The Battle of Replacing Underwear

Real talk guys - Periods ruin underwear.

The always funny Sarah Anderson. http://sarahcandersen.com/

I've been lucky and have managed to hold on to a few good pair of undies for years (in retrospect. Ew.). You know the ones. They cover and stretch and make you feel secure without feeling ugly. For me the magic underwear have always been the Cotton Hipster Pantie from Lane Bryant.

Lane Bryant has been my undergarment savior for YEARS. As in, since 2007. I've never wavered. I buy a handful of the Cotton Hipsters every year and swap out my battle worn panties that just can't make it any further. It's a tradition, and this year was no exception.

So, imagine my surprise when I order five new pairs and THEY DON'T FIT. It's not that I needed to go up or down a size. It's that the cotton doesn't stretch like it should and the elastic band stitching is so tight that I loose circulation in my legs. I took an identical pair of hipsters from last years purchase and compared them side-by-side with the newbies. Upon close inspection I concluded that the fabric of my new legendary hipsters has been changed.

Enter Stage Right: Devastation.

My assumption is that Lane Bryant probably made a business decision somewhere down the line to change their pantie manufacturer. I don't hold that against them. But that means I have old period underwear I have to replace, and no Cotton Hipsters to replace them. I have to find a new brand, and I'm terrified.

So far I've tried Torrid, but their hipsters don't give me enough bootie coverage. MyUndies are super soft, but don't come up high enough in the front (I have a small roll I like to cover). Lovesick is mostly lace and the lace also doesn't stretch up high enough in the front.

Next stop: Aerie by American Eagle Outfitters.

I took to the Internet for suggestions, and I was surprised at how many people suggested the Aerie brand. At a size 20 I'm at the top of their sizing chart, but I decided there's no harm in trying and ordered 10 pair. You heard that right. They offer 10 pairs of under-rooes for $35. If these work out, that means I can get double the undies for the same price as Lane Bryant.

Fingers crossed.

What are you go-to undies? Leave me suggestions in the comments!

<3 Lindsay

Have you read this article yet?

It's by a weight loss coach by the name of Iris Higgins who decided to write an open letter on Huffingtonpost.com to all of the past clients that she felt she wronged when she worked for a popular weight loss clinic. This article stirred up feeling all the way during reading, but left me with a sense of hope and pride.

I think anyone who has ever tried to loose weight, anyone who has felt defeated and cheated during the journey, needs to read this to hear some of the reality.

"An Open Apology to All of My Weight Loss Clients"

Remember, you're all beautiful!

Chin Up!

We've all had days where we just don't feel good enough. Keep this little comic on hand to remind yourself that you're AMAZING!


Pst! Check out Sarahseeanderson on Tumblr for more funny stuff!

More Swimsuits!

Different styles and prices to fit peoples budget!

Love,

Lindsay <3

Swim Suits and Tan Lines

The most dreaded part of summer for most women is annual swim suit review. Does last years still fit? Is it still in style? Am I still comfortable in it? Do I even want to swim this year?

Fear not! There are plenty of cute and comfortable swim suits for every body type and budget.

Have you tried out Forever 21 yet? They have amazing fashionable clothing for an incredibly fair price. And they even have a complete Plus Size line! Try this one:

Or this:

There are many things to look for in a swim suit. Depending on your comfort level you can go with one of the newly popular dress swim suits. They are a cute throw back in fashion while offering full coverage. If you go the traditional route of a one piece, stick to one with ruching over the stomach, but be sure it has a supportive layer under neither. And don't go too big! An overly large suit can look frumpy.

Though these are the very basics my hope is that they'll give you a good basis to find your own amazing summer suit! Add your tips, tricks and favorite swim suit in the comments!

Exciting News!

After a very long and unexpected hiatus, I'm back!

And that's non all, Loving Your Curves is also getting a little face lift to celebrate the summer season!

I have so much content to post on from hairstyles to shirts and even those dreaded bathing suits (oh yes!). So stay tuned for some LYC action!

