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About the Red Tag Diva Herself...
I am a size 20, plus sized woman. Finding great looking clothes at a great price can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. I can find nice clothes but usually they cost more than I care to spend. I like finding what looks best on me at a bargain price.
I remember trying to find an interview suit. Nothing too fancy like a ‘church suit’ just a basic black skirt suit or navy blue skirt suit. I went to downtown Brooklyn and started looking through the different shops. The bigger shops like Ashley Stewart, Avenue and Lane Bryant had all these summer, cropped, frilly, ‘let’s go hang out’ type outfits (it was summer). I finally found a suit in a smaller shop; a basic skirt suit, nothing fancy. Even though I recognized that the quality of this suit was budget, I had to try to haggle with the shop owner to get the price down to $100! I thought, ‘this is ridiculous’ and passed on the suit.
I probably could have ordered something online at Chadwick’s, Silhouettes, iGIGI or Jessica London, but couldn't find a skirt suit I liked at the price I wanted to pay. I remember ordering a suit online from one of the online clothing retailers; it was a pretty skirt suit on sale for about $40. When the ‘pretty suit’ arrived, the fabric was cheap looking. I wore it to the office and someone joked that I looked like an airline stewardess. Needless to say I gave that suit away… Or you find a nice suit and they never, ever have your size when it goes on sale – I hate that!
That's why I started “Red Tag Diva.” I figured there are other ladies like me, who are sick of paying an arm and a leg for high quality fashion. Here at Red Tag Diva, you can find Tahari, Jones New York, Le Suit, Morgan & Co. and other top designers on a budget. I focus on the trendy, sexy, hip, classy clothes that every woman likes to wear; from the petite babe to the plus sized diva. Check back often as our quantities are limited and we update our stock frequently.
You don’t have to wait for a sale event; every day is a sale day at Red Tag Diva. We have prices at up to 75% off retail for top designer apparel. I sell what I would wear myself. Which isn’t always a good thing, believe me I have looked once or twice at something and said, ‘I think I will keep this.’ After much contemplation, I relinquish the item but sometimes it is hard. When one of my customers drops me a note on how much they love their clothing, I know I did the right thing…
Stop in a while and look around. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at: Sales@redtagdiva.com
Stacey
The Red Tag Diva
Flatter Your Body Type with Clothes Designed for Your Shape
Every woman I know wishes she were a couple of pounds lighter. We all at one time or another struggle with size acceptance, identity, self-esteem and body image, especially if you are viewed as outside the normal image portrayed by Madison Avenue. Unfortunately in our society being a certain size or weight has been incorporated into our value system. Losing weight should not be our emphasis, looking good with what you got – should be your goal. Love your curves!
Whether your style is hip, trendy, sexy or classic you can find clothes that flatter your body and you don’t have to break the bank. Finding clothes that fit you and clothes that flatter your figure is not as hard as it seems. Remember just because it comes in your size doesn’t mean it's going to look good on you. I think we have all seen someone in an outfit that is too tight or too short and you say to yourself, ‘what were they thinking?’
Whatever style you are looking for in a dress; whether it be a cocktail dress, mother of the bride dress, evening dress, formal dress, evening gown, prom dress or special event dress make sure it flatters your figure. Or if you are looking for that special pant suit or skirt suit that you can wear as an interview suit, corporate suit or a fancier suit that you can wear as a church suit or an evening on the town suit; even if you spend a lot of money on it, it won't look good on you if it is not made for your body shape and type.
Begin by accepting who you are and work with that. While some of us want to look like Janet Jackson or Jennifer Lopez, few have that body type. There are some stunning large size divas to emulate like; Monique, Queen Latifah (I get told I look like her often) and Jill Scott just to name a few.
Below is an updated and expanded version of the body shape description that more accurately describes a woman's body:
Diamond
You have a smaller frame with narrow shoulders and back; medium, or smaller size bust and wider midriff with no defined waist. Your body carries most of the weight in the middle section. Sometimes the waist is the largest measurement around the body. You have broad hips and generous thighs. At the same time, your buttocks are flat and your lower legs are proportionately slender.
