Okay I think....

This is a fascinating idea...

Rebecca and Drew

If you've read my blog in the past you're probably aware that I love and swear by a good shirt! However, like most ladies, finding one that fits well is, to say the least, a challenge!

So when I came across this site link, I had to take a look! Reading through their site, I think it's a good attempt to address one of the constant issues with women's shirts - the gap issue right at the bust line. They try to address this by using what they call the Trio Fit sizing method. Since this is a different approach, they have also put up a series of very good videos to explain just how it works:











In addition to shirts, they also sell shirt dresses - using the same method for sizing.

I'm seriously thinking of giving them a try through, to be honest, I'm thinking this method will not work for me - along with being narrow in the shoulders, I've got the 2 sizes body problem - small up top, wide below. (However, when I stepped through the order process, just as a test, I see that they offer additional customizing if you order their Insignia line - so there might be opportunity to address the shirt for those hips! ;-) )

Still I might give it a go - the quest for the perfect fitting shirt continues! ;-)

Shritdress tips.....

Abound over at Wardrobe 911


how to wear: safari shirtdress


Ms. Teresa gives great ideas on how to work that shirt dress for many different occasions! ;-)

Speaking of Spring Dresses....

As anyone who reads here fairly regularly knows, I have not in the past been a big fan of Jessica London and it's take on what plus size women want to wear. In the past it's been a sherbet heaven (or hell if you share my opinion) of too long skirts and shapeless dresses.

However, of late they have been stepping up their style...case in point...



J.L. Studio Print Dress - $59.90

When I saw this dress in the catalog, my jaw dropped - I LOVE it! The print is great playing on the floral theme that we seem to be destined to see a ton of this Spring without being too flowery. The cut of the dress is going to make the best of a plus sized lady's figure. This one is an absolute winner!




Linen Blend Cap Sleeve Dress - $39.90

Sheaths are a classic shape and this one with the empire defined waist is a great one for the plus sized woman. The length is perfect and I also love the print - it's got the animal print flavor without going Peggy Bundy on us!

Top it off with the following jacket and you can take this outfit from work right to dinner...



Modern Cropped Blazer - $39.90




J.G. Hook Pinstriped Faux Wrap Dress - $59.90


This one is sort of shirt dress meets wrap dress - but I think it works. Great for work.

Way back in the distant past....

Well last year about this same time....

I did a post on the ever classic shirt dress....

Spring Ode to the Shirt dress

Well it looks like the shirt dress remains one of THE staples for this spring as well...

The Budget Fashionista - The Shirt Dress - High vs Low

Okay, QVC....

Is not the place I would normally think of when it comes to buying clothes....Which admittedly is probably just a comment on my own ignorance.

Anyway, I happened to be channel surfing this morning and came across QVC - and they are having a fashion focused day today. And low and behold they showed the following jacket/dress that I really like:




Dialogue Stretch Linen Blend Long Shirt Jacket

It comes with a white tank:

Dialogue White Tank

I've been looking for some light grey pieces to add to my wardrobe for the summer -- kind of my replacement for white (see my post on white pants!). And this looks like a real possibility - I like the idea of the white peeking out from the light grey - very fresh looking.

The other thing I like is that they are offering it in petite as well, in both misses and plus sizes - a boon for me as on the bottom I'm both plus and petite, a challenge needless to say!

At around $40.00 bucks, I think it's worth a try - it will be interesting to see what the actual quality of the fabric is.

I'll let you know how it turns out! ; - )

Also from The Budge Fashionista.....

A seek-peek at the new Madonna line at H&M:

Unveiled: M by Madonna Collection at H&M (scoot down to the bottom of the page for the post). She also has a link to a screen show of the whole collection.

My favs:

















Photo credit: Detny.no

A Spring Ode to the Shirtdress....

I think the shirtdress (along with the A-line skirt, the wrap dress, and yes, the pencil skirt) is one of the classic clothing forms that can work for just about any women of any shape, size or age.

I was put in mind of this when I was flipping through the February edition of the Everyday with Rachael Ray mag (This is why I love my non-fashion mags!)