An Outfit for Change

Hello Darlings!

I apologize for the static the last few weeks. I've just started a new full time job, and I'm also a full time student, so January has been crazy for me!

Since I've been slowly loosing my mind, I've been resorting to comforts to get me through the stress, and praying the take out sodium doesn't puff me out too much.

My comforts always start with a hot cup of tea in the morning, followed by cozy clothes.

Not the prettiest, but it's so comfortable!

Comfortable flats are my go-to because of my job. I love these by Born Concept.

What's you comfortable go-to?

More soon!
<3 Lindsay

January MyGlam

It's that time again! MyGlam is in and this month is focused on beauty staples. If you're not yet familiar with MyGlam/Ipsy or my reviews of them then let me break it down for you. MyGlam is a sample bag by the Ipsy team that is $10 a month on a reoccurring subscription. Every month you get a back filled with 4-5 products in both sample and original sizes. There are many out there but the one I'm loyal to and keep coming back to is MyGlam.

This month the Ipsy team took a bit of a break from cosmetics. At first I was disappointed, but I was actually happy with most of the products I received.

Josie Maran Argon Oil:

 

Argon oil hit the scene hard over a year ago and it's quickly becoming a staple in a lot of peoples beauty arsenal. This oil can be used in your hair, on your face and even on your body. I've received numerous samples of argon oil of many different brands, but unfortunately I don't use it often enough to get excited about this being in my MyGlam. However, if this is something you've been wanting to try now is a great time  because of the dry weather (maybe something to add to your winter favorites?).

Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter:

I'm so excited to receive this because I've been missing having a little lotion in my purse. This stuff smells amazing! It's 100% vegan and is free of allergens like peanut oil and artificial color. The other major bonus is that it soaks into the skin very quickly for being a thick body butter. If specialty lotion is your thing I suggest giving this stuff a chance.

Big Sexy Hair Spray and Play:

This is a classic! It's a great product that I myself waited so long to try because it's expensive, but I can't stress enough that you see this everywhere because IT WORKS. MyGlam added a nice travel size that I immediately put with my travel collection. If you can find a little sample of this in a store, try it, you'll never go back.

Nailtini Nail Polish in Bloody Mary:

Ipsy subscribers were first introduced to Nailtini in last months glam bag with a gold and teal glitter. This month they've brought us to a more classic color. There were two available, either a deep red or a pale pink. As you can see I got the red and I like it. I literally wore a traditional red nail polish for the first time last week and was dissapointed that it was tomato red on me; but this shade is a deeper cherry red that's very flattering. I was also happy to note that again this polish dried vibrant, glassy and fast. Since I'm a huge nail polish fanatic I'm hoping I'll get another color next month.

SOHO London/New York Eyeliner Brush:

Back before I resubscribed to Ipsy they did a run of custom cosmetic brushed, so I was very surprised they added one this month from an outside company. The brand is SOHO and this eyeliner brush offers an original grip on their handle to make for better stability and application. The bristles are a little long and thick for how I like my liner brushes, but it's soft and has great potential for possible other uses. Over all it's great introduction to the brand, but I think I'll hold final opinions until I see more of their brushes.

This bags value comes in at $49! I know I'll use four out of five of the products from this months line-up so I'm definitely not unhappy, but I hope they'll bring back a bit more makeup next month. Beggers shouldn't be choosers though.

Ipsy is usually a service that allows users to subscribe about once a month depending on availability, but I noticed that since the holidays it seems Ipsy has had open enrollment. So get on there and sign up while you can! I really don't know if it's a permanent thing or if they'll close it back down soon. 

Good Luck
<3 Lindsay

Winter Favorites

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

I hope everyone had a fantastic Holiday season and made it through with minimal stress. Now that we've barreled through what some consider the highlight of the year, we find ourselves stranded in the middle of winter.

I live in Michigan and in my world winter means bulky coats, frizzy hair and dry itchy skin. Honestly, no matter how cute scarves are, I just don't like winter. But as part of my New Year Resolution I'm aiming to bring my dislike up to at least a tolerable.