Characteristics
The Diamond Figure type has the following characteristics:
• Shoulders are average or narrow
• Face is proportionate to the body
• Neck is well defined
• Ribcage is average
• Bust is small to medium size
• Waist is undefined, carrying the weight in the front midsection with a potential for the “love handles”
• Flat or average buttocks
• Hips are usually medium to prominent
• Thighs are slightly fleshy
• Lower legs are shapely and proportionately slimmer to the overall body shape
Figure's Assets
The greatest Diamond Figure’s assets are:
• Proportionate face, neck, and bust
• Balanced thighs
• Shapely legs
• Great arms
Enhance and Balance
To enhance and balance the Diamond silhouette, the objective is to:
• Balance narrow shoulders with softly squared off shoulder pads and horizontal, broadening necklines
• De-emphasize tummy and a horizontal girth
• Accentuate shapely legs
Draw the attention away from the midriff section to the face, shoulder, and neck areas
Triangle
You have very full and fleshy hips and thighs. Sometimes, your buttocks can also be very full and round (although, sometimes, your derriere can be quite flat). Your face, shoulders, arms, bust, and ribcage appear to be overall much smaller relative to your bottom; you have a defined waist.
Characteristics
The Triangle Figure type has the following characteristics:
• Shoulders are proportionately narrow or average
• Face tends to be smaller relative to the rest of the body
• Neck is proportionally slimmer
• Back is smaller or average in size and is not so full relative to the bottom
• Bust is relatively smaller than the lower torso
• Waist is well defined due to a much more pronounced hips and thighs
• Full, round, and fleshy buttocks (in some cases, buttocks are flat)
• Hips are usually much wider comparing to the rest of your body and do get fuller at the lower hip line that frequently bulges outward
• Thighs are full and very voluptuous
• Lower legs are often proportionately heavier
Figure's Assets
The greatest Triangle Figure’s assets are:
• Proportionately slender face and shoulders
• Curved in waist
• Shapely neck and bust
• Relatively slim arms
Enhance and Balance
To enhance and balance the Triangle silhouette, the objective is to:
• Emphasize the middle section and waist area
• Visually elongate and slenderize bottom torso
• Broaden upper torso with soft shoulder pads, lighter colors. and wider necklines
• Draw attention to the shoulders, face, neck and arms
• De-emphasize thighs and hips
Create an overall balanced silhouette
Rectangle
You have a straight up and down figure, with relatively small or medium size bust, no clearly defined waist, and moderate size hips. Your body is shaped evenly, with the fullness being uniformly distributed throughout the upper torso and lower torso; your figure has a columnar, boxy silhouette.
Characteristics
The Rectangle Figure type has the following characteristics:
• Shoulders are in line with the hips
• Face is fleshy with a fuller jaw
• Neck is shorter with the inclination toward fullness at the nape
• Rib cage is larger with the broader back
• Bust is moderate relative to the whole body
• Waist is undefined (often short) with tendency toward fleshier midsection
• Flat or medium size buttocks
• Thighs are average and tend to have evenly sized high and low hips
• Legs are slender and often very proportionate to the overall body weight
Figure's Assets
The greatest Rectangle Figure’s assets are:
• Proportionate hips
• Balanced thighs
• Shapely legs
• Great arms
Enhance and Balance
To enhance and balance the Rectangle silhouette, the objective is to:
• Create an illusion of a smaller, more defined waistline
• Form an impression of feminine curves
• Create a proportionate, elongated upper torso silhouette
• Balance a larger rib cage
Emphasize thighs, hips and shapely legs
Oval
You have a prominent front middle section (tummy) with no defined waist, often fuller bust and sloping shoulders. Your body carries most of the weight in the middle and upper torso; you may appear to be top heavy. However, your legs are proportionately very slender and you have thinner arms.
Characteristics
The Oval Figure type has the following characteristics:
• Shoulders are prominent or average and slightly sloped
• Face is fleshy with the fuller jaw and cheek area
• Neck is shorter with the inclination toward fullness at the nape and shoulders
• Back is broader and fleshier; wider ribcage
• Bust is ample; usually larger than the hips
• Waist is undefined, carrying the weight in the front midsection
• Flat buttocks
• Hips are usually proportionately slender
• Thighs are relatively thinner and only tend to have a slight fullness at the high hip.
• Legs are very shapely and lower legs are proportionately slimmer to the overall body shape.
