Plus Size Trend Alert: Grandma Floral Print Pants

Harper’s Bazaar, W Magazine, Vogue Paris and many other fashion gods noted that florals- and especially those with a vintage charm- are a staple part of the Spring 2018 wardrobe. However this glitter bomb, must argue the retro print floral pants are are the very forefront of this trend. Let’s talk about why.

Floral Dresses and Shirts Aren’t New

Trends by definition, represent a change in direction from the norm. Floral print blouses, skirts and dresses- while still very much en vogue- have been around a very long awhile. They also aren’t going anywhere. They’re basically a staple and can be found in some variation in nearly every woman’s wardrobe. The prints may change season to season, but I think over the last 30 years it’s been pretty easy to find any of these pieces in a floral print. But floral pants? Unless you’re a vintage fan or shop retro forward brands, you probably would have been hard pressed to find a well cut trouser in a bright floral up until recently.

How to Rock Floral Pants: The Basics

Now sometimes floral pants get a bad rep. People call them grandma-y or frumpy. Oh hell no. Floral pants can be modern, edgy and chic.  The easiest way to rock a bold floral print pant is to pair it with tailored solids that highlight various tones in the pant. Here I’ve taken these rad 1960s inspired daisy print plus size pants from Modcloth and paired them with a light pink, long line blouse from New Look (no longer available, similar style linked), knotted at the waist. To add a touch of pizazz to the top, I buttoned the collar of the shirt all the way up and wore pearl chain necklace around it- I call this my jewelry bow tie. Lastly,  I accentuated the teal in the pants with this architecturally styled coat from Eloquii (no longer available, similar style linked) and I drew out the burgundy tones in the print with a cute wine colored heel.

How to Rock Floral Pants: Advanced

For more advanced fancy pants action, try pairing two different florals in similar hues together.  You can take the same approach with any print- even stripes. I personally am loving some of the stripe and floral pairings I have been seeing floating around on the internet. Maybe it’s because I just love any excuse to put more colors on my body at once. Yep, it’s probably that.

My Favorite Floral Pants

To make rocking some sexy grandma floral action easier on you, I’ve rounded up my favorite pantaloons in bloom below. Click the images to shop.

I earn commissions on some of these links that helps support my content creation.

 

Rule Breaker? No. I Just Wear What I Want

People tell me all the time things I shouldn’t wear- often before I’ve tried it on. This patterned skirt is a great example of something many people warned me not to wear. It’s light colored. It’s vertical print. It’s short. In some sort of plus size fashion rule book, that is stored in a very secret box, that only the pure in heart can access, whose words are now passed through our society through verbal storytelling by judgemental people, it says this. In any case, that book is very very old. It probably references bloomers. And cod pieces.  And chastity belts.  And Isn’t it about time we got a rewrite?So, ancient rule book be damned! I bought the skirt anyways. Not to  be controversial. Not to make a statement. I bought it because it looked like a sweater I had purchased Data for the winter and I wanted us to match. It’s funny because often times people think I wear things for the shock value, but most of the time its because of one of 3 things: I think its it’s pretty, I can match my dog or it’s outside my comfort zone and I want to challenge myself to make it work.

As a plus size women there’s all this meaning put behind usually meaningless decisions. I need to wear clothes. I buy clothes I like. I wear those clothes. While usually I am wearing what I like and what spoke to me that day, the world sometimes interprets it into a grand statement.  I’m brave or bold. I’ve broken the antiquated rules. I went out of the house with something that actually shows the shape of my body .  In my heart of heart I can’t wait until the day when my fashion sense is praised without the caveat that I’m plus or body positive or wearing something society says I shouldn’t. How about just- ” this girl is wearing a cool outfit.” That would be nice. I’d like that.

Today my be rule breaker look is composed of a Simply Be black sweater and royal blue fitted puffer I was gifted. They are worn with a New Look mini skirt I purchase in London, worn over Maurice’s leggings and accented with a vintage scarf. I threw on the best leather wide calf boots ever from Torrid to complete the look.  Data is wearing a geometric sweater from Amazon.

