Pretty Shiny Copycat

Daily Outfit for Wednesday, April 20, 2011

I featured a look from Kristine of Pretty Shiny Sparkly on my blog earlier today, and here is my version of her outfit:

As soon as I saw Kristine’s post I knew it was something I wanted to try out myself with my new Gap trouser jeans (my whiny thighs having caused the ouster of my last pair).  Taking my cues directly from Kristine, I paired my jeans with a floral tank (Frenchi via Nordstrom), drape-y cardigan (Mossimo/Target), bright belt (Style & Co via Macy’s) and platforms (Franco Sarto via Nordstrom).   

Inspired by Kristine’s brilliant accessorizing, I even wore a little jewelry in the form of turquoise earrings (gifted) and a vintage cameo bracelet.

This outfit was amazingly comfortable.  I wish it had photographed better because I really do think it was flattering and is definitely something I would wear again.  And it’s a look that works for giants and non-giants alike!

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Pretty Shiny Sparkly for Giants

This is not me:

Photo by and property of Kristina Medhus/Pretty Shiny Sparkly

This is the lovely Kristina of Pretty Shiny Sparkly.  I’ve been following Kristina’s blog for some time now and love her fashion-forward but still accessible style.  Add to that the fact that she incorporates shine into a lot of her outfits, and my magpie-like self was hooked.  If you don’t already read Pretty Shiny Sparkly, stop by.  It’s well worth it.

As I said, I’m a big fan of Kristina’s outfits, but when I saw this one, I knew I wanted to try to recreate it for giants.  It incorporates a lot of spring trends into a single, comfortable, well-conceived outfit.  Neutrals.  Brights.  Florals.  The 70s.  It’s all here. 

Smocked Top in Warm Floral - Old Navy - up to XXL:

Don't be scared by the skinny straps on this floral top - the cardigan will cover them nicely.  And the shape of the top makes it easy to wear both tucked or un-tucked.

Mossimo Rolled Sleeve With Tab Drapey Cardigan in Camel - Target - up to XXL:

I chose this particular cardigan for a few reasons.  One, I own it and can attest that it's nice and comfy.  Two, it's not warm enough in Oregon for short sleeves, but the three-quarter sleeves on this cardigan a perfect for what is still early spring in Oregon.  And three, the cut helps elongate the body.


Wide Leg Trouser Jeans in Dark Wash - Gap - up to size 20 (up to size 16 in Tall):

Just like the cardigan I selected, I own these jeans and I can vouch for them.  If you're tall, these are a great jean.  Nice and long and a fairly high waist, but not too high waisted.


Mossimo "Wilette" Nailhead Heeled Sandals - Target - up to size 11:

Like Kristina, I chose a platform sandal to balance out the width of the legs on the jeans; and the grommets on these play up the 70s feel of the jeans.  If these don't appeal to you, a wedge sandal would work equally well.

Coral Belt with Grommets - Style & Co. - Macys - up to size XXL:

I love the color of this coral belt and think it would look fabulous with the floral blouse and camel cardigan.  However, if you are still uncertain about wearing a bright color at your waist, the brown belt will also work well and you can't get both for $20 at Macy's.

To finish the look, take a cue from Kristina and accessorize with necklaces, rings, bracelets and a clutch.  I imagine that everyone probably has pieces that would go well with with this outfit.

So, what do you all think?  Is this something you would wear?  It's definitely something I would wear, and in fact, I'll be posting my version of Kristina's outfit later today.

Gracey

What I Wore For Giants

This is not me…



Photo Credit: Jessica Quirk of What I Wore



This is the gorgeous Jessica from What I Wore.  I’m sure many of you already read Jessica’s blog, but, if you don’t, it’s worth taking a look.  She’s creative, sews a mean pair of pants and has a marvelous sense of style, as is evidenced in the outfit above.

I absolutely love this outfit and couldn’t wait to try to recreate for you all.

