The Pretty Pear

Had to have it! And some stuff about price points

I went to Macy’s last weekend and tried on pretty much everything in the plus size section. There were a couple of things that I liked but not much that really begged to come home with me. Until…

I spotted this top from MICHAEL by Michael Kors. Obviously, it looks quite different on my 3X body but you get the idea. The shape is different from what I’m usually drawn to but the print got me. I’m a complete sucker for really bold black and white prints like this.

I haven’t yet decided if I want to keep it, though. I’ll need to try it with a full outfit with accessories before I make a final decision. It’s just a bit outside of my comfort zone.

I also want to point out that Michael Kors is smart enough to offer some plus size pieces. It’s from the sportswear collection and it’s not a huge selection but it’s pretty great stuff otherwise. Kudos to him. It looks like Macy’s and Nordstrom have the biggest selection.

So about the price and prices in general, since that comes up in comments a lot (specifically in the post about La Grande Dame). Do I normally spend $100 on one top? No. Am I willing to spend that much if I really like the top, it looks great, and it’s good quality? Absolutely.

For instance, I have items from Kiyonna that were a little more expensive than what I typically buy but I’ve worn them so much that it pretty much comes out even. I also have less expensive items that probably won’t last long but I still like them and wear them happily.

The other thing is that I try to be very conscious of what the average woman is willing to spend on clothes. But I would be doing you a disservice if I didn’t write about particular stores or brands because their items are on the spendy side. There are times when a woman needs inexpensive, casual t-shirts and jeans and there are times when she needs a high quality sweater or suit. I’m here to show you the options and it’s only fair that I show you everything I can.

Picks for Spring under $5

Spring is coming (soon, I hope) and I thought it'd be fun to find some items that brighten things up without costing a whole lot. These are my favorites for under $5 (yes, $5). I'll be doing more posts like this soon!

Under $5
Nivea Lip Care: A Kiss Of Moisture, $2.50 from drugstore.com. If your lips are chapped, dehydrated, or otherwise unhappy from the dry winter weather, I'd really recommend trying this lip balm. It's light, nongreasy, and moisturizes like crazy. I also have the cherry tinted balm which is nice, too but not as moisturizing. It is a pretty, subtle shade of pink, though.

China Glaze Summer Days collection. I'm not one to snap up entire nail polish collections but I ordered all six of these as soon as they were available on transdesign.com. In a word: gorgeous. All Lacquered Up has photos here. China Glaze polishes are usually priced in the $2.50 - $5 range.

Queen Helen Mint Julep facial scrub, $3.50 from drugstore.com. If you're familiar with the Mint Julep mask, this isn't as heavily minty-scented. The scrubbies are quite fine and won't tear up your skin. I really don't think there's any reason to spend a lot on a scrub when an inexpensive one like this does the job just fine. I should note that this contains fragrance so if you have sensitive skin, you might find it to be irritating. Otherwise, it's a great scrub at a very nice price.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day…

If you’re looking for the ultimate in lingerie for Valentine’s Day (and beyond), Hips & Curves has something that will blow your mind. Check out the Duchess steel boned corset. It is $150, so it’s an investment piece but this isn’t a flimsy, novelty corset. This is the real deal, made of Duchess satin and German steel boning. Just… wow.

If corsets aren’t your thing, check out the Valentines Boutique for more sweet and sexy options. This charmeuse gown with lace trim is especially nice.

As an extra little treat, Hips & Curves is offering free shipping on orders over $100 through the 30th with the code SHIP100.

30% off new arrivals at Old Navy

I know it’s still only January but man am I glad to see that the new spring lines are starting to come out. I am b-o-r-e-d with winter! I know I’m not the only one

Old Navy is getting a jump on the new season with a sale - use the code SPRING at checkout and any of the new arrivals in your cart will be 30% off. You’ll also receive free shipping on orders over $150. The sale is three days only and ends Sunday.

Here are a few of my favorite items:

Swing Trench Coats in green. There’s also a sunny yellow and a deep sea blue but I love this green. It'd really pop with dark denim jeans and a light aqua or creamy yellow top underneath. It’s really making me yearn for sunshine, cool breezes and feeling in my toes. It’s cold here! The jacket comes in sizes 1 – 4X and is on sale for about $28 with the discount code, regular price is $44.50. If you like it, I’d suggest snatching it up fast. I have a feeling it will sell out quick.