Figure's Assets
The greatest Oval Figure’s assets are:
• Proportionately slender hips
• Balanced thighs
• Shapely legs
• Great arms
Enhance and Balance
To enhance and balance the Oval silhouette, the objective is to:
• De-emphasize tummy and to draw the attention away from the midriff section
• Visually elongate and slenderize neck
• Elongated upper torso silhouette
• De-emphasize heavier back
• Accentuate thighs, hips, and shapely legs
Visually elongate the neck and face area with the V-necklines
Hourglass
You have a very curvy shape with clearly defined waist. Your shoulders, bust, and hips are about the same width with the hips usually no more than 4” larger than your bust. Your waist could be 6”- 9” narrower than the smaller of the above two. You have full and round hips, thighs, tummy, and buttocks. Your bust is medium to larger size; your lower legs are shapely and proportionately slender. Your upper arms are average in size but tend to be fleshier.
Characteristics
The Hourglass Figure type has the following characteristics:
• Shoulders are proportionate to the whole silhouette; about the same width as the hips
• Face has an oval, round, rectangular, or heart shape; potentially well defined chin and tendency toward a double-chin
• Neck is proportionate in length with an inclination toward fullness at the nape and shoulders
• Back is average and soft; medium size ribcage
• Bust is medium to large, shapely and full; usually narrower or equal to the hips
• Waist is well defined, gently curving in and out to the high hip
• Full, round buttocks
• Hips are usually soft and round with proportionate curviness to them. However, the lower hip is the widest part of the body
• Thighs are full but also proportionate to the rest of the body and can have tendency toward inner and outer thigh bulging
• Legs are shapely and proportionate; in most cases equal to the length of the upper torso
Figure's Assets
The greatest Hourglass Figure’s assets are:
• Accentuate waist
• Softly drape over the feminine curves of the bust and hips
• Overall elongate body silhouette
• Balance heavier bottom
• Accentuate shapely legs
• Accentuate the face, neck and décolleté area with the open collars and V-necklines
Enhance and Balance
To enhance and balance the Hourglass silhouette, the objective is to:
• Harmonious silhouette
• Voluptuous bust
• Feminine waist
• Proportionate and curvy hips
• Shapely legs
Inverted Triangle
You have a top-heavy appearance, with broad shoulders and upper back as well as medium to fuller bust. Your waist gets narrower; your hips, thighs, buttocks, and lower legs are also proportionally smaller.
Characteristics
The Inverted Triangle Figure type has the following characteristics:
• Shoulders appear to be very broad
• Face is fleshier
• Neck is shorter with an inclination toward fullness at the nape and shoulders
• Back is broader and fleshier; wider ribcage
• Bust is ample; usually larger than the hips
• Waist could be slightly indented with some of the weight in the front midsection
• Flat or medium size buttocks
• Hips are (usually) proportionally slender
• Thighs are relatively thinner
• Legs are very shapely; the lower legs are proportionally slimmer to the overall body shape
Figure's Assets
The greatest Inverted Triangle Figure’s assets are:
• Smaller waist
• Proportionate hips
• Balanced thighs
• Shapely legs
Enhance and Balance
To enhance and balance the Inverted Triangle silhouette, the objective is to:
• Balance the upper and lower torso by wearing lighter colors on the bottom
• Visually slenderize shoulders and bust
• Elongate upper torso silhouette
• De-emphasize broader back
• Accentuate thighs, hips and shapely legs
Visually elongate the neck and face area with the V-necklines
Figure Eight
You display a combination of several shape characteristics that are commonly seen in the individual classic figure types. You are very curvy with the overall silhouette of the Classic Hourglass. However, you are heavier at the bottom then your Hourglass sister with very profound derriere and fuller thighs similar to the Triangle figure type. Your waist is defined, but much less indented with the possible “love handles” at the sides. You have a pronounced front midriff bulge, similar to the Oval figure, although in your case, the fullness is more evenly distributed throughout your body. Your shoulders are very proportionate to the overall silhouette, with the full and shapely bust. Your upper arms tend to be a bit fleshy.
