An incredible discount on a large selection of full figure bras and shapers!

Now through to the end of April you can use this exclusive code to get 15% off your whole purchase when you shop at Bigger Bras online store! The code is 15swim07 .

Here is a link to Bigger Bras
Our biggest bra catalog! Over 15,000 items - bras, lingerie, shapers and more - Sale going on now.


They also have an excellent selection of bra sized swim wear! And an expanding collection of plus size swim wear too! Also bra sized swim wear up to full figure sizes like 44FF and 38GG! Like a new Fantasie of England, chlorine resistant bra sized swim suit. You can see it read about it by clicking here. It has adjustable legs. Nice if you are both plus sized and full busted! Even better at 15% off!!

Do your underwire bra’s wires stick out rather than lay flat against your breast bone?

If so I found the solution. It’s a missing measurement! You can read about it by clicking here now.

If your underwires are sticking out of your shirts, you’ve probably guessed that your bra’s cups are too small. But full figure, and especially large cup sized bras are expensive! I had an idea of how to find the right bra size, and pretty much had to save up to try it out!

But now I can take advantage of Bigger Bra’s 10% off your whole order, as well as their typical savings on buying sets of 3 almost any thing they sell! Look for their 10% off code at the near top right of most of their pages. Or you could use this 10% off purchase with code "MarchBra"at BiggerBras.com. Expires 03/31/07


OK. I’ll still have to save up to buy a set of 3 bras, but still, none will be disappointing.

I can not recall a time I had a bra that fit this well before. Perhaps when I was 14….

Anyway, today with the spring breeze blowing my loose t-shirt against me, I was not embarrassed, as had become my norm, by my bra’s underwires sticking out between my breasts!!

AND TALK ABOUT LIFTS AND SEPARATES!! You can bet this will make sweating through the summer a whole lot more pleasant!

So if you are tired of your bra’s underwires poking your lover and children when they want to snuggle….and having something akin to toe jam between in your cleavage on summer days… just take that link in the first paragraph above and read how to find you cup size straight way!

Jahqoi Plus Size Women’s Fashions on NBC News Tonight!

On December 18th of last year I mentioned Jahqoi Fashions in regard to HoneyBee’s request for no more Moo Moo full figure fashions.
You can see how non-Moo Moo Jahqoi Plus-Size Clothing’s styles are by clicking their link in this sentence.

Or Tonight on the NBC News!

Or by Clicking on this
KTLA news link.
Then select Gayle Anderson, the reporter’s link
You’ll find Jahqoi Plus-Size Clothing.” Segment
You can watch it now. Because that news show aired this morning!

There’s Nothing Moo Moo about their clothing for us big beautiful women. You’ll see!

Excellent plus size dresses out now, Even for Petite women!!

Have not had much time to write lately. Sorry about that. I keep running into beautiful Safari / military style jackets, and dresses, dresses, dresses!

Like this one below. Fully lined and machine washable!! Enough side and strap coverage for any bra you like best!! Click on it’s picture to find out more about it!





Unlike last year, these dresses hit about knee length on average women. So for petite women, like me, they’d be about mid calf!!

I’m thrilled! I have to pass by many full figure dresses. I just don’t have the time to hem!

Another one of them is suitable for daily wear, some special occasions and dates! You can see that one by clicking this link .

You’ll find these, and a lot more, elegant, light weight for warm weather and affordable plus size dresses now at Silhouettes – Sizes 12W-34W


Lots more dresses at knee length. Figure about mid calf for us petite ladies!!

And some nice special occasion dresses and a daily wear skirt, this one is floor length on me, and a summer dress, at Silhouettes Outlet Store
I brought the dress and skirt and dress last summer at full price. Both floor length on me. Well I’m 5 foot 1 ½ inches. I don’t regret it. They look nice anyway and they are both SOOO COMFY!!

Sadly the gored skirt featured with this lined safari linen jacket just won’t work for us petite women. Unless you can get it hemmed!

Incase you don’t have one, the beauty of a flared gored skirt. It moves beautifully with every move you make. I have one in a knit dress I’ve worn for years, about 20+ years. I wore it again just this past Sunday. It drapes luxuriously when you stand still. Then when you move, walk or especially dance, it sways and swirls in a way even a shy woman like me loves! You just gotta try this. And I’ve got to get at least one more myself!

I want that black and white pictured above too! Looks great for the hot summer days!!

Nothing moo moo about Baby Phat’s Plus Size Fashions!

Baby Phat, by Kimora Lee Simmons, is among the premiere hip hop fashion brand in the fashion world. Kimora is a super model whose designs are sexy and sassy. Now Baby Phat has sexy and stylish jeans, jackets, shirts and dresses and more in full figure sizes.

Like their full figure, Wide Belted Military denim jackets. These figure flattering denim jacket come in sizes 2XL and 3XL in 3 denim washes.


Glamour Magazine
finds wide belted styles slenderizing on full figure women. If you like trendy styles, with wide belts check this one out at the above link! With this jackets fitted look, wide belt and back vent, it’ll make the most of all your curves!

Which is just the kind of curve accentuating action you’ll find when you Click Here for Baby Phat Fashion



I, being both full busted and shy, liked and ordered their Ice Water Crop Demin Vest below. One of their more conservative and classic styles.




When I got it yesterday I was surprised to find their high attention to detail. Every seam perfectly finished! The pockets are real! I love pockets! The back adjustable belt is perfectly placed! A nice heavy grade of denim and fine workmanship at a good price!

My little daughter is pushing me to try their other fine fashions. I can’t blame her. Like I said, the above vest is about as low key as they get. She wants me to dress UP! I never would have thought that makers of hip hop urban luxury fashions would, perhaps slowly, get me to dress better. But with their styles, love some of their plus size handkerchief hem skirts, and great workmanship! Even I could get around to dressing better!

Their plus size fashions are not cheap, but not too pricey either!!

Great sales and New Spring full figure fashions!

Well I finally got the new version of the Plus Size Women’s Clothing site up! A similar but different site! Feel free to tell me what you think of it. I'd actually appreciate your input!

And while I was looking into what’s new to write about here’s what I found:

Post-Holiday-Sale-&-Save-up-to-70%-off-at-figleaves.com-250-brands-of-lingerie-sleepwear &-swim& more!

Where you’ll find Le Mystere’s Carina bra. In full figure sizes: 38B – G to 44B – G. At $18 off in 3 out of 4 colors!

This bra has incredibly soft, silky and pretty, straps! I tried it once. Just use their link above. Then copy and past “Le Mystere Carina Bra” into Figleaves’ search engine to go right to it!

Silhouettes has their short sleeved jacket and gaucho pants suit separates on sale already! The jacket Has REAL POCKETS!! I called and asked. Click on it’s picture here. to check out these stylish suit separate’s current sale prices.

And of course, for me apparently, no look see of new plus size fashions is complete with out yet another Silhouettes’ item I wish would come in petite sizes. This Baby Doll dress below, already reasonably priced, is just perfect for the warm weather ahead! OK on me it’d be floor length. Because of it’s gently defined waist, even if you bra cup size is DD cups or larger, no one will ask when you are due to deliver!

Click on it’s picture to check out it’s affordable price and excellent size range!




More much sooner than later!

An apology and new designs!

I’m sorry I have not posted for a few weeks. Owing to technical difficulties, some of which you can see here.

Others involve the crashing of our computer’s hard drive. A one week and $200 detour when Hewlet Packard support

• A) charged me for support and then
• B) got me to buy a replacement hard drive which
• C) turned out to be incompatible on our
• D) HP then tells me obsolete computer.

The lesson here, or be warned!
Always make sure your computer is not obsolete before ordering support or part! Don’t let this happen to you!

That is why the new Plus Size Women’s Clothing site will be a week later in coming. Also one of the reasons I have not written here. The other reason I have not been writing is my 3 week old now cold, has turned into some sort of throat problem. I am just wiped out!