And so, here are my so-far-found must haves for winter:

A Structured Coat- No matter how cold it is, please put away your fluffy down coats! They're good for skiing or playing outside with the kids, but I don't feel that really present the best you. Instead look for a wool or wool synthetic that will keep you warm without adding padding. A well constructed coat will have a pattern for a woman's body and should have inward curved lines for the seams. This combination will look fashionable, professional and flattering.

$70 at Sears on Sale. These range from $30-$500 so there's one for every budget.

A Conditioning Hair Masque- If you haven't heard of these you're in for a treat! This are thick conditioner like substances that you use on your hair to pack in moisture and nutrients. Since winter is so drying you may find your hair feeling dull and brittle. Mine gets to the point where I actually battle static throughout the day. A hair masque will help with all of this, and I suggest using one about once a week (more or less for your personal hair type). It sets a healthy foundation to keep rocking those amazing hairstyles. You can find them at almost any beauty retailer.

Available in individual packages for less then $5.

Lip Balm- Hi, I'm Lindsay and I'm a Lip Balm Addict. I have a tube next to my seat on the couch, on my nightstand, in my purse, in my car, in the kitchen and at my desk. It's a great habit to put on lip balm year round, but with the dry season I find it extra important in winter (especially if you wear lipstick during the day). If carting around tubes isn't your thing, try at least using an intense balm at night before going to sleep.

EOS Sweet Mint is one of my obsessions

Moisturizer/Lotion- You've probably heard this on repeat, especially with the movement towards healthier skin, but did you know using body lotion can actually help with some common skin problems? Things like keratosis pilaris ("Chicken Skin") and stretch marks can greatly benefit from the added skin elasticity moisturizers provide. And don't forget your face! I know it takes another tube, but your face and neck take a beating every day, and it's one of the first places to show aging. So show some love to your beautiful self!

I try to use unscented in counter scent reactions

WATER- It's a hard truth for most, but if you're seeing signs of drying like rough skin or chapped lips it's a sure sign that you're dehydrated. Even if you drink one more glass of water a day, you could be benefiting your body tremendously. Start early and start drinking water ASAP! And for those of you who don't like regular water, trying finding flavored or carbonated spring water at your major convenience stores.

Good Luck!

<3 Lindsay

Bras and Panties to get NOW

Hello all my lovely curvy ladies!

If you haven't heard already, Lane Bryant is having their Cacique Semi Annual Sale. Cacique is the brand of unmentionables that I always end up back at, no matter how many different brands I try. Their underwear fits great while having a large collection of fun colors and patters, and their bras have the perfect shape and lift from a size 36C to their 46H.

My 5 for $25 Cotton Underwear. So cute!

As the sale name suggests, this sale happens twice a year, and it's big. Bra's are Buy 2 Get 2 Free (originally $32 - $42) and panties are 5 for $25 cotton (originally $12.50 each) or 3 for $30 smooth no show.

If you don't have a Lane Bryant in the area, check out www.lanebryant.com for the same sale. Shipping is reasonable, and I always get my packages fast.

Nervous about trying out a new bra? Read my previous post for guild lines and a helping hand.

And no, I'm not paid to say all this, I just really love Lane Bryant and am shocked at how many people don't know about them yet!

Happy Shopping!
<3 Lindsay

Happy Holidays!

Hi all!

LYC wants to wish everyone a Happy Holiday this season!

We celebrate Christmas in my family and both my parents and in-laws are devorced, so we have four Christmas parties to visit every year. So far we're wrapping up our frist visit and are getting ready to hit the road for party number two.

This year I went with a great silver top I found at Lane Bryant. Since the top is kind of plain, I paired it with some great black and silver accessories to complete the outfit. And don't forget the makeup! I used my same routine with a punch of festive lipstick (as seen here).

What are your traditions for the holidays? Do you get dressed up, or do you prefer to lounge all day?

Have fun and stay safe!
<3 Lindsay

Boots Update

Happy Tuesday!