Characteristics
The Figure Eight Figure type has the following characteristics:
• Shoulders are proportionate to the entire silhouette
• Face can have an oval, round, rectangular or heart shape, and
a potentially well defined chin with the tendency toward a double-chin
• Neck is proportionate in length with an inclination toward fullness at the nape and shoulders
• Back is larger and tends to be fleshy and full
• Bust is medium to large, shapely and full; usually smaller than the hips
• Waist is moderately indented, with a propensity toward the “love handles”; there is some fullness in the front of a midriff
• Fleshy and full buttocks
• Hips are usually very well defined, round and full, and have proportionate curviness
• Thighs are full but also proportional to the whole body and could have a tendency toward inner and outer thigh bulging
• Legs are shapely and proportionate and (in most cases) equal to the length of the upper torso
Figure's Assets
The greatest Figure Eight Figure’s assets are:
• Proportionate bust and waist
• Voluptuous cleavage
• Slender lower arms
• Shapely legs
Enhance and Balance
To enhance and balance the Figure Eight silhouette, the objective is to:
• De-emphasize fullness of the middle torso and back
• Softly drape over the feminine curves of the bust and hips
• Overall elongate body silhouette
• De-emphasize heavier bottom
• Accentuate shapely legs
Every body shape can benefit from wearing great accessories such as scarves, handbags, shoes and jewelry. Accessorize according to the ‘look’ you are trying to achieve and work with the outfit you are wearing. If you already have a ‘wow’ outfit on, don’t overdo the jewelry. If you have on a more classic or conservative outfit a stunning piece or jewelry or scarf can get you noticed.
Finding the Suit that Suits You by Shirley Bullington
"Two thousand dollars for one suit? Are you crazy? I don’t have that kind of money to spend on one suit! Yes, I am well aware of the quality and that it is well worth every penny. I just can’t justify spending that much on one garment. Oh... but I sure would love to have an Armani."
Rest assured that if you hear yourself in the above comments, you’re not alone. Countless businessmen would love to have fancy designer suits, but their budget doesn’t allow for it; champagne tastes on a beer budget... understood! There’s a way you can get one or more of these suits without costing you an arm and a leg. If you could buy one for anywhere from $15 to $300, and it wasn’t stolen goods, would you? Read on.
Definitions about what makes a man’s suit a "Designer" item vary. One eBay seller’s definition is "any brand of pre-owned suit that has sold on online auctions for $300 or more." The definition continues, "See for yourself. Do a search on completed auctions for MEN’S SUITS. Sort High to Low in price and see what brands repeatedly come up."
Here are some of the brand names classified as "designer": Acquaviva, Barberini, Baroni,Belvedere, Brioni, Canali, Charvet, David Eden, Dolce & Gabbana, Enrico Venturi, Ermenegildo Zegna, Fendi, Gene Meyer, Gianni Manzoni, Gionfriddo, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Hugo Boss, Leonardo Valenti, Luciano Carreli, Natazzi, Nino Bertini, Otello, Prada, Rossetti, Trussardi, and Versace.
Where are you going to find these suits? If you want to pay under $20, you will need to start hunting at all the thrift/second hand stores. Yes, you will indeed find them there, but you need to search. If you don’t mind paying a little more, try going directly to eBay.
If you opt to hunt for your suit, here are a few simply tips for thrift stores. Don’t expect these wonderfully made designer suits to jump out at you. And don’t expect to find a boatload of them all in one place. It is truly a matter of treasure hunting.
Thrift stores, estate sales, storage unit auctions and garage sales will be your best hunting ground. Not to discourage you, but it won’t be uncommon for you to look through 100+ suits until you might find one "good" one. The good news is that after you have a little experience under your belt, you will be able to whip through an entire rack of suits in mere minutes.
You will be able to quickly tell just by the look and feel of the garment, which ones are quality. Take your list of "designers" with you and become familiar with the brands you want.
Hint: You will probably need to have a circuit of approximately 10-12 second hard stores that you frequent, hoping to hit the mother load. If you’re intrigued in the quest, shop a minimum of once a week at each locale! Your efforts will eventually pay off. If this is more work that you care to spend on finding a suit, try eBay.
Enjoy your new dashing designer suit!
About The Author: Shirley Bullington, the author, operates a
website devoted to fashion and everything related to fashion.
She operates http://www.fashionsinfo.com which is a great
fashion resource.
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