The Blouse

B & Lu "Twyla” – up to 3x:

The two things I love most about Jessica’s blouse are the black background and how loose and easy it is, which is why I chose the Twyla blouse.  I think it keeps that loose and easy feel.  Because it is chiffon I’d wear it with a black camisole underneath to add opacity and help keep it slim.

The Pants

Skinny Surplus Jeans – Gap – up to 20 (also in Tall up to 16):

I think these pants will help toughen up the sweet print of the top.  Also, I actually have these exact jeans, so I can recommend them personally.

The Shoes

Hiala – Nine West – up to 12:

Like Jessica, I went with a nude shoe to help keep the legs long and lean.

The Sunglasses

Squared Off Cat Eye Sunglasses – Urban Outfitters:

Top it all off with some sunglasses, and you’re good to go!

So, what do you think, Friend Reader?  Is this something you would try?  Let me know!

Gracey

Katie of Interrobangs Anonymous for Giants

This is not me:

Photo by Katie, Interrobangs Anonymous

This is the smart and stylish Katie from Interrobangs Anonymous.  Although Katie and I are of a similar build, I wanted to feature her on my Blogs for Giants series because of this outfit.  The mix of florals and stripes is my favorite sort of pattern mixing and I love how Katie's done it here.  Classic stripes, fun skirt, pure Katie.  To see more of the smart and stylish Katie, head on over to Interrobangs Anonymous - it's quite a good time over there.

I went with a slightly different color scheme in recreating Katie's outfit, but tried to keep it fun.  Per usual, all of the items selected are under $100 and will fit tall/plus sized ladies.  Let's get started, shall we?

The Skirt

Pansy Elastic-Waist Skirt - Dorothy Perkins - up to size 20:

I love the colors in this skirt and think the darker background, like that of Katie's skirt, makes it versatile.  And the length is good for riding a bike to work, if you do that sort of thing.


The Top

Twisted Neck Roll-Up Top - Old Navy - up to size XXL - also in Tall:

This top comes in purple and blue, either of which would go fabulously with the skirt.


The Belt

Tarnish "Skinny Braided Belt" - Nordstrom - up to size 2X:

Katie's belt is burgundy, I went with a dark pink that would provide the same feeling, but better pick up the pinks in the skirt I selected.


The Scarf

Green Market Flower Scarf - Top Shop:

I loved Katie's green scarf and I like that this is another floral to be added to the mix.  I know it's not for everyone, but if you're feeling brave, this could be fun.


The Shoes

Type Z "Brilliant" Flat in Pewter - Zappos - up to size 11.5:

Katie's flats are gold, but I went with a light, silvery pewter to reflect the cooler colors in the skirt I chose.  I still wanted to keep the shine, just a cooler shine.

Another fun version of stripes and florals in blogosphere this week is this outfit which  Ana at Better in Sepia put together for Brett at Silvergirl as part of Suze's (Miss Vinyl Ahoy) Paper Doll Project.

So, what do you all think?  Do you love stripes and florals as much as I do?  Is it something you'd wear?  Or do you have a different mix of patterns you prefer?

Happy Wednesday!

Gracey

Better in Sepia for Giants

This is not me:

This is the lovely Ana from Better in Sepia.  I just recently began reading her blog but quickly became a fan of her simple-but-elegant style.  If you don’t already read Ana’s blog, I encourage you to stop by.

While I have liked pretty much everything Ana has posted, I especially liked her navy, rust and turquoise outfit from last week.  I have considered rust and turquoise before, but never with navy and I think it’s fabulous.  So, of course, I wanted to try to recreate it for giants.

The Dress – Pintuck Dress in Navy - up to size 3x - Talbots:

I went with a navy dress instead of a rust skirt - I know a lot of women aren't comfortable having the lighter, brighter color on their hips.  I thought a dress was a nice alternative and although this dress isn't available in “tall” I think the length is long enough for all but the tallest of ladies to pull off.

The Shoe – Seychelles “Kiss at Midnight” Mary Jane Pump – up to size 11 – Endless:

I think this is an absolutely gorgeous shoe, and it also comes in a rust color if turquoise shoes are not your thing.  But, I'm not going to lie, I'd be disappointed to find out that turquoise shoes aren't everybody's thing.