Now for the good news!
Jahqio Plus size designs has their new line of 2007 spring wear out now. View it here. You’ll find original styles of feminine fashions for us big beautiful women!

And there are many new swim wear styles out for 2007 now too. Which you can see here.
Be sure to use the $ saving coupons in the right hand column on that site’s home page.

Now it’s back to work for me! Hoping to bring you a fresh new clothing site. Sometime next week.
Oh if you like neutrals check out this ad below.




If you Prefer colors! See the above mentioned Jahqio site!

Have a great weekend!

Suit Jackets and Swimwear with Pockets & the Sizing issue

Thank you Colleen for your input! I did look into Talbots. I had already been considering some upper scale Plus size and petite jacket makers. Talbots is more reasonably priced than the Barrie Pace and Austin Reed jackets I was looking at! Talbots has a really good line of plus size petite. Where as the other two I mentioned often have misses, women’s or petite lines. But often lacking in plus size petite.

Fortunately I found I am mistaken about some of the Silhouette’s spring preview jackets I assumed had fake pockets! I called Silhouettes and found that the cropped jacket pictured here does have pockets under those flaps!

The one button shimmer jacket also has real pockets! It also has the back vent I like! The shimmer would really add a bit to my usual bland khaki cargo shorts. Assuming I can fit into them this summer. This jacket could be a bit long on my 5"1 ½” frame to wear with shorts. But it’s cotton / linen. Good for people like me who sweat!

Sadly even Silhouettes’ customer service can not find out if this shimmer collarless jacket has pockets. And none of them come in petite sizes.

All are machine washable and unlined. Machine washable is a plus for me in that I have a 7 year old daughter. There are markers and other stuff coming my way. Usually often. Though I prefer lined jackets. Thinking of summer in New Jersey unlined and machine washable has it’s advantages too.

What I was thinking of regarding tiny zip pockets in women’s swim wear was all these Skirted bathing suits. Like Miracle suit’s skirted one currently pictured here. Which is a one piece. And the It Figures Skirtini pictured below it.

Granted in a gather skirting what I was thinking of would be harder to pull off. I was thinking of in most lie flat skirtini skirts. A pocket. Tiny. Sewn in just where the waist of the skirt meets the attached swim brief. Between the swim brief and the skirt. Discreet and accessible!

I doubt anything will come of it unless lots of women start writing a place like AlwaysForMe.com
I know they listen to customer feedback. That’s why they brought back the above mentioned favorite It Figures plus size skirtini. And why they carry cup sized full figure swim wear.

I also realize, being short, that for a petite women, plus size skirtini swimwear has it’s disadvantages too. But the Always for Me swim wear line has lots of these great mini swim dresses! These mini swim dress comes in a multitude of ever increasing colors and prints!

Again a place where the pocket of my dreams could go. But till then, a swim skirt that does not hang to a petite women’s knees!!

Junonia
has some styles of full figure active wear with built in inner pockets for keys and valuables. Perhaps that is a start!

But as for the pocketed suit jacket issue. I did run across this multi pocket jacket in sizes up to 20. Click on it’s picture and hit the “more about this product” link to read about all those inner pockets!



By Orvis. They have neither full figure or petite sizes. Which brought to mind the whole sizing question. What is the difference between a size 20, and a size 20W in a jacket?

AlwaysForMe.com
spells it out in each of their swimsuit’s descriptions.

I thought Talbots was going to spell it out for us. I saw mention of biceps and thigh measurements in their women’s verses women’s petite sizes. Then when I went to find the comparison of biceps and thighs measurements in their misses size charts. Well it was just bust, waist and hips.

Well I guess that is why online stores have lenient return policies.

I understand men’s apparel has pretty standardized sizing. When will women’s?

Spring full figure Suit previews and further questions

Now you’ll find beautiful plus size suits at Silhouettes Spring fashions preview. I have some of these suits and suit separates pictured here here. And here on my ladies suit page.

But I am continue to wonder about the functionality of these women’s suits. Or, as my question of last week, is it just me. Do any other women want pockets.

I’ve been reading:



This book brings up how upon women getting the vote, the skeletal, 1920's flapper look becomes fashionable. Female dieting and a preoccupation with thinness ensue. Page 52 of my paper back copy. One question posed by the book is:

Is this new look for women an attempt to keep women weak regardless of their ability to vote?

Is the current ultra thin, anorexic look a result of people not really wanting women to have equal rights? Equal pay, power things of that ilk. Is it an effort to control women with rights? Kind of crumy when women don’t usually get equal pay anyhow.

On a lighter side, although one that effects me, what’s with this lack of pockets thing?

Am I suppose to have one hand and or arm occupied all the time?

Sure I like handbags. A little. But for daily wear I want my wallet in my back pocket. A pack of tissues and perhaps a pen, pad and some cough drops on my person too.

For me the result is not buying. More searching. I did find a nice array of high quality plus size women’s suits. I feature them here. Many come in petite sizes. But I will have to dig deeper to find out if they have at least my 2 required pockets. Still, at present their prices are a bit forbidding too. Still I’d rather wait a bit, pay more and get what I really want.

I love the classic look of these jackets. The fact that many are available in plus size petite women’s sizes. But it disturbs me that a mention of lining and pockets is missing in their descriptions.

Is it that at those prices, it’s a given that they come at least with lining? Is it that because it’s women’s apparel, it does not matter?

What do you want? Granted I do not fall for that, I must get thin thing. But I do want to know why women’s apparel is not more functional. Women’s swimsuits never seems to have a small zipper inner pocket for your locker key and a bit of cash. What’s up with that? Is it ok to steal a women’s stuff while she swims?

Are women’s fashions functional enough for you? Or is it just me who has a problem with this?

A Question to other women out there

While researching plus size suits this past fall, I found several jackets I really liked, for me. I’m picky about little things in a suit jacket. I want it lined. I want a back vent. I think long looks better on me, and other short women. I have since seen that short suit jackets on full figured petite women actually look great. But I’ll get back to that.

The one think I won’t budge on. A JACKET MUST HAVE POCKETS!
Preferably an inside, check book deep pocket in the lining as well. I needed just that 2 weeks ago. The checkbook pocket. I’m not holding my breath waiting to find one of those in jackets made for a woman.

And I prefer pockets with flaps. I knew, even before my daughter came along, that you will end up with your jacket draped over your arm. Things will fall out of those pockets.

I found out that jackets I were looking at that even said they have pockets, did not. Unless they are patch pockets. As the nice people at Silhouettes
online store informed me.

I had my eye on a suit jacket at Avenue’s online store. Went to their local store and found, flaps with no pockets underneath. That’s when I called Silhouettes and when they informed me about that this is usually the case. Only patch pockets are not faked to seem as if they are pockets.

Now here is my question:
Is it just me? Does any other woman out there want the pockets?

No more Moo Moo BBW fashions!

The other day I got a response from HoneyBee regarding the geriatric state of many bbw fashion styles she’s seen.

Fortunately she herself is a designing woman who has designed apparel for friends and family. Plus she dreams of being a fashion designer. Aiming to design sexy and exotic wear for us curvy women! Go for it HoneyBee!

At about the same time I got an email from a mother and daughter team who are already doing it!

Check this out! This is so NOT MOO MOO FASHIONS

Jahqoi, exclusively sizes 14 to 28 fashions!.
Currently featuring uniquely stylized skirts, tops and jackets. Also in an excellent array of colors. Don’t like what you see currently? Get on their mailing list. I bet we’ll see lots of fresh, original styles any woman would be proud to wear with ease and comfort!

Strangely, it was just after Thanksgiving I was requested to find exactly that. A moo moo for a size 1X women. And it had to be cotton. Well at least she’s over 80. That explains wanting to dress that way. I guess.

Well I browsed, with vigor, my plus size apparel site’s merchants. Finally found one. And it was not even cotton. A kind friend trying to give me her business!

Still, all lingerie page , aside most of the fashions my sites promote are not especially sexy either. Well ok, some of the swim wear is too some of the swim wear is too. Especially the some of the bra sized swimsuits. Some are, but it would the depend on an individual woman’s shape. There again I’m a shy woman. So you gotta take it were it’s coming from.

