The Pretty Pear

1 day only! 50% off clearance at Torrid

This special clearance sale is good for one day only and ends tomorrow so you better hustle. Shop the 50% off clearance section at Torrid.

Speaking of Torrid...

I poke fun at Torrid sometimes but I have bought many cute pieces from there in the past and I'm sure there will be many happy acquisitions in my future. To celebrate Torrid's birthday, you can save $10 with the code HappyBday until this Sunday. Just don't wear leggings as pants or a bright pink boob sling, and we'll remain on speaking terms.

Is this an April Fool's joke?

What the hell, Torrid? What. The. Hell?

Two days only: $20 off at Torrid

Hey, another great coupon! The fates want me to buy new spring clothes, I guess! Save $20 off your purchase of $100 or more at Torrid through Sunday. They've just added a bunch of items to clearance, too.

50% off clearance at Torrid

Is it only Wednesday? I'm ready for the weekend, y'all, seriously. Winter just makes me tired, I guess. Anyway, Torrid is having their 50% off clearance sale through February 18th.

Look! Fancy new dresses at Torrid!

I sometimes wonder if I'm maybe a little too old for Torrid but y'know... naaah! A lot of what they sell is aimed at younger women but there are pieces that are definitely appropriate for women who are older. It's just a matter of picking pieces that aren't too juvenile and wearing them in a more grown up way.

I've noticed new dresses popping up like spring flowers on the Torrid website and I'm hoping there are more to come. Let's look...

Black, yellow and white floral print halter dress
I love really bold, graphic prints like this and the splash of yellow is just the right color to welcome spring. If you can't wait until it's warm to wear this, pair it with very opaque black tights, simple black heels and a black or white cardigan.

Black, white and pink floral border dress
This dress wants to go to a spring or summer wedding, especially if it happens to be a daytime or semi-casual reception. You can't tell from this image, but the bust is polka dot patterned with a satin sash that ties in the back.

Black and white daisy tube dress
Noticing the trend with black and white prints? If you click through and look at the close up of this dress, there's a verrrry subtle green piping and buttons at the bust. This one could also be worn with a cardigan but I'd go with color, like teal or turquoise. Pair it with flip flops for a casual day or with wedge sandals or heels for a night out.

Check out more new dresses at Torrid here. Don't forget that you can save $20 off a $100 purchase through the 10th with the code 20off100.

$20 off at Torrid!

Save $20 off a purchase of $100 or more at Torrid with the code 20off100 at check out. This coupon is good through February 10th.

Torrid loves you

They really do! They love you so much that they're having another 50% off clearance sale in case you missed the last one a couple of weeks ago. Here are some items that I like.

Black Tweed Ribbon Jacket
Totally cute with jeans but dressy enough to pair with a black skirt or trousers for work. It's marked down from $54 to $22.

Black Belted Pencil Skirt
I really love pencil skirts. I think they're so feminine and curvy-making. I don't care if you're straight up and down like a ruler, a pencil skirt will create curves you didn't know you had. This one is on sale for $17.50 and would go great with the previous jacket.

White Black Dot Belted Shirt Dress
All this dress needs is a matching headband and white wrist length gloves... ok, and a martini. And maybe a frilly apron? I think it's cute in a Donna Reed sort of way and hey, it's on sale for $29.

Cobalt Basic V-Neck Cami
Remember how we talked about integrating color into a mostly black wardrobe? Cobalt blue and black is a hot color combo right now and this little cami will set you back just $6.

   

50% off Torrid clearance... again.

Seems like they do this a lot, huh? Welp, Torrid's clearance items are 50% off from November 7th through the 12th. That's 50% off the clearance price, not off the regular price. So yeah, big savings.

This jacket wants to come live with me

I'm hoping this black satin trench coat from Torrid will go on sale soon. I'm trying to be good and not buy things I don't need but that's one cute jacket. It's not too jazzy for daytime and it'd be really perfect with trousers for a special night out. And y'know, the holidays are coming. Perfect party outfit jacket!

