Started from the bottom, now we’re here.
I had to design my prom dress.
This is my version of the “back in my day I’d have to walk shoe-less 5 miles uphill in the snow just to get to school…” story. It’s the late ’90s. I’m living (voluntarily) in the middle of nowhere. The only local stores that sell clothing are K-mart, Walmart, and Belk. In my opinion, none of these have anything to offer me. In order to clothe myself I’d order from catalogs or have to drive 1 – 2 hours to a mall. I would try to find modern cut jeans at the one plus size store and tops at the few stores that would carry larger sizes (read: above size 12).
I had given up on department stores altogether. It was clear they did not want my business.
The clothes that fit me were put in the farthest, most remote section of the store. Often I’d feel like I was going through a maze to find it, beyond the housewares, just after the dead quiet furniture section, there would be the “Women’s” department. It was so silent you could hear a pin drop. And if you did hear a noise, it was likely the sound of disappointment of the one other person who’d managed to find her way. I’d pick through the racks of poor quality, misshapen, horribly designed garments in the hopes to find pieces that I could somehow transform into a “look.”
I’d like to think of these years and those that preceded them as my training grounds.
My very supportive mother and me
When it comes to fashion, I’ve learned to be creative and think outside the box. Because I had to work with the limitations of what was available, I developed the skill to envision the potential in the pieces I’d find. I had to be persistent to express my style. As a plus size woman, I can’t simply open a fashion magazine and buy what I see. I have to shop everywhere, sometimes the deepest corners of the earth, to put together an outfit.
And I knew I wasn’t alone. I knew that there are a lot of us dealing with the same bullsh!t.
I started publishing on Polyvore and pinning on Pinterest to inspire other women like myself. I wanted plus size women to see that fashion is for them, it’s just going to take more effort than it should. I wanted plus size women to know that there are options and they can look amazing and express themselves with fashion. I had always thought about starting a plus size fashion blog, but made excuses and never took the time. Partly because I was afraid that no one would want to read what I have to say. But after 13 million views on Polyvore and nearly 50,000 followers on Pinterest, I knew I could really offer something. And so, I thought: no more excuses! I should say something to my followers that I can’t take back. So I posted this:
I was overwhelmed and excited by the responses. And I felt inspired. I knew the issues being raised in the comments were things I could address. And so now we’re here.
Please feel free to send me comments and questions. You can also find me here:
Sincerely,
Alexa
where can I buy your products in Canada or online I can have shipped to usa also
hi alexa, saw ur design on pintrest…. i love ur collection… i m frm india…. is there any possibility to start ur brand here
I simply ADORE everything about your style!!! Can you please send some websites with clothing to be comfortably worn for teaching elementary students and for librarians who don’t want to look matronly! Lol!
looking forward to you starting your blog. I first found you and followed you on Pinterest and love everything you post. So much inspiration! 🙂
http://www.diaryofachicmommy.com
Thank you, Tyesha! I love your blog and pin from it often! 🙂
i did too!
Hi Alexa-
I follow you on everything and love how you remake outfits for those with more love*wink* Can you add some more business looks soon – everything is great for weekends but I struggle with workday outfits!
Best wishes!!!
Sorry that I am just reading this… Thank you for the support! And yes, I can put together some fall work looks. Stay tuned… 🙂
Just found you and I’m excited! I’ve shared your struggle to find plus size clothes with some class! I’m so tired of that ‘one store’ I can find my size in limiting me to styles that are so not what I want. I’ll be following you for hints and help!! Love the weekend looks … that’s how I dress most of the time 🙂
Sandy,
Thank you for the kind message! (And yes, the struggle is real 🙂 ).
I love your blog. Great fashion pieces. I always look forward to what you post.
Thanks, Elana! I appreciate your comment!
I am so excited I found you!!!! I absolutely love fashion but have found it hard to be stylish plus size woman in a super small sized world. Your blog has given so much inspiration! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!!