This sparkling camisole could be sexy on some bbw. It comes with built-in lightly padded, underwire support cups, in bra sizes 36 to 48 C, D, and DD.




You can learn more about, or shop for, this cotton knit camisole above by clicking on it’s picture. It will take you to Silhouettes’ online store. Among one of my favorites for full figure style in mostly business and casual wear. I admit some of their tunics and dresses are shaped too close to moo moos for even shy little/big ole me.

However lots of their apparel has this nice shaping like this shirred waist dress below. They even have a drape-neck top shaped the same way.




And HoneyBee did point out the problem of the shrinking sizes in her blog,
The BBW Princess. Well you won’t find that if you order from Silhouettes. Their clothing is cut broad!

Another place you should be less likey to find shrinking clothing is Argentina:
On page 291 of my paper back copy of:


Mentions that the Argentina Senate passed a bill on June of 2000. It requires that clothing makers make apparel for women of all sizes. This apparently came about because at that point 1 in 10 Argentine girls suffered from eating disorders. Complaints were that stores only carried apparel for thin women. Hopefully this has stopped by now and things have gotten better.

Pro Big Beautiful Women in the news and at home

Glamour magazine, on page 161 of their January 2007 issue, points out a disturbing fact. It seems that in 1993 fashion models were a size 6. Now, in 2006, just 13 years later they are a size 0.




Why would fashion designers make clothing for people of such an unrealistic size?

Fortunately there are plenty of designers who style apparel for us full figure women now. The clothing you’ll find at this plus size women’s clothing store is mostly a designed just for big beautiful women! The swim and active wear at this swim wear store is also styled just for us full figure women! Even a lot of the bra size swimsuits. Fantasie of England does design their swimsuits to fit both full busted and plus sizes women. But their leg cuts are a bit high for some of us. I wear mine with a swim skirt over it.

In the media full figure women are getting more good attention! Tyra Banks has featured Tyra Banks' Full Figured Top Model Lingerie

Apparently Tyra hosted a Top Model Competition for the next US bbw top model. You can bet they all look better than a size 0! The Tyra link will take you to Hips and Curves. A store that features nothing but sexy lingerie designed just for full figured women!

If you want pretty, yet not too sexy, wear for around the house check this out!




If it came in petite sizes one would be on the way to me right now. It’s cotton! It’s from Silhouettes. Click on it’s picture to go there. You’ll find stylish fashions just for us bbw! But be warned, their sizes run large. Their quality is EXCELLENT! And they do have a petite section, but this item is not in it. You can find links to their Specialty petite, tall and extended sizes by taking their link in the right side column of this page.

Vote Your Opinion of the Size of fashion models

Want to tell a publication what you think of the size of fashion models? Here is your chance to tell Parade magazine. It comes in Some Sunday News Papers. Their November 12th 2006 issue asked the question on page 2. Read about it and cast your vote by clicking on this link.


Scroll down a bit while you are there and enjoy some reader’s commentary!
When I cast my vote this AM the current stats were:

• Out of 1708 votes
  
• 93% felt models were too thin
  
• 7% felt they were the right size

This was all brought up by the Spanish fashion designers banning excessively thin models from their run ways. While Karl Lagerfeld says models are not too skinny. So Parade is kind enough to ask us!

And quickly, before it goes off your news stand.
I tried to find this online for us. But I’m not finding it yet.

Glamour Magazine’s December issue, page 58:
Gives us a graphic showing how Clothes DO LOOK BETTER on Healthy Bodies! In answer to the same issue. Designers being hit with criticism regarding models skinniness. With a little creative photo-shopping they give us a good contrasting eyeful. Same model. Same dress and shoes. A few pounds added and the thin one looks like a woman with a terrible wasting disease.

I’m gonna hang that right by my desk where my daughter can see it! It makes a good point for too thin looks sickly.

Glamour has for some time now been running Dress for your size, at any size and shape type articles. And why not. Why should they mind their readers coming in all sizes? Why should anyone selling to the public?

Apropos to real life:

Personally when I was looking for a amorous adventure I held with a line from a Woody Allen movie: “I’ll take the one that eats.”
And from what I’ve experienced, lot of men like women with healthy appetites too!

The pressure to be Thin is hurting Our Youngsters

Well this social pressure to be thin could be harming folks at any age. But to really destroy lives starting in primary school is just well, tragic. And it’s happening.

Fortunately lots of good people have been researching this and what we can all do about it.
One of them is Frances M. Berg. A licensed nutritionist, family wellness specialist, adjunct professor at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine, and author of 10 books.
One of which is:

Children and Teens Afraid to Eat: Helping Youth in Today's Weight-Obsessed World (Berg, Francie M. Afraid to Eat Series.)

In this book she, using a wealth of nicely noted references. And her own over 16 years of experiences reporting research and information on eating and weight. She is the founder, editor and publisher of Healthy Weight Journal.

The book I mentioned on Nov. 6th post of this year. Kelly Bliss was kind enough to suggest this book to me. I wrote her of my concerns about my, then 6 year old, daughter. My daughter told me she did not want to eat because she is afraid of getting fat.

Well I finally got my own copy and boy is it hard to put down! I bet if I had ever tried to diet to loose weight it would have been impossible to put down.

This book tells us that my little girls fear in not unusual. That many children and teens develop some of 6 major eating disorders. To rather long term ill effects, including death. If it does not kill it reduces the quality of their lives. And that is an UNDERSTATEMENT.

The book has lots of other info too. But perhaps because I’m a parent, I’m kind of stuck on this aspect.

For instance it puts in proper perspective the apparently taken to be gospel on diet now by many. That Meat is bad. No it is not.

And that cutting your intake of calories, and exercise will make you the size some height and weight chart says you aught to be. Quite possibly not. So relax and stop driving yourself crazy. Just aim for health and happiness! It’s a great goal!

She promotes a concept called Health at Any Size. Self and other people acceptance. Communication. A normal diet including a variety of foods, avoiding none really. And taking up healthy activities because you enjoy them. And doing our best to make this culture accept people of all sizes.

Naturally this book is largely about what we can do for the children and teens. But it’s gonna help us all.

Here, rather than tell you about the book, I’m going to make it my mission to act on some of the things we can do.

The book suggest plenty. Read the book!

Here I’m gonna put attention on magazines, TV and other media that get my attention regarding:

• 
  
  Good examples of all size friendly publications
  
• Examples of the beautiful full figure women, Hey I don’t want to be bias against the slender. But I can’t let my daughter grow up in fear either. Besides slender women have gotten lots of attention anyway.
  
• Places that we can give our feed back to regarding this size issue, I’ll be posting one of these tomorrow, if it checks out to be true.

I also brought another one of her books:

Women Afraid to Eat: Breaking Free in Today's Weight-Obsessed World

but it will be a bit before I get around to reading it. Well I like to have something to look forward to. I do that a lot. Like to have a little something put by for later.

But read the book. Get informed and start helping yourself and our youngsters today! We can do a lot to take the pressure off people for simply being large. Find out how!

We can make the move toward a more pleasant tomorrow for all! Well perhaps it’ll be hard on those loose weight fast pill folks. But really they’ve had a long run of making a buck selling unworkable solutions. Lets make a better future for all. They’ll find a better thing to do too!

More wearer reviews of the Squeem Waist Cincher

I’m wearing the Squeem Waist Cincher Vest. I’ve provided a rather informal, and rambling, review on 11/23/06.

To see more wearer reviews of the Squeem Firm Compression Waist Cincher and their High Compression Waist Cinchers:

Take this link to

Click here to visit Galapagos Boutique

• 
  Select "Squeem" from the horizontal menu bar
  
• Look down the right side of the center of the page and
• Select either the Firm Compression or the High Compression waist cinchers
• Scroll down a bit on either to read the reviews
  
• Both have wearer reviews!
  