Remember my post Boots, Go Short? Or Go Tall?

I still haven't found an affordable answer to my personal boots problem, but I was so excited when I came along a post today from an acquaintance, Jamie, about these wide calf boots she found:

Cute right?

So I had to know where they came from. She ordered them from www.onestopplus.com which is a website focused on plus size clothing in all aspects. They first came on my radar a couple years ago while I was looking for a new swimsuit, but I'll admit I haven't looked on the website for a while. So I was very surprised to learn that they had these cute boots on sale!

Check out www.onestopplus.com to see what they offer you. One of the great things I've just been informed of is that they carry boots in a Double Wide Calf. So ladies, if you considered your boot career down and out, think again!

Have you found any great wide calf boots this season? Let me know in the comments so I can keep on with my search!

<3 Lindsay

December MyGlam/Ipsy

Have you heard about the beauty sample businesses that are so popular right now? The most popular one is called Birchbox, and that's the one I started on, but recently these services have popped up across the web. The service I like the most is called MyGlam, though they've recently changed their name to Ipsy, and they without fail offer great makeup products every month.

How does it work? Every month you pay a small fee ($10 for Ipsy) and you receive a package with 4-6 deluxe samples from various brands based on a style profile you fill out. Many times these "samples" end up being full size products! It's really that simple, and considering the retail value of these products separately can end up in the hundreds, it's definitely worth it.

Ipsy for December focused on a look for the Holidays.

I received 5 samples and a bag, all which work beautiful together. You'll notice some big name brands in this collection, which is one of the things that keep me so faithful to Ipsy.

First up is Mirabella Prime face and eye primer. The product is a very silky feeling clear gel that glides on the skin very well. It takes very little to cover a full face and so the tube size is enough to last a month or two. I've been needed a primer for a while and this is great for your basic primers.

NYX is a brand that I've gained a recent appreciation for. They offer good products are a fraction of the price of most high end brands. This is a little jar of NYX Pearl-Mania Loose Pigment Eyeshadow in Baby Pink. I've never used loose eye shadows before from my fear of it being messy, but I was so impressed by this I think I'm going to go out and buy more colors. The color was rich, and with the Mirabella Prime under it I never had flaking or feathering. I just pour out a tiny amount on a paper towel and use a brush to apply. If there is any left, I can scoop it back into the bottle. This is definitely a new favorite!

If you haven't heard of Urban Decay, then you're in for a treat. UD is a brand recommended by so many makeup professionals and I've been impatiently waiting to try them for almost a year. It was so worth the wait! This Urban Decay 27/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion is so smooth and pigmented it's definitely worth the investment, and I'll be looking into getting more colors.

Before this months Ipsy I've never heard of highlighter papers, but this Mai Couture Highlighter Papier (yes, it's spelled weird) is literally a booklet with thin papers in it which has highlighter infused into each sheet. This was so easy to use and had such a great application that I would definitely buy it again...if it didn't cost $28. I may not be able to afford this brand, but it's opened my eyes to the wonder of highlighting powder which I will be adding to my makeup arsenal in the future.

The last product is Be A Bombshell Lip gloss in Hot Mess. I had two initial opinions when I found out I would be getting this product. First was excitement at getting a new Be A Bombshell product since I received their Eyeliner in my October Ipsy and I loved it. My second reaction was disappointment since this is the second red lip gloss I've received in three months. I know I should be thankful that I can pull off a true red lip color since many can't, but I only need so many and I'm really not a lip gloss person to begin with. I'd much prefer a lipstick.

Luckily this gloss has great pigment and is super easy to apply cleanly. It didn't smear or shift which made me feel confident enough not to check a mirror every 10 minutes. The only downside is that the color doesn't stay on for super long, but a lot of lip glosses are like that.

With everything provided I just needed to add foundation, mascara and an eyebrow pencil and I had a complete makeup look!

Over all, this months Ipsy was gold! The total costs of all these full sized products equals $93 before tax, and there isn't a product I wouldn't use. Did I forget to mention that every month comes with a cute little bag?

