Recently, I have been trying to push the boundaries on the trends, styles, and garments that I wear—hence my last outfit featuring a piece of lingerie. I keep a mental checklist of which jeans flatter my figure best, the kinds of blouses that I should stay away from, and the shoes I feel most comfortable in. But to be honest, a wardrobe based solely off of what is comfortable can get pretty boring.

When I first saw these leather trousers from ELVI, a U.K.-based women’s plus size retailer, I knew I had to have them. Although they were like nothing else that I had in my closet, I was ready to take on the challenge they posed—the trousers defy all of my rules for what not to wear. I paired the trousers with ELVI’s black check top and I tapered the pants at the bottom to create a skinny ankle. All-in-all, this fashion risk paid off, and I have a new appreciation for pants that don’t hug every curve.

I’m wearing a U.K. size 20 (U.S. 16) in the blouse and pants. Pants fit true to size, but the blouse runs small. I would order one size larger than usual for the blouse.

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This may come as a surprise to most of my readers—as it was once a surprise to me—but there are plus size men who read Natalie in the City! Whenever I meet plus size men who are familiar with my blog, they always ask why I don’t talk about men’s plus size fashion, and I don’t really have an answer for them. I have always put the topic to the side and labeled it as “someday,” but I think now is a great time for me to start catering toward my male readers—especially with this exciting news.

ASOS, an online British fashion and beauty retailer, has launched a men’s plus size clothing. The ASOS expansion includes T–shirts, jeans, sweats, button-up shirts, and sweaters ranging in sizes (UK) XL-XXXXL. The line also covers a wide range of styles and tastes. Get a first look at some of the pieces below! 

ASOS launched its women’s plus size clothing in January 2010. In 2014, ASOS saw a 132% increase in new product arrivals compared to 2013, and the line remains to be widely popular in the plus size community. 

ASOS Women’s Plus Size Clothing

ASOS Men’s Plus Size Clothing 

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Photo by: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

I have never watched a Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, and I’m not going to start this year.

Victoria’s Secret just wrapped the filming of its annual fashion show, and social media channels have been flooded with leaked images and behind the scenes footage. On Dec. 5, more than 10 million viewers will huddle around their laptops or TVs to watch it.

I have never watched the show simply because the brand doesn’t cater to my body type. It’s just not for me, and that’s fine. But a friend and I were talking about whether we were going to watch it this year when my friend said, “I’m surprised they haven’t put Ashley Graham on the runway  yet.” I was surprised, too. But even if the brand wanted to appeal to and include different body types, it couldn’t.

It’s 2016, and Victoria’s Secret still doesn’t sell panties beyond a size XL or bras beyond a 38 DDD, and the company’s Pink brand only sells up to a size large. A March 2016 Business Insider article said there may be a good reason why Victoria’s Secret hasn’t ventured into plus size pieces: Each lingerie size group requires a separate factory and set of patterns. So what they are basically saying is that, “It’s more complicated than you think.” However, that excuse doesn’t explain why the Pink brand only carries up to a size large even though the clothing under that brand is mostly yoga pants, sweatshirts, and underwear.

But why do I care? There are so many plus size boutiques and retailers that now offer lingerie, yoga pants, sweatshirts, bras, and panties for full-figured women. It’s not like the community has a demand that isn’t being met. Well, I care because it’s 2016 and the largest lingerie fashion show to exist is the least bit inclusive of multiple body types. Also, the brand that has been known to set the tone for what is “sexy,” is leaving out the average American woman—who is now a size 16.

Why isn’t Victoria’s Secret trying to be more inclusive during a time when most brands aim for that goal? This is my theory: Maybe Victoria’s Secret is sort of like Vogue. While Vogue‘s competitors—Cosmopolitan, Elle, Marie Claire, and Glamour—are more relatable to the majority of women, Vogue retains fantasy, which makes it all the more powerful and elite. Although the “every girl” can’t relate to the pages of Vogue, she dreams of it, and Vogue makes the big bucks off of those sold dreams. Vogue doesn’t care to cater to the “every girl,” and it doesn’t have to. It will always be the bible of fashion and every girls’ fantasy—until it isn’t. And maybe the only reason Victoria’s Secret doesn’t dabble in plus size lingerie is because it doesn’t have to. The Victoria’s Secret models on the runway will always be “goals.” Maybe Victoria’s Secret thinks women will always be chasing after the body type that they deem to be “sexy”—that is, until women decide to reject unrealistic body and beauty standards.

From a business standpoint, I don’t quite understand how a brand like Victoria’s Secret could snub their nose at the plus size clothing industry, estimated to be worth more than $17.5 billion, by the way. But it’s their loss.

The bigger loss is that the majority of women—a size 14 or higher—are being told that they aren’t sexy enough to stand next to their skinny counterparts during the most anticipated lingerie fashion show of the year. What a shame.

Victoria’s Secret has no problem accepting my money for their perfume and make up, but when it comes to lingerie, bras, and panties, my money is no good. I hope that changes one day, not because I can’t find clothing and lingerie that makes me feel sexy, but because this world is moving toward more acceptance and inclusiveness, as it should. And if Victoria’s Secret doesn’t, I’m sure it will come back to bite them. Just look at Abercrombie and Hollister, they are comparatively not doing as well as Forever 21 or H&M, because unlike their competitors, Abercrombie and Holister have continued to ignore the plus size customer.