Amy,
So glad to hear you’re inspired! 🙂 Thank you for the wonderful comment!
– Alexa
Hi Alexa. I discovered your ideas this week and am so inspired. Wish that I found you sooner. I am a casual kinda girl. But the workplace ideas are helpful too. Love, love, love ya!
I’m so glad you found me! Thank you for the kind message, Yucozia! 🙂
You have given me LIFE!!! I love fashion and everything about it, this has inspired me to get back to the ME that I lost somewhere through time! I am SO ready you have a NEW follower for life! Keep up the great work girl, you are an inspiration to many, to me at least!!!!
That’s awesome! Thank you, Davine!
I follow you on Pinterest and pin from you often. I am also a plus size women with the same issues as you. I also want to start a blog but it’s scary and confusing. I’m inspired by you daily. Thank you!
Hi Jamaica! Thanks for you comment. I know what you mean about blogging, it IS scary and confusing! But I encourage you to try. Now I can say that I’m so glad that I did! Thank you!
Would love to see you help design outfits for dia.co I subscribe to them but would love them to have your input!
Thanks
Jenn from Maine
I recently started following you on Pinterest and became more and more interested in what you were posting. Love your style! Started following blog today. One question I do have is several of the places you get your items from are catalogs I haven’t heard of. Do they all run pretty true to size?
Thanks for thinking about us “curvy” girls!
Hi Jan! Thank you! As for sizing, I always recommend looking at the size chart of each company before ordering.
Trying to figure out how to subscribe by email.
Please cancel. Just saw the subscribe bar!
I love that you now have a blog. I’ve been going to your polypore page since 2013!
Thank you, Shelbie!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I work in a wonderful office full of beautiful women who all LOVE fashion! However, I am a beautiful woman that struggles to have a “fashion conversation” because I don’t feel like fashion applied to me…until today, this very moment when I found your blog and I too could join the conversation about what style spoke to me!! I am very excited as I start exploring all that you put out here and the “whole new world” that lives outside of my confines of Lane Bryant (that I struggle to afford) and the occasional dept store find! Again, thank you and I look forward to continuing to be inspired!
You’re very welcome, Ida! Thank you for the nice comment. Glad to hear you’re inspired! – Alexa
I could have written exactly what you have written! Except I think I may be a little older… The prom dress I came up with and had to have made was in the “early” 90’s! 🙂 I have always wanted to just go in to stores that my friends shopped at and buy what I wanted! Most of my friends were really well dressed and I managed to do what I could but yes!!! It was a huge struggle! I love your looks on Pinterest and every time I see an outfit I love it’s usually something you pinned! 🙂 Definitely looking forward to following your blog! Love your more casual looks.. Sweaters, jeans, boots, etc… Thank you for doing what you do!
Hi Tracie,
Yes, the struggle is real! Glad to hear I wasn’t alone in the failed prom dress search! Thank you for your nice comment. And thanks for reading!
Just finding your web page and have seen some great ideas! I am sure to be a regular. Thank you!
Hi Tanisha! I don’t know how I missed this comment! But, thank you for leaving it! 🙂 And thanks for reading!
Hey Alexa-
Love your outfits. So refreshing to see options beyond what certain stores tell us to wear! Also love when you do a “knowledge” piece, such as the proportions one. I do much better when I understand the basic concepts behind why outfits work or don’t.
Here’s a slightly different request – offer a tutorial on using polyvore to create outfits. I’m finding it a bit daunting but if lots of us tried creating some outfits there, we’d expand the community.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I need, read and buy from your blog. Sit helps so much.
Jean
Alexandria,VA
Thank you so much, Jean! I am so glad to hear that you find the blog helpful! 🙂
I found you through Polyvore, also.
May I ask why you never seem to show yourself in outfits?
Thank you and keep posting!
Just found you and I’m excited! I can find my size in limiting me to styles that are so not what I want. I’ll be following you because you are amazing !!!!! I love it !!!!!