Ipsy is usually a closed subscription service with limited openings every month, but I believe for the Holiday Season Ipsy is allowing people to sign up at any time! So head over to www.ipsy.com and create a profile.

Happy Holidays!
<3 Lindsay

Everyday Makeup

Hi All!

After some debating with myself I thought it might be good to post how I do my makeup routine for the days I wear my glasses.

I start with a BB cream so I'm not so weighed down at work.

Garnier BB Cream is thicker, but I like how it makes me feel like I actually applied something

Because I get oily in my t-zones I always set cream formulas with a pressed powder. Use a nice fluffy powder brush to apply. I've found using sponges or poufs tend to make my powder look thick.

Rimmel Stay Matte is effective, inexpensive and comes in a large size

Notice I skipped concealer? I was feeling refreshed (and brave) and left it out today.

After my face basics, I go to the eyes. Remember how I mentioned that I was wearing glasses today? I'm going to down play my eyes and do a good eyebrow pencil to frame my frames, but not compete with them. I used my trusty Stila pallet for this. It's one of my big makeup splurges and I have no regrets. 

Stila In The Moment Eyeshadow Palette

Colors: 1. Instinct 2. Desire 3. Impulse 4. Wonder 5. Glance 6. Spontaneous 7. Improvise 8. Whim 

9. Catalyst 10. Captivate

I usually apply three colors to my eye lids. I did an iffy layout of which colors I use where. I always go with a cream shimmer under my brow, a light color over the ball of my eye (in this case a light gold), followed but a dark contour in the same color family (dark brown shimmer). This idea can be applied to any color palette.

Each number corresponds to the colors numbered in the palette.

Complete the eyes with eyeliner (I went with a dark purple, pictured bellow, bottom), then fill in your brows. I also have in the picture a clear brow gel I'm testing out. When I'm done filling in my brows I swipe this over them to set them in place.

Brow pencil in auburn. Clear brown gel. Eyeliner in dark purple.

Next comes my favorite part. LIPSTICK! The best thing about wearing glasses is the ability to downplay the eyes and bust out a good lip color. I went with a rosy pink since I'm fair skinned.

 

Revlon Just Bitten Lip Pencil in Honey. Estee Lauder Lip Liner in Rose Coral

Put on your glasses and see your masterpiece!

So what do you think? Worth looking through? Makeup isn't something I do absolutely everyday, but it can make or break an outfit. Have fun, play around. Find what works for you and invest in some good staples.

<3 Lindsay

Pintrest Art Project!

I remember what seams like forever ago when Pintrest.com was in the invite only stage. I waited months to finally be able to log on and see...a lot of nothing.

Pintrest now has blown up to be one of the best sites I'm on today, so of course I had to jump on the bandwagon and trying a Pintrest craft for myself!

Coming in at a whopping $65 these two art pieces are by far my proudest! It took me and my partner about 12 hours to complete, since they are large and we had to wait for drying time.

How to make your own:

Buy 1 or 2 pre-stretched canvases like these from Michael's Crafts
Craft Paint in Black or a strong neutral
Scrap Book Paper in any desired color or pattern
How glue gun (and glue)

Paint your canvases in your desired color. Use 2 coats if necessary. Cut out your scrap book paper in domed diamond shapes to make petals. Account for how big your canvas is and go large or small if need be. Make some large, medium and small to create depth. Don't forget to cut out two circles for the centers!

Lay out your petals first to get then where you want them. This took me a great amount of time and I can only imagine how devastated I would be if I glues first and asked questions latter!

Then glue your petals in place!

Have fun, and let your imagination reflect your personality!

<3

Holiday Preliminary Outfit Hunt

Sorry for the lack of posts lately!

The Holidays is always the start of a busy 6ish weeks for me. Between me and my better half we have four Christmas celebrations because both of our parents are divorced. Talk about crazy!

To keep on track I'm trying to focus and get a solid idea of what outfits I want to wear over the course of a two days stretch. Because it's two days that means two outfits! I know metallics are on my plate since it's not just a holiday staple but because it's one of winters biggest trends. But what about day outfit two?

