The Pretty Pear

Lane Bryant Friends & Family event!

Well, I wish I had known about this before I bought stuff over the weekend but that’s ok! Everything at Lane Bryant is 25% off through November 15tth. And you can save even more with a gift cheque for $25 off a $75 purchase, $50 off $150, or $75 off $225 with the code 050002658.

Not your typical tee

I’m clearly into sequins lately. When I spotted this sequin knit top at Lane Bryant, I snapped it up, tried it on, and brought it home. It is absolutely perfect for dressing up a pair of jeans without a lot of effort. The knit is soft and comfortable and the sequins are little squares instead of circles, so the overall effect is geometric and modern. Simple bangle bracelets and a generous helping of black eyeliner are just enough to complete the look. Love it!

Shoes of the week!

Torrid is having their 50% off clearance sale, which means really good prices on some great stuff. You just have to be willing to dig a bit! Keep in mind that sizing is limited, especially in the shoe department. If you’re a size 7, you really should check it out. Most of the shoes Torrid carries are wide width but some aren’t, so make sure to check the item page.

Black Faux Lizard V-Front Finella Heel, $15
A little edgy but still feminine, these heels would look great with straight leg pants or a simple dress.

Cobalt Patent Malia Heel, $12.50
Torrid has a bunch of different colors in this style. I really like this bright cobalt blue patent.

 Purple Faux Leather Finella Ruffled Heel, $15
These are just begging to go to a holiday party. The ruffle is cute but definitely not over the top.

Tip: On hems and heels

Here’s a fashion faux pas that’s easy to avoid: pairing pants that are too short with heels. The bottom hem of your pants should fall to at least to the middle of the heel, like this:

Notice how this will make the front of the pant break right over the top of the foot. I personally prefer that the hem sit even lower, about three quarters of the way down the heel but NOT all the way to the floor.

Flats are a little more forgiving, as it’s more difficult to find the perfect long enough but not dragging on the ground length. But with a heel, if the pant is the wrong length, it’s way more obvious and looks sloppy.

If you’re going to wear a fab heel, you might as well wear pants that are the proper length to go with them. It’s a little detail that will make your outfit look much more streamlined.

The impossibly high heel pictured above is the Mylie pump from Gabriella Rocha available from Zappos.

Enter to win the Faith 21 model search

First, a little background. Faith 21 is Forever 21’s new plus size line with junior sizes up to 2X  (size 3X coming soon!). Forever 21 is known for carrying super trendy, super affordable pieces in a wide range of styles. Faith 21 brings the same chic vibe to the plus size customer.

I know there are a lot of stylish plus size ladies out there and maybe some of you are aspiring models? Check it out:

Faith 21 is conducting a model search and the grand prize is a trip to LA for a photoshoot and a $500 shopping spree. They’ll pick up the tab for your flights and hotel accomdations for two. There’s also a second prize of a $400 Faith 21 e-certificate and third prize wins a $300 e-certificate.

All you have to do is send them a pic of your most stylish look with an item from the Faith 21 line. To read the full contest details and enter to win, visit forever21.com/faith21contest. Entry period ends on November 18th so get crackin’!

Bonus for online shoppers: Get 10% off Faith 21 items with the code FAITH21CONTEST. The minimum order is $40 and the code expires December 7th.

The never ending quest for boots that fit

For the past five years, I have been all over the internet looking for boots for larger calves, specifically my own. If there’s a source for boots, I’ve probably found it. While there are more styles out there now than there ever were before, not much has changed in regards to which retailers are actually selling wide calf boots. I’ve found very few new sources since writing my post about how to shop for wide calf boots in 2004.

This is really surprising to me. I know from watching people coming here from Google that there are a lot of ladies out there looking for boots made to fit a large calves. I recently updated the post I linked above and I barely had to change any of the links or add anything.

And what’s really interesting is that the sizes that are available haven’t changed much either. The widest calf you’re going to find is 20 or 21 inches. There have been some available above that but it’s very rare and I’ve yet to see a pair of better quality boots that are made for those sizes.

Cute new arrivals from SWAKdesigns

Have you checked out SWAKDesigns recently? They carry afordable, trendy pieces in a very nice range of sizes, some up to 6X. Plus, you can save 15% off with the code SWAK15 through November 11th.

There are several new items in for the fall season that I’ve got my eye on.

Plus Size Shawl Collar Cardigan
The open cardigan look is everywhere right now. This one is different with clean lines and little pockets in the front. It’s a little sleeker if you don’t like the drapey, open cardigan look. It’s available in sizes 22/24 – 34/36 in black and gray for $38.