Victoria’s Secret is obviously missing out on a huge opportunity to expand their customer base and, most importantly, the opportunity to help women and other brands change the way society sets beauty and body standards.

Sexy has no size. Just so you know, Victoria’s Secret.

Would you believe me if I told you that a company that made tractors and rugged work boots also made a trendy line of lifestyle shoes? Well, prepare to believe me.

Many of you may or may not be familiar with the brand Caterpillar. Growing up in Idaho, I saw the brand and its products across many cornfields, farms, and wide-open land. But I never thought I would be sitting down for brunch and endless mimosas at one of Chicago’s hottest locations with a tractor manufacturer. But here I was.

The Cat Footwear team invited me and other Chicago bloggers to the Chicago stop of their tour at SoHo House for brunch. I also got an exclusive look at Cat’s rugged boots for fall and lightened up textures and styles for spring that offer protection from unpredictable elements. 

 

I scooped up these Cat Coax boots at the event, and I fell in love with the unexpected comfort of the high wedge and the durability of the boots in rainy conditions. The fold down ankle also makes this boot versatile as it offers a two different looks in one shoe. See how I styled them below!

Cat Footwear will also be making stops in Los Angeles, California and Grand Rapids, Michigan, and everyone has a chance to join in the fun with the Make A Scene Weekend Getaway contest. The trip includes a $1000 flight voucher, $1000 hotel voucher, $500 Visa Gift Card for spending money, and a pair of Cat Boots. Enter to win HERE.

 

 

This is the first faux button up shirt and blouse look that I have tried, and I really have come to like the trend. The top is from Suzy Shier, a Canada-based women’s clothing brand with an amazing curvy collection called “Curve Appeal.” The blouse is very versatile so I usually wear it with jeans or leggings, but I wanted to switch it up for this blog post. If you are also falling for this blouse, take a look around Suzy Shier’s online store and Curve Appeal section, and treat yourself to 15% off your purchase with the code: “15SUZY” Check out my other favorite blouse from Suzy Shier here: Ditching Class

Now, my bag is one of my favorite things. Recently, I was in the market for a new, black, small purse or clutch—and I was willing to drop some MAJOR dough on it. I went to the Gilt City Chicago Warehouse Sale a couple of weeks ago with the hopes of finding the perfect purse. But I had no such luck. Just a day later, I stumbled upon this gem in TJ MAXX, and I thought, “Oh my gosh, this bag looks so expensive, and so perfect.” I cringed as I looked for the price tag, but as I flipped over the tag, I realized it was only $35, and there was a girl standing behind me waiting for me to put it down so she could claim it. Needless to say, I ran to the register so fast. I have included some similar bags and pieces of my outfit at the bottom of this post for you to shop from. You can shop all of my looks at the bottom of each post. If you can’t find a piece that I am wearing, email me at natinthecity@gmail.com, and I will try to help you find it!

Lastly, I get so many emails asking me where I find the perfect, wide-calf, knee-high boots. I get it, the struggle is so real. I bought these wide calf, knee-high boots from Comfortview on WomanWithin.com, but they are $50 cheaper on Amazon! They come in black, grey, brown, and beige, and I own all four pair. I LOVE them.

As some of you may have noticed in the past couple of months, I have been working very closely with Meijer. I have spent time in a variety of their stores here in Illinois, and I have even visited their headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan. During these visits, I met with the company’s style and merchandising team who have repeatedly expressed their devotion to offering stylish, on trend, and affordable plus size clothing. They said “style at every size” was one of their top priorities.

But today, they announced that they are getting rid of their plus size section entirely. That’s right. The Wall Street Journal broke the news, and I couldn’t be happier. You may be asking yourself, “Wait. Why?” I’ll tell you why: Meijer is eliminating their plus size section because they are integrating it into all of the other sizes. YES. In one rack, you can find dresses, shorts, and blouses, whether you are a size small or a 3X. Plus size women can now find clothes that fit them and make them feel beautiful alongside their straight size counterparts. 

There are currently 15 Meijer locations with size integration, but each of the retailer’s 230 stores will become fully integrated by early 2017.

I have expressed my wishes for this to happen, and I have been very vocal about it and how brands should not turn away the plus size customer or make them feel secluded or isolated. It makes no sense to me why a brand can make clothing in an extra small, but can’t simply extend those sizes to include plus size women. Instead, most brands create a plus size section devoted to full-figured women, and oftentimes, these plus size lines are way behind the trends and don’t provide plus size women with what she WANTS to wear. As a full-figured woman (and I have been all my life), I have always wanted to wear what my slimmer friends were wearing. I didn’t want to shop in the dark corner of the store where clothes seemed more like pajamas. But now, I can shop with my friends and with EVERY woman, thanks to Meijer.

You guys, I am absolutely beside myself, and so proud to say that I know and love Meijer to the moon and back for this. I hope that other retailers and brands will follow suit, because THIS IS THE FUTURE. My goal as a blogger is to bring light to these issues and inequalities that plus size women face in the fashion industry. One day, when I have a daughter of my own, I hope she gets to grow up in a world where she is encouraged to love her body and wear whatever she wants because the media, society, and trendy retailers aren’t telling her that she shouldn’t.

Thank you Meijer, for leading the way and for truly making a dream of mine come true. 

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