Can we order from Belgium please!!!!!
Congratulations!!!!
Thanks, Veronique! I know some of the stores I feature ship internationally, so hopefully you’re able to get things you like delivered to Belgium! 🙂
Hi, Alexa! I’ve been following your page for some time now. I absolutely love your sense of fashion, and I’ve purchased several pieces that you’ve recommended. I recently lost weight, and I no longer fit into plus size clothing. Can you recommend some straight size bloggers to follow who share your fashion sensibilities? Obviously I can still recreate your fabulous looks, but your links to specific pieces (which I relied upon before!) don’t work for me now. Thank you in advance and keep up the amazing work!
Hi Katie,
Thanks so much for reading! One thing I want to mention is that some of the clothes I feature, such as those from Lands End, Talbot’s, and Simply Be also come in straight sizes. So if you see something you really love, it may be worth seeing if it comes smaller.
As for straight sized bloggers- I go have several Pinterest boards devoted to straight sized fashion:
https://www.pinterest.com/alexandrawebb/style-spring-casual/
https://www.pinterest.com/alexandrawebb/style-fall-casual/
If you click through the pins you’ll probably land on some blogs that you like!
Just off the top of my head, check out:
https://hisugarplum.com/
http://www.thesweetestthingblog.com/
https://goodlifeforless.blogspot.com/
https://fashionjackson.com/
Thank you so much! I will check out your suggestions.
Hello Alex a
First excuse my poor english but I’m a French woman. I found your blog by chance and now, I can’t wait for reading your new posts!! Your blog is really what I have always looked for !!!
Do you really own all these clothes? Because some pieces seem very expensive or is it just pictures you pair to show us how mix pieces?
Since I know your blog, every morning I try to copy an outfit from your blog and it’s very funny.
I hope you’ll carry on writing many articles.
Have a nice day!
Jocelyne
Bonjour Jocelyne!
Thank you so much for reading and commenting! I do not own all of these clothes. I would be completely broke! But, I usually only include items from brands or stores that I have purchased from and believe to be good quality. I’m so glad to hear that you find my blog helpful!
Hi Alexa,
This post really struck a chord with me and I can appreciate it very much. I also lived voluntarily in the middle of the nowhere when I was in high school and finding a prom dress was one of the most spirit-breaking experiences. I could NOT find a dress that fit me. I’m not sure what department store my friends and I ended up in but it got to the point where my friends were throwing dresses into my dressing room for me to try on. I must have tried on at least 20 different ones that didn’t fit. In the end, I had to get like a Bridesmaid’s type dress and one that wasn’t even meant for a prom. I’m thankful for you and blogs like this that post such relateable content! 🙂 It seems like things are better than they ever were for clothing options for “plus-sized” women and I hope the trend only continues on.
Thanks,
Erika
Hi Erika,
Yes, I too started with a pretty basic “bridesmaids dress” for prom before saying “F that!” I then drove to a city 2 hours away to buy fabric and lace for the dress I designed. The dress still wasn’t very “prom,” but at least I really liked it. Thank goodness I knew a dress-maker!
I think things are very slowly getting better. But, it’s still not enough, ya know. 🙁
Thanks for reading and commenting!
Hi Alexa,
I have the hardest time finding conservative office wear! What I can find is the same black/blue/grey, (or for me) the unflattering batwings/ruffles or the clothes are for women much older than me. Have you tried MM. Lafleur ? The pieces are bit expensive but if the quality is good I would invest. I’ve never heard of them so I thought I’d ask you. Do you have any suggestions on where to shop?
Thank you,
Emily
Hi Emily,
I think plus size conservative office wear is sadly hard to come by. I have not tried MM. Lafleur, but I have heard good things.
Some of the brands at Neiman Marcus, such as Misook – they have some amazing jackets and such, but very expensive.
Marina Rinaldi and Lafayette 148 are great, but insanely expensive. One positive is Marina Rinaldi makes a slightly less expensive line called Persona, with some great pieces.