The Scarf: Tarnish "Peacock" Wool Scarf in Spice - Nordstrom:

As many of you know, I have a predilection for long, rectangular scarves instead of square ones, so I chose this fun, peacock printed scarf. 

The Belt – W-Twist Belt - Steve Madden:

 

Instead of a double belt, I went with this Steve Madden twisted belt in cognac which I think will look fabulous with the navy dress.

I know not everyone loves orange (for whatever reason), so I tried to keep the rust element to a minimum with just the scarf, but I think a rust cardigan or rust tights would look fantastic with this as well.   I think it would also look good with black, turquoise or navy tights.

This outfit is something I would definitely wear (especially those gorgeous shoes).  And I actually did wear a rust, navy and turquoise outfit myself today that I'll post later in my Daily Outfit post.  But what about you guys?  Is this outfit something you would wear?

Happy Monday!

Gracey

SWF for Giants

This is not me…



Photo by Sara of sarazucker.com



This is the lovely Terra from SWF (Stylish White Female), whose blog I adore because of her unique and interesting way of putting outfits together in a way that is still accessible to me.  She’s also fearless in her use of color, which I always appreciate.  If you don’t already read SWF, pop by and take a look – it’s definitely worth it.

I chose to recreate this outfit of Terra’s because it’s simple but not boring, and it’s also long and lean and figure-flattering.  It’s also a good outfit for those of use who are still in the throes of winter where it’s still necessary to layer.

Black/white striped tee – Dorothy Perkins

I know most people probably have a black/white striped tee in their closet, but if not, this one is available up to size 22.

Cropped gold sweater – Eddie Bauer

I wanted to keep the cropped feel of the sweater, but because I’m obsessed with subtle shine (initially written as subtle shite) this week, I chose this gold sweater which is also available up to size 22.

Navy Trousers – Long Tall Sally

These crepe, wide-leg trousers are available up to size 18, and I think they’re fabulous.  But if you’re more comfortable in jeans than trousers, both Gap and Old Navy have good trouser jean options.  Or a pair of dark-rinse bootcut jeans would work just as well.

Camel Pump – Fitzwell “Preston” – Zappos:

This pump is not as dark as Terra’s, but I really like the stacked heel, and it’s available up to size 14!

Skinny Leopard Belt – The Limited:

I love the addition of leopard into this outfit with a skinny belt, and I think this one from The Limited is just purrfect (see what I did there?).

Blue Cross-Body Bag – Magid “Christiana” - Endless

I don’t usually include bags on my Blogs for Giants series, because I don’t trade my bags out.  But, I realize that others do and I really think the blue bag adds an element of the unexpected to this outfit.

Studded Black Gloves – Nine West – Macys:

Like the other accessories, the studded gloves are unexpected and add yet another layer of interest to this outfit.


So, what do you guys think?  Is this something you'd wear?  Also, if you have any posts you'd like me to recreate, send me an email at fashionforgiants at gmail dot com with a link to the post and I'll do my best.

Gracey

Little Tin Soldier for Giants

This is not me…

Photo by Linda Dearie of Little Tin Soldier "Apples and Oranges"



This is Linda from Little Tin Soldier and her ridiculously cute pug, Sophie.  I am a huge fan of Linda’s blog – she uses color marvelously and many of her photos feature the adorable Sophie.  The best part though?  She creates illustrations of her outfits and they are just wonderful to see.  If you don’t read Linda’s blog, you really should stop by.

I think I’ve liked every single outfit Linda has ever posted, but this is one of my favorites for several reasons.  It’s simple in silhouette, but not boring.  It has an orange element.  And it features tonal pairing, which I personally find difficult.

Because I love this outfit, I wanted to try to recreate it with pieces for giants.  I hope the following pieces do the original outfit justice and I think they do. 

The shirt I selected is the Mossimo Applique Tank in Hot Orange from Target.  I like the neckine a lot.  I think it can be worn without a necklace and still look good.  And if you do pair it with a necklace, the applique is the same color as the shirt and won't compete with the necklace.