While the primary focus of Rachael's mag is food (of course), she has a monthly feature Everyday Faves which features a wide array of new products. Here's the one that caught my eye this month:

Josephine Chaus Shirtdress - $119.00

I love the pattern and the shape of this dress! I'd never heard of this designer before - so of course I googled her. There is a website - Josephine Chaus - but it appears to be fairly new (I could be wrong about that however), and you can't buy the clothes there. According to the website the focus of the company to good, wearable business ware for women. You can find the garments themselves via a google search - they appear to run in the $150.00 or slightly below range.

As I said, you can't buy the clothes from the site. However, if you want to order something, here is the phone number: 888-880-8004, where you can request a list of their retailers.

While I was trying to find the above online I decided to do a general search on shirtdress. I was, frankly, stunned at all the variations that came up! Looking them over I've seen the good, the bad and the downright ugly (Blair.com had one where the form was good but the fabric was hideous - who buys that material? More importantly who makes it - and why? WHY?????).

Anyway.....

Here are some of what I thought was the best:

Over at Spiegel.com:




Sash-Tie Shirtdress Misses or Petite $69.00

Great lines, simple and sharp, with the, oh so forgiving, a-line skirt. I love everything about this dress - except for the fact that it doesn't come in plus sizes!



Signature Ponté Knit Collection:
Shirtdress Misses $59.00, Women's $64.00

(Okay, I know the pic of the dress in cream makes it look a bit stodgy - but check out the alternate look on the site in black - and a different belt can definitely kick it up a notch!)







Belted Shirtdress, Misses $59.00, Women's $69.00

I love the flow of this dress - very forgiving for different body types. I love the print as well, which is unusual for me - I'm not a big print person!





Crinked Gauze Shirtdress, Misses $39.00

Classic and just great for summer - at work or on the weekend!




Knit Shirtdress, Misses $69.00

Now if you've been lucky enough to skip the usually obligatory 10+ pounds that seems to just lay in wait for you as you hit that 50th birthday and your bod still has it goin' on (or you have a lovely selection of Spanx in your arsenal) - you might want to take this bad girl for a spin! (Love the belt at the hip! Sigh - if only I didn't have so much hip for it to go around!)

Over at Ann Taylor Loft :



Belted Knit Shirt Dress, Misses $79.00

Actually, not a terribly distinctive dress - but it looks comfortable, would be great for work and I love the color.

At Lane Bryant:




Linen-blend shirtdress, $89.00



Button-front shirtdress, $69.50

No, not the most jazzy dresses ever. But good, solid style that will work for work. And, speaking from experience with my most of the time firmly (I use THAT word lightly) in the 18W sizes hips, it is NOT easy for a plus size woman to find a shirt dress! (As you can see from this list - 4 out of 13 dresses is NOT a great ratio!)

So it was great to see Lane Bryant, who usually skews a bit young for me, offering two good basic choices that will work well for the over 20s crowd.

J. Crew's entry:



Bette shirtdress $148.00

Frankly, I don't usually bother with J. Crew. Basically they aim their clothes at the 20s and 30s crowd and I take them at their word.

However, they came up during my search and out of the 5 offerings in shirtdresses on their site, I do think that this one could be a lovely choice for a plus 50 lady - as long as you can wear a size 14 or less!

In looking over the above, I realized that there are no designer frocks represented here. I had to remind myself that, just because I don't have designer dollars, it doesn't mean other don't (Doggone them!).

So I did a search on some of the designer shop sites (Bluefly, EDressMe, etc) and, honestly, came up empty. What I found was, to my eye at least, pretty weak - okay let's be honest, downright ugly.

So I'll leave it to you, gentle reader, to do the designer search - one man's trash is another man's treasure and all that.

You'll probably do much better, anyway, going directly to the designer's site - check out the following beauty from Anne Kline's Fall 2006 collection:





I did find a couple of nice designer bridge items over at Macy's

From the Kenneth Cole Reaction Line:



Kenneth Cole Reaction Belted Shirtdress $149.00




Kenneth Cole Reaction Tie-Front Shirtdress 149.00


Of the two above I, personally, like the red one the best - the form will work for a wider range of women.

From Jones of New York:



Jones New York Matte Jersey Belted Shirtdress
$144.00

As ever, with Jones, clean and tasteful, able to do the work thing and then dinner afterwards.

Once again with all three, you have to be size 14 or less to play!

I could go on and on (oh wait, I already have) loving this particular dress style as I do. I leave it to you to decide whether or not it's a style that can work for you as a closet staple!