Then there are custom tailors, like Sumissura and Tailor Store, where you can get custom made and custom sized suits, shirts and blouses, etc. I found their pricing to be reasonable for the quality you get.
I will continue to think about it and let you know if I come up with anything else. I hope this list gets you started and you can always check my list of plus size stores here.
Alexa,
I have to share my own story of being shamed in a Dept. store. Even though I am plus sized, amazingly I had a great job as marketing director of a university. I was on a business trip to Denver and a co-worker and I decided to go shopping in a nearby Nordstrom’s. My co-worker was tall and thin, about a size 4. I was wearing a 24. We went to her size area first and I was just casually browsing the racks while she shopped. I figured I might look for a Christmas gift for my niece who is similarly build. Well a clerk at the store thought differently. She came up to me, removed the garment I was holding from my hands, hung it back up and said, curtly, “We don’t have anything in YOUR size here. Harrrumph!” I flushed a hot red and left the store. My co-worker trailed after me. We were both stunned. To this day, I have NEVER set foot in a Nordstrom’s. Thing is, Nordstrom is the one missing out. Even as a size 24, I buy TONS of clothes. I just go to the stores who WANT and APPRECIATE my business.
Wow, that is so terrible! Sadly, I think we have all had an experience like that! It always makes me think of that scene in Pretty Woman where she goes back to the store after being shamed and says: You work on commission, right? Big mistake! I always say that to myself, “Big Mistake!” Lol.
I came across your blog through Pinterest and am only sorry I didn’t know about you years ago. Thank you, thank you, thank you for putting together entire outfits instead of just highlighting single pieces. I know what I like but have never been able to pull together cohesive outfits because I could only find maybe one item I needed. I don’t particularly enjoy shopping (especially as a plus sized woman) and now you are telling me exactly where to go to get what I need. THANK YOU!!
Hi Lora,
Welcome! So glad you found the blog! 🙂
Hi Alexa
I too came across your blog via Pinterest and you are SO inspiring. I am Danish living in Denmark and unfortunately the range of shops providing great quality and stylish plus size clothing is very limited. I use your style boards and shop online from overseas to match up some great outfits. I agree with a previous post that it is such a help you put outfits together. Sometimes you find a great item but not sure how to really style it. Keep them coming and thanks again
Thank you so much, Susanne! 🙂
Your blog remains up in a permanent tab on my iPad. Enjoy every post, and really appreciate that you list “alternate options” for like every item. This has to take a lot of time, and it’s very appreciated. I like the variety of retailers/ online shops you find, and right down to wide shoes. Very fun! As women’s sizes expand (slowly but surely), you’re like a gps system leading fashion hungry people to the pot of gold. Thanks!
Thanks for reading, Christina! I am so glad you find the blog helpful! 🙂
Wow, I just happened on this blog. Let me tell you, if you think finding plus size clothing is tough, try being short and plus sized. What I want to know is why the clothes get longer if they are larger. For years I struggled to find decent business attire in larger sizes. The manufacturers must think we’re all home eating bon bons. I became very vocal everywhere I shopped about how the womenswear departments were treated. They weren’t even put on the clothing floors, instead they were put on the top floors with hardgoods as if we weren’t human. I complained over and over to store managers and anyone who would listen. In my day there weren’t any Dressbarns or stores geared toward us. Thankfully some labels now have expanded their sizes. Talbots is an excellent source for professional wear as well as Chico ‘s for more casual items that are vibrant and not necessarily designed for 20 somethings.
We’ve come a long way thanks to people like you that refuse to give up the pleasure of nice, stylish clothing. Congratulations on your blog!
e eating non bond
I so agree e eating non bond!
Thank you!!!