The High Compression one is designed to be made to wear while exercising! As well as to make clothing fit better, as one wearer review states.

I’m wearing the vest style waist cincher. For my current informal test, I will not add exercising to my current activities till the month is up. That will be a 1 month test as of Dec 18th. Besides I normally ice skate twice a week. I’m behind in everything else. I can wait till the 19th to begin exercising too.

This vest does make me feel like exercising though. My normal form of exercise had been ballet grand plies. It’s the Ballet version of the deep knee bend. I’d work up to about 10 sets of 10 daily. About 6 days a week.

NEVER DO THIS ON A CONCRETE FLOOR. NEVER. You hurt the pads of your feet, tendons and ligaments in your legs if you do. I did. They are almost always better now. Almost.

It helps to have good posture to do a grand plie right. It’s hard to start with good posture when you are out of shape. It’ll be the first thing I do after I put my vest on Dec. 19th! Makes for strong, springy legs! This vest’s posture help makes this something I’m looking forward to! And stronger legs! Always an asset when trying to keep up with a 7 year old. Ok. I’m 47 and I’m tired.


I’ve worn mine a little over a week now. And during that time I wrestled with my energetic daughter as usual. And moved more boxes of, mostly books. As well as miscellaneous stuff and furniture. From my friend’s second story apartment to our 3rd floor attic. Wearing this waist cinching vest all along. My back still feels great!

I’ve gotta say it again. I really don’t care if it does reduce my waist size in a month or not. I just feel better with this shaper on. So does my back!

But it seems I’ve somehow damaged the poor thing. A stay is sticking through the inside. And it’s still not poking me! I first noticed it over the weekend, but only got to inspect it this morning. Well at least the moving is finally over! So perhaps it won’t incur further damage. Unless it was from wresting with my daughter.... There again I've been wearing mine for an average of 13 hours a day. It's recommend use is 8 to 10 hours.

I may seem a bit too focused on the NO POKING thing. Because once, years ago as a temp worker, I had to wear a back brace for a job. It was the company’s insurance that insisted on this. A vest like this. But did not made to conform to the body. And it’s stays constantly poked me in the chest and legs. I finally gave up and wore it open, hanging off my shoulders by it’s straps. This is Squeem waist cinching vest is what they should have provided.

Another Squeem waist cincher advantage I’ve found:
It alleviates the pressure of a tight waistband! It’s firm pressure seems to distribute the pushing back of my fatty gut. So instead of the slim, single waist band cutting into me, my waist cincher compacts it all back a bit. But no cutting edge feel of just the tad too tight waist band.

Read my informal reviews, and the other wearers. Choose carefully and ENJOY!

Kei This Waist Cincher is Great! And Comfy!

Lets put it this way, it’s Thanksgiving morning. I’m going to a big dinner with lots of deserts, and I’ll be wearing mine all day.

Or I could put it another way. Due to an ordering fluke, a second one is on my dresser. It is the same size as the one I'm wearing. If their claim is true, about reducing one’s waist size, I’ll need a smaller size in a month. If it’s not true for me, I’m keeping that one too! Though this cincher does have 2 hook and eye rows for adjustment. And it’s sizing is hosiery style, height and weight. So I might need the same size anyway. Well with a 90 day guarantee to see how it goes, I’m not concerned.

I started wearing mine last Saturday. I wore it for 11.75 hours. Now I wear it daily. One day as little as 8 hours. One day, the one with my daughter’s skating class in the early evening, for 15 hours. It looks like my average will be 12 hours a day. Because that’s just the way my day runs. Don’t have a lot of time to change. I won’t know about the claim of waist reduction after 1 months wear till December 18th. Till then I’m keeping records.

As for the comfort of this waist cinching vest, the day I wore it for 15 hours. I could have changed out of it. It just never crossed my mind. That night I skated in it, as I did for about 1 ½ hours to first day I wore it. At last I knew my posture was right while skating! I don’t do any fancy skating, but I don’t want to look stupid either.

I really like the posture thing. It makes me feel better. It makes me feel like I look better. And it smooths out my large gut nicely.

I feel better, and for me that’s what’s count. Besides, that’s gotta show in some way. I’m pretty sure the better posture thing makes my bust look better. But I can’t feel the part between my shoulder blades at all. In future, I might go for the cheaper waist cincher without the vest part.

As for the question I had about can a cincher reduce you one jeans size:
I was wearing a size 16, way too loose. Even before the waist cincher. I had put off shopping for a while.

With the cincher on and off, well rolled up, I tried on both sizes 14 and 12 in Levis jeans.
In several styles. It seems Levis is consistent. Across my big gut the difference between a size 12 and a 14, cincher out of the way, is approximately 3 inches.
No. The cincher won’t pull me all that way in. So I went with the 14s.

Why I like mine:
I feel better.
I feel like I look better.
My lower back has not hurt since I've been wearing it daily!!
My bulges are largely smoothed and NO POKING AT ALL!!
Lots of going through boxes of hastily stored stuff at a friend’s apartment from back when my father died. My friend has to move now. I’ve be BENDING A lot, and still no poking. I’ve been moving furniture. My back feels better than normal!!

It does not feel bad in anyway. It does not smell or feel like rubber. Because it’s cotton lined. The rubber smell is very subtle.


Extra added benefits for me in particular. And perhaps you too?

I have a lot of bikini undies I would not wear because they’d roll down on me. After I sat down and then stood up again. The cincher kept them up when wearing it. But after I’d take it off for the evening, they’ve remained up. No matter how many times I’d got up and down. With a child, I assure you, that’s a lot. For all I know it’s reducing my gut already. Hard to get a good consistent gut measure. Yep I tried that already.

It help protect me from the cold wind on the hill where I pick my daughter up from school.
Yet it’s not so warm that wearing it in the summer might be unthinkable.

With that in mind, I went looking for a simple denim vest I saw. I’m a jeans or shorts and t-shirt person in the warm weather. This cincher will look like a corset under a tight t-shirt. Well I was too late. But I’ve got till it heats up to get more loose t-shirts or a vest to wear over my tight ones.
Yes I’m planning to wear this cincher vest, or just the waist cincher, as a standard. All year. It make me feel that much better. For me, it think it’s the posture. I do feel that I look slimmer. But I wear loose clothing so it’s hard to say.

This is most likely to be a just me and my daughter thing but here it is.
We’ve joked about getting me body armor. My little Tigers, (her 1st nickname, and it holds) head buts me. In my gut. Even with her hockey helmet on. That can really hurt. And some times punches me there. Climbs all over me, all the time. And she’s 7 now. Over 50 pounds and strong.
This works. Now I’ve got a little protection! This is my body armor!

So it seems I could go on and on about this.... well it’s that good for me. Some other things you might want to know:

1stYes you can eat a lot in it and feel comfy. I did. I was cold this week. So I ate a lot. That’s what I do when I’m cold. And while I won’t diet to loose weight I do try to eat high fiber foods for heart health reasons. For me that’s lots of brown rice and bran muffins. Pretty filling after breakfast nachos.

2nd Yes it is CINCHING. You can tell when you put it on. It’s REAL HARD to get the first hooks and eyes closed the 1st time. Once it’s on you can see you look smoother. Well I could. It’s in no way seamless though. Think nicely draping shirts. Or vests.

3rd Don't buy the waist reduction cream they sell to use with this. The insturctions say do not use cream or lotion under your waist cincher.


I also feel my back fat is all smoothed out.

Will write more about it if any other benefits of this waist cinching vest occur. And of course I’ll give a report about the waist reduction shortly after December 18th.

If you have any specific questions about this feel free to ask and I’ll respond as soon as I can.

I’m pretty impressed with mine. I’m also pretty cheap. I Won’t spring for a good winter coat. I Wore a size to big jeans for about a year. Waited for the vest I wanted to go on sale till it went out of stock. So for me to buy one of these waist cinchers, and have another sitting on my dresser. While I’m on the brink of buying my daughter her 1st pair of hockey ice skates. NOT cheap, but she’s toughed it out wearing crummy rentals for almost a year now. That just might say it all.

