As if we didn’t already know how hard it is to find cute, even nominally on-trend plus-size clothes, here’s definitive proof, in the form of an actual academic study from the Journal of Consumer Research (which I’d love to pretend I read IRL, but instead learned of in The Cut). It chronicles the many ways in which plus-size bloggers have gained impressive ground in the mainstream media, and asserts that despite all of that, big name retailers and designers lag woefully behind in catering to the plus-size community’s needs. It’s all quite irksome—and curious, given that this is clearly a demographic that’s ready to spend. Happily, however, an interview with one of the article’s co-authors revealed a bumper crop of indie lines, my favorite of which is Carmakoma. They’re from Denmark but have American e-commerce, and are well worth exploring. I totally wish they made this filmy purply-black dress in non-plus sizes, as it is feminine but not too girly, and looks like the soul of comfort. You’d need to procure a slip, but one can easily accomplish this.
Also: this is precisely the type of dress/tunic thing I throw on with leggings and boots (albiet less hoochie ones than seen here) and live in all winter long.
OK, the shape on this one is definitely more retroish than I usually go in for, but the bird print is to die.
go, kim, with the plus-size posts!
i love that fabric on that first dress — might even make an exception to my no-mullet-hems rule for it. and so agree on the bird print — i am on a holy-grail quest for the perfect combo of texture/shape/bird print but have yet to find a dress that meets all three of my criteria.
I think exceptions can be made for a gently *graduated* mullet hem.
Love! Especially that first dress, so lovely.
Wow, you’re a quick study. I think you knocked it out of the park!! I like the first two *very* much and I usually think “meh” to almost all dresses, whether plus or misses. Perhaps I should change my attitude now.
Google says that 899 Danish kroner is about $154. Not bad at all.
The hoochie leggings are here: http://carmakoma.com/en/leggings/lilium.html
They are imitation leather with stretch, it says. I am on the fence about them.
I might really need to buy that first dress. Beautiful. Hoochie leggings not withstanding, what are your thoughts on leggings/jeggings (I hate that word) for plus size women? I’ve stayed away because I fear they’re unflattering, but many of the winter looks I love use them as an anchor.
Jeggings made out of thick enough fabric look great and are indistinguishable from real jeans. Just stick to the ones that have actual pockets – fake pockets seem to be the signifier for looking like leggings once you put them on (or Pajama Jeans).
I’m all for it, and see it a lot on the plus-size style blogs I look at. But it really comes down to what you feel comfortable in: if you despise your legs, then you might not ever feel right wearing leggings. But I can’t imagine you wouldn’t look adorbs in that little tunic/dress thing—really opaque leggings make it a pretty safe bet.
Thanks, Kim! I’ll give ‘em a whirl and report back.
I LOVE Carmakoma. I already own quite a few pieces from them and intend to own a lot more, especially that blue tunic/dress. Being a plus size girl THIS is the type of offering/option we need more of.
The tunic thing/dress would also work under the basic slim/stretch black skirt. I think I wore that look to death in the 80s actually.
I adore bird prints despite never really wearing pattern much. Wish that was not an ivory dress though as I am way too pasty for that.
Oh, am not plus size but would wear all of these. Mission accomplished
They need to do better for women as far as fit all round. Clothing makers these days seem to not make anything for anyone over 25.
“Oh I would totally wear that if only it came in my size” I would totally wear most of the stuff you post on your wonderful blog…if only it came in my size. Thanks for this post, though…a very very small glimmer of hope in the world of fashion. (But the hoochie boots? NO WAY)