Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Style at Large
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career & Money
    • Health & Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food & Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex & Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    The ultimate daily digest for women of power, purpose, and style.


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes & Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes & Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Winter Shoe Trends
    • Slick-Backed Buns
    • OleHenriksen
    • Holiday Candles
    • Statement Red Socks
    1. Fashion

    Big Girl in a Skinny World: New Twists on Classic Looks

    Can a full-figured gal carry off sleek, classic clothing? Sure, she can. Here's how...

    By Marie Claire Fashionista
    Published 28 April 2010 In How To

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Ashley Falcon in a white button down and jeans
    (Image credit: Future)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Hello Ladies,

    Those of you who follow me on Twitter (@ashley_falcon) already know I was in New York this week for meetings, appointments, and a little bit of down time with good friends. Many of you have been asking for snapshots of my outfits, so I enlisted a good friend to snap a few pictures of the clothes I wore while running around the city. This week, I had classics on my mind. I mean, it's no secret that finding classic pieces is much easier than finding trendy ones. But unfortunately, an all-classic outfit leaves most curvy girls looking quite bland—not to mention sometimes looking older than they are. My solution: Spice up your classics with trendy pieces.

    1. The White Button Down

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    Wear one with black pants and you might be mistaken for a waiter. Try wearing your button down with a pair of jeans, rolling up the sleeves, and adding a printed scarf or a pair of statement shoes. Keep this classic staple fresh by adding of-the-moment items.

    2. The Tweed Jacket

    This look is one that could easily teeter into "stuffy" territory. But that's not to say that a tweed jacket can't look very young and chic. The key is to pair it with a pair of ripped or trendy jeans and booties. A trendy necklace will also serve to spruce up the look.

    Ashley Falcon models a gray cardigan and black pants

    (Image credit: Future)

    3.The Cardigan

    Try an updated version of this wardrobe classic to keep from looking like a grandma. Find a cardigan with visual interest like ruffles, embellishments, or structured sleeves.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    The ultimate daily digest for women of power, purpose, and style.

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    Remember, avoid turning classic items into a stuffy uniform—work with what you have to make them your own! Do you have any favorite ways to tweak classic wardrobe staples? Let me know!

    -Ashley

    YOUR BIG GIRL IN A SKINNY WORLD

    Marie Claire Fashionista
    Latest in Fashion
    Katie Holmes arrived at the American Ballet Theatre Fall Gala in a long-sleeve satin dress and a fringe tassel-covered black evening bag
    Celebrity Style Katie Holmes Traded a Sparkly Evening Bag for Something Even More Fun
    Angel Reese's leather Schiaparelli look included the capri pants trend and heels at Game 6 of the 2026 WNBA Finals
    Celebrity Style Angel Reese Trades Basketball Shorts and Sneakers for Capri Pants and Heels
     
     
    adidas
    Winter Fashion Wearing Any of These 7 Pairs of Sneakers Signals You're a Fashion Person
    Carole Middleton carries her Emmy London bag to attend day 3 'Ladies Day' of Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse on June 18, 2026 in Ascot, England.
    Royals Carole Middleton's Favorite Bag Gets a Regal Upgrade
     
     
    Latest in How To
    A photo of Nikki Ogunnaike and text reading Money. Power. Style. Nice Talk with Nikki Ogunnaike
    Culture Big News—Our Podcast "Nice Talk" Is Nominated for a Webby
    how to contour; hailey bieber contour
    Makeup When Hailey Bieber's Makeup Artist Teaches You How to Contour, You Listen
     
     
    white woman applying sunscreen on the beach, close up shot
    Beauty Sunscreen Labels Can Be Hard to Decipher—Here's Exactly How to Decode Them
    A model wearing red lip liner and lipstick.
    Beauty Try My Lip Overlining Technique, And You'll Be Tempted to Cancel Your Filler Appointment
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.