trials and

i am not only no longer skinny, but it would be a kindness to call me chubby.

i ran into tj maxx with my family, and looked for skirts.  i found a huge collection of beautiful skirts, but none larger han a size 8.  last i wore a size 8, i was in israel (shortly after high school, when that picture of me was taken - look how young i was once!  hee).  all the skirts that were in my size looked like they had been made for old people who were a little blind.

i got really annoyed and set out to find beautiful clothes for larger women, and here's what i came up with:

http://www.casual-plus.com/ - gorgeous skirts and dresses
http://www.avenue.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Home?storeId=326&langId=-1 - small selection but great prices
http://catherines.charmingshoppes.com/home.asp
http://www.silhouettes.com/default.asp
http://www.coldwatercreek.com/Home.aspx
http://www.barriepace.com/bp/default.asp
http://store.nordstrom.com/Default.asp?origin=tab-logo

just be careful to search within your own size - there were a few times when i accidentally wandered into the too large area.

you can always turn to JC Penney or other similar places that have some clothes for the non-stick variety, but i wasn't crazy about the selection.  i also felt that the clothes they list haven't changed since i was a kid.

the thing i really like about the places that i found is that they all accomodate for chests, hips, and tushes.

i was into old navy's larger stuff for a while, but i realized that they take the same cut for a size 2 and just extend it, as if women grow proportionately everywhere at once.  simply not true.  that's why their pants look SO bad on bigger people - they adhere to the backside like a slightly shrunked second skin.

anyhow, this is all because i'm going to a wedding, so here' my outfit:

with a camel seude jacket over it.  now all i need is a hat and shoes.  yay!

side rant - size 12 and above is considered plus size in most stores.  way to make people crazy.