I really consider a denim pencil skirt to be a wise investment if your wardrobe is casual with a feminine twist. It’s a nice alternative to jeans and denim makes it just as versatile. This skirt has a unique waistband and while I’m sure most people would wear a top that covers it, it’s still a nice touch if you do want to wear a shirt tucked in. It comes in sizes 16 – 28 at the sale price of about $23. The regular price is $32.50.

Ruffle-Front Shirt Dresses in Black. It's not clear from the picture but the ruffles along the button placket are very understated. It's not a big, frilly ruffle by any means. Just a nice touch. This one will really rely on accessories to make any type of style statement but it's a good, basic dress to build an outfit on. It’s screaming for a belt, a huge handbag, heels, and bold jewelry. Or no belt, a pair of little ballet flats and jumbo sunglasses. Or wear it now with a long sleeve tee underneath, thick tights and boots. See? Versatile. It’s available in sizes 16 – 30 and I think it’s very affordable at the $24 sale price. The regular price is $34.50.

Brrr!

I guess it's time to start thinking about sweaters, boots and coats. To ease us into the long winter ahead, here are some of my picks for the new season.

Maxi down coat
Sometimes you need a super warm, puffy coat that covers your butt. That's just how life works. This super warm, puffy coat is available in black from Lane Bryant in sizes 14/16 - 26/28 for $190.

Gigi Boots
Unless I can find a pair I like more, I'm going to order these and see how they fit, if they're warm and comfy, etc. I will be snipping off those fluffy things if I keep them, though. It's a cute touch but not really my style. Available from Avenue in sizes 8 - 13 wide in black or brown, on sale for $35.

Belted wool-blend coat
There was a really cute green version of this coat that I wanted to showcase but I guess it sold out. A lot of people seem to be confused about the 3/4th sleeve coat. My answer to that is: long gloves! It's definitely a look and very vintage, in a way. I think it's adorable. The down coat from the beginning of this post is definitely for "It's freezing and I'll be outside for a while." This coat is "It's cold but I'm not playing in the snow or anything." Dressier. It's available in sizes 1 - 4X from Old Navy is on sale right now for $57.

Ros Hommerson: Trot
Have you ever thought to yourself "Self, I could really use a pair of red, suede, knee high boots!" but were unable to find them? Well, here ya go. They also come in black but, I mean... red suede. The best part is that they have an 18.5" shaft and come in medium. wide, and extra wide widths. They're $176 from Zappos, which always ships for free and has excellent customer service.

If I ever become very, very rich...

I'd just order one of everything in every color from Kiyonna from now until eternity. First, check out what's coming up for May. The Manhattan dress makes me wish I had an office job just so I could wear it. Those items are all on pre-order so you'll have to wait a bit.

If you're itching for something new right this second, the Madison Avenue dress might be your new favorite. It has a beautifully sexy twisted keyhole detail that emphasizes the waist and bust but the overall cut is modest enough for any occasion. This is a seasonless dress, so you could wear it now with heels or in the fall or winter with tights and boots. This would be a good dress to have on hand because you could wear it just about anywhere. It's available in red or basic black for $132.

New sandals from Avenue

Avenue has several new sandals for spring and these Irene wedges are my favorite. They're available in black and white but I think the pink is adorable and way more exciting. The color and shine reminds me of fabulous pink lipstick. If you're not a fan of heels but still want some height and sexiness, a wedge is a great alternative. They're available in sizes 8 - 13 wide for $39.95.

Avenue has many more new items for spring and I'll be posting about those soon.

Flirty skirts from Lane Bryant

I'm seeing so many cute skirts popping up right now and Lane Bryant has several that I really like. All of these are made from crisp cotton and can be dressed up for work with heels or dressed down with casual flats or sandals for the weekend. I'd wear any of these with a simple top to let the pattern on the skirt be the focal point.

Multi dot seamed skirt
I read somewhere that dot prints are "out" this spring but screw that, this is a cute print! The seaming creates a flouncy look that can balance out your top half if you're busty and skim over your hips and emphasize the waist. If you're trying to create an hourglass shape, look for a skirt that draws the eye out a little at the hem.

Floral print yoke skirt
What's springier than flowers? I'm generally not into frou frou floral but I like the bold colors in this print. It's pretty and feminine without being too over the top. The ivory background is fresh and flattering on more skin tones than stark white. The cut is very similar to the previous skirt above.