A comfy full figure waist cincher, Yes Really

A while back I wrote about my search for just how to order a waist cincher. I was disapointed by the results I had in previous waist cinchers I had to return. Being poked by the boning and no cinching.

My search for finding out how to size a waist cincher lead me to find a very special waist cincher. You can read about that here. Or you can go to

Click here to visit Galapagos Boutique

and read about the actual waist cincher from the seller. Just use that link and select “Squeem” from their horizontal menu bar.

I picked the waist cinching vest. It arrived last week. I have not had a chance to give it their claim’s test. They claim it’ll reduce your waist by at least 1 inch. If you wear it for 1 month at least 8 hours a day.

Here is what I want to do first. Measure my waist size. Get a pair of jeans that actually fit. Or perhaps wear it to our local Gap, I wear Levis. Then find out if this cincher allows for a size difference in the same style of jeans. You know. By trying one fitting size and one size smaller on 1st with out, and then with this cincher on. OK I’m curious by nature.

The jeans I’m wearing these days are about to fall off. In fact my daughter grabbed me by their waistband last week while we were ice skating. Almost caused a huge moment of embarrassment for us. They nearly slipped off. So the trip to get a new pair of jeans is way over due. I may not have the previous size kicking around the house. They were purchased after summer. For me the season of elastic waistband short. I have given up looking.

I found out last spring break just how loose those pants are. We ended up ice skating every other day. I got from the drivers seat of my car, and the jeans remained seated. Fortunately we were in our driveway! And that was less than 4 hours of extra skating in one week than what we normally do. So you see ladies, we don’t need to diet. Just find something fun to do. Then do a tad more of it!

At present, I don’t have time for that, just yet. So I go for the pants that fit now. Try the next smallest size with the cincher on. If they fit with it, I’ll likely go with that pair. Or perhaps 1 each. Why?

Because that very special cincher is warm!! And I sit in the skating rink each week for ½ hour. watching my daughter have her pre-hockey class. And I freeze. Then I skate for ½ hour practice with her.

Also it does help ease the lower back pain!
The flexible boning does not poke me anywhere!
And it does give me a gentle reminder to sit up straight. Which is easier to do when not freezing!

So begins the tail of the comfy waist cincher. Round 1.

about the Importance of Size Acceptance

Can a woman who promotes, tries and even wears full figure shapewear promote size acceptance? Actually I do and I can.

Here is why. I believe in it. And more importantly I believe in the importance of accepting yourself at whatever size your happen to be. At the moment. Any moment.

It’s important for you if you feel you are overweight. Because it’s better to be at peace with your self. Especially if you want to do good things for yourself. Like get yourself in shape and be healthy. You can read a great deal more about that here at Life & Wellness Coaching for people of all sizes, twelve different Plus Size fitness workouts, and TONS of info on self-care / self-appreciation!.

And it’s important for the children you come in contact with. Very important. They are growing and need fuel from food to grow. And many, including my daughter, who turned 7 today, are afraid of eating because they are afraid of getting fat.

Yes, that is what she told me when I asked why she will not eat breakfast. Afraid of getting fat.
I explained to her that all the growing, learning and playing that she does would make getting fat near impossible. If fact she might not even be able to do these things well if she continues to avoid food.

The first I heard of this, from her, was years ago when she was at daycare. At that point in time she accepted my guidance more readily. She quickly resumed normal eating. I assumed the ladies at daycare, were discussing weight loss diets in front of the children. These big beautiful women appeared to take lunch with or near the children.

Now I am overweight. My daughter sees some commercials. She says “Mama, you should get that.” This is regarding the latest commercials for weight loss fast pills. I tell her, no mama just has to get some exercise.

I’ve read a little about protecting your child from fear of getting fat. This is what I’ve read:
Children and Teens Afraid to Eat: Helping Youth in Today's Weight-Obsessed World (Berg, Francie M. Afraid to Eat Series.)

It seems to be about not giving your child the idea she has to finish what’s on her plate. Or making food a reward for good deeds done. And not putting your self down about your size in front of her.

I don’t even diet in front of me. I’ve been on two, totally doctor prescribed diets. One, for an ulcer like condition, the bland diet. I was not over weight then. I was underweight and losing. Losing stomach lining too.

Then in my mid 20s, in lots of stomach pain. After an ultrasound my doctor told me to not eat any fats. Just for several weeks. Not till a while after he removed my stony, muddy gall bladder. And it worked! No more excruciating pain!!

I never believed in diets to loose weight. Never believed I’d like to try that. So I did not. I enjoy cooking. I like to spend all Sunday cooking and have planned left overs ½ the week. When it comes to diet for myself, alone during my work week, it’s gotta be fast. With an quick clean up.

I am intrigued by shapewear because I hope to fit into clothing I’m too cheap to replace. I figure I can loose it fast enough when I start exercising regularly in this December. I also figure if it took 5 years to get this out of shape, it will take at least half that time to get back into shape.

A great gift giving idea and opportunity

Get some excellent full figure lingerie or sleep wear for yourself using this Figleaves banner below.



Then use the 10% off voucher and to get a gift card at Figleaves.
Here just use this link to get to their gift cards:

Give the Gift they'll never return...a figleaves.com Gift Card - Because it's what's underneath that counts!

This could be just the thing for that certain man or woman in your life who has everything. Figleaves carries quality men’s and women’s swim wear, underwear and robes. Their women’s shop by bra size and the rest of their search facility is the best I’ve found online yet. And they have an excellent selection of average and full figure women’s bras, panties, shape wear and luxury lingerie.

So for the people in your life you can’t figure out what to give, but who no doubt wear underwear....This could be the prefect gift!

A Great discount on plus size shapewear and bras!

Now till the end of the year you can go to BiggerBras.com
and get 15% off your whole order. Just use the code “mist” when you order. When you get to their site you’ll see a 10% off code. That is their apparent standard. Bigger Bras gave me the “mist” code to share with you. And I tried it. It works!

They have a wide variety of full figure bras and plus size shape wear. They also have plus size bridal bustier as well as full busted and plus size swim wear.

Their standard shipping is very quick too! I get my orders from them within 2 days! So you can enjoy the great savings. Look your best in your formal and daily wear. Buy quality shapewear that’s easy on your checkbook for a change! So go ahead and get something nice for yourself this season while you are gift shopping!

From just Comfort to including Appearance concerns

I have never really cared about how I looked. Whenever I can get away with it, my appearance reflects that. I don’t look fashion challenged, just extremely casual. At times eccentric, I am told.

When pregnant, I asked my friend Cindy if I would have to become more appearance conscious for my child’s sake. She said usually the mama becomes appearance before conception.

She and I met when we were 3 years old. She knew I have never done anything in my life in the normal order.

Now the child in question, my daughter, after her 1st week of 1st grade has provided some insight.

She was in tears this weekend. She explained how much she wants me dress pretty and wear makeup and do my hair.

I’ve been researching plus size clothing looking for the feel good fit. So at least I know what fashions are out there in my size.

And I had kind of seen it coming. Earlier this year, which I wrote about here, I did start trying to put together outfits.

Good thing I’ve been developing a concept.

My daughter could not wait. She made me dress up, to cook. I picked a t-shirt dress from before I had a 38 inch waist. Put on my favorite bra. And one of my currently fitting shaping panties. Flexees’s version this Bali control panty. The effect was, dressier with bulges.

The high waisted Spanx power panty would have done well. It is a shame I out grew the pair of power panties I had. Though not high waisted, it would have helped.

Then I’d need their, or some one’s body smoothing camisole to handle the upper bulges.

And it would likely all be worth it, depending on how many t-shirt dresses I really have. Two I can think of off the top of my head.

I’ll be looking at the whole concept of wardrobe now. Trying to avoid the make up issue till the humidity leaves our New Jersey life!

Underwire One piece swim suit, a Consideration

I had intended to get an underwire tankini top. Because I have a young child, I often have to hurry. Rushing out of the bathroom for instance. I wanted a 2 piece suit for easy and quick on-and-offs.