Camille Plus Size Tie Cardigan
Currently, this cardi is available in sizes 4 - 5X in brown for $41. There’s also a pic of it in black so I hope more come into stock soon. The curved hem and tie waist take what would be a typical cardigan up a notch. Wear it with jeans for a casual look or a tweed skirt or trousers for work.

Giselle Plus Size Dress
I'd love to see this dress in raspberry layered with the shawl collar cardigan above in black, opaque black tights, and black booties. Or you could style it like the pic with bare legs and heels for a party. The Giselle dress is available in sizes 14/16 - 34/36 in the raspberry shown here, teal or black for $56.

Double Buckle Stretch Plus Size Belt
The dress above will likely need a belt to give it more definition at the waist. I like the double buckle on this black faux leather belt for $18. The back is comfy elastic and the whole belt stretches to accommodate waists up to 50 inches.

Hooray for comfy, cozy loungewear

I can’t think of anything better than a lazy Sunday morning, curled up in PJs with a book or a bad movie on the TV. I do love warm flannel pajamas with fun, colorful prints but I tend to wear plain loungewear more. I can leave my apartment to get the mail or take out the trash without my neighbors getting a view of my crazy jammies.

My current favorite comfy pants are these Women with Control stretch bootcut leggings from QVC. They hold their shape really well, without getting baggy or saggy but they’re not super fitted or binding. If you lay them flat, they’re cut with a curve at the hip so it’s not a shapeless seam from the waist to the knee. The cotton is a nice weight and they have tons of stretch. They’re the kind of pants you can’t wait to get into after a long day. They'd be really great for yoga, walking, etc.

If you are looking for flannel pajamas in plus sizes, I have this set from JCPenney in a 3X and they fit very well. The set is on sale for $23 currently. I got mine last year and they’re a really goofy Scottie dog print that I love. They also come in misses, petite and tall sizes and make a great gift. I also really like the Modal separates. They’re a soft, breathable jersey knit that isn’t as heavy or warm as flannel.

Due to Old Navy’s whacked out sizing, my favorite cotton camis are from the Women’s line, rather than the Plus line. The shelf bra camis are inexpensive, come in a bazillion colors, and are super comfortable to wear around the house or as a layering piece. I have a whole stack of them and really, they’re all holding up well considering I live in them. They are not super supportive so I still wear a bra if I’m going out into the world but on their own, it’s just enough support for sleeping, being at home, etc. The XXL fits me with room to spare and I have 48” bust.

B. Makowsky, chick magnet

I was watching QVC late one night about a month ago when there was a Today’s Special Value for a B. Makowsky handbag. Now, B. Mak bags are what I would consider to be on the spendy side. However, in the grand scheme of handbag prices, they’re pretty affordable.

I had been searching for a high quality black bag I could carry every single day but wasn’t boring or plain. I wanted a hobo bag with something to give it personality. I also wanted real leather and a price under $200.

Ta da!

The picture really doesn’t do it justice. It’s much slouchier and yummier than it looks here. It’s a basic hobo bag but so much better with the studs and all the pockets and the lining is leopard print and I love it!

I get compliments on this bag all the time. Obviously, I didn’t design it so I can’t take any credit for its beauty but it’s a conversation starter. People always ask where I got it and they’re either surprised I ordered it from QVC or not at all surprised because they love QVC, too.

I can’t afford to buy a closet full of designer bags but having just one that I’ll want to carry every day is almost as good.  What I learned is that a staple piece should be a staple for me. It doesn’t have to be boring to be a good investment.

Awesome: NARS Love Me set

I had been hearing and reading rave reviews for the Orgasm blush from NARS for years before finally caving in and trying it. The star of this set is the blush but it also has Albatross, a light golden highlighter and the matching Orgasm lipgloss, which is very sheer with a subtle golden frost. The peachy pink color of the blush will work on a really wide variety of skintones. All of the products apply beautifully and are buildable so you can add more color for a dramatic look.

I use a very light hand with the blush and gloss for a daytime look and then add the highlighter right at the top of my cheekbones for evening. I sometimes have trouble with highlighters not showing up on me because I’m so pale but this one lends just the right amount of sheen without being at all chalky or obvious.

NARS cosmetics are of exceptional quality and I’d buy one of everything they make if I could! This set would make a fantastic holiday gift for a special makeup junkie in your life.

The NARS Love Me set is $49 and available from Sephora.