Big Girl in a Skinny World: Incorporating Color into Your Wardrobe

Hello Ladies,

New York Fashion Week last month was bittersweet. It was amazing to be in the tents at Bryant Park, one last time before Fashion Week makes its big move to Lincoln Center, but it was certainly sad to think such a time-honored tradition was ending. But, while the tents at Bryant Park might be long gone, Fashion Week abroad is well underway. London and Milan have already passed, and Paris is next (what a whirlwind!). For now, let's talk about London.

London Fashion Week is known for its edge and its young British designers. And from the looks of it, London is giving us color for fall. Bright hues of blues, pinks, oranges, yellows, and reds were everywhere—a very bright winter indeed. The Matthew Williamson show juxtaposed his traditional colored prints, bright hues, gunmetal grays, and blacks with a surprising departure from his usual style—structured tweeds. Doing what he does best, Williamson created a beautifully crafted blue knit dress (my personal fave) with a slight drop waist. Make sure to look out for this great silhouette while shopping for next fall. But you can feel safe taking cues from any of his dresses: The cuts are flattering, as they closely follow the lines of the body and almost always accentuate the waist. An easy way to infuse the feel of the show into the curvy girl's wardrobe: incorporating bright color in the form or a belt or top and mixing it with the dark grays and blacks we all know are figure flattering.

Another show bursting with color was Vivienne Westwood Red Label. It was a true lesson in the art of mixing color and patterns, two things which most curvy women shy away from without realizing that both can truly enhance their wardrobes. Color and pattern can do wonders for making an outfit young and relevant. One look paired a bright purple cardigan with a plaid button down, a combination that could easily be thrown on with a pair of jeans or tucked into a pencil skirt. Being willing to branch out and try the trends is the first step to a chic wardrobe! Check back soon for more runway trends that work for the curvy girl!

-Ashley

YOUR BIG GIRL IN A SKINNY WORLD