But when I went to order it, it was out of stock.

Thinking my daughter is a bit older now. So I have to rush out of the bathroom a bit less often.

So I ordered a one piece underwire swim suit. About which I am very happy. It fits, it’s comfortable. I’m full busted so I have to order by the top size. While the top fits, the bottom hangs loose. I have no hips So I wear a swim skirt over it. The whole arrangement looks and feels fine.

I love the underwire support and coverage of this suit. All the swim suits I’ve had in the past have shelf bra support. Makes you look like a speed bump. Feels icky to sweat in. Not this swimsuit!

Just one problem with this. Even without rushing, it is kind of hard to get a wet one piece underwire swim suit back on.

Next year I’ll order early and get the tankini.

The joys of a no-bulk down vest!

Found this beautiful down vest by Junonia. Currently, till Sept. 25th, you can get it for $19 off!! They have plenty of other nice outerwear styles on sale now too. Including ski wear, in their outerwear section.

It reminded me of my old vest. I used to wear it for cross country skiing and hiking. Also, because I:

had a old 66 Plymouth
lived in the land of alternate side of the street parking
got tired of sewing the sleeves back on my winter coat.

My old car had what I called hand over fist steering. I believe it was called a “worm gear” steering box.

I got a duck down vest, on sale in the spring! Took to wearing it with an old oiled wool sweater underneath for my winter coat. Worked great till a kind friend of mine “washed” my oiled wool sweater. Sorry I didn’t keep it. I did not know back then I’d have a toddler some day... oh well.

Any way, this Juno one is much better. Well it’s prettier. Faux fur trim on it’s high collar, arm holes and hem. It’s got a zip chest pocket. My old one didn’t.

The other thing mine did not have was the length. This Juno one has length and side vents. So you have ease of movement and a warm lower back!

And it comes in sizes 18W to 32W. My old one was a size XS. What a surprise, in the time of the desk job pays more, I gained weight. Bet that’s one main reason why we do. Hey that’s why your parents wanted you to go to college. That’s why you want your kids to do the same. So why do full figured women and heavy men get treated poorly in this society??

Sorry. Got a bit side tracked there. Anyway now we know where to get the non-bulk vest.

Do any of you ladies out there know where I can get on oiled wool sweater in like a size 2X?

With an oiled wool, repels water, sweater
a down vest
and a woven shirt under it all
you’ll have the best warmth, ease of movement, and wind resistance I’ve ever know!

A Mid-thigh length plus size suit jacket

I’m real enthused about this jacket I wrote about yesterday. First of all, I like the longer suit jackets. Second, it’s got a back vent and flap close front pockets. It’s a good color too. I’m sorry I can’t get a picture of it for us.

I need pockets, and I prefer a back vent. I’d also like an interior checkbook size pocket in my suit jacket. My father had them in his when I was a child. Why don’t women’s suit jackets come with this feature? Do men’s suit jackets still come with them?

I’ve always been concerned about comfort and fit. Now my 6 year old daughter wants me to improve my look. To actually care about how I look. To wear nice clothes and make up, color my hair, that sort of thing. So now as I research clothing for the 2 web sites I post, I try to consider things beyond comfort.

It’s not always easy. But then I have always liked fall fashion. So perhaps now is as good as it’ll get for me. In terms of getting into how I look rather than feel.

Do any of you find yourself going through that sort of change for your child?

Grenier’s Extra Comfort and Support Full Figure Bra

I found a plus size and full busted bra designed to provide the maximum comfort! A full coverage bra in sizes 34 to 44 in cup sizes C, D or DD. Sadly, for me, it only comes in cup sizes up to DD. I’m still a H cup size making due with a G cup bras...but they are good ones!

The best price I’ve seen this bra at so far is at Bigger Bra’s online store. Take the link at the top right of This page to go straight to it. This bra has:

Cushioned underwires

Wide stretch comfy straps

Molded cups that adapt to your natural shape

It’s front center is designed to alleviate pressure to your sternum!

Plus it’s a smooth seamless, yet pretty bra. Prefect for under t-shirts or any sleeved wear! Makes me want to get down to a DD cup size again!

Excellent Full Figure Bra on Sale news flash

Right now, you can get as much as $26.49 off the Le Mystere Dream Tisha Seamless Full Fit Bra!! If you know nothing about this bra it’s one of Oprah’s Favorites, which you can read about here. It’s my favorite, and it does not even come in my size. But I have to compromise a lot. Well who doesn’t? You can read about why I like it here. This bra is well worth it’s normal, this year, cost of $66.

But if you just want to know where to get this excellent bra
at 33% off
and then 10% off that...
Read the top right column of this page!

A real likely bra sized swimsuit for plus sized, full busted woman

It’s Fantasie’s best selling under wire bra sized suit. It’s also the least expensive one I’ve seen. And believe me, I’ve been looking! It’s called their Bahama 1-piece underwire swimsuit #8009. Which you can read about and find a link directly to it at the top right of this page here.

Perfect for plus sized women who need underwire bra support in sizes up to 44D to FF! And slender women who needs underwire support in bra sizes 34 to 38D to GG.

You can adjust the leg of this swimsuit down for more bottom coverage. You can’t do that with Fantasie’s Fiji underwire plunge swimsuit. Although it’s made for plus size women, with a soft control fabric.

Find out where to get this suit here. I wish I had before I got their Fiji one piece swim suit. See post of July 24th. I have the inverted triangle shape, which is to say my hips are 2 sizes smaller than my waist. So I kept Fantasie’s excellent Fiji Underwire Plunge swimsuit 1- piece for it’s excellent bust support. And covered the draping lower half with a swim skirt.

For me it’s “Oh well, maybe next year I’ll get it right!”

Classic and trendy boots to go with comfy stretch cotton capri

I saw nice and comfy looking workout wear stretch cotton capri pants yesterday. You can see them here, 2nd picture down or read about them here. Anyway I thought, in their darker colors, they’d be nice with these slouchy corduroy boots I saw earlier. The boots you see below now.





Then I checked out Silhouettes’ other boots and thought, well these other, more classic boots below would look great with them too. And they’d never go out of style. Besides, they have stacked leather heels. I love stacked heels!





Either of these boots would go well with the above mentioned stretch cotton capri. But they’d also go good with this comfy skirt I have. Except the high classic boots might be better. I have ankle boots. Both pairs have zippers that do a number on my stockings. I get around this by wearing stockings less. But it might wreck the voile trim on my extremely comfy skirt. The classic pull on boot above won’t.

I’ve recently seen good buys on classic boots at the stores featured here. those stores carry women’s footwear in narrow to extra wide widths. But for the medium to extra wide width women’s shoes Silhouettes, who carries the boots pictured above seems to have the trendiest footwear in wide widths sooner. You can get to Silhouettes by clicking on either of the above boot pictures.

Fantasie’s control, 1-piece underwire full busted bra sized swimsuit

Are your hips is in the same size range as your waist? Are you a full busted, full figure women who wants a bra sized, underwire one piece bathing suit? If so you have a REAL good chance at great comfort, beauty and fit with this swim suit!

This is Fantasie’s Fiji Underwire Plunge swimsuit. A one piece suit made by Fantasie for full figure women. It comes in full busted sizes in small and large band sizes:

32DD to G

34, 36 and 38 DD to GG

40 DD to FF

42DD to F

It has a deep v-neckline with wide comfy straps and a cottony, compared to other swim wear, feel. It’s made of a control fabric. But it does not have a harsh binding or constricting feel. It’s also Chlorine resistant and quick drying! You can find it by taking the link of this swim suit’s name above.

I wanted Fantasie’s Fiji Tankini bra sized swim top. Because my hips are 2 sizes smaller than my waist. But it was out of stock when I tried to get it. It’s back in stock now. But at the time I couldn’t find it anywhere else. I couldn’t find any other bra sized tankini that went up to at least a G cup. I need a GG, but have learned to make due with a G cup for both bras and swim wear.