I probably wouldn't get a ton of wear out of it before it got too cold so I'm resisting. But! If you live in a warmer climate, you might wear it all the time. Every day! And then you can let me borrow it.

Torrid's Pink Ribbon Boutique

As you (hopefully!) know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Torrid is doing their part to help find a cure by donating 20% of the profits from their Pink Ribbon Boutique to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. There are several cute items to choose from, including my favorite - a set of two pins that say "I (heart) boobs" and "Big or small, let's save them all."

I guess we were meant to be together

For once, my indecisive hemming and hawing pays off. I decided to wait for a bit before taking the plunge and look! Thee Dress is on sale for 25% off! Torrid is having their summertime sale so there are a bunch of special discounts and all clearance items are an additional 50% off. My dress is on its way! And um, a few other things but yay dress!

unrequited love

I want this dress from Torrid so bad it's causing me actual physical pain, the longing is so intense. Look how fresh and colorful it is, without being too much. Look how perfectly cut and detailed it is with the green trim. Look how ladylike and youthful it is, without being frilly or juvenile. That's not even to mention that it matches my Vox blog. And this blog too, actually. I like green and blue polka dots... a lot. 

And it's made of cotton. 100% airy, light, beautiful cotton. In a world of synthetics and blends, this is a dress made to dance in, to breathe in, to frolic through a garden of daises in. It's so very rare to find a plus size dress that's gorgeous in its own right, not just cute despite being a plus size dress.

I have absolutely no where to wear such a dress, and I don't even know if it'd look good on me, but I'm tempted to order it anyway, just to have its cuteness in my closet.

The only thing I have to say about prom.

This dress. This one right here? It's TIRED. I have seen this exact dress over and over for years now and I haven't been to a prom since the late 90's. It's an ok dress, as far as prom dresses go, but it's done.

Really.

 

I bought a dress

This is a completely unexpected turn of events. I visited the new Torrid near my parents' house on Wednesday intending to buy summery stuff, just whatever I liked and looked good.

I've seen the dress online and the salesgirl mentioned that it looks good on everyone who tries it on. I gave it a shot out of curiosity, mostly. I'm definitely pear shaped (hence.. the name... of the blog) so I don't even bother with dresses. If something fits my top half, it's unlikely to fit my bottom half and vice versa. I can't even find jeans that fit my waist, hips, and butt simultaneously let alone all of those plus my sort of small chest and big arms.

I haven't bought a dress in years so I figured I'd try it on, hate it, and put it back. I don't usually like prints much either, so I didn't have high hopes.

Oh, but this dress. I tried it in a 4 first (don't you love Torrid's sizing?) and the top half was too big. However, the material is stretchy so I tried a 3.

*cue angels singing, clouds parting, sun showing through*

PERFECTION in dress form, people. It's just a touch too long but not enough to really make a difference. It's the first item of clothing I've put on in a long time that just makes me feel fantastic. Believe me when I say that I'm picky and cautious of skirts and dresses and I still love this dress.

I really have no reason to own this dress other than it looks really good and I like it. Do I need a real reason? I don't think so. It's a good dress to have in my wardrobe, though, in case someone gets married or I have to go somewhere semi-fancy-ish. Ok, I just wanted the damn dress.

The problem now is shoes. I have shoe issues in general because I have wide, flat feet and hate wearing heels. Flats make me look stumpy so maybe a wedge? Eh.

Anyway, the moral here is that I tried something new that I didn't think would look good and it does. I stepped out of my comfort zone a lot on this and it paid off.

Let's also look at why this dress works. It draws the attention up to the upper half of my body, accentuates the chest without being all out cleavage, is fitted around the narrowest part of my body and flows down in an A-line from there. It's a nice, slinky material and the dress itself is pretty season-less, depending on the shoes.

Can you tell I'm a "What Not to Wear" fan? ;)