of all sizes, really. :)
amber, your taste is impeccable! i love all these outfits (especially the shoes - those sandals rock).
That's it. You're my new best friend. Girl, you are AWESOME! I'm a big girl, AND I'm a veghead as well, so this is the greatest thing ever! Thank you in advance for this and all other Fat Fashion installments to come!!! *hug*
err, i meant "i.e. for me...the yellow bag", etc. gah, shouldn't comment in morning when not fully awake. :P
This is fantastic! Over the past year I've been trying to upgrade my personal fashion aesthetic and choices...this will be a great addition to my inspiration.
You are seriously a world class blogger, m'dear.
I am so stoked on this.
Very cool! It's so hard to find cool clothes for us big girls, esp jeans, I'm definitely going to check out those apple bottoms. And I LOVE the wide legged pants with those teal shoes...
love the office look! esp. the st. benedict tote! nice mix of affordable to "too rich for my blood" things. well done! looking forward to more thursdays :)
Gah! I left a note over on LJ then realized you may not be able to see it. Amber, I think you're brilliant! I'm not a vegan, but I don't feel like an ensemble without leather is somehow lacking. And what you're showing here is gorgeous.
Sometime, if you run across some clothing that's fabulous for big bazoomba women who have otherwise smaller (but not tiny) bodies, I'd love to see what you can do for me. I'm hopeless when it comes to fashion.
xo,
L
You have GREAT taste!
This is amazing! I'm really looking forward to this :)
Those clothes are great! I love seeing beautiful clothes. I bet they would all go nicely with your style.
Love this new feature! Great pics. I think I'd wear most of them, but not high heels. ;-)
Love this new feature! Great picks. I think I'd wear most of them, but not high heels. ;-)
I'm not a girl of any size, nor a Vegan (though I have been making Vegan friendly fare lately), but this is a great idea and I'm sending the link out like crazy.
Money quote for me: "So I decided: less pouting, more scouting." YES.
Thanks as always for sharing!
Love it! You have great taste that can be applied to big and small, vegan and carnivore alike. :)
Also, congrats on going back to school!
you have such a great sense of style...i love how you put things together, be it clothes or the way you decorate your home. always so tasteful.
i guess i'm not plus-size but i am vegetarian and therefore do not purchase leather items anymore either. just thought i'd pass along 2 great companies that specialize in non-leather items with awesome style:
http://www.mooshoes.com and http://mattandnat.com
(sorry if you already know of these places.)
Alright.... you just made my day. THANKS!
Hi Amber! I love the new segment you are adding to your website.
I am a Plus-Size gal and other than Lane Bryant and the occasional few things I can pick up from Old Navy and Target its hard to find the kind of clothing I want.
I think you have great taste. While you do have great taste, there a lot of things you that are totally beyond my budget. But it doesn't mean I can't find discount or low-price look-a-likes.. just takes some earnest pursuing.
I hunt the Target accessory section often. I find a lot of nice and cool jewelry there.
I take my plus-sized roommate wardrobe shopping from time to time. Thanks for the ideas about looks and places to buy her clothes!
I have that Maxx Studio bag in the turquoise and I LOVE it! Have you checked out Matt & Nat - they are a vegan accessories line.
Love those outfits!
Have you heard of Matt and Nat? They make fantastic handbags that are vegan:
Awesome! Those jeans look good - I have that gaping problem with all my pants.
Great post, and I look forward to your future ones. For a while I was not buying leather shoes etc., and I finally had to give in, as I couldn't find decent, well-fitting non-leather shoes in my budget. I still try to minimize my leather purchases, though. I love the look of the Apple bottoms - just wish they had some without the huge apple on the butt.
Great idea, Amber! As a 12-14(in academia, no less), I appreciate this. Let me know if you come across "edgier" or more retro clothing that's not OMG Hot Topic. I know about Daddyo's and Mode Merr, but more ideas are always welcome.
This rules so much!
i love this little article! and those silver SM sandals!
You always come up with the best stuff. It's kind of like having you come over here to dress me. (And I totally can't dress myself). Very cool.
And I will definitely look into those apple bottoms.
Oooh, this is an awesome post! What is even more awesome is that there will be another one like it next Thursday!
I pretty much NEEEED that cute blue dress in my life.
Yay! I am SO happy you are doing this! You have a marvelous sense of style, and I am so happy to find out about other sources besides the usual suspects. You have completely made my day. :)
Hey Amber -
great finds - I LOVE that blue dress and think I'm going to order it right now. However, I just have to say (I feel annoying doing this, but I was really happy when someone told me) that you should really re-think PVC as a leather alternative. It's one of *the most* toxic and environmentally unfriendly materials on the planet.
http://www.besafenet.com/pvc/about.htm
I know you're down with the green movement, so thought that you might be interested in knowing this.
love your blog!
You have awesome taste!
I haven't spent the time to read through any entries... just looked through some of the photos so far... and I can't wait to start reading this site. It makes me happy to see the plus size embraced and other fun things like knitting (which I have temporarily abandoned) all in one spot. Count me in to be a top commenter.
Thanks for keeping this blog.
you are so awesome, Amber. I love you!
Love the idea! You're such a smart cookie (stylish too).
You have amazing style, Amber! Like you, I am also excited to be starting back to class. I've just started my shopping yesterday. (one of my many fave things about fall!)
Thank you so much for this! I'm so excited about this new feature. I'm definitely gonna look into some Apple Bottom jeans!
I am so looking forward to this - as a big girl myself (same 16 as you) and a vegetarian who cuts out leather, this is SOOO welcome in my book. I was going to ask you about this on Ravelry. It is like you got my message ESP-style :) Those Apple Bottom jeans sound *perfect*
Thank you thank
Why did you have to tell me about swakdesigns.com? I do NOT need another place to spend my money!
I’m looking for the perfect pair of jeans….my problem is that I have a lot of gut, and no butt, so jeans always sag in the booty….NOT CUTE!
I’m not vegan, but all of the things you mentioned were really cute.
I need those Kenneth Cole wedges!!
I would also recomment Matt and Nat:
http://www.mattandnat.com/
They make all vegan-friendly bags, and are gorgeous.
what do i think of this? I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE it! don't stop!
oooh, I luv these outfits! Looks like we have the same style!
~ hb33 ~
Brava!
Great idea, and I am sooo loving that office look. Now I just need an office job so I can wear that and um...I guess, also afford to buy it.
Only one question, why Thursday and not go all F's with Friday?
love, love love this post! big girls need nice clothes too!thanks.
So many have done this, but you do it better. I love the ensembles, and the presentation! Now if only I wasn't desperately poor, and wore a ridiculous size 12 shoe! You make me cry with the the beauty of the shooooooes!