I doubted a one piece swim suit would work well. Suffice to say I an loath to return this one piece suit. But the hips are just way too loose. So I didn’t. I’m wearing a swim skirt over it. Well I was going on vacation and last years suit was shot. Like a suit with no bust support at all. It’s ok. But Just. What I really want is a bra sized, empire waist swim dress. So far it seems to not exist. If you find one let me know!

A brief review of an excellent plus size women’s stylish clothing store

I’m wearing their clothes now. I love them. And now YOU can enjoy their great style, quality and comfort with Free Shipping till July 12th. Go to the link "here" in the next paragraph. It'll take you to the page where The free shipping link to the store is.

Silhouette’s online store. An exclusively plus size women’s fashionable clothing store. You can see several of their plus size dresses, suits and other apparel here. On any main page at anytime these last few months. And likely in the months to come, no doubt. Because now I’m wearing them and I look and feel a whole lot better!

They carry great, figure flattering and stylish pants and skirt suits in their “Ensembles” section. plus size dresses, even little black dresses. Made to make you look great. Comfortable too. I know because I wear two of them now.

They have lovely and stylish shirts, blouses, pants, swim wear, shoes and accessories. And right now you can enjoy their excellent apparel made for us bbw with free shipping. Just take that link in the first paragraph here.

Some things I could tell you about buying from them. Their apparel is cut a bit large. No problem really. For instance, I’m usually a size 2X. Right now I’m wearing one of their size XL sized twist on the same old t-shirt style. They have plenty of dressed up T-shirts. I’ve got plenty of room to spare! That goes for their dresses and skirts too. Order a bit on the small size, you’ll still look great and have lots of room to move.

You might become join their “Frequent buyers club”, I did after my first order. Do not be alarmed that the 10% off does not show up on your online invoice when you order online. For some reason their web site lacks the capacity to do this. But you will be charge 10% less.

So feel at ease when you order from Silhouettes. I ordered on This Thursday, the 29th of June. My order arrived today, July 1st. Yes 2 days. That’s standard shipping. So DO NOT bother with extra shipping fees when the above free shipping offer expires.

Me, I just ordered a sorely needed swim skirt this morning. Mine is getting holey. I can’t wait! I most likely won’t wait long. Meanwhile Silhouettes is helping me take t-shirt dressing to a much more appealing level!

A plus size shapewear review

I wrote of looking forward to trying Fredericks Waist Cinching Panty here back on April 30th. Here is what happened when I got the size XL.

It fit well. But apparently this style of shapewear will not work for me. When I wore it the broad waist cinching band folds down, more folds than rolls, when I bend. This must work for someone, but not for me. Perhaps I just bend too much.

So far the Spanx power panty works the best for me. But it’s got too much leg for summer. So I should try their Hide and Sleek shaping panty for summer. But that is not a hosiery sized panty.

If your like me and have a waist that is considerably, (mine’s 2 sizes), larger than your hips, you’ll likely wind up with a skirt effect around your back side. This happened to me once with another panty.

Not bad if your gonna wear it with jeans though. Perhaps I’ll try that and write it up here as to how it went. See I saw it in a store over the weekend. It looks so smooth, soft, silky and light.

Another thing I saw was a great Le Mystere bra, their full figure Carina. It’s straps are incredibly smooth and soft, yet none stretch! Sadly, I’m just a little too big for that. Maybe later. If you’re not over a size G cup, it looks real comfy, pretty and supportive!

Reasons not to wear a corset, for some of us

Yesterday I mentioned why not, even as a shy woman, wear your corset around the house on a hot summer day? Here’s one good reason.

While I imagine my 6 year old daughter would have big fun untying the back lacing and retying me to something....

I thought perhaps it’s the thing to wear under that sparkly dress, see post of April 14th, my daughter is so fond of... at least the top would cover the back lacing for a bit....maybe....

But I mentioned yesterday, I’m kind of limited to the Renaissance Corset, which comes in white, a deep red (Well ok, red. And a neutral color they call Antique Rose. My daughter is sick of me in neutrals to begin with.) Or black. Now I’ve had enough of black....

Sometimes there is a plus side to being a day late and a dollar short! There’s a decision I can put off!

Corsets as outer wear, and which corsets for larger than DD Cup sized full figure women?

I wrote just previously about skipping a long torso waist cincher if I could not get the right size and would rather confront boning in a corset. Here’s some ideas about that.

Why shouldn’t a full figure woman wear a corset as outer wear? Queen Latifah wore one, or so it seemed, in a movie with Steve Martin in 2003.


Why shouldn’t you or I. OK I’m kind of shy for that kind of thing. But around the house at least, why not?


If I wore a corset as a waist cincher, and at the same time as outer wear.
Well that’s one less layer for a hot summer day.
Like this one:



It has a lace up bi-directional back, so you can adjust this to your fit. So if you gained or lost a bit of weight, you could adjust the back a bit. Fredericks corset fitting guide tells you to trim the back lacing strings after you get the right fit. I’d be reluctant to do that. Keep the extra room to move! Or in this case adjust.

It does have a hook end eye front. To get in and out of with out blowing your adjustment. It’s the easy way to get in and out of a corset. It’s hook and eye front is not mentioned in Fredericks online or paper catalog. So I called. Found out a few points of perhaps interest.

Many of their corsets are bra sized. Like their Dream corset and their Bold Hook and Eye Corsets. Customer service tells me that when their bra sized corsets say up to DD cup, believe them.

I asked what does a women, who likes their corsets, and who needs larger than a dd cup bra size do?


I suggested that perhaps the size 3X that their Renaissance corset comes in, could be adjusted out with it’s bi-directional back lacing and still pull in tight enough to fit the rest of you. She said this was very likely.

She, customer service, told me they run big to begin with!Unfortunately of all the lovely corsets Fredericks makes for full figure women, only the Dream Corset comes in 1X, 2X and 3X, (Small to Large too). On the bright side their 1X, 2X and 3X sizes are very generous, as I’ve posted here.

I’d like to try that out and get back to you on the results. But that might take a while. If it does work for me that would be a great leap for rang of Fredericks corsets. I need at least a H cup on a 38 inch frame, with currently a 38 inch waist.

It’ll be a while before I can try this though. If any large busted women out there give it a go before I get around to it, please let me know if it works!

Thanks!

The waist cinching panties and one long torso waist cincher

Last time I wrote here I mentioned shapewear I was waiting for. I wanted to see if it would make the dress you can see in the previous post look better.

And both pieces showed up about 3 days later. One was a long torso waist cincher, the other a waist cinching panty brief. I ordered both in “nude”, what Fredericks calls “Rose Chintz”.

The dress, being one outfit, I was planning to wear these shape wear styles with is fully lined. This made wearing these shapers with it more likely. Then I had fit problems, which you can read about here. It is largely because the only full figure size these styles of shape wear do not come in. Size 1X, the one I need.

I ordered a size 2X. Which, at my largest part, is 3 inches larger than a size 1X. Both the waist cincher and waist cinching panty brief were way to large. I figure it may have been fine, fit wise for some other styles of underwear. But I guess shape wear has to be at least the right size, not larger.

I returned the waist cinching panty briefer for an exchange. Gonna try a size smaller this time. Who knows? I’ll find out and write about it here, so you can find out when I do!

As for the long torso waist cincher, I returned it for a refund. It has boning. When I talked to the customer service people at Fredericks, they said it did not. If it had been the right size, it might be fine. And I might try it later, if the waist cinching panty briefer in the size smaller than I need works. Fitting loosely does no shaping to speak of, of course. Also one gets poked in the chest. Boning.

My take on boning is that if I’m gonna wear it, I won’t be poked in the chest. It’ll be boning in a corset that will go up to and include my breasts. I have a few ideas about that having to do with corsets. Or in my case one corset. Even if it’s just one, I’ll have to save up for it!