 

I really like the color of this cardigan and think it will pair nicely with the tank.  And the crew neckline will not compete with the scoop neckline of the tank.  This is the Cherokee 3/4 Sleeve Cardigan in Apple, also from Target.

I chose a wider-cut pants than the slim pants that Linda is wearing because they generally more flattering to wider hips.  I kept the cropped length though because it's just pefect.  These velvet pants are on sale right now at J. Jill and come in sizes small - 3x.

Linda's necklace was handmade by her, and this necklace has been handmade by Etsy seller, Shagpile.  It's made of a combination of new and vintage buttons and can be found here.

 

The flats I chose are the Jessica Simpson "Matini" flat in Iridescent Gold.  I have a couple pairs of Jessican Simpson flats and they are very comfortable.  These are available here, from Zappos.

I am especially enamored of the necklace and shoes I selected, but really like it all.  What about you, Style Nation?  What do you think of this recreation?  (Hee.  Awesome, unintentional rhyming).

Gracey

My Edit for Giants

This is not me:

This is Jentine from My Edit.  She is tall, and funny and just all around rather fantastic.  If you don't already read her blog, you should.  She has a very unique approach to fashion, and although the above picture was taken by her visting brother and sister-in-law, her husband also takes fabulous pictures!
As you all know, I love animal print and color, and I find Jentine's outfit to be absolutely wonderful.  I thought, then, that I would give creating this outfit for giants a shot. 

For fun, I'm going to provide two options this time around.  The first is a fairly literal translation of Jentine's outfit.

Option A:

Red stretch cords - Alloy - they come with an inseam up to 37' and up to size 25

Cream chiffon tunic blouse - Alloy - up to size 25

Leopard Faux-Fur Jacket - Pacific Plex- Amazon - up to size 3X

Steve Madden Madden Girl "Partial" boots - Amazon - up to size 10

Long black gloves - Ralph Lauren

If you're not comfortable wearing skinny red cords (perhaps your thighs are attempting world domination), I'd like to present another option.

Option B:

Animal print shirt dress - Merona - Target (regular and plus sizes)

Red "Mai Tai" Cardigan - Long Tall Sally - up to size 20

Brown braided belt - Sonoma Life and Style - Kohls

Leather boots - Report "Tule" - Piperlime - up to size 10

I would suggest removing the self-belt from the dress, and belting it with the braided belt from Kohls.  Then pair the dress and cardigan with some cream or red tights from We Love Colors, and you're all set!

What do you think?  Do you love Jentine's outfit as much as I do?  What do you think about the options I've provided? 

Gracey

Kendi Everyday for Giants

This is not me:



Photograph by Bryan Skeen.

 This is Kendi, from Kendi Everyday.  Isn't she lovely?  Do you read her blog?  If you don't, you should.  She's not just lovely, she's witty and fun to read, as well.  Check it out, I think you might like it.

Kendi (and the above outfit) are part of the inaugural post in a series I like to call "(Insert Blog Here) for Giants."  The idea is to take an outfit from a non-giant blogger and provide my readers with the pieces to recreate it in tall and plus sizes.  What do you think?  Sound like something you might be interested in?  Well, I hope so, because here we go:

  

 The Breakdown:

• Tall v-neck cardigan (up to 20) - Old Navy (find it here)
• Blue peasant blouse (sizes 14 - 18) - Ruche (here)
• Tall trouser jeans (up to 20) - Old Navy (here)
• Steve Madden "Intyce" boots - Piperlime (here)

The boots pictured are Kendi's exact boots, and you can find her self-same necklace here.  Again, I went with a feeling, not an exact duplicate outfit.  I love the blue of this blouse, and paired it with slightly lighter jeans and a lighter brown cardigan, all of which I think are perfect for spring.  (If you wanted to go the polka dot route, like I did yesterday, you can find a lovely, ruffly navy polka dot blouse here).

But, enough about me.  What about you?  What do you think?  Do you like the idea of these posts?  Do you like what I picked?

Gracey