I have been following you via Pinterest for months and you have inspired some great outfits etc .. many right off the racks in my closet .. by adding a scarf or bag or other on your posts. I still really struggle for sites to shop. I just went thru 90 percent of your listed boutiques and designers and was soooo disappointed ?. I’ll keep shopping your looks and so appreciate that you post where I can get items ! Just ordered a red jacket to update several looks I own . Thanks … will keep following .. I occasionally find things at angel heart . Worth adding to your list ! But I need more options ! Thanks for keeping us curvies relevant and beautiful !! Hp
May I suggest a little something for your otherwise great blog? Couls you do a cornet for us International followers? Many of the wonderful products you show cannot be sold to countries around the world. To save yourself the trouble open up for a chart over countries where WE can add the names of stores selling Plus Size clothes, although THEY may not call the that.
We have several chainstores in Norway where you can get great clothes at afforable prices but also department stores that sell the more pricey ones. Sweden have others, H & M is perhaps the best known, but there are others. Denmark is the world’s 3 largest clothes exporter and most certainly cater to larger sizes (Yes, also Ilse Jacobsen yeahhh!). In all of Europe there must be more. I was surpriced to find Germany’s Gerry Webber doing larger sizes. Could we have a list for us ‘finders and users’ to fill in? Please?
Kind regards
Birgit
I have a question! I am a size 14 with a large bust 36G. I need a strapless bra, That will hold the girls up. Any recommendations? Thanks Angela
Hi Angela! I recommend that you try this one.
I am a little late to the game, but……THANK YOU!!! I am in the process of purchasing and trying on multiple outfits you have shared. 😁😁
Alexa,
Thank goodness for you! I just found you on Pinterest as I am searching for cruise clothing. I am an international award winning custom drapery designer and absolutely love your style! Thank you for putting all the outfits together and telling us where the sources are you selected each piece from. Keep going, girl! You are awesome!
Thanks again, Wendy Michaelson
My goodness, thank you, Wendy! And welcome! ☺️
Thank you Wendy that means a lot! I’ll keep doing my best!
Alexa,
I just discovered you on Pinterest! You are a godsend!
I love your workwear posts. After working from home the last few years I desperately need to update my work wardrobe for the few days I’m back in the office. I’ve found some great inspiration from your pins and blog!
Thank you! 🙂
Joanne
So happy I could help! Thank you! Hope you continue to find stuff you like! ❤️
Thank you for your blog and the work you put into it. Even though I am a grandma now and can’t wear many of the pieces , I always gleen a bit of inspiration and try my best to make suitable substitutions. Do you have any blogger suggestions for the over 60 crowd?
Hi Mary,
I don’t have any specific plus size blog recommendations for 60+. But, 22% of my readers are over the age of 55 and the majority (60%) of them are over the age of 45. So there might be more here for you than you think. 😉 However, check out Style at a Certain Age for more ideas.
I just found your blog. I’m 56 years old, 5’2″ tall and 135 lbs. so I’m not exactly plus size but I like your style and am taking inspiration from what you’ve put together. A lot of the blogs that I’ve found that fit my size profile are not exactly things that a 56 working woman would really wear where I live or they don’t fit my body shape. I carry most of my weight in my chest and stomach so a lot of petite styles do not really work well for me. Thanks for what you do and have a fantastic day!
Thank you! Glad to have you here!
Love your style. But, I’m 5ft 160lbs., 66 years old with Silver hair . I find it hard to find styles that look right on someone my age. Could you style your Mom? I’m looking for Grandma play date. Coffee with friends. Etc..
thanks
Hi Gina,
Thank you! And welcome. 🙂
My first thought is, you should be wearing clothing for petites, so I hope that you are. Having a proper fit will go a long way for you to look “put together.” Check out the petite section of my shopping guide.
As for what’s age appropriate, I think you’re already in the right place. The majority of my readers are aged 45 and up. And over 30% are over age 55. Further, I do style my mom. She inspires many of my posts and she is 73. For example, these are great looks for grandmothers and the pants are available in petite up to a size 18. Also, check out my “Coastal Grandmother” trend outfits, which are timeless and classic.
I hope that helps!