Jacquard floral print skirt
This one is my favorite because I'm in love with the print. If you click through and view the close up, the black floral is layered over a subtle white on gray dot print. This skirt also has the seaming for flair and the solid hem will balance out your waist and hips even more. I think this would be adorable with a simple, rosy pink top and silver sandals.

Lane Bryant has many more skirts here. Don't forget to use a coupon!

Finally! Spring!

The weather is just lovely today here in Chicago, sunny and warm but not too warm. Spring officially began a month ago but because the midwest has really unpredictable weather, I haven't been feeling springy yet. But we've waited long enough and I've decided that today is the first day of Spring here at the Pretty Pear. To celebrate, I'll be sharing some of my picks of the latest and cutest from various retailers.

To start, check out this dress by Mossimo from Target. It's made of 100% linen, which is light and breathable for warm weather and the color combination and print are adorable. The cut is very similar to a dress I picked up at Target last year, which I love and works well if you're smaller on top with fuller hips. I know some of you are wary of showing your arms, so you could layer a light, short sleeved, cropped cardigan like this one on top. The dress is $30 and available in sizes 16/18 through 28/30.

Some recent acquisitions

I've been doing a little shopping lately! Well, I'm always doing a little shopping but... ok here's some stuff I've bought.

There's something about black and white damask prints that really grab me and I will always at least consider buying whatever the item is. I even have a set of dishes from Target in a similar pattern.

I took a gamble and ordered a pair of these satin flats from Old Navy online and yay, they're awesome. I went up to a 9 (I'm usually an 8.5) and they fit great. They're really flattering on the foot, too. They won't last long before wearing out but I'm not planning on hiking in them or anything.

I know I've said this about a billion times but I really do love the knit tees from Kiyonna. I haven't ordered the Central Park Keyhole Top just yet but I will, very soon. What's great is that I know I'm going to love this top. I'm not sure the red would be very flattering on me, so I'm ordering it in black. I hope they make it in more colors soon because I know I'm going to want more.

I finally found and purchased my perfect green bag: the Giani Bernini Flap Satchel from Macy's. The green looks slightly different in person. It's lighter, more vibrant and perfect. I loooooove this bag. I wish the lining was cuter but no one sees that but me anyway. Otherwise, it's perfect and not crazy expensive at $52.

A few months ago, I tried on a really cute purple CK top at Macy's that I loved. I can't find it online now but believe me, it's really cute. Unfortunately, I couldn't justify spending $70 on it but then, last weekend, I found it at Marshall's for $25! I guess that's probably only really exciting to me.

Anyway. here's a simple "Head to Toe" look that I'll be wearing once the weather stops being craptastic!

Some random stuff...

This adorable Angry Owl necklace from ModCloth is only 15 bucks. The chain is plenty long, which is vital for plus sizes but not always easy to find. ModCloth doesn't carry plus size clothing but their accessories are so cute, I can forgive them.

I was at Target recently and picked up a pair of these Converse One Star sneakers in brown. I've had Converse sneakers in the past that I loved but were too narrow to wear for more than five seconds at a time. These run much wider and are so comfortable, I'm thinking about ordering another pair in charcoal gray. I got them in a size 8 and I usually wear an 8.5 in sneakers, so they run a little big. $30 for a pair of classic sneakers that actually fit my wide feet? Happy me!

Speaking of happy, check out these fun Tray 6 Umbrellas from wishingfish,com. It looks like several of the designs are temporarily sold out but my favorite, the gray with the little birdies, is still available. These are way cooler than my boring black umbrella. Hrmph!

I have this Nebula clutch by IMOOI in black and it's the perfect size and shape for a simple but unique clutch. It's faux leather and ultrasuede but it looks and feels like the real thing. The wrist strap is great and reduces the chances of me leaving the bag sitting somewhere. The red is more interesting but I needed a simple (but not boring) black clutch that goes with everything.

I haven't seen these Haddie Slingbacks from Payless in person but I get so excited when I spot cute shoes in wide widths! Especially when they're only $20. Have I mentioned my love for polka dots? These would be so perfect with a dress for the summer or capri pants all 50s style. Don't forget the bright red toenail polish!

If you're looking to update your handbag for Spring, eBags is having a 20% off sale through tonight at midnight MST.

