Swooning

I’m swooning alot these days. Sometimes it’s a good swoon. Liz Claiborne’s new Isaac Mizrahi designed line is totally swoon-worthy. It doesn’t all come in my size - but much of it does and it works. A fantastic shirtwaist dress in crisp navy and white is a special stand out and one that is sure to end up in my closet for spring. I am in fact, wearing a the line’s navy and white striped boat-neck tunic as I write this. It’s shaped perfectly and has just enough spandex to keep it crisp and fitted - but not bind. A big hug to Isaac, who is a designer who loves woman in all shapes and sizes.

By the way, the dress in the photo to the right. Total swoon for Anna Scholz. Check out her website. Brilliant clothes for women in all shapes and sizes.

Kohl’s affordable new Dana Buchman line is in stores now, but not in plus sizes. I have been informed by Kohl's that it will be in women's sizes in September. It's a swoon-worthy line. In fact, I am a woman who used to wear Dana Buchman all the time when her clothing was a more expensive line. It was one of the few options for larger women who wanted fashionable, well-made pieces that would carry her through more than one season. Now, Dana is designing for Kohl’s and the pieces are updated classics such as a khaki safari jacket with flirty lining, great trousers, and colorful cardigans.

Until September however, I wonder why us larger gals are not given the same options right away? Why does the number on the tag mean that I can't get the same piece as someone's whose number is smaller? Is this a case of "we are larger than...so we are less than?" Is it so difficult to imagine that we want the same well-made and affordable clothes as our skinnier sisters? And is it that much harder to make a jacket in a size 20 than in a size 10?

Let's be honest. The days of big girls wearing nothing but shapeless sweaters and elastic-waisted pants with sneakers are over. And if you are still in that mode - it’s time to move on. It’s up to us to break through the fabric ceiling and let retailers and designers know that we expect the same clothes as women in misses sizes. They are not going to get there on their own. Until they think we care, it is not going to change.

Style is not limited to women who wear a size 2. Sorry Victoria Beckham and Anna Wintour. This blog is my call to arms. Or shall we say, my call to sleeves. You will see my musings on being a plus size woman who does not want to be defined by her size but rather her vivacious and brilliant style. My first order of business is to beseech you to write, email or call your department stores and big box retailers. Let them know that you want the same clothing options as your smaller sisters. Let them know that you are insulted to have to hunt for your sizes and why are they located in a back corner behind maternity and kids? Why don’t they feature outfits in all sizes in their windows?

Are we going to continue to allow our clothing and, indeed, ourselves, to be ghettoized? I think not.

Bottom line: What you wear should be swoon-worthy. Some people get it..some don’t. My money is the same way; some people get it, some don't.