I need some help! What would you wear to a family holiday party? Leave me some ideas in the comments and as we get closer to the my families big day I'll show you what I picked!

<3 Lindsay

Bowtied Hair and Not-So-Bad Hair Days

My heart goes out to all those ladies with thin or fine hair. And if you have both, I'm terribly sorry.

See, I'm one of those lucky individuals who has the combination of thin AND fine hair. Which means, I often don't have enough hair to do elaborate to voluminous hair styles, and I also don't have enough texture to get hairstyles to stay in place.

I know that the grass is always greener on the other side, but there are days when I just hate my hair.

But yesterday I happened to be brushing my teeth and couldn't help but notice how wonderfully thick my hair was looking thanks to a new shampoo. So I thought, why not play around?

Result:

TADA! A Bowtie to be proud of!

How I did it (for thin and/or fine haired women):

Start with Head and Shoulders Men's Shampoo Thinning Solutions, but don't condition! Conditioner will just weight your strands down.

Towel dry your hair and spritz in a light leave in conditioner if needed, otherwise skip to the next step.

Use a good lightweight volumizing mousse. For those who use salon products, try Joico Body Luxe Design Foam. It's not dense like many mousse products so it's optimal for my fine haired friends.

Blow dry upside down with heat. Make sure you get your roots well to help increase the lift in your hair.

Let your hair completely dry and cool down. If hair is damp or even warm it's still impressionable and can loose it's thickness if you play around with it too much.

Once dry, pull your hair up into a high topknot using a thin hair elastic. Don't be afraid to flip your hair upside down to achieve the height. Pull your hair through the elastic, but on your final round loop a floppy bun with the remainder of your bun pointed at your face. You will need this part.

With your bun created, split it in half to form the rounded bow part. Reach through and pull your extra hair over the middle to create the "knot". Pin in place.

Take the hair spray of your choice and smooth down all the edges, or leave them or an edgy look.

And you're done! It might take a few tries, but once you get it it's a cool trick to have for life.

As soon as I wrack up the courage I will post a video showing how I did it. Until then, try searching for it on youtube.com for a better visual reference. 

What do you think? Will you try this for your everyday, or maybe keep it as a holiday party trick? Let me know in the comments!

The War of the Cat Hair

I'm a huge animal lover and will probably always have at least one animal in my life. Right now I have 3, and though I love them, they can cause a huge fashion problem.

I have hair on my clothes constantly.

Cats, dogs, rodents. No matter the animal, if they have hair, they shed, and tufts of hair on your butt is something I think a lot of people struggle with. I have yet to figure out the magical way to not manage to get cat hair on me when I sit down at home, and I have an orange cat which is highly noticable on EVERYTHING. Often times I put my clothes on as the last thing I do before I walk out the door to lessen the contact with my fuzzy friends.

So I can't prevent it. But I can at least get smart about how I try and get all that annoying hair off me.

The first thing I suggest is to stop paying for those sticky rollers. They fill up way to fast, and after the first stroke the tacky ability has greatly decreased. And, if you've ever had a chance to look at a sticky strip, you'll notice that a lot of the surface space is covered with clothing fibers instead of that hair and lint you were originally after. Lame, right?

Do you also know that sticky lint rollers can leave behind a tacky residue that can cause future lint and hair to stick? Yeah, you are actually making the situation worse in the long run. When I found this out I promptly threw out what sticky rollers I had.

The best product I have to fight against lint I actually took from my mom ages ago. Honestly, the thing is older then I am, but it works so well that it's never had to be replaced, and it still works like a charm. It's a lint bar made out of plastic and a durable velvet material. This thing is cool. Run it one way over your pants and the fibers will pick up any loose object on your clothes. Then, when you're done or it's full, rub your hand over the fabric going the opposite way and all the collected debris comes off in a sheet. IT'S AMAZING! And much more eco friendly then anything disposable.