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.

Monday quick picks!

Black vinyl leggings, $24 from Torrid
I don't know if I'm in love with these, horrified by them, or both. As Tim Gunn would say, they're "a lot of look." They are quite Beth Ditto-ish so if you're dressing as her for Halloween, then you've found the bottom half of your outfit. I just gave myself a costume idea...

Cashmere short sleeve sweater, $70 from Old Navy
Old Navy has three cashmere sweater styles on their website currently. I like this updated short sleeve version the best. I see it with herringbone or pinstripe brown trousers for work or jeans and flats for casual days. I'm a little obsessed with cashmere and I might actually break down and buy myself a sweater this year. I say that every year, though.

Labyrinth Bowling Bag, $50 from Wrapables
I'm lusting after this bag big time. I love black and white prints like this and the extra large size (18" x 12") makes it great for so many uses, including:

• Overnight bag
• Laptop bag
• Carry on bag
• Why do I have so much stuff? bag

And there are matching cosmetic bags for even more of your stuff.

Some recent picks

I picked up this black short sleeve wrap jacket ($48) on my last trip to Torrid. It was a whim but I'm glad I tried it on because hello, cute and versatile. It buttons on the inside, has a cute tie to the side and a little peplum detail on the back. The cotton/spandex blend is light and comfy and the length is just right for layering with a longer cami. I picked up this teal green cami ($16) but the layering possibilities are limitless. Speaking of Torrid's camis, I love them. I have a lot of tanks and camis for layering and Torrid's are my favorite.

I've been staring wistfully at this Holly Aiken bag for, I don't know, months now. I want it, bad. Aside from the cute black and white print and a unique but practical shape, it's made of vinyl so it's animal-friendly, too. It's $104, which is more than I've ever spent on a bag, but after staring at it for so long, I'm pretty sure I really, really do want it.

Continuing with my love of black and white prints is this roundabout print ruched-sleeve blouse ($40) from Lane Bryant. I've always liked LB's cotton/spandex blend blouses for their versatility and overall quality and I really love this one. The sleeves are ruched a bit and the print is subtle but visually interesting. It comes with a belt in the same fabric but I like it better with a wider belt either in black or a bold color like red or pink as an accent.

I'm already looking forward to fall and these updated pumps by Vaneli ($109) from Zappos are perfect for that transition. They're open and airy but the deep raspberry suede lends itself to cooler weather. They also come in black suede but I like the punch of color. They're available in wide widths, of course.

Weekly Picks: My favorite time of year

I love this time of year. It's getting chilly, the leaves are showing new color, and nothing sounds better than a warm cup of tea and a snuggly blanket. But you might have to leave the comfort of your couch and brave the cold, so you'll be needing some warm clothes. I'm just excited because here in Chicago, we're already deep into sweater season.

The Eddie Bauer website describes this Long-Sleeve V-Neck Cotton/Modal/Cashmere Sweater as "luxurious" and considering the fiber content, I'd certainly hope so. And it's on sale for $40. I imagine this would fit into any woman's closet perfectly. Wear it tweed trousers, please. And maybe a crisp white button up shirt underneath. And a pair of those Louboutin heels with the red soles that I'll never be able to afford. I'll try not to be jealous.

Lane Bryant is already showing pieces from their holiday collection and I am just drooling over these Crushed Velvet Jackets for $99.50. All of the colors look gorgeous but my eye is on the Bluemarine, my favorite color for fall this year. I love jackets because they are so versatile and this one could be dressed up with the coordinating charmeuse skirt or dressed down for a night out with jeans and strappy sandals. Love. It.

I've been seeing cowl necklines all over the place lately and gray is a big color (or non-color, I guess) right now so why not just knock out two trends with one sweater? I'm all about efficiency. This sweater from Old Navy also comes in red, another big color for fall and winter. It has a touch of angora for softness and for $40, it's an affordable treat.

I've been rationing my tube of Bliss Magnolia Body Scrub for a month or two now. It's the most moisturizing body scrub I've ever used. I hardly need lotion after using it. I have very dry skin that craves moisture and exfoliation so this scrub is a real treat. It's definitely a splurge at $30 for 8.5 ounces but it's very much a pampering little treat for you and your skin. There's also a matching Magnolia Moisture Mousse for $32, which I love as well.