Street Style: Gabi of Young, Fat & Fabulous

This past weekend over brunch, a group of friends and I were discussing fashion (no surprise there) the subject evolved to fashion blogs and we started naming our favorites. We all had our iPhones, Driods and Blackberrys out so we quickly started googling sites to view each other's recommendations. Hands down the unanimous winner was Young, Fat & Fabulous. If you don't know, please get to know. Gabi Gregg is the blog's savvy and fashion forward author. Not only has she been featured on Vogue Italia's site, she's also MTV's Twitter correspondant. Don't sleep on this talent. Her style choices are to die for and she proves time-and-time again that women can look fabulous at any size! I've gotten so many ideas from her already. Click here for details on this photo's outfit.

Have a Little Faith

Items from Faith 21's new line

Apparently 60% of women 18 or over are wearing size 12-plus, yet most fashion stores only stock items up to a size 12/14 max. With "plus size" fashion being an under served yet highly in-demand market, Forever 21 is stepping up to the plate and launching their new line called Faith 21 for women size 12 and over. As a side note I can't understand why being a size 12 is considered "plus size". I'm 5"9 and a size 8/10 and I'm a 'large' in Forever 21!! And let's hope the quality of this new line is a little better. I'd like to be able to put their clothes in the washing machine without fear of them disintegrating.

Anyway, this new line will feature items similar to other Forever 21 clothing lines, including flirty dresses, trendy tops, skirts, jeans and basics such as T-shirts, camisoles, tanks and leggings (see above pics for a sample). The target customer is age 15 to 29. Prices will range from $3.80 to $29.80. Look out for the launch later this month. The line will be available in some of the chain�s new or mall locations, but it will not be stocked at the Michigan Avenue flagship store, at least not immediately.

Old Navy: Fall Collection

Above: Silk Ruffle Top $29.50 Denim Pencil Skirt $32.50, www.www.oldnavy.com/plus

Left to right: Flutter Sleeve Top $29.5o; Ruched Neck Dress $36.50; Color Block Top $26.50 all available at www.oldnavy.com/plus

So I've noticed that some of the comments left on previous "plus size" clothing posts have pointed out that the quality of the outfits online are not all that great. Well, Old Navy has stepped up and provided an appealing alternative for Fall. Old Navy Women�s Plus is offered exclusively online at www.oldnavy.com/plus and features the latest fashions designed specifically for sizes 16-30. The online store provides an expanded selection of fashion apparel that help customers go from work to weekend and day to night � all at affordable prices. See above for a few items from their latest collection. The site also provides $7 flat rate shipping on all orders and free returns by mail for any Women�s Plus clothes - great for when you change you mind about something like I do constantly! To get a sneak peak of the rest of their Fall collection click here. My favorites are their dresses and casual tops from the Jewel Box Colors line.

This One�s For You�

Above: Onyx Nite Stretch Satin Dress, $59, www.silhouettes.com**

Left to right: Tropical Print Dress, $69; Eyelet Shirtdress, $59; Shirtdress, $49 all available at www.silhouettes.com**

I�ve had a few emails from readers requesting that I include at least one item for women sizes 14 and up in each post. Most times that proves difficult but while looking over Silhouettes.com for an upcoming post, I noticed that a lot of their dresses where relevant to posts I�d written in the past. For example, take the �Take a Leaf Out of Her Style Book: Halle Berry� post. I chose these dresses but you can check out the Eyelet Shirtdress for $59. One of summer�s popular must-have dresses is the Maxi Dress. I loved these choices but try the Tropical Print Dress, $69. And lastly, for an ultra chic Satin Dress you must Onyx Nite Stretch Satin Dress. At just $69, it beats out my original picks.

**Use the search function on www.silhouettes.com to find the dresses above!

SizeAppeal.com

Above: April, $48, www.sizeappel.com

Left to right: Malin, $28; Aziza, $28; Alice in Mint, $29, all available at www.sizeappeal.com

So the other day my co-worker and I were having yet another frustrated conversation about how stores don�t carry pants wide enough for our hips or jeans big enough for our booty. Then my other co-worker yelled �shut the hell up� from down the hallway since none of us knew what it was like to be over a size 14 trying to shop at the local mall. Granted she had a point but what�s up with all the hostility? I�m just playin�! This sista is always dressed to impress. You would never know the trouble she goes through trying to find clothes that flatter her figure. It was her who suggested I do a write up on www.sizeappeal.com. She�s bought many of her summer items from this online store and I can tell you first hand that the stuff is cute! Now I have another place to complain about. Can a sista get that green dress in a size 8?!