Happy Wednesday everyone, I hope you had an amazing long weekend!
I took a little break from social media and spent some quality time with my honey so I am feeling relaxed and ready to bring you some amazing content this fall along with a few surprises so stay tuned.
This post features a head to toe look from Avenue. Avenue is an American plus size retailer that carries sizes 14 to 32 with a focus on offering quality plus size clothing for a great value while still maintaining the highest level of customer service. They are also a one stop shop offering work wear, denim, special occasion, casual wear, workout gear, lingerie, shoes and accessories.
I think you can tell from my posts that I am a huge fan of their Cloudwalker shoes and their accessories. They are definitely a go to destination for me for these items. And although I have tried their clothes over the years I have to admit it is a brand that hasn’t always been a go to for me.
However while I was in New York for Full Figured Fashion Week I had the opportunity to spend some quality time with their fabulous marketing team and learn more about the brand, the changes they have made and where they are going next. I also got a sneak peek at what was coming out for fall and I was really excited. The pieces are absolutely gorgeous and they are working really hard to provide collections that are on trend but practical.
One particular thing that really spoke to me was their focus on fit, not just for pants which a lot of retailers do now but for every type of clothing that they carry. I really believe that finding a good fit and something that works for your shape makes the shopping experience so much more enjoyable. And the fact that they carry the majority of their pieces in extended sizes too got a two thumbs up from me. I know what it is like to be a 32 and desperately trying to find clothes in my size.
I chose this dress because I thought it was a great transitional piece for early Fall and then you can easily add a layer to carry you into the colder months. I also wanted to try a more fitted silhouette. And of course if you know me, I immediately gravitated towards this bold paisley print. And let me tell you, this print and the colours were so much more vivid in person!
I ordered the size 30/32 because it was a straight cut and I felt I would need the extra room in the thighs. I was very happy with the overall fit. My honest opinion which I did share with the marketing team is that I generally find that Avenue’s fit can run a little small if I compare it to other plus size retailers. My advice is to know your shape and adjust what size you get accordingly. For example if I get a fit and flare dress then a size 26/28 works for me.
For the shoes, I decided to choose a beige suede gladiator sandal encrusted with gunmetal rhinestones with a small wedge heel to not take away from the print of the dress but still add a little pizazz. I am wearing the 8 1/2 wide. I love the fact that the sizing on their shoes is so consistent. I can confidently say that if the shoe fits me I am wearing this size. These are a great transitional pair of sandals. I don’t know about you but I personally hold out on wearing closed in shoes and socks until I absolutely have to.
I played with the metallic and colours in my accessories by using pieces that had silver, gold and burnished bronze bases. I pulled all of the colours from the dress and I really liked the idea of playing up the pale pink against the strong blues and greens.
So the only part of this look that isn’t from Avenue is my beloved Celine bag. I couldn’t pass on pairing this bag in its dramatic combination of black, white and emerald green against the drama of this print. The great thing about this dress is that there are so many colours in it, your choices for adding a bag are limitless. You could add a neutral bag that coordinates with the shoes or you could add a pop of red and really make a statement.
If you have never shopped with Avenue before or haven’t been there in a while, I would highly recommend checking them out. And for my fellow Canadians, they do ship to Canada. Overall I love the combination of the practicality of this look and feeling effortlessly put together and stylish. I am certainly ready to take on the day and whatever may come my way.
Special thank you to Stefanie of Stefanie Augusteijn Photography for the beautiful photos.
This look was provided care of Avenue but all opinions and statements are my own.
Dress by AVENUE | Sandals by AVENUE | Earrings by AVENUE (sold out but alternative here) | Bracelets by AVENUE (sold out but alternative here) | Necklace by AVENUE (sold out but alternative here) | Bag by CELINE (alternative here)|