In addition, there is a new product on the market that I've heard about and have seen demonstrations for. It's called a Mr. Sticky and it apparently picks up lint like a sticky roller, but it's made out of rubber and can be rinsed off, so there isn't anything disposable. Now, I'm posting a link to it, but I haven't tried it myself, so if anyone can tell me their experience with one I would love to hear from you!

 

Have you found any other great products that prevent/remove animal hair?

Good luck!
Lindsay <3

How to wear your scarf.

I’ve been struggling with this post for a few days now. Scarves are one of those fashion accessories that can be talked about forever!

I love scarves. With fall finally here (YAY!) I’ve been busting out my extensive collection and taking stock of what I have for this season. Chunky or thin, a scarf is an excellent accessory, but the sad fact is that scarves can go very wrong.

My sad fact is that I have a ticker, short neck that can disappear very easily with too big of a scarf. I suggest finding a light weight knit scarf in a neutral color to kick off your collection. Neutral colors are much easier to pair with multiple outfits so the investment is minimal.

With a scarf, you can double wrap, tie a front knot, flip over your shoulder, or… well, do almost anything. Since I have such a hard time putting into words how you should wear your scarf, I went and linked my favorite youtube video to help with what is a rather visual art:

Click here to watch it!

Go out, play around, try it on, and find your new favorite scarf!!!

Enjoy,
Lindsay <3

Boots. Go Short? Or Go Tall?

I had a rather disappointing wardrobe moment this weekend.

I finally found a great pair of boots for fall that would fit my calves, so I ordered them. After waiting a week, I ran home with great anticipation to get my package and try on what I expected to be these amazing boots that I so carefully selected. They zipped up with ease, which was a huge confidence booster, but when I looked in the mirror I was disappointed. No, I was more then disappointed. My amazing new boots made my legs look larger then they are.

We’ve all had those moments where you have such great expectations of a particular piece of clothing. Either you saw it in a magazine or on the rack, and knew you had to have it. But when you tried it on, it looked nothing like what you pictured in your mind. My knowledge of plus sized fashion comes from me personally having a ton of these moments in my life.

So I returned the boots in store and am now going to let you now what I learned.

When it comes to boots for women with large calves, you need to be particularly picky about your boots. Boots are made with balky fabrics, that’s the nature of these types of shoes. Because of that your need to be careful of how high the boots come up on your leg. My mistake was picking a mid height boot that stopped just under the largest part of my calf. Because boots cling to legs in order to stay up, this is a horrible place for boots to stop. They can look tight on a women, and they draw attention to the width of your leg.

My suggestion is to find either an ankle boot or a knee high boot. That way the eye is drawn to smaller areas on the leg. It’s the same idea as putting a belt around the smallest part of your waist. You want people to look at the small parts on your.

With an ankle boot look for something that sits just below your ankle bone. It’s usually the smallest part on your ankle. If you can find a boot that is actually a little large in this area that would be even better. That makes a person subconsciously think “hey, her ankles are to small for that shoe”. If you can’t find a shoe with a little room, that’s ok. I have large ankles myself, so I never have shoes that are roomy on me. I still manage to rock it though.

For knee high boots there isn’t much to specifically look for. If anything try to find a boot with a zipper versus a pull on. I can never get pull on’s to work for me. The only thing to watch for is to make sure you don’t have a band and buckle over the small part of your ankle. You want a good definition there and a buckle will add bulk.

As with all other parts on you, you want your boots to emphasize your curves, not add bulk. So try on different styles and see what ones look best for your height and shape. I personally like buckled boots with a heel, but I love when women can pull off a flat riding boot. It’s just unfortunately not for me.

For those who have to order wide calf boots online, don’t be afraid to measure the circumference of your leg to be sure a pair of boots will fit. It’s also a good idea to order from someplace that has physical store locations. That way, if something doesn’t work out, you can return them to the store. I personally like DSW, Maurices, Lane Bryant and Carson’s for this reason. If you’ve found any other stores that have Wide Calf boots online, let me know in the comments!

Happy hunting!
<3 Lindsay