One plus size summer dress review, from 2 perspectives

In my last post I was extolling the virtues of 2 plus size dresses. This was so true I ordered one. I forgot that the visual effect of a tiered dress. Might not be the thing for a plump, short woman. I’m 5' 1 ½" short. I did remember, being short, I’d likely be taking up the straps.

When it comes to buying for me, I’m thinking of comfort and function, mostly.

Well when I got this dress below I learned a few things. And when I showed it to my daughter today I learned a bit more...





First the things that were not written correctly in this dresses description. All to the good by the way. I changed them already in the article about this dress.

It has lots of subtle sparkle. Maybe if you back up enough it looks non-sparkly as in the above picture. But as you take it out of the bag it has lots of sparkly threads.

I wrote that the skirt was lined originally. Well so is the bodice!! Less underwear worries!!

I wrote that the U-neckline was draw string. Nope. The waist is draw string, the neckline has a tie, but no draw to it.

Well One the one hand it felt right for summer, even with all that sparkle. I believe it will absorb sweat and then hang loose and dry nicely.

One the other hand, even with taking the straps up, it’s a bit low cut for me.
On the other other hand, I have a bust, what’s wrong with showing a bit of cleavage at home.

I wanted some thing to wear at home during the hot summer cooking season. Why not. Everything I wore these last two years is, well threadbare. I, as a rule have more concern about comfort than appearance. And I hate our summer’s heat the humidity. We do not have central air in this old house.

Then there’s the: well essentially I look like a sparkly little dumpling. You know, short, with a thick waist, lots of horizontal lines. The waist line, the tiers...

I’m still waiting on some shapwear, which I may or may not actually wear in the summer.

I did learn that I had plenty of time to decide, even after the shapewear comes in.

Because I received this dress 2 weeks ago. And the expiration date on the free return shipping label is June 30th of 2006. Another reason to Shop Silhouettes!

So I was waiting for the high waist shaping panties and waist chincher.

I mentioned this dress to my 6 year old today. She was against it from the start. When she saw the picture of it when I was first writing about it. Now she loves it. She feels I’m ready for the ball. Well she is 6, Cinderella and all that.

Now it’s a keeper for sure. Even before I pointed out that it is still better than my current round the house look.

For what it’s worth. Even with the straps taken, well pinned, up, there is still lots of room in the bodice’s back. If you have a well padded back, this could be a real advantage in a woven cotton summer dress! If you’re tall. Or if you have more hips than waist, (I’m the opposite), this would look great!

I will be content with pretty, yet plump, while cooking this summer look, and feel!

2 stay cool warm weather outfits for us full figure women

How about this dress which would be cool, scoop up a breeze sometimes and is made for big beautiful women in sizes 12 to 26

with these stylish shoes, or a similar sleek version.

either of which would go with this dress, which at the moment you can see here

Which has a lined skirt, but if you need bust support, and your top might show have a bit of show through. This bra is pretty convertible full bust support! Which comes in which comes in sizes 30D to 42E, in a neutral bamboo color, which would go nicely with the second dress I mentioned earlier.

Ok so that’s 2 outfits, Guess I’m still thinking about the warm weather to come. I usually dread it and want to be more ready for it than I usually am.

Just incase you do too, it’s a thought.

Want to spruce up your business & / or casual look this spring? For less?

Getting away from that sweatshirt look? But don’t want to give up the comfort? How about a more refined version? And on sale at that! For $19.99 in sizes XL to 3X and $24.99 in sizes 4X to 6X, you can get this cotton, relaxed fit knit below in lime or fuschia colors, just click on the picture below!






And you can view a stylish, comfy, figure flattering, plus size pants suit perfect for work. Or if you wanted to have a more polished casual look. Right now you can see it here. This 4 piece women’s suit would be a handy addition to any wardrobe! It comes in sizes up to 3XL. Affordable and useful fashion!

Great Swim Wear Sale for Plus size women and the whole family too!

Where can you find the new It Figures solid black surplice cut plus size swim suit for $84 rather than the $106 you’ll find this new for 2006 swim suit style at other plus size swim wear stores?
At the Swim suit’s for All Pre-Summer Swimsuit Sale Going On Now! 50-70% Off Select Styles! Only at SwimsuitsForAll.com

There you’ll find:

• 
  plus size Speedo skirtinis and one piece swim suits, Delta Burke skirtinis
  
• plus size bathing suits by:
  
• Christina
  
• It Figures
  
• Carol Wior
  
• Longitude
  
• Liz Claiborne
  
• Baltex

Sarong style one piece plus size bathing suits, swim wear, plus size swim dresses by other swim wear makers too!

You’ll find bra sized swim wear for dd cups and larger too!
such as Anita’s Camella Bikinis. Their China Doll bikini and one piece swim suits up to D cup sizes, Chilli one piece in B and E Mango leaves C cup and others bra sized styles of swim wear!

Plus swim wear for the rest of the family as well at great prices NOW!!

Affordable plus size fashion that you’ll want to create your own style with!

Yes! Really! And not a bit too soon. It’s almost spring. Soon it’ll be too hot to hide under layers of jeans, slacks and sweaters. And what are us full figure women gonna do about it?

I’ve been thinking about this, ok dreading it, until I found this. Silhouettes’ online store. Where you’ll find dresses like the one you see here.

Their Twin Print dress will drape nicely on you. And me! Catching the breeze with it’s, shorter in the front than the back hem, when we walk. It’s little short ruffled cap sleeves cover our full figure bras. Sheer, but lined, so no worries about the slip. Then we can just pop it in the wash! This dress isn’t expensive either!

But it’s still cold out. And some of us have special occasions to go to. Formal wear is required. So check out Silhouettes Outlet Store. Currently, for formal wear they have this



Still available in some sizes, likely going fast. But just a small sample of the great full figure fashions made yet even more affordable at their online store!

I don’t know about you, but I think their affordable, yet stylish, fashions are going to be part of my summer wear solution!

Blow out sale 80% off full busted, bra sized swim wear and lingerie

Right now, and act fast these bathing suits, bras and panties are moving out of stock fast! You can currently find bra sized swim wear by Freya, Fantasie and Anita swim as well as Anita Maternity swim at the figleaves.com BLOWOUT SALE - 80% OFF 1,000+ PRODUCTS - LINGERIE, SWIM, SLEEPWEAR & MORE. SHOP NOW!

You’ll find Freya’s Milla underwire cutout swim suit still available in many full busted bra sizes at the moment. And other styles, but act fast!

For non-sale items save $ by using their 20% off coupon you’ll find at the top right corner of this bra sized swim wear page. That coupon is good till Feb. 28th, after which I'll try to find another one. Figleaves seems to carry the best selection of, and has the best search facility for bras in general. And the widest selection of bra sized and full busted swim wear I've seen online so far.

Need a strapless plus size or full busted bra for your prom or wedding gown? Or summer dresses and shirts?

Recently I’ve found several full figure and plus size bras and bustiers to wear with strapless and near strapless styles. If your planning your wedding or prom, or need evening wear these bras and bustiers will broaden your possible choices. Then you can wear more styles of summer dresses and blouses too! Why shouldn’t wearing these styles be a breeze for us full figure women!

I was looking into which bra you could wear this beautiful Calito evening gown with. It has an extremely deep cut back. When I found this beautiful bustier/bra. It’s by Ballet, who makes nice full figure and full busted bras. I’ll have to look into them further! Anyway this one is available in sizes up to 40F. And it’s so beautiful, feminine, but with clean sleek lines, not too frilly. Pretty enough to wear under your wedding gown, and / or as bridal lingerie for your honeymoon.

Or for daily summer wear. Think of all those strapless and near strapless styles we pass on even trying. Because we never think to go with out bra straps! I think us full figure and full busted women should start trying these and feel cooler this summer! This Ballet bra, being a bustier, will also give us additional shaping too! And that’s just one of the strapless styles of bras I’ve found so far.

More on plus size and full bust strapless bras and bustiers later. I’ve found much more already and will write about them soon. One, well possibly two, I definitely plan to try myself!