Plus Size Bras – Playtex and Me

Here is my video of my day at Playtex. Please leave a comment and share your bra shopping stories. Go and get your boobies a proper brassiere fitting and remember – point ‘em up and out to God!

Visiting the House of Igigi and a Contest

Tonight I am having dinner with my friends Yuliya Raquel and Ozlem Arpaci from Igigi, and Lisa and Jim Dolan who own Lee Lee’s Valise. It is sure to be a fun filled evening and I will post a report tomorrow.

Remember that contest that I promised you a couple of weeks ago? It all started when I visited the Igigi showroom. Contest details at the bottom, after my report of my day at Igigi.

When I was in San Francisco last month I was fortunate to meet Yuliya Raquel, the design talent behind the House of Igigi. My appointment to tour the studio was with Ozlem, Yuliya’s confidant, business manager and sargeant-at-arms.

I am a big fan of Yuliya’s design talents and I was thrilled when I learned that she would be joining Ozlem and I for lunch. But lunch would be later in the afternoon and first, I got to try on clothes.

This is the Floral Creme Brulee Dress. When I came out of the dressing room I told Yuliya and Ozlem that this dress is a miracle, and it absolutely is. Yes, I know that my lacy black bra is much too revealed and I would never leave the house like that, but I wanted you to see how it looked on my body shape. I am your virtual mannequin!

I am 5’7″ and I have a rack of doom (38DDD), so there is probably enough fabric to cover your tata’s, while I must wear a cami. But I decided that the dress is worth it. I am wearing a size 12 because the 14 was too big for me.

There are so many incredible design touches that I can not rave about this dress enough. There is a bit of ribbon on the sleeve that compliments detail on the neckline. The dress is designed to wrap, with the attached belt wrapping inside the dress and through the side, so the belt wraps around to tie in front. There is enough fabric to cover you (there was too much fabric in the 14 for my shape and that’s why I chose the 12), and most importantly the quality of the fabric is luscious. It floats beautifully, doesn’t cling, shines like silk…and for $112.00? I told Yuliya she should charge more so I suggest you get this dress before I talk her into it.

Francesca dress in amethyst

This is the Francesca dress in amethyst, size 12. I don’t think I need to say much here. A cut above the basic low cut cocktail dress and it is simply gorgeous. The fabric is a good medium weight, is fully lined, and glides around my legs as I walk.

I absolutely love this dress. I think it works best as an evening dress and I don’t think that I would wear this to the office. Perfect for dinner out, going to hear live music and dancing, etc. I would even wear this to the Metropolitan Museum of Art on evenings when they open galleries with a bar cart and a jazz combo.

They have things like that where you live, right?

Squeezing into something too small looks like this.

This is the Breezy Morning Dress in size 12 I should have tried the 14. I am posting this pic of myself, your virtual mannequin, because I wanted you to see what it looks like to wear something that is too small. You’re welcome.

The top of the dress is a similar knit to the Francesca dress, and the bottom is similar fabric to the Creme Brulee. The reason the dress fits so differently is because of the differences in the two fabrics and the style of the dress. This is not a wrap dress (there is a zipper on the left side), and so there is no extra fabric to adjust to your shape. I suggest you order one size larger.

Friendly faces at Igigi:

Yuliya and Igigi wedding dresses

Yuliya at the design table

Yuliya working with one of her many inspiration boards.

oooh fabric!

Ribbons and details and colors oh my!

People who work at Igigi seem really happy.

I wish I could find my notepad with everyone's name. Thank you for letting me post your picture, guy who works for Igigi.

Somebody has to keep things running smoothly around here.

Ozlem, me and Yuliya holding her camera shy daughter.

AND NOW FOR THE CONTEST

Please post a comment (you click on the word “comment” beneath this post) with a link to something that you would get from the Igigi website and where you would wear it. Next Tuesday, June 22nd, I will be choosing by random number generator a winner for a $100 Igigi gift certifiate.

Cocktails at the museum? Best friend’s wedding? Someone planning on proposing to you? Your kid is graduating from college? Your kid is finally moving out? Be dressed for the occasion, or any occasion. Be ready for those moments when people take out their cameras. Igigi offers fashion, real fashion with a real design sensibility. The quality of the fabrics and the stitching is outstanding. I would say that their clothes are worth every penny so good luck in winning that $100!