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Stripe Me Up, I’m Just Too Darn Cool

Stripe Me Up, I’m Just Too Darn Cool

Today was my ode to the relaxed cool girl look. Look at me wearing a cute dress with sneakers and a denim jacket- I am so damn cool. I wanted to be comfy, but I also wanted to look like I kind of made an effort. You know, in that “single mom back on the market going to the grocery store looking for produce… and new love”   kind of way. The layering of the floral mesh over the dress was a massive experiment and I’m beyond pleased with how it worked out. I love how some of the florals pop bright with the layer of hot coral behind them. Hot Coral, such an excellent band name. We could wear crowns made of seashells and the drummer could wear a  rainbow neck-brace with streamers that makes him look like a jellyfish. Clearly, I need a vacation… Outfit details after this adorable photo break.The striped hot coral dress is from Torrid, and also easily converts to a tube dress. It’s a nice little spring/summer essential. The ruffled floral mesh overlay is from New Look and I’ve knotted it just below the bust line to define my waist. This jean jacket is the only proof in my wardrobe that I am a successful crafter; I took an old Torrid denim jacket and hand painted the design on the back. My earrings were purchased in India, my sneakers from Nike (here’s a great gold sneaker alternative), and my glasses as a last minute splurge from Ashley Stewart.

Everyone Should Own an Ugly Christmas Sweater.

Everyone Should Own an Ugly Christmas Sweater.

plus-size-ugly-christmas-sweater-1Ugly Christmas sweater parties are my jam and fervently believe everyone should own at least one in their wardrobe. Personally, I have several, because I love Christmas and I am hoarder. Just over here speaking my truth from beneath a pile of festive sweaters and whimsical novelty socks.
plus-size-ugly-christmas-sweater-2My favorite place to get said sweaters is Blizzard Bay -the creme de la creme novelty sweater shop on the fancy internet site of Amazon. I discovered them last year after falling down a massive google shopping black hole, and now I find myself a devotee. I purchased sweaters for myself and half my family from their shop. I wasn’t paid to say this; when you put a themed light up sweater in front of me, my heart just skips a little glittery beat.

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And since my whole family had sweaters, Data needed to have one too. You can’t see it super well, put his little sweater has a green sparkly tree on it and matches mama. It’s like Mother Boy, Christmas edition. I found this pupperific sweater in Target, while I was trying to avoid filling my cart with all the glittering festive things. This gem slipped through the cracks and this photo makes it all worth while. Data looks so dapper. I’m such a proud mama. Proud enough to order customized  Yankee candles with this picture and mail them to all the people I want to impress.

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OOTD: Neon Floral

OOTD: Neon Floral

SmartGlamour Plus Size Fashion
SmartGlamour contacted me a few weeks ago and asked me if I’d like to try out one of their made to fit, body positive looks. I was little hesitant because I had a company reach out to me with a similar pitch before and honestly it was so stressful and so much work to actually get “my sizing” I gave up and walked away.
SmartGlamour Plus Size Fashion
It’s often hard for companies who make clothing for smaller bodies to just start creating plus size clothing- especially custom fit types. A friend of mine who is a pattern maker once explained to me how hard the process of fitting plus clothes are. After a size 6-8 there is no uniform way the body holds weight, and it gets even more snowflake-like the larger you go.  Truly, no plus size body is the same. Hence why most uber fancy designer brands only go up to a 10-12, they’re keeping their fit costs low. SmartGlamour Plus Size Fashion
That’s why brands like SmartGlamour, who understand plus bodies and make custom clothing are important. I walked into the situation expecting a nightmare and instead got a pretty dream like experience. They even put up with my constant “can we make this, in this fabric?” back and forth. And rather than a straight “no,” they explained why certain fabrics worked better for certain cuts. I LEARNED from them. Bonus.SmartGlamour Plus Size Fashion
The look we settled on perfectly suits me. It’s the dreamy neon floral that I was insistent on, but in a cut that’s more flattering for the fabric and me. In short, SmartGlamour’s expertise paid off. SmartGlamour Plus Size Fashion
If you’re ready to take the plunge into custom fit clothing, I would give SmartGlamour a try, but with one caveat. Custom clothing only works if you are honest about your body. So if you’re not ready to send a stranger your measurements and talk openly about works for your body type, its not the right path to pursue.

SmartGlamour Plus Size FashionThat said, if you open up and give it a go the result will be a unique piece, that suits you perfectly. Which is something you just can’t find in a retail store.  I feel sassy and special rocking this neon floral look paired with my favorite vintage shades, antique button earrings, and my trusty red New Look pumps. Red lip is my go to shade of rouge, Beso All Day Liquid Lipstick by